Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
RE-EVALUATING RETURNS TO SCALE IN TRANSPORT /

In recent years the subject of returns to scale has been investigated in an increasingly sophisticated manner in various transport industries. This body of literature has contrib uted to an increased understanding ofthe complexities of measuring returns to scale in the transport sector. The fundamental problem has revolved around the issue of defining what is meant by an increase in the output of a transport firm. Cost function analysis has advanced in recent years with the inclusion of network variables, output characteristics and firm effects in addition to the "primary " measures of output (for example, revenue ton miles or revenue passenger-miles). These more complex specifications make the basic definition of what is meant by an increase in output more difficult. The inclusion of network variables (for example, points served in the airline industry, track miles in the railroad industry) by various researchers (Harris, 1977; Caves, Christensen and Tretheway,1984) has given rise to the concept of returns to density. Network variables allowed the effects of increases in output (revenue passenger-miles or revenue ton-miles) to be measured when holding or not holding the network size fixed. The inclusion of output characteristics (for example, stage length and load factor in the airline industry, average length of haul in both the railroad and trucking industries) similarly allows a more careful definition of what is meant by an increase in output. For example, Caves, Christensen and Swanson (1981) reported two different measures of returns to scale for two alternative assumptions regarding changes in the output charac teristics in their study ofthe railroad industry. One measure of returns to scale was defined as the increase in costs for an equiproportional increase in ton-miles and passenger-miles, holding length of haul and length of trip fixed. The other measure of returns to scale was defined as the increase in costs for an equiproportional increase in ton-miles, passenger miles, length of haul and length of trip. The inclusion of firm effects in cost function regressions employing panel data was suggested by Mundlak (1978), in order to avoid biased coefficients. Caves, Christensen, Tretheway and Windle (1985) noted that when firm effects are included in the cost function it may be inappropriate to hold these firm effects fixed over time when measuring
Factors Associated with the Presence and Severity of Diabetic Ketoacidosis at Diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes in Korean Children and Adolescents

The aim of this study was to identify the risk factors for presence and severity of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) at the onset of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in Korean children and adolescents. A retrospective chart review of children and adolescents newly diagnosed with T1DM was conducted in seven secondary and tertiary centers in Korea. Eligible subjects were < 20 years of age and had records on the presence or absence of DKA at the time of T1DM diagnosis. DKA severity was categorized as mild, moderate, or severe. Data were collected on age, height, body weight, pubertal status, family history of diabetes, delayed diagnosis, preceding infections, health insurance status, and parental education level. A total of 361 patients (male 46.3%) with T1DM were included. Overall, 177 (49.0%) patients presented with DKA at T1DM diagnosis. Risk factors predicting DKA at T1DM diagnosis were age ≥ 12 years, lower serum C-peptide levels, presence of a preceding infection, and delayed diagnosis. Low parental education level and preceding infection increased the severity of DKA. These results suggest that alertness of the physician and public awareness of diabetes symptoms are needed to decrease the incidence and severity of DKA at T1DM diagnosis.
Chaos/ Complexity Theory in Second Language Acquisition

System theory explores items in terms of their internal connectivities (interactions) and external relationships with their surroundings. It is argued that EFL research should be built on recent advances in scientific thinking and adopt systems theory for the purposes of investigating the English language classroom so that a more comprehensive picture of the factors involved in learning can be drawn. Unlike some traditional scientific approaches that analyze systems in isolation, chaos / complexity theory (C / CT) considers the synthesis of emerging wholes of their individual components. From unpredictable interactions larger structures emerge, taking on new forms. In this article, a brief look at chaos / complexity theory and its application on second language acquisition as a dynamic and complex process is evaluated. While doing that, Larsen-Freeman’s (1997) work is used as the main text for discussion.
Nuclear spirals in galaxies: gas response to an asymmetric potential: I. Linear theory

Nuclear spirals can provide a wealth of information about the nuclear potential in disc galaxies. They are unlikely to form in nuclei with solid-body rotation, yet they are present in a majority of galactic centres. Their morphology varies depending on whether a central massive black hole (MBH) is present in or absent from the galaxy. In this paper I consider predictions of the linear theory for waves induced in gas by an asymmetric gravitational potential, which are applicable to the nuclear spirals observed in galaxies. The generation and propagation of waves are governed by dynamical resonances, and inclusion of an MBH can move or even create resonances, greatly altering the extent and shape of the nuclear spiral. I will use predictions of the linear theory presented here as a guideline when interpreting hydrodynamical models in the second paper of this series. I also comment on modifications that self-gravity in gas imposes on the induced waves.
CD27 cooperates with the pre-T cell receptor in the regulation of murine T cell development

CD27 is a lymphocyte-specific member of the TNF receptor family and has a TNF-related transmembrane ligand, CD70. The CD27/CD70 receptor-ligand pair cooperates with the TCR in the regulation of the peripheral T cell response. The study presented here reveals that CD27 may play a similar role in thymic pre-T cell development. We have previously cloned the cDNA encoding murine CD27, prepared specific mAbs and observed that murine CD27 is expressed on virtually all thymocytes, with the exception of a subpopulation of CD4-8- precursor T cells. It is shown here that induction of murine CD27 expression occurs at the transition from the CD4-8-25+ to the CD4-8-25- precursor T cell stage and is regulated by the pre-TCR. Therefore, we investigated whether CD27 contributes to pre-TCR-mediated thymocyte development. Pre-TCR function was mimicked by the induction of CD3 signaling in thymocytes of recombination activating gene (RAG)-deficient mice. This in vivo anti- CD3 epsilon mAb treatment induces an about fifty fold numerical expansion of CD4-8-25+ thymocytes and their differentiation to the CD4+8+25- stage. Co-injection of anti-CD27 mAb inhibited the CD3- mediated expansion and differentiation of the CD4-8-25+ precursor population. Also, injection of anti-CD27 mAb in TCR alpha-/- mutant mice led to a reduction in the absolute number of CD4+8+25- thymocytes. We present evidence that in these in vivo systems, anti-CD27 mAb inhibits CD27-ligand interaction. Therefore, we conclude that CD27 may contribute to normal murine T cell development by synergizing with the pre-TCR-mediated signal.
New genetic parameters for national evaluations of production traits in Spanish Holsteins excluding selected base animals from the estimation of genetic variance

In Spain, national evaluations for production traits are calculated with a repeatibility animal model assuming heritability 0.25 and repeatability 0.4, while some other countries assume higher values for these parameters (France and Italy use heritability 0.30 and repeatability 0.50, USA 0.30 (average) and 0.55, and The Netherlands 0.35 and 0.55). Various countries had raised heritabilities used in their national evaluations based on recent estimates, as reported by Bagnato et al. (1996) and Van Tassell et al. (1997) for first lactations data and by Janss and de Jong (1999) for first three lactations.
Intereleukin-10 Promoter Polymorphism in Mild Cognitive Impairment and in Its Clinical Evolution

Specific proinflammatory alleles are associated with higher risk of Alzheimer disease (AD) in different onset age. The homozygosis for the A allele of −1082 polymorphism (G/A) of interleukin-10 (IL-10) promotes a higher risk of AD and reduced IL-10 generation in peripheral cells after amyloid stimulation. In this paper we analysed genotype and allele frequencies of this polymorphism in 138 subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) diagnosed, respectively, as amnestic (a-MCI) and multiple impaired cognitive domains (mcd-MCI). The genotype frequencies were similar in a-MCI and AD subjects, whereas in mcd-MCI comparable to controls (AA genotype: 50% in a-MCI, 49.2% in AD, 28.7% in mcd-MCI and 31.8% in controls). Consequently, both allele and genotype distributions were significantly different between a-MCI and mcd-MCI (allele: P = .02, genotype: P < .05). These results support the theory that polymorphisms of cytokine genes can affect neurodegeneration and its clinical progression. IL-10 may partly explain the conversion of a-MCI to AD or be a genetic marker of susceptibility.
Outbreak of Escherichia coli O104:H4 haemolytic uraemic syndrome in France: outcome with eculizumab

Background An outbreak of haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) due to Shiga toxin-secreting Escherichia coli (STEC) O104:H4 from contaminated fenugreek sprouts occurred in June 2011 near Bordeaux, France. In the context of this outbreak, all patients were treated with the monoclonal anti-C5 antibody, eculizumab. Methods The diagnosis of HUS was made based on haemolytic anaemia, low platelet count and acute kidney injury. Data were obtained from initial gastrointestinal symptoms to the end of follow-up 10 weeks after the start of eculizumab. Results Among 24 cases of STEC gastroenteritis, HUS developed in nine patients (eight adults and one child), 6 (median; range 3–12) days after digestive symptoms begun. The median (range) highest or lowest biological values were platelet count 26 (range 14–93) G/L; haemoglobin 6.6 (range 5–10.7) g/dL; LDH 1520 (range 510–2568) IU/L; creatinine 152 (range 48–797) µmol/L. All patients had extra-renal complications (liver 9, pancreas 5, brain 3 and heart 3). Two patients were dialysed, and one was ventilated. After failure of plasma exchange to increase platelets in the first three patients, eculizumab was administered in all nine patients, 0–4 days after HUS diagnosis (median 1 day). One patient with very severe neurological HUS received immunoadsorption. Outcome was favourable in all patients, with rapid normalization of haemoglobin, platelets, LDH levels, renal function and neurological improvement. There were no deaths and no serious adverse events related to eculizumab. Conclusions Early treatment of O104:H4 STEC-HUS by eculizumab was associated with a rapid and efficient recovery. Controlled prospective evaluation of eculizumab in STEC-HUS is warranted.
Expatriate management practices and perceived relevance

Expatriate management practices, such as selection, preparation, liaison with home country representatives, performance evaluation, repatriation, and career planning, are often found to fall short of the wishes of the expatriates themselves. Reports the results of a recent survey among Finnish expatriates operating around the world, which examined their opinions of their company’s practices. The results indicate that, whilst the expatriates were not entirely satisfied with the way they were managed, the management of Finnish expatriates may be closer to prescriptions of good practice than those reported from elsewhere. Potential reasons for this are explored.
Understanding the Accrual Anomaly

Interpreting accruals as working capital investment, we hypothesize that firms rationally adjust their investment to respond to discount rate changes. Consistent with the optimal investment hypothesis, we document that (i) the predictive power of accruals for future stock returns increases with the covariations of accruals with past and current stock returns, and (ii) adding investment- based factors into standard factor regressions substantially reduces the magnitude of the accrual anomaly. High accrual firms also have similar corporate governance and entrenchment indexes as low accrual firms. This evidence suggests that the accrual anomaly is more likely to be driven by optimal investment than by investor overreaction to excessive growth or over-investment.
Toward an Understanding of the Influence of Cultural Background and Domain Experience on the Effects of Risk‐Pricing Formats on Risk Perception

Risk‐information framing can be a powerful tool for aiding the communication of risk and improving decision making. However, little work has investigated the extent that these framing effects depend on the characteristics of the perceiver. In our study, we examine whether the effects of different risk‐pricing formats on risky choices are the same for all individuals, no matter their domain experience or cultural background, or whether there are interactions between these factors. Survey 1 revealed that three risk‐pricing formats of the same choice problem resulted in the same individuals making different risky choices (preference reversal), suggesting that risk perception was distorted by the risk‐pricing format manipulation. In Survey 2, the effects of the risk‐pricing formats were shown to differ by the participants’ cultural background (Asian vs. European) and the extent of their domain experience. The fact that there were no differences between the cultural or domain experience groups in their overall tendency to select riskier (cf. safer) choices indicates that risk behavior differences between groups are often closely linked to perceptual, rather than simply attitudinal, cognitive processes. The results demonstrate the complex, interactive cognitive processes that are used to encode risk information, involving the framing of the information and the cultural background and previous experiences of the individual. We conclude that it is important to consider the characteristics of the individual (e.g., culture, domain experience, etc.) when manipulating risk‐information framing with the aim of improving risk communication.
Data assimilation in a system with two scales—combining two initialization techniques

Abstract An ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) is used to assimilate data onto a non-linear chaotic model, coupling two kinds of variables. The first kind of variables of the system is characterized as large amplitude, slow, large scale, distributed in eight equally spaced locations around a circle. The second kind of variables are small amplitude, fast, and short scale, distributed in 256 equally spaced locations. Synthetic observations are obtained from the model and the observational error is proportional to their respective amplitudes. The performance of the EnKF is affected by differences in the spatial correlation scales of the variables being assimilated. This method allows the simultaneous assimilation of all the variables. The ensemble filter also allows assimilating only the large-scale variables, letting the small-scale variables to freely evolve. Assimilation of the large-scale variables together with a few small-scale variables significantly degrades the filter. These results are explained by the spurious correlations that arise from the sampled ensemble covariances. An alternative approach is to combine two different initialization techniques for the slow and fast variables. Here, the fast variables are initialized by restraining the evolution of the ensemble members, using a Newtonian relaxation toward the observed fast variables. Then, the usual ensemble analysis is used to assimilate the large-scale observations.
Personality traits , interpersonal traits and dopamine availability

Introduction: Several invasive brain imaging studies have indicated an association between dopamine availability and personality traits. Findings that have been replicated includes trait like excitement seeking, detachment and social desirability. A majority of the findings have not shown any consistency. The general aim of the present thesis was to examine previous findings of associations between dopamine activity and personality traits and present an explanation to the inconsistency. Previous findings of association between dopamine availability and personality traits were reviewed and the statistics of the data was examined. The conclusion was that differences in the range of the scale scores measuring the personality traits contributed to differences in finding a significant association. Method: Using a Positron Emission Tomography procedure to measure 42 subjects’ dopamine D2 receptor density in subcortical regions and personality inventories to assess different aspect of personality, associations between dopamine D2 and personality traits was examined. Results: Social desirability was significantly associated to dopamine D2 receptor density in extrastriatal regions and marginally significantly associated in striatal regions given that some statistical requirements of the scales were meet. Contrary to previous imaging studies, no association between dopamine D2 receptor density and detachment was found. Discussion: The range of the scale scores as well as the interpersonal component of traits seems to be important in order to understand dopamine and trait associations. In summary, the present thesis presents a new way to think about findings of associations between dopamine availability and personality traits.
Understanding the Link Between Information Technology Capability and Organizational Agility: An Empirical Examination

Information technology is generally considered an enabler of a firm's agility. A typical premise is that greater IT investment enables a firm to be more agile. However, it is not uncommon that IT can also hinder and sometimes even impede organizational agility. We propose and theorize this frequently observed but understudied IT-agility contradiction by which IT may enable or impede agility. We develop the premise that organizations need to develop superior firm-wide IT capability to successfully manage their IT resources to realize agility. We refine the conceptualization and measurement of IT capability as a latent construct reflected in its three dimensions: IT infrastructure capability, IT business spanning capability, and IT proactive stance. We also conceptualize two types of organizational agility: market capitalizing agility and operational adjustment agility. We then conduct a matched-pair field survey of business and information systems executives in 128 organizations to empirically examine the link between a firm's IT capability and agility. Business executives responded to measurement scales of the two types of agility and organizational context variables, and IS executives responded to measurement scales of IT capabilities and IS context variables. The results show a significant positive relationship between IT capability and the two types of organizational agility. We also find a significant positive joint effect of IT capability and IT spending on operational adjustment agility but not on market capitalizing agility. The findings suggest a possible resolution to the contradictory effect of IT on agility: while more IT spending does not lead to greater agility, spending it in such a way as to enhance and foster IT capabilities does. Our study provides initial empirical evidence to better understand essential IT capabilities and their relationship with organizational agility. Our findings provide a number of useful implications for research and managerial practices.
Peak-fitting and integration imprecision in the Aerodyne aerosol mass spectrometer: effects of mass accuracy on location-constrained fits

Abstract. The errors inherent in the fitting and integration of the pseudo-Gaussian ion peaks in Aerodyne high-resolution aerosol mass spectrometers (HR-AMSs) have not been previously addressed as a source of imprecision for these or similar instruments. This manuscript evaluates the significance of this imprecision and proposes a method for their estimation in routine data analysis. In the first part of this work, it is shown that peak-integration errors are expected to scale linearly with peak height for the constrained-peak-shape fits performed in the HR-AMS. An empirical analysis is undertaken to investigate the most complex source of peak-integration imprecision: the imprecision in fitted peak height, σh. It is shown that the major contributors to σh are the imprecision and bias inherent in the m/z calibration, both of which may arise due to statistical and physical non-idealities of the instrument. A quantitative estimation of these m/z-calibration imprecisions and biases show that they may vary from ion to ion, even for ions of similar m/z. In the second part of this work, the empirical analysis is used to constrain a Monte Carlo approach for the estimation of σh and thus the peak-integration imprecision. The estimated σh for selected well-separated peaks (for which m/z-calibration imprecision and bias could be quantitatively estimated) scaled linearly with peak height as expected (i.e. as n1). In combination with the imprecision in peak-width quantification (which may be easily and directly estimated during quantification), peak-fitting imprecisions therefore dominate counting imprecisions (which scale as n0.5) at high signals. The previous HR-AMS uncertainty model therefore underestimates the overall fitting imprecision even for well-resolved peaks. We illustrate the importance of this conclusion by performing positive matrix factorization on a synthetic HR-AMS data set both with and without its inclusion. In the third part of this work, the Monte Carlo approach is extended to the case of an arbitrary number of overlapping peaks. Here, a modification to the empirically constrained approach was needed, because the ion-specific m/z-calibration bias and imprecision can generally only be estimated for well-resolved peaks. The modification is to simply overestimate the m/z-calibration imprecision in all cases. This overestimation results in only a slight overestimate of σh, while significantly reducing the sensitivity of σh to the unknown, ion-specific m/z-calibration biases. Thus, with only the measured data and an approximate estimate of the order of magnitude of m/z-calibration biases as input, conservative and unbiased estimates of peak-integration imprecisions may be obtained for each peak in any ensemble of overlapping peaks.