Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Monetary Policy and Inequality in Mexico

Despite growing interest regarding the distributive impact of macroeconomic policies, the relationship between monetary policy and inequality has received relatively little attention in the literature. This is partly explained by the fact that the workhorse model used for monetary policy analysis summarises the demand-side of the economy by means of a representative agent, whose welfare is the normative criterion of optimal policy. However, alternative formulations using incomplete market models which feature heterogeneous agents, indicate that monetary policy does have an effect on the distribution of income, consumption and wealth, which potentially has implications for the design and conduct of optimal policy. The document empirically investigates the nature of the relationship between monetary policy and household income inequality in Mexico. The ultimate purpose is to uncover certain regularities which characterise the relationship, which can eventually serve as stylised facts for the design of theoretical models. The response of household's income inequality, and its components, to monetary policy shocks indicate that unanticipated increases in the nominal interest rate are correlated with a reduction of household income inequality in the short run, and that the effect dissipates over a two-year horizon. The results are robust to the particular measure of inequality used, as well as the procedure used to identify the policy shocks.
DETERMINANTS OF ECONOMIC GROWTH IN THE UNITED STATES: The Role of Foreign Direct Investment

Given the continuing growth of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the United States, there is a growing interest in examining its impact on the rate of economic growth. The immense literature on economic growth in the United States is composed of studies that concentrate on measuring the domestic variables that affect U.S. economic growth. However, the impact of foreign direct investment on the economic growth of the United States has not received the attention that is deserves. The purpose of this study is: (1) to examine the determinants of economic growth in the United States over time, and (2) to see if there is any time-series support for the FDI-led growth hypothesis in the United States. To achieve these goals the study uses a model that is based on the postulates of de Mello. Employing a 40-year period of annual data, the model is estimated by using the Beach Mackinnon technique which corrects for autocorrelation. The estimation results suggest the following conclusions: 1. The major determinants of economic growth in the United States are total factor productivity growth, domestic investment growth, and foreign direct investment growth. 2. Causal relationships between foreign direct investment growth and economic growth is uni-directional, running from foreign direct investment to economic growth. 3. Causal relationships between foreign direct investment growth and total factor productivity growth is uni-directional, running from foreign direct investment to total factor productivity. These findings suggest that foreign direct investment growth has a significant impact on the United States economic growth. Additionally, foreign direct investment has a significant impact on total factor productivity in the United States, further contributing to the United States’ economic growth. This calls on the U.S. policy makers to devise policies that are conducive to increasing the amount of foreign direct investment in this country.
Regional Differences in New Firm Formation: Evidence from West Germany

FRITSCH M. (1992) Regional differences in new firm formation: evidence from West Germany, Reg. Studies 26, 233–241. The paper presents results of an empirical investigation into regional differences in the formation of new firms in West Germany. Some of the findings are quite consistent with the results of similar analyses undertaken for other countries. There is a large positive correlation between the rate at which new firms are founded and the share of the regional labour force that is employed in small companies. Many founders seem to have had experience working in small firms and seem to have developed an above-average level of skill. A high unemployment rate does not promote a rise in the formation of new firms in West Germany. On the contrary, a regional environment conducive to start-ups is characterized by low unemployment, high earnings and a well-trained labour force. FRITSCH M. (1992) La variation regionale de la creation de nouvelles entreprises: des preuves provenant de l'Allemagne de l'Oues.
On the Usefulness and Production of Bellwether Firms’ Management Earnings Forecasts

On the Usefulness and Production of Bellwether Firms’ Management Earnings Forecasts Yung-Fang Ayung Tseng This study examines whether bellwether firms’ management earnings forecasts predict future macroeconomic trends and their propensity to issue these forecasts. I find that forecasts issued by firms producing/sourcing commodities in a large cyclical sector of the economy (defined as bellwether firms) predict real and nominal GDP growth and aggregate earnings for the subsequent four quarters. Forecasts issued towards the end of a quarter and forecasts by small bellwether firms present greater predictive power. When examining the propensity to issue forecasts, I find that bellwether firms provide less frequent disclosures than nonbellwether firms, but bellwether firms owned by many institutional investors issue more frequent disclosures than other bellwether firms. These results suggest that bellwether firms may be reluctant to issue timely disclosures because their investors can learn about them from government announcements. However, institutional investors may pressure bellwether firms to issue these timely disclosures.
Bone mineral density and body composition in short children born SGA during growth hormone and gonadotropin releasing hormone analog treatment.

CONTEXT Postponement of puberty by GnRH analog (GnRHa) in addition to GH treatment might increase adult height (AH) in short adolescents born small for gestational age (SGA). GnRHa treatment is thought to have negative effects on bone mineral density (BMD) and body composition. OBJECTIVE The objective of the study was to assess the BMD of total body (BMD(TB)), lumbar spine (BMD(LS)), bone mineral apparent density lumbar spine (BMAD(LS)), lean body mass, fat mass, and fat distribution during GH treatment, with or without an additional 2 yr of GnRHa. PATIENTS AND DESIGN This was a prospective GH trial involving short SGA adolescents (≥8 yr). Eighty-eight children (50 girls) were treated until AH (GH randomized 1 or 2 mg/m(2) · d during puberty); 52 of these children received additional GnRHa. BMD and body composition were longitudinally assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. RESULTS Baseline BMD(TB) sd score (SDS) and BMD(LS) SDS were significantly reduced (both P < 0.001), but BMAD(LS) SDS was comparable with zero (P = 0.129). BMD(TB) SDS and BMD(LS) SDS improved (both P < 0.001) from the start until AH, whereas BMAD(LS) SDS remained similar (P = 0.168). At AH, 93% of patients had a normal BMD(TB), 99% a normal BMD(LS), and 98% a normal BMAD(LS) (> -2 and < +2 SDS). From the start until AH, lean body mass SDS(height) and fat mass SDS increased significantly toward zero (both P <0.001). Multiple regression analyses showed that additional GnRHa treatment had no adverse effect on the changes in BMD and body composition during GH treatment, also after correction for influencing variables. CONCLUSION Untreated short SGA adolescents had reduced BMD(TB) and BMD(LS) but normal bone size-corrected BMAD(LS). During GH treatment, BMD(TB) and BMD(LS) increased significantly, leading to a normal adult BMD in almost all patients. Two years of GnRHa in addition to GH treatment had no adverse effect on BMD or body composition.
The Effect of Environmental Regulation on Power Sector Employment: Phase I of the Title IV SO2 Trading Program

We use panel data on fossil fuel fired power plants to examine the impact of Phase I of the Title IV SO2 trading program on electric utility employment. We find little evidence that power plants had significant decreases in employment during Phase I relative to non–Phase I power plants. This finding holds whether we assume a plant- or utility-level decision model of compliance. When we disaggregate by year, we find that employment is significantly lower only in Phase I plants relative to non–Phase I plants in the first year of compliance but not in subsequent years. However, even this effect is not statistically significant at the utility level. Furthermore, we find little evidence of a significant employment effect for subsets of plants or utilities that pursue particular compliance strategies. Controlling for an NOx rate-based standard that partially overlaps with the SO2 trading program does not change our findings.
Long-term risk of colorectal cancer in individuals with serrated polyps

Objective Although serrated polyps may be precursors of colorectal cancer (CRC), prospective data on the long-term CRC risk in individuals with serrated polyps are lacking. Design In a population-based randomised trial, 12 955 individuals aged 50–64 years were screened with flexible sigmoidoscopy, while 78 220 individuals comprised the control arm. We used Cox models to estimate HRs with 95% CIs for CRC among individuals with ≥1 large serrated polyp (≥10 mm in diameter), compared with individuals with adenomas at screening, and to population controls, and multivariate logistic regression to assess polyp risk factors for CRC. Results A total of 103 individuals had large serrated polyps, of which 81 were included in the analyses. Non-advanced adenomas were found in 1488 individuals, advanced adenomas in 701. Median follow-up was 10.9 years. Compared with the control arm, the HR for CRC was 2.5 (95% CI 0.8 to 7.8) in individuals with large serrated polyps, 2.0 (95% CI 1.3 to 2.9) in individuals with advanced adenomas and 0.6 (95% CI 0.4 to 1.1) in individuals with non-advanced adenomas. A large serrated polyp was an independent risk factor for CRC, adjusted for histology, size and multiplicity of concomitant adenomas (OR 3.3; 95% CI 1.3 to 8.6). Twenty-three large serrated polyps found at screening were left in situ for a median of 11.0 years. None developed into a malignant tumour. Conclusions Individuals with large serrated polyps have an increased risk of CRC, comparable with individuals with advanced adenomas. However, this risk may not be related to malignant growth of the serrated polyp. Trial registration number The Norwegian Colorectal Cancer Screening trial is registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT00119912).
Immunomodulatory Activity of Naturally Occurring Monoterpenes Carvone, Limonene, and Perillic Acid

The immunomodulatory activity of some naturally occurring monoterpenes were studied in Balb/c mice. Administration of various monoterpenes such as carvone (100 μmoles/Kg body wt/dose/animal), limonene (100 μmoles/Kg body wt/dose/animal) and perillic acid (50 μmoles/Kg body wt/dose/animal) were found to increase the total white blood cells (WBC) count in Balb/c mice. The maximum total WBC count in carvone treated animals was observed on the 12th day (16560 cells/cmm) while in limonene (13783 cells/cmm) and perillic acid (14437 cells/cmm) treated animals the maximum count was observed on the 9th day after the drug treatment. Administration of terpenoids increased the total antibody production, antibody producing cells in spleen, bone marrow cellularity and α-esterase positive cells significantly compared to the normal animals indicating its potentiating effect on the immune system.
Wage and Occupational Assimilation by Skill Level

While much of the literature on immigrants' assimilation has focused on countries with a large tradition of receiving immigrants and with flexible labor markets, very little is known on how immigrants adjust to other types of host economies. With its severe dual labor market, and an unprecedented immigration boom, Spain presents a quite unique experience to analyze immigrations' assimilation process. Using alternative datasets and methodologies, this paper provides evidence of a differential assimilation pattern for low- versus high-skilled immigrants in Spain: our key finding is that having a high-school degree does not give immigrants an advantage in terms occupational or wage assimilation (relative to their native counterparts).
“Santa Claus is Coming to Town” – Christmas Holidays in a Tropical Destination

Originally a Christian festival to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, Christmas is now a major secular festival celebrated in numerous Christian and non-Christian countries. It is also a major holiday period that from a destination perspective offers an opportunity to attract significant numbers of visitors. The aim of this paper is to explore issues related to developing a Christmas-themed holiday product in a destination that has not previously used the festive nature of Christmas as a major destination pull factor. This paper finds that while its religious significance has waned, the celebration of Christmas remains an important tradition reflected in the expectation that Christmas symbols and activities are present at holiday destinations. The paper also finds that the development of a Christmas product needs to include an authentic “Christmas feel” that is able to be created by street and shop decorations such as Christmas lights and trees, nativity scenes and Santa Claus, as well as Christmas carols and the availability of special foods associated with Christmas.
Embodied connections: sustainability, food systems and community gardens

Community gardens have been identified as providing a model for promoting sustainable urban living. They can also contribute to individual and community reconnection to the socio-cultural importance of food, thus helping facilitate broader engagement with the food system. Such processes may offer pathways to developing a deep engagement and long-term commitment to sustainable living practices predicated on the development of new forms of environmental or ecological citizenship. However, little attention has been paid to how this can be adequately harnessed. Based on an ethnographic study of community gardeners in the Australian Capital Territory, this article argues that fostering an embodied form of sustainability, which accounts for individual embodied engagement in these collective spaces, may play a critical role in achieving these outcomes.
Inhibition of hepatitis B virus production by Boehmeria nivea root extract in HepG2 2.2.15 cells.

AIM To explore the anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV) effects of Boehmeria nivea (B. nivea) root extract (BNE) by using the HepG2 2.2. 15 cell model system. METHODS Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B virus e antigen (HBeAg), and HBV DNA were measured by using ELISA and real-time PCR, respectively. Viral DNA replication and RNA expression were determined by using Southern and Northern blot, respectively. RESULTS In HepG2 2.2. 15 cells, HBeAg (60%, P < 0.01) and particle-associated HBV DNA (> 99%, P < 0.01) secretion into supernatant were significantly inhibited by BNE at a dose of 100 mg/L, whereas the HBsAg was not inhibited. With different doses of BNE, the reduced HBeAg was correlated with the inhibition of HBV DNA. The anti-HBV effect of BNE was not caused by its cytotoxicity to cells or inhibition of viral DNA replication and RNA expression. CONCLUSION BNE could effectively reduce the HBV production and its anti-HBV machinery might differ from the nucleoside analogues.
Collateralization of the amygdaloid projections of the rat prelimbic and infralimbic cortices

Previous studies indicate that the distribution of corticoamygdaloid neurons in the rat prelimbic (PL) and infralimbic (IL) cortices overlaps with the distribution of neurons projecting to the contralateral medial prefrontal cortex (MPC), insular cortex, mediodorsal thalamus, and dorsal medulla. In view of the poorly differentiated cytoarchitecture of PL and IL, and their designation as cortical regions transitional between the allocortex and isocortex, the present study sought to determine whether several cortical and subcortical projections from these areas arise as collaterals of corticoamygdaloid neurons. Injections of the fluorescent dyes Fast Blue (FB) or bisbenzimide (BB) were made into the amygdaloid complex and the following areas: agranular and granular insular cortices; mediodorsal thalamic nucleus (MD); nucleus tractus solitarii/dorsal medulla (NTS); contralateral amygdaloid complex; and ipsilateral and contralateral MPC. Neurons projecting to the ipsilateral amygdaloid complex were located mainly in layers II and V with fewer cells in layer III. Concomitant injections into the insular cortex, MD, and NTS labeled populations of neurons arranged in laminae that partially overlapped with, but were essentially separate from, corticoamygdaloid neurons. Projections to the insular cortex arose from layers II and V; those to MD arose from layers V and VI. Corticobulbar projections from IL originated from neurons arranged in a thin lamina in the deep part of layer V. Very few neurons projecting to both the amygdaloid complex and any of these areas were observed. Bilateral injections of FB and BB into the amygdaloid complex producted very few double‐labeled cells in PL and IL. Further, in layer V, ipsilaterally projecting corticoamygdaloid neurons tended to be located more deeply than contralaterally projecting neurons. Combined injections of BB and FB into the amygdaloid complex and the contralateral (but not ipsilateral) MPC resulted in significant numbers of double‐labeled neurons in layers II, III, and V of PL and IL. Control injections of fluorescent dyes into the cerebrospinal fluid labeled few neurons in the superficial layers of PL and IL and a combined injection into the amygdaloid complex (FB) and subarachnoid space (BB) resulted in a very small number of double‐labeled cells in layer II only. The results suggest that a significant proportion of neurons in PL and IL projecting to the amygdaloid complex issue collaterals innervating the contralateral MPC. Evidence is discussed that suggests that the interhemispheric collaterals of MPC corticoamygdaloid neurons may serve to correlate the amygdaloid outputs of the MPC bilaterally.
DISSOLUTION BEHAVIOR OF CRYSTALLINE SOLVATED AND NONSOLVATED FORMS OF SOME PHARMACEUTICALS.

Relative rates of dissolution of several crystalline steroids, xanthines, and other solid drugs have been measured to determine the effect of solvate formation on this property. Equations have been derived relating the solubility products and diffusional constants to rates of solution of organic solvates. The results suggest that the tendency of many drugs to form such adducts provide pharmaceutical investigators a powerful tool in effecting rapid dissolution of highly insoluble substances.
Coverage and Robustness of mm-Wave Urban Cellular Networks: Multi-Frequency HetNets Are the 5G Future

Cellular deployments in the spectrum-rich mm-wave bands are anticipated to provide multi-Gbps connectivity in future 5G networks. Although measurements have demonstrated the feasibility of outdoor mm-wave links, the network-level opportunities and challenges of mm-wave cellular deployments are yet to be fully understood. In this paper we present a study of mm-wave urban network coverage and robustness - i.e. handover and beamsteering opportunities for supporting user mobility and resolving blockage of directional mm-wave links by moving obstacles. We use real 3D building data with ray tracing and investigate the impact of base station placement and density, building materials, and antenna directivity. Our results show that mm-wave networks can provide multi-Gbps connectivity locally, but that over 25% of the network area remains in outage even with dense pico-cellular deployments and that supporting mobility is very challenging. Moreover, primary link blockage can be resolved via handover or beamsteering to a secondary link at only up to 40% and 25% of high-throughput locations, respectively. Given these networking challenges, we argue that multi-frequency heterogeneous networks are the key to exploiting the great promise of mm-wave for future 5G deployments, i.e. mm-wave as a hotspot capacity booster, rather than a solution for comprehensive cellular coverage.
A novel electrical resistance tomography system based on C4D technique

For the traditional electrical resistance tomography systems, the contact between the electrodes and liquid may result in electrode corrosion, which limits the application of ERT in industry. In this paper, a new electrical resistance tomography system based on capacitively coupled contactless conductivity technique was developed. The conductivity distribution of liquid between electrodes can be measured without direct contact with the liquid. The data acquisition system is designed based on phase-sensitive demodulation method. Experiment results show that the conductivity distribution images can be reconstructed.
Do Newly Retired Workers in the United States Have Sufficient Resources to Maintain Well-Being?

A current policy issue is the extent to which savings are sufficient to sustain economic well-being in retirement. We compare annuitized wealth at retirement to three preretirement consumption estimates. About one-half of new retirees have insufficient resources to enable the full maintenance of estimated preretirement consumption in retirement, and about 40% fail to meet the "0.7 of earnings" standard that is used in many studies. Using standards reflecting social (poverty) norms we find a less serious problem. About 5% (25%) of new retirees have insufficient resources to enable an above-poverty (near-poverty) level of living during retirement. (JEL J14, J26) Copyright 2006, Oxford University Press.
Adalimumab therapy for refractory uveitis: a pilot study.

PURPOSE The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of adalimumab in treating refractory autoimmune uveitis. METHODS This work was a prospective, noncomparative, nonrandomized, clinical trial. Nineteen (19) patients meeting eligibility criteria received a 40-mg subcutaneous (s.c.) injection of adalimumab every other week during 1 year. RESULTS All patients underwent an outcome assessment at month 12. Visual acuity improved by -0.3 logMar in 12 (31%) eyes of 38, and worsened by +0.3 logMar in 1 (2.6%) eye. All patients had an active intraocular inflammation at baseline, and 12 patients (63%) achieved control of their inflammation with adalimumab at the end of follow-up. After optic coherence tomography, 33 eyes (86%) had cystoid macular edema (CME) at baseline, and at the end of follow-up there was a complete resolution of CME in 18 of these 33 eyes (54.54%). All patients were able to reduce at least 50% of the dose of the concomitant immunosuppressive drugs at the end of follow-up. Adalimumab was well tolerated in all patients, and only local minor side effects at the s.c. injection site were observed. Nevertheless, 8 patients (42.10%) had relapses during the follow-up period that were controlled with 1 periocular steroid injection. CONCLUSIONS Adalimumab seems to be an effective, safe therapy for the management of refractory uveitis and may provide the possibility to reduce the concomitant immunosuppressive drugs in these patients. Further long-term studies are warranted to determine the safety and efficacy of adalimumab in treating intraocular inflammation.