Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Public Housing Redevelopment, Neighborhood Change, and the Restructuring of Urban Inequality1

Housing policy plays a central role in the reproduction of urban inequalities. This study asks whether one such policy—public housing redevelopment via the federal HOPE VI program—altered the trajectories of high-poverty, racially segregated neighborhoods and reduced urban neighborhood inequality. Using a novel spatially integrated data set that combines administrative data with census data for 168 U.S. cities, the authors find that public housing redevelopment had significant direct and indirect spillover effects on neighborhood racial and economic composition between 1990 and 2010. The change induced by public housing redevelopment was ecologically significant, altering durable racial and economic hierarchies among urban neighborhoods. Changes in poor, minority neighborhoods were driven largely by displacement, however, from a net reduction in the number of poor and nonwhite residents. The authors evaluate the significance of these results for theories of neighborhood effects, gentrification, and durable urban inequality and discuss implications for urban policy.
Preparing to fight back: generation and storage of priming compounds

Immune-stimulated plants are able to respond more rapidly and adequately to various biotic stresses allowing them to efficiently combat an infection. During the priming phase, plant are stimulated in absence of a challenge, and can accumulate and store conjugates or precursors of molecules as well as other compounds that play a role in defense. These molecules can be released during the defensive phase following stress. These metabolites can also participate in the first stages of the stress perception. Here, we report the metabolic changes occuring in primed plants during the priming phase. β-aminobutyric acid (BABA) causes a boost of the primary metabolism through the tricarboxylic acids (TCA) such as citrate, fumarate, (S)-malate and 2-oxoglutarate, and the potentiation of phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and the octodecanoic pathway. On the contrary, Pseudomonas syringae pv tomato (PstAvrRpt2) represses the same pathways. Both systems used to prime plants share some common signals like the changes in the synthesis of amino acids and the production of SA and its glycosides, as well as IAA. Interestingly, a product of the purine catabolism, xanthosine, was found to accumulate following both BABA- and PstAvrRpt2-treatement. The compounds that are strongly affected in this stage are called priming compounds, since their effect on the metabolism of the plant is to induce the production of primed compounds that will help to combat the stress. At the same time, additional identified metabolites suggest the possible defense pathways that plants are using to get ready for the battle.
Organizational Capability in the Public Sector: A Configurational Approach

This paper brings together resource-based theory and contingency theory to analyse organizational capability in the public sector. Fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis is used to identify configurations of organizational attributes (department size, structural complexity, agencification, personnel instability, use of temporary employees), associated with high and low organizational capability in UK central government departments. Findings identify a single core configuration of organizational attributes associated with high capability departments - low structural complexity and personnel stability. Two core configurations are associated with low capability departments – personnel instability, and the combination of structural complexity and departmental agencification. Based on the configurations evident in successful and struggling organizations, discussion illuminates potential organizational design strategies to improve public sector organizational capability.
Association between high homocyst(e)ine and ischemic stroke due to large- and small-artery disease but not other etiologic subtypes of ischemic stroke.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Elevated plasma homocyst(e)ine may be a causal and modifiable risk factor for ischemic stroke, but the results of previous studies have been conflicting. One possible explanation is that homocyst(e)ine may only be associated with certain pathophysiological subtypes of ischemic stroke. METHODS We conducted a case-control study of 219 hospital cases with a first-ever ischemic stroke and 205 randomly selected community control subjects stratified by age, sex, and postal code. With the use of established criteria, cases of stroke were classified by etiologic subtype in a blinded fashion. The prevalence of conventional vascular risk factors, fasting plasma homocyst(e)ine levels, vitamin levels, and nucleotide 677 methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) genotypes were determined in cases and controls. RESULTS Increasing homocyst(e)ine was a strong and independent risk factor for ischemic stroke (adjusted OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.4 to 5.1 for a 5-micromol/L increase in fasting plasma homocyst(e)ine from 10 to 15 micromol/L). Compared with the lowest quartile, the highest quartile of homocyst(e)ine was associated with an adjusted OR of ischemic stroke of 2.2 (95% CI 1.1 to 4.2). Mean plasma homocyst(e)ine was significantly higher in cases of ischemic stroke due to large-artery disease (14.1 micromol/L, 95% CI 12.5 to 15.9, P<0.001) and small-artery disease (12.7 micromol/L, 95% CI 11. 4 to 14.1, P=0.004) compared with control subjects (10.5 micromol/L; 95% CI 10.0 to 11.0) but not in cardioembolic or other etiologic subtypes of ischemic stroke. Compared with the lowest quartile of homocyst(e)ine, the upper 3 quartiles were associated with an adjusted OR of ischemic stroke due to large-artery disease of 3.0 (95% CI 0.8 to 10.8) for the second quartile, 5.6 (95% CI 1.6 to 20) for the third quartile, and 8.7 (95% CI 2.4 to 32) for the fourth quartile (P for trend=0.0005). However, despite a clear association between the TT MTHFR genotype and elevated fasting plasma homocyst(e)ine, there was no association between MTHFR genotype and ischemic stroke or subtype of ischemic stroke. CONCLUSIONS There is a strong, graded association between increasing plasma homocyst(e)ine and ischemic stroke caused by large-artery atherosclerosis and, to a much lesser extent, small-artery disease, but not cardioembolic or other etiologic subtypes of ischemic stroke. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that the deleterious effect of high homocyst(e)ine is mediated primarily via a proatherogenic effect.
Application of Real-time Ultrasound Elastography in Diagnosing Benign and Malignant Thyroid Solid Nodules

Objective Real-time ultrasound elastography (US-E) is a helpful tool in diagnosing thyroid nodules. This study aims to evaluate thyroid solid nodules, to establish the accuracy of US-E in providing information on the nature of these nodules, and to assess the clinical value of elasticity scores (ES) and strain ratio (SR) in differentiating thyroid solid nodules and to explore its distribution characteristics using pathological analysis as reference. Methods Traditional ultrasonography and US-E were performed on 131 thyroid solid nodules (99 benign ones and 32 malignant ones) in 120 patients (78 females and 41 males). Three radiologists evaluated the nodules based on a four-degree elasticity scoring system. The nodules were classiﬁed according to the ES as soft (ES 1-2) or hard (ES 3-4). The SR was calculated online. Results The sensitivity and speciﬁcity of the ES for thyroid cancer diagnosis were 78% and 80%, respectively. SR values ≥ 2.9 used as a standard to distinguish benign from malignant nodules had a sensitivity of 87% and a specificity of 92%. The SR of the benign lesions was 1.64±1.37, which was significantly different from that of malignant lesions, which was 4.96±2.13 (P<0.01). Conclusions Both the ES and SR were higher in malignant nodules than those in benign ones. Real-time US-E was a useful index in the differential diagnosis of thyroid solid nodules. It can provide quantitative information on thyroid nodule characterization and improve diagnostic confidence.
Simulation of Driver Behavior with Agent-Based Back-Propagation Neural Network

Two microscopic simulation methods are compared for driver behavior: the Gazis–Herman–Rothery (GHR) car-following model and a proposed agent-based neural network model. To analyze individual driver characteristics, a back-propagation neural network is trained with car-following episodes from the data of one driver in the naturalistic driving database to establish action rules for a neural agent driver to follow under perceived traffic conditions during car-following episodes. The GHR car-following model is calibrated with the same data set, using a genetic algorithm. The car-following episodes are carefully extracted and selected for model calibration and training as well as validation of the calibration rules. Performances of the two models are compared, with the results showing that at less than 10-Hz data resolution the neural agent approach outperforms the GHR model significantly and captures individual driver behavior with 95% accuracy in driving trajectory.
Exploring the Relationship Between Physical Activity and Symptom Severity in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Objective While the beneficial effects of exercise on physical and mental well-being, as well as the symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), are well known, there is a gap in literature on the effect of physical activity (PA) on the psycho-social symptoms of ASD. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between physical activity and symptom severity in adolescents with ASD.
Does Better Corporate Governance “ Cause ” Better Firm Performance ?

One strand of the literature has found different good governance measures to be positively correlated with firm performance, while assuming governance measures to be exogenous. Using the results of these papers, many have suggested that changing a firm’s governance characteristics will “cause” firm performance to improve. This paper examines this causality argument by looking at changes in corporate governance and subsequent firm performance. We examine governance changes in three uniquely constructed samples that “stack the deck” in favor of the hypothesis that good governance changes “causes” better performance. In all three samples, however, we find no significant performance differences between firms with good governance changes and firms with bad governance changes, which is strong evidence against the null that better corporate governance leads to better firm performance. These results are robust to: firm performance defined as industryadjusted stock returns, industry-adjusted accounting profits, or asset pricing regression Alpha, a large sample of firms, and a broad set of governance measures. __________________________________________ *Rutgers Business School. We thank Yakov Amihud, Ivan E. Brick, Matt Clayton, Bikki Jaggi, Simi Kedia, Francis Longstaff, Sheridan Titman, and David Yermack for helpful discussions, Chia-Jane Wang for compensation and board data, and seminar participants at Rutgers Business School. We also thank the Whitcomb Financial Services Center and the Rutgers Research Council for financial support. All errors remain our responsibility. Corresponding author: Darius Palia, Rutgers Business School – Newark and New Brunswick, Rutgers University, 94 Rockafeller Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854. dpalia@rci.rutgers. edu
Work motivation and public service motivation: disentangling varieties of motivation and job satisfaction

ABSTRACT Research on motivation in the public sector has used public service motivation (PSM) and self-determination theory (SDT) interchangeably. This paper compares both theories, develops hypotheses pertaining to their assumptions, and empirically tests them in two public offices in Switzerland. We then explore their relationship with job satisfaction as an indicator of predictive validity. We find that SDT and PSM display conceptual differentiation and SDT has a strongest relationship to job satisfaction. However, moderation analysis suggests that employees with high levels of PSM have more stable job satisfaction compared to their low-PSM counterparts.
System Identification using the Neural-Extended Kalman Filter for Control Modification

The neural extended Kalman filter has been shown to be able to work and train on-line in a control loop and as a state estimator for maneuver target tracking. Often, however, the design of a control system does not have a state estimator in the feedback loop. The ability of the NEKF to learn dynamics in an open-loop implementation, such as with target tracking and intercept prediction, can be used to identify mis-modeled dynamics. The improved system model can then be used to adapt the control law to provide better performance based on the actual system dynamics. This new approach to neural extended Kalman filter control operations is introduced in this work using applications to the nonlinear version of the standard cart-pendulum system.
Altered Effective Connectivity among Core Neurocognitive Networks in Idiopathic Generalized Epilepsy: An fMRI Evidence

Idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE) patients with generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCS) suffer long-term cognitive impairments, and present a higher incidence of psychosocial and psychiatric disturbances than healthy people. It is possible that the cognitive dysfunctions and higher psychopathological risk in IGE-GTCS derive from disturbed causal relationship among core neurocognitive brain networks. To test this hypothesis, we examined the effective connectivity across the salience network (SN), default mode network (DMN), and central executive network (CEN) using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data collected from 27 IGE-GTCS patients and 29 healthy controls. In the study, a combination framework of time domain and frequency domain multivariate Granger causality analysis was firstly proposed, and proved to be valid and accurate by simulation experiments. Using this method, we then observed significant differences in the effective connectivity graphs between the patient and control groups. Specifically, between-group statistical analysis revealed that relative to the healthy controls, the patients established significantly enhanced Granger causal influence from the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex to the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, which is coherent both in the time and frequency domains analyses. Meanwhile, time domain analysis also revealed decreased Granger causal influence from the right fronto-insular cortex to the posterior cingulate cortex in the patients. These findings may provide new evidence for functional brain organization disruption underlying cognitive dysfunctions and psychopathological risk in IGE-GTCS.
Renoprotective effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Rheum ribes root in diabetic female rats

Objective: Medical plants, as rich sources of natural antioxidants with antidiabetic effects, are used worldwide to diminish a variety of symptoms and many diseases. R. ribes L. , which belongs to the family of polygonaceae, can provide symptomatic relief and assist in the prevention of the secondary complications of the diabetes. Material and Methods: 36 female adult rats were randomly divided into 6 groups of 6. Normal Control groups treated with normal saline. Positive control groups treated with hydroalcohlic extract of R. ribes root (150 mg/kg) daily by gavages for 4 consecutive weeks. Diabetes was inducedby injection of 120 mg/kg alloxan monohydrate intraperitoneally. Two diabetic groups were treated with different doses of R. ribes root extract. The sixth diabetic groups were treated with glibenclamide (0.6 mg/kg). At the end of 28 days, blood samples were collected and their kidney tissues were processed for light microscopy. Results: The results showed that hydro-alcoholic extract of R. ribes decreased the level of glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, urea and creatinine in diabetic rats (p<0.05) in compared with diabetic rats, while the level of HDL increased at the same group (p<0.05). Histopathological changes of kidney samples were comparable with respective control. In diabetic rats, kidney sections showed atrophy of glomerular capillaries with increased Bowman's space and acute tubular necrosis. The groups that were treated with R. ribes root were improved towards normal condition. Conclusion: It is interesting to note that hydroalcohlic extract of R. ribes root improves renal dysfunction in alloxan-induced diabetic rats through controlling blood glucose and renal protective effects.
Investigating the Effect of Changing Answers in Multiple-Choice Questions of Reading and Listening Tests in EFL Context

This study investigates whether the practice of answer changing on multiple-choice questions (MCQs) is beneficial for Iranian students’ overall test performance in EFL context. Several studies have shown that answer changing in multiple choice examinations is generally beneficial for improving scores. On the other hand, some studies have indicated that answer changing in multiple choice examinations results in an increased number of wrong answers rather than improved scores. In this study, two types of listening and reading comprehension multiple-choice tests were used in two different proficiency levels. The test was administered to 269 EFL students, both males and females, in Kish Language Institution, Tabriz branch. Results show that in both proficiency levels among males and females, answer-changing leads to increased number of wrong answers. Findings suggest that we should encourage students not to change their initial answers unless they have scrutinized their initial answers precisely and there are more plausible alternatives. The findings were compatible with the traditional perception ‘go with your first response’.
Facing an Arbitrage Opportunity: Trade or Wait?

In traditional thinking, an arbitrageur will trade immediately once an arbitrage opportunity appears. Is this the best strategy for the arbitrageur or it is even better to wait for the best time to trade so as to achieve the maximum profit? To answer this question, this paper studies the optimal trading strategies of an arbitrageur in a dynamic economy where the arbitrageur's trades affect prices, and the arbitrageur faces competition from other arbitrageurs exploiting the same mispricings. The proposed model considers fixed and proportional transaction costs, and closed form expressions for the threshold values in the optimal policies are provided. The theoretical and numerical results answer how the timing of the trade and the trade size depend on the magnitudes of the fixed and proportional transaction costs, the dynamics of the arbitrage opportunity, the interest rate, the market impact, and the level of competition. Furthermore, this study numerically studies how the trading horizon and the trader's risk attitude affect the arbitrageurs' decision. With competition, the start-to-trade threshold approaches the proportional cost. Our paper provides a new perspective on the existing empirical literature testing for the existence of arbitrage opportunities.
Russell–Silver Syndrome Presenting as Early Asymmetric IUGR

We report a case of severe intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) which was diagnosed as Russell–Silver syndrome (RSS) postnatally. RSS (also known as Silver–Russell syndrome) is one of more than 300 recognised forms of genetic disorder that leads to short stature. Uniparental disomy for chromosome 7 (UPD7), i.e. inheriting two copies of chromosome 7 from the mother, and a change in methylation pattern (biochemical silencing of gene expression) of chromosome 11 are the most frequently associated chromosomal defects. A wide spectrum of appearances and symptoms are associated with the condition. Most characteristics are not easily identifiable with prenatal diagnostic ultrasound. The symptom most likely to be detected sonographically is IUGR. This case seeks to raise awareness of RSS, and encourages clinicians to consider uncommon genetic disorders such as RSS as a possible cause of early asymmetric IUGR.
The Dishonesty of Honest People: A Theory of Self-Concept Maintenance

People like to think of themselves as honest. However, dishonesty pays—and it often pays well. How do people resolve this tension? This research shows that people behave dishonestly enough to profit but honestly enough to delude themselves of their own integrity. A little bit of dishonesty gives a taste of profit without spoiling a positive self-view. Two mechanisms allow for such self-concept maintenance: inattention to moral standards and categorization malleability. Six experiments support the authors’ theory of self-concept maintenance and offer practical applications for curbing dishonesty in everyday life.
Collaborative Recommendation with Multiclass Preference Context

Factorization- and neighborhood-based methods have been recognized as state-of-the-art approaches for collaborative recommendation tasks. In this article, the authors take user ratings as categorical multiclass preferences and propose a novel method called matrix factorization with multiclass preference context (MF-MPC), which integrates an enhanced neighborhood based on the assumption that users with similar past multiclass preferences (instead of one-class preferences in SVD++) will have similar tastes in the future. The main merit of MF-MPC is its ability to make use of the multiclass preference context in the factorization framework in a fine-grained manner and thus inherit the advantages of those two methods. Experimental results on three real-world datasets show that their solution can perform significantly better than factorization-based methods, neighborhood-based methods, and integrated methods with a one-class preference context.
Negotiation and the Internet : Users ’ Expectations and Acceptance

New information technologies invariably provide excellent opportunities for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of decision making and negotiation, through the development of novel decision support techniques. Emerging Internet related technologies and, in particular, the World Wide Web provide yet another opportunity for radical change and improvement in the support and practice of negotiations. This view is supported by the results of a cross-cultural experiment that we have been conducting over the past year as part of the InterNeg project, observing computerassisted international negotiations over the Web. One of the surprises from this experiment is the degree of acceptance that the Web/computer technology achieved among a user base comprising both experienced negotiators and students. In this paper we report our experimental results and suggest the reasons behind and requirements for successful acceptance of Web based negotiation support technology, with the aim of stimulating further exploration of the opportunities held out by these new technologies.