Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Structured VAR for Denmark under Changing Monetary Regimes

Using recently developed statistical tools for analyzing cointegrated I(2) data, this article models money, income, prices, and interest rates in Denmark. The final model describes the dynamic adjustment to short-run changes of the process, to deviations from long-run steady states, and to several political interventions. It provides new insights about the effects of the liberalization of trade and capital in a small open European economy.
The Impact of the National Industrial Recovery Act on Cartel Formation and Maintenance Costs

Antitrust regime shifts represented by the 1933 adoption and 1935 annulment of the National Industrial Recovery Act are postulated to have effects analogous to temporary achievement of Bradburd and Over's 'integrative concentration level' (Bradburd and Over, 1982); a level at which cartel formation and maintenance costs are outweighed by collusive spoils. 'Regime switching' analysis of Census of Manufactures data reveals a 'critical concentration level' of 60 percent in 1933, which disappears in 1935, and reemerges at 38 percent in 1937. The empirical results support the Bradburd and Over framework and suggest that temporary shifts in antitrust regimes may have lasting impacts on the ability of an industry to exercise market power. Copyright 1994 by MIT Press.
Organisation of the pericentromeric region of chromosome 15: at least four partial gene copies are amplified in patients with a proximal duplication of 15q

Clinical cytogenetic laboratories frequently identify an apparent duplication of proximal 15q that does not involve probes within the PWS/AS critical region and is not associated with any consistent phenotype. Previous mapping data placed several pseudogenes, NF1, IgH D/V, and GABRA5 in the pericentromeric region of proximal 15q. Recent studies have shown that these pseudogene sequences have increased copy numbers in subjects with apparent duplications of proximal 15q. To determine the extent of variation in a control population, we analysed NF1 and IgH D pseudogene copy number in interphase nuclei from 20 cytogenetically normal subjects by FISH. Both loci are polymorphic in controls, ranging from 1-4 signals for NF1 and 1-3 signals for IgH D. Eight subjects with apparent duplications, examined by the same method, showed significantly increased NF1 copy number (5-10 signals). IgH D copy number was also increased in 6/8 of these patients (4-9 signals). We identified a fourth pseudogene, BCL8A, which maps to the pericentromeric region and is coamplified along with the NF1 sequences. Interphase FISH ordering experiments show that IgH D lies closest to the centromere, while BCL8A is the most distal locus in this pseudogene array; the total size of the amplicon is estimated at ∼1 Mb. The duplicated chromosome was inherited from either sex parent, indicating no parent of origin effect, and no consistent phenotype was present. FISH analysis with one or more of these probes is therefore useful in discriminating polymorphic amplification of proximal pseudogene sequences from clinically significant duplications of 15q.
[Prevalence rate and associated factors of urinary incontinence among nursing home residents].

PURPOSE The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of urinary incontinence among nursing home residents and to identify the factors associated with this condition. METHOD The data were collected from 618 subjects (146 males and 472 females; mean age 79.9+/-8.4 yr; range 65-102 yr) of 30 nursing homes in Seoul, Gyeonggi-do and Gangwon-do in this cross-sectional study. The data were analyzed by chi-square test, t-test, and multiple logistic regression by using the SPSS/PC ver 12.0 program. RESULTS The prevalence of UI was 64.7% (64.6% in women; 65.1% in men). After adjustment for each of the variables considered in this study, six potential factors were strongly associated with UI: activities of daily living, comorbidity, age, cognition, specialty of the facility, and a bladder training program. CONCLUSION Our finding suggests that it is necessary to develop a program for promotion of activities of daily living and to provide a bladder training program to prevent urinary incontinence among nursing home residents.
COMPARISON OF EFFICACY AND SAFETY BETWEEN HALF-FLUENCE AND FULL-FLUENCE PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY FOR CHRONIC CENTRAL SEROUS CHORIORETINOPATHY

Purpose: To compare the efficacy and safety of half-fluence photodynamic therapy (PDT) and conventional PDT in chronic central serous chorioretinopathy. Methods: A multicenter retrospective comparison study. Retrospective review of 60 patients including 29 patients (34 eyes) who received half-fluence PDT and 31 patients (33 eyes) who received conventional PDT for the treatment of chronic central serous chorioretinopathy. Best-corrected visual acuity, central fovea retinal thickness and resolution of subretinal fluid on optical coherence tomography, and choroidal perfusion decrease on indocyanine green angiography were assessed. Choriocapillaris perfusion decrease was quantified as mean gray value ratio of treated and nontreated areas using commercial imaging software. Results: Treatment success without recurrence was achieved in 32 of 34 eyes (94.1%) treated with half-fluence PDT and 33 of 33 eyes (100%) treated with conventional PDT (P = 0.493). There was no difference in final best-corrected visual acuity (logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution) between the 2 groups (0.17 ± 0.32 vs. 0.21 ± 0.39; P = 0.603). Choriocapillaris perfusion decrease quantified from post-PDT indocyanine green angiography was significantly more severe in the conventional PDT group (P = 0.006), and it showed a positive correlation with retinal thinning after PDT (R2 = 0.380; P < 0.001). Conclusion: Half-fluence PDT is as effective as conventional PDT, while minimizing the deleterious effect on choriocapillaris perfusion and retinal thickness.
Corporate ownership and the information content of earnings in Poland

In this article we test the influence of ownership structure on the information content of earnings in Polish-listed companies. Our investigation is based on the notion that in a weak corporate governance environment expropriation of private benefits of control is pervasive and manipulation of financial disclosure is a way to conceal those benefits to avoid disciplinary action. Concentrated ownership can act as a substitute for missing country-level corporate governance mechanisms to limit acquisition of private benefits of control, reducing incentives to mispresent financial situation and thus improving the quality of public accounting information. We find that weak country-level corporate governance mechanisms in the transition environment are best substituted by concentrated holdings of several investors rather than a single large shareholder. The information content of earnings increases when a few blockowners jointly hold between 25 and 50% of voting rights. We argue that the overall beneficial effects on corporate governance practices come from each blockholder's incentives to protect themselves from being expropriated by managers and other blockholders. We also find a positive impact of managerial holdings on the information content of earnings, and we argue that the holdings effectively align managers’ and investors’ interests.
The model of fuzzy expert system for establishing the pollution impact on the mortality rate in Ukraine

The methodological principles model of fuzzy expert system of assessing the impact of environmental pollution on mortality in Ukraine was developed in the work. The approach, which allows to determine the proportion of the total deaths caused by destructive influence continuous pollution (emissions, discharges and waste) and social and natural and economic conditions have been proposed. On the basis of the model it was proposed to conduct an economic evaluation and prediction of anthropogenic indirect losses to the national economy.
Cytokine-induced cartilage proteoglycan degradation is mediated by aggrecanase.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the relationship between specific cleavage of aggrecan at the Glu373-Ala374 'aggrecanase' site and degradation and release of proteoglycan catabolites from cartilage in explant cultures. DESIGN The monoclonal antibody, BC-3, which specifically recognizes the new N-terminus, ARGSVIL, generated by cleavage of aggrecan at the Glu373-Ala374 'aggrecanase' site, was used to follow the generation of fragments produced by cleavage at this site as compared to degradation of proteoglycan as assessed by glycosaminoglycan (GAG) release from cartilage in response to cytokines and the ability of inhibitors to block this cleavage. RESULTS (1) There was a strong correlation between specific cleavage at the Glu373-Ala374 bond and the release of aggrecan catabolites in response to interleukin-1 (IL-1) or tumour necrosis factor (TNF) stimulation. (2) This cleavage in the interglobular domain of aggrecan was inhibited by the inclusion of cycloheximide, thus indicating a requirement for de novo protein synthesis in the induction of 'aggrecanase' activity. (3) The inhibitors, indomethacin, naproxen, tenidap, dexamethasone and doxycycline were ineffective in blocking either specific cleavage at the 'aggrecanase' site or aggrecan degradation as measured by GAG release from cartilage. (4) In contrast, compounds which act through two different mechanisms to inhibit MMPs were effective in blocking both specific cleavage at the 'aggrecanase' site and proteoglycan degradation. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that 'aggrecanase' is primarily responsible for proteoglycan cleavage in these experimental systems and that this protease has properties in common with metalloproteases including members of the MMP and ADAM family. Inhibition of 'aggrecanase' may have utility in preventing cartilage loss in arthritis.
Technological Proximity and Exclusive Buyer-Supplier Relationships

Abstract This paper provides a new rationale for why some final product manufacturers develop exclusive relationships with their input suppliers, highlighting the role of investment incentives. It shows that exclusivity can encourage firms' investments in tailoring their technologies to their trading partners. This holds both for the buyer's and the supplier's investments. Furthermore, this paper argues against claims that exclusive dealing agreements are detrimental to welfare by demonstrating that their positive impact on efficiency translates into both higher consumers' surplus and total welfare.
Job Assignments, Signalling, and Efficiency

This article analyzes a model in which information about a worker's ability is only directly revealed to the firm employing the worker; other firms, however, use the worker's job assignment as a signal of ability. Three results recur throughout the analysis. First, wage rates tend to be more closely associated with jobs than with ability levels. Second, there is frequently an inefficient assignment of workers to jobs (i.e., even when a firm has complete information about a worker's output). Third, the severity of this inefficiency tends to be negatively correlated with the level of firm-specific human capital in the economy.
Clinical Review#: Potential cardiac valve effects of dopamine agonists in hyperprolactinemia.

CONTEXT An association has been demonstrated between valvular heart disease and dopamine agonist use in patients treated for Parkinson's disease. Following these reports, concern has been raised among endocrinologists about the safety of long-term treatment with dopamine agonists in hyperprolactinemic patients. The article will summarize all currently published research regarding the possible risk of valvulopathy in hyperprolactinemic patients on dopamine agonists and provide guidance based on current findings. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION The major source of data acquisition included PubMed search strategies. PubMed was searched for publications containing the terms "valve," "valvular," or "valvulopathy," and one of the terms "dopamine agonists," "cabergoline," "bromocriptine," "pergolide," "prolactin," "prolactinoma," or "hyperprolactinemia. " All publications from 1950 to August, 2008, were screened for use in this review. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS The majority of studies showed no risk of valvular regurgitation associated with cabergoline. However, an increased risk of mild to moderate regurgitation, usually at the tricuspid valve, was reported in a few studies. Only one study suggested a relationship with the mean cumulative dose of cabergoline. CONCLUSIONS Although most reports do not show an association between use of dopamine agonists and valvulopathy, caution must be exercised, especially in patients requiring long-term, high-dose medication regimens. Clinicians should recommend the lowest possible doses of dopamine agonists and address the question of echocardiographic monitoring on an individual basis.
Volatility of interest rates in the euro area: Evidence from high frequency data

The paper studies the euro area money market from a microstructure perspective. The focus is on the empirical estimation of the factors underlying the volatility of the overnight interest rate and its transmission along the money market yield curve. Two sources of volatility are separated out, one related to the institutional features of the operational framework and payments system, and the other, related to the impact of policy decisions. A novel data set is used composed of hourly observations and covering several short-term interest rates. The sample runs from 4/12/2000 to 31/05/2002. Two common long-memory factors are found to drive the volatility processes. The first explains the long-memory dynamics of the shortest maturity. The other explains the transmission of volatility to other maturities. It is shown that announcements of interest rate changes exercise the strongest impact on the volatility of the shortest maturities. Persistent effects of liquidity shortages that are transmitted along the money market yield curve are documented. However, these effects are not the rule and can be explained by exceptional circumstances.
Does slow growth increase inequality? Some reflections on Picketty's 'fundamental' laws of capitalism.

This paper explores the hypothesis that slow growth rates lead to rising inequality. This case has been made most notably by French economist Thomas Piketty. If true, this hypothesis would pose serious challenges to the project of achieving Prosperity without Growth or meeting the ambitions of those who call for an intentional slowing down of growth on ecological grounds. The paper describes a simple four-sector, demand-­driven model of Savings, Inequality and Growth in a MAcroeconomic framework (SIGMA) with exogenous growth and net savings rates. SIGMA is used to examine the evolution of inequality in the context of declining economic growth. Contrary to the general hypothesis, we find that inequality does not necessarily increase as growth slows down. In fact, there are certain conditions under which inequality can be reduced significantly, or even entirely eliminated, as growth declines. The paper discusses the implications of this finding for questions of employment, government policy and the politics of de-­growth.
Ecotourism in Botswana: 30 years later

Thirty years ago, conservationists, host communities, academics, and tourism practitioners perceived ecotourism as a panacea to conservation and poverty problems in tourism destination areas, especially in developing countries. This paper, therefore, analyses the performance of ecotourism as a tool designed to achieve improved livelihoods and conservation in the Okavango Delta, Botswana. The concept of ecotourism is debated and the context used in this paper is explained. Secondary data from published and unpublished sources on ecotourism in Botswana and the Okavango Delta are used. Primary data were collected through informal interviews with key stakeholders to update secondary data. Results indicate that in its 30 years of existence in the Okavango Delta, ecotourism had mixed results. That is, it succeeded in some areas and failed in others. Where ecotourism succeeded, it generated economic benefits such as income and employment opportunities, leading to positive attitudes of residents towards ecotourism and conservation. Where ecotourism failed, the lack of entrepreneurship, and managerial and marketing skills of local communities are cited as some of the key factors contributing to the failure of projects. Despite the failure of particular projects, this paper argues that ecotourism has proved to be a tool that can be used to achieve improved livelihoods and conservation. However, this depends on the socio-economic and political dynamics of host communities in a specific ecotourism destination area.
Measuring Obesity in Young Children.

Child obesity is currently an important policy problem in Canada. Making the best evidence-based policy choices in response requires having the best possible evidence. Yet, we point out how easy it can be to make serious mistakes when measuring child obesity, particularly for young children. We demonstrate that parental reports of child height and weight very likely overestimate obesity prevalence for very young children. Given the importance of child obesity as a policy issue, our main conclusion is that it is critical for national surveys in Canada to provide interviewers with appropriate equipment and ask them to weigh and measure children very accurately. While this would certainly increase survey costs, the costs to society of making less than the best policy choices are likely to be even higher.
Demonstration of Aerosol Property Profiling by Multiwavelength Lidar Under Varying Relative Humidity Conditions

The feasibility of using a multiwavelength Mie‐Raman lidar based on a tripled Nd:YAG laser for profiling aerosol physical parameters in the planetary boundary layer (PBL) under varying conditions of relative humidity (RH) is studied. The lidar quantifies three aerosol backscattering and two extinction coefficients and from these optical data the particle parameters such as concentration, size, and complex refractive index are retrieved through inversion with regularization. The column-integrated, lidar-derived parameters are compared with results from the AERONET sun photometer. The lidar and sun photometer agree well in the characterization of the fine-mode parameters, however the lidar shows less sensitivity to coarse mode. The lidar results reveal a strong dependence of particle properties on RH. The height regions with enhanced RH
Optimal Replacement Under Variable Intensity of Utilization and Technological Progress

ABSTRACT We presented two modifications of the traditional model of optimal replacement of capital equipment. Starting from cost-minimization over an infinite horizon, we introduced a variable intensity of utilization in the traditional replacement model to explain functional degradation, i.e., the reduction in utilization intensity as equipment ages. Next, we demonstrated that when technological progress is ongoing, the basic model of optimal replacement can give erroneous results due to neglecting the opportunity cost of foregone technological progress at the time of replacement.
An investigation into the learning needs of managers in internationalising small and medium‐sized enterprises

This paper is concerned with the learning needs of managers in SMEs that seek to become progressively international. A particular focus of attention is the informal learning practices that occur within the economic and social networks utilised by managers in this sector. Using both qualitative and quantitative approaches to data collection, the paper investigates the challenges perceived by managers engaged (or seeking to engage) in international activity. The results suggest three main areas of challenge: first, the early “pre‐internationalisation” stage, when decisions about “whether”, “where” or “how” to internationalise are taken; secondly, the development of longer‐term planning processes and business systems to cope with the consequences of the initial internationalisation decision; thirdly, the challenge of regulatory issues and the need to secure payment and manage foreign intermediaries. Further areas of learning need, which depend on the significance of international business for the firm, are also indicated. Existing structures, cultures and approaches to management can be maintained for many SMEs that undertake some limited international activity. Where international business is a more important factor, however, managers need to develop cultural appreciation and empathy to underpin their expertise and consolidate their market position. Indeed, sustained international development may require a significant reorienting of the business, underpinned by management and organisational learning to develop an appropriate international “mind‐set” that supports the effective development of relationships with stakeholders in different countries.
COMPARISON OF SAGITTAL SPINAL CURVATURES AND PELVIC TILT IN HIGHLY TRAINED ATHLETES FROM DIFFERENT SPORT DISCIPLINES

The aim of this study was to compare the thoracic and lumbar curvatures and pelvic tilt in relaxed standing and maximal trunk flexion among highlytrained young athletes from three different sports disciplines. Thirty-two male canoeists, 30 male kayakers and 24 male tennis players were recruited for the study. The Spinal Mouse® system was used to measure the thoracic and lumbar sagittal spinal curvatures and pelvic tilt in relaxed standing and maximal trunk flexion in sitting with the flexed (McRae & Wright test) and extended knees (sit-and-reach test). Significant differences were found in maximal trunk flexion tests among athletes. Kayakers and canoeists showed increased anterior pelvic tilt compared to tennis players in the McRae & Wright (p<.01) and decreased posterior pelvic tilt in the sit-and-reach (p<.001) tests; however, canoeists had increased posterior pelvic tilt compared to kayakers in the sit-and-reach test (p<.01). Canoeists had increased thoracic kyphosis curvature compared to kayakers (p<.01) and tennis players (p<.001) in the sit-and-reach test. Spinal sagittal curvatures and pelvic tilt in relaxed standing did not show significant differences. In conclusion, specific sports training may be associated with adaptations in the sagittal spinal curvatures and pelvic tilt when maximal trunk flexion positions are performed. Key words: spine, thoracic curvature, lumbar curve, pelvic inclination, physical exercise
Subject-specific models for image-guided cardiac surgery

Three-dimensional visualization for planning and guidance is still not routinely available for minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS). This can be addressed by providing the surgeon with subject-specific geometric models derived from 3D preoperative images for planning of port locations or to rehearse the procedure. For guidance purposes, these models can also be registered to the subject using intraoperative images. In this paper, we present a method for extracting subject-specific heart geometry from preoperative MR images. The main obstacle we face is the low quality of clinical data in terms of resolution, signal-to-noise ratio, and presence of artefacts. Instead of using these images directly, we approach the problem in three steps: (1) generate a high quality template model, (2) register the template with the preoperative data, and (3) animate the result over the cardiac cycle. Validation of this approach showed that dynamic subject-specific models can be generated with a mean error of 3.6 ± 1.1 mm from low resolution target images (6 mm slices). Thus, the models are sufficiently accurate for MICS training and procedure planning. In terms of guidance, we also demonstrate how the resulting models may be adapted to the operating room using intraoperative ultrasound imaging.