Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Positive Events as a Stress Buffer for Children and Adolescents in Families in Transition

This study examined whether positive events mitigated the relation between negative events and maladjustment in samples of children and adolescents experiencing family transitions. The study examined this relation in two samples, used multiple reporters of maladjustment, and employed "tailor-made" checklists to measure events. The first sample included 86 stepfamilies with adolescents 10 to 17 years of age. The second sample included 171 divorced families with children 8 to 15 years of age. Evidence that positive events are protective for children and adolescents experiencing high levels of negative events was found across the 2 samples and across mother and child report of adjustment. These findings have implications for theory and intervention development.
Duopoly Strategies Programmed by Experienced Players

The strategy method asks experienced subjects to program strategies for a game. This paper reports on an application to a 20-period supergame of an asymmetric Cournot duopoly. The final strategies after three programming rounds show a typical structure. Typically, no expectations are formed and nothing is optimized. Instead of this, fairness criteria are used to determine cooperative goals, called ideal points. The subjects try to achieve cooperation by a measure-for-measure policy, which reciprocates movements towards and away from the ideal point by similar movements. A strategy tends to be more successful the more typical it is.
Russia's energy governance transitions and implications for enhanced cooperation with China, Japan, and South Korea

A Tokyo-based economist and a noted western economic geographer, both specializing in the hydrocarbon resources of Russia, apply the framework of governance studies in an effort to gain a deeper understanding of the recent changes in the country's energy policy-making. The authors argue that, unlike the international relations paradigm prevailing in studies of Russia's energy policy, the country's multiple roles in the international energy arena (as producer, consumer, exporter, importer, and transit state) warrant a more nuanced approach, reflecting Russian energy policy's flexibility over time and diversity across space. This paper endeavors, therefore, to apply a political economy and governance perspective to an understanding of the significant changes in Russia's energy policy-making regarding its dynamic energy relations with the Northeast Asia (NEA; China, Japan, and South Korea). In exploring the complex interactions between Russia's internal energy policy-making and its emerging energy relations in NEA, the authors addresses three key questions, namely: (1) how Russia's Asian energy policy corresponds to its domestic needs, (2) how much coherence in energy governance and cooperation exists between Russia and the Northeast Asian states at the institutional and organizational levels, and (3) the extent to which Russia's expectations for increased energy cooperation with the Northeast Asian states are likely to materialize.
On the Seebeck Coefficient and Its Temperature Dependence for Standard CMOS Materials

This paper presents an extensive experimental study of the Seebeck coefficients in several conductive materials offered by standard CMOS technology when subject to a high temperature gradient. The measurements have been carried out on specific devices designed and fabricated in high-temperature SOI technology, comprising: one heating element, several thermopiles with different combinations of materials, and two highly sensitive, low leakage SOI diodes used to calibrate the absolute temperature in different points of the structure. To increase the accuracy, the chip characterization is performed in a controlled temperature chamber, with different values of the environmental temperature in the range 20 °C to 40 °C. This analysis leads to the extraction of the relative Seebeck coefficients for all thermocouples made with specific CMOS materials and, from that, the absolute values for the various materials at high temperature.
Comment on “The Diffusion of a Medical Innovation: Is Success in the Stars?”

Burke, Fournier, and Prasad (2007), henceforth BFP, recently presented in these pages an important and path-breaking exploration of social learning models, noting potential welfare consequences of heterogeneous diffusions of innovations in medicine. Unfortunately, while I am broadly sympathetic to the central hypothesis of social learning in medical practice, there remains a series of questions regarding the conceptual model of BFP.1 Establishing the claim that social influences may significantly affect the timing and rate of technological adoption among physicians would be easier if these key issues were addressed differently. Most prominent of these issues is the possibility of omitting key variables that might independently explain diffusion of medical innovations. In this light, it is instructive to consider the backstory to the classic study of Coleman, Katz, and Menzel (1966), which investigated the dynamics of physician adoption of tetracycline antibiotics. As BFP point out, Coleman, Katz, and Menzel found that peer effects mediated by influential physicians drove adoption. Unfortunately, when Van den B? lte and Lilien (2001) reanalyzed Coleman's data and controlled for pharmaceutical company marketing mix variables, the conclusion was that peer effects were no longer significant drivers of adoption. Notwithstanding these comments, I conjecture that the heterogeneous adoption observed in practice is due to serious structural issues (principally the unequal distribution of higher volume teaching and for-profit hospitals, rather than unequal distributions of particular star physicians). BFP's central conclusion on the resultant unequal adoption/utilization entailing welfare costs is thus likely to remain an important and urgent one, albeit one even less amenable to policy changes.
Competition and Cooperation in Economic Development: A Study of the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area

The competition between local governments for economic development is generally regarded as producing both inefficiencies and inequities. Competition forces governments to increase subsidies and incentives offered to private firms, favors new firms over existing businesses, and often results in merely the relocation of investment rather than in increased levels of private sector activity. Economic development policies in the Twin Cities metropolitan area are examined to determine the extent and patterns of competition as well as the potential for cooperative development between neighboring governments. The findings reveal that competition and cooperation are not opposites, and in fact exist side by side. Although prospects for cooperative approaches seem good, competition is also likely to continue.
Why and Wherefore of Increased Scientific Collaboration

This paper examines international and domestic collaborations using data from an original survey of corresponding authors and Web of Science data of articles that had at least one US coauthor in the fields of Particle and Field Physics, Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, and Biotechnology and Applied Microbiology. The data allow us to investigate the connections among coauthors and the views of corresponding authors about the collaboration. We have four main findings. First, we find that US collaborations have increased across US cities as well as across international borders, with the nature of collaborations across cities resembling that across countries. Second, face-to-face meetings are important in collaborations: most collaborators first met working in the same institution and communicate often through meetings with coauthors from distant locations. Third, the main reason for most collaborations is to combine the specialized knowledge and skills of coauthors, but there are substantial differences in the mode of collaborations between small lab-based science and big science, where international collaborations are more prevalent. Fourth, for biotech, we find that citations to international papers are higher compared to papers with domestic collaborators only, but not for the other two fields. Moreover, in all three fields, papers with the same number of coauthors had lower citations if they were international collaborations. Overall, our findings suggest that all collaborations are best viewed from a framework of collaborations across space broadly, rather than in terms of international as opposed to domestic collaborative activity.
Nucleotide sequence analysis of the long terminal repeat of murine virus-like DNA (VL30) and its adjacent sequences: resemblance to retrovirus proviruses

VL30 DNA represents a retrovirus-like multigene family of mice whose genetic origin is unknown. We have now determined the primary nucleotide sequences and the adjacent sequences of the long terminal direct repeats (LTRs) possessed by a randomly selected VL30 unit. The LTR of the VL30 unit comprised 435 nucleotide base pairs and had an inverted repeat of five bases at its 5' and 3' termini. At the joints with flanking mouse DNA was the VL30 sequence (5')TG . CA(3') and a tetranucleotide direct repeat of flanking sequences. At the inner boundary of the 5' LTR was an 18-base sequence that is complementary to tRNApro, and at the inner boundary of the 3' LTR was a purine-rich tract ending with AATG. These results suggested that VL30 DNA used the same integration strategy that is exercised by retrovirus proviruses and transposable elements and that the VL30 LTR is synthesized in a similar way that the LTR of retroviruses is synthesized. The data thus reinforce the retrovirus-like nature of VL30 genetic information.
Targeting the ATR-CHK1 Axis in Cancer Therapy

Targeting the DNA damage response (DDR) is a new therapeutic approach in cancer that shows great promise for tumour selectivity. Key components of the DDR are the ataxia telangiectasia mutated and Rad3 related (ATR) and checkpoint kinase 1 (CHK1) kinases. This review article describes the role of ATR and its major downstream target, CHK1, in the DDR and why cancer cells are particularly reliant on the ATR-CHK1 pathway, providing the rationale for targeting these kinases, and validation of this hypothesis by genetic manipulation. The recent development of specific inhibitors and preclinical data using these inhibitors not only as chemosensitisers and radiosensitisers but also as single agents to exploit specific pathologies of tumour cells is described. These potent and specific inhibitors have now entered clinical trial and early results are presented.
Importance of B-Cell Responses for Immunological Control of Variant Strains of Simian Immunodeficiency Virus

ABSTRACT The properties of three variants of cloned simian immunodeficiency virus strain 239 (SIV239) were compared. One strain (M5) lacked five sites for N-linked carbohydrate attachment in variable regions 1 and 2 (V1 and V2) of the gp120 envelope protein, one strain (ΔV1-V2) completely lacked V1 and V2 sequences, and another (316) had nine mutations in the envelope that impart high replicative capacity for tissue macrophages. All three strains were capable of significant levels of fusion independent of CD4, and all three were considerably more sensitive to antibody-mediated neutralization than the parent strain from which they were derived. Upon experimental infection of rhesus monkeys, these three variant strains replicated to viral loads at peak height around day 14 that were indistinguishable from or only slightly less than those observed in monkeys infected with the parental SIV239 strain. Viral loads at the set point 20 to 50 weeks after infection, however, were more than 400- to 10,000-fold lower with the variant strains. Depletion of B cells around the time of infection with M5 resulted in less effective immunological control and much higher viral loads at the set point in two of three monkeys. The differences between SIV239 infection, where there is not effective immunological control, and SIVM5 infection, where there is effective immunological control, cannot be easily explained by differences in the inherent replicative capacity of the viruses; rather, they are more readily explained by differences in the effectiveness of the antibody response. These results suggest that resistance of SIV239 to antibody-mediated neutralization is very important for evading effective immunological control, for allowing continuous viral replication, for maintenance of moderate-to-high viral loads at set point, and for disease progression.
Are Short Sellers Incrementally Informed Prior to Earnings Announcements

Contrary to the hypothesis that informed short sellers increase their positions prior to earnings announcements, we find that short activity declines in the pre-announcement period compared with activity in non-announcement time. This statistically significant, but economically modest, decline may suggest that the fraction of informed short sellers actually increases if (as Diamond and Verrecchia (1987) suggest) the uncertainty around earnings announcements increases short selling costs and causes uninformed short sellers to withdraw from the market. While we find a statistically and economically significant inverse relation between pre-announcement short activity and announcement period returns, when we control for the non-announcement ability of short sellers to predict future returns documented by Diether et al. (2009), the significance of the relation between pre-announcement short activity and announcement period returns vanishes. Thus, we infer that short sellers are not incrementally informed prior to earnings announcements.
The impact of the closing call auction: an examination of effects in London

This article examines the impact on market quality that the introduction of a closing call auction had at the London Stock Exchange (LSE). Using the market model approach of Cohen et al. (1983a, b) we show that opening and closing market quality improved for those Financial Times and Stock Exchange 100 (FTSE 100) securities participating in the closing call. A control sample of stocks is not characterized by discernable changes to market quality.
Tourism and Economic Growth in Latin American Countries(LAC): Further Empirical Evidence

From 1995-2007, worldwide tourist arrivals increased about 68.2 percent (or an average annual growth rate of about 5.2 percent) from 534 million to 898 million (UNWTO, 2008). Over the same period, Latin America countries (Central and South America) have experienced a rise in tourist arrivals from 14.3 million to 27.9 million (about 49 % growth) and tourist receipts growth from $2.3 billion to $3.7 billion (about 61 % growth), respectively. The tourism industry in Latin American countries (LAC) has also experienced a sizable increase in annual market share growth rate of 8.7 percent in 2004. Despite this fact, there are only few empirical studies that investigate the contributions of tourism to economic growth and development for Latin American economies. Using a panel data of 17 Latin American countries for the years that span from 1995 to 2004, this study investigates the impact of the tourism industry on the economic growth and development Latin American countries within the framework of the conventional neoclassical growth model. The empirical results show that revenues from the tourism industry positively contribute to both the current level of gross domestic product and the economic growth of LACs as do investments in physical and human capital. Our findings imply that Latin American economies may enhance their economic growth by strategically strengthening the tourism industry while not neglecting the other sectors which also promote growth.
Safety and Effectiveness of Bone Allografts in Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion Surgery

Study Design. Systematic review. Objective. The primary aim of this review was to evaluate clinical and radiographic outcomes in studies of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) using allograft versus ACDF with autograft, ACDF with cage devices, and cervical disc arthroplasty for the treatment of symptomatic cervical disc disease. Summary of Background Data. ACDF remains the standard of care for patients with cervical radiculopathy who are unresponsive to conservative medical care. However, no known study has compared patient outcomes after ACDF with allograft, ACDF with autograft, ACDF with cage, and disc arthroplasty. Methods. After applying strict inclusion criteria, 21 comparisons from 20 studies formed the basis for this review. Patient outcomes included neck and arm pain, neck disability index (NDI), physical component summary (PCS), and mental component summary (MCS) scores from the SF-36, radiographic fusion rate, and select adverse events (e.g., wound infection, dysphagia, and adjacent segment degeneration). Results. The four treatment groups included ACDF with allograft (allograft, n = 1341), ACDF with autograft (autograft, n = 568), ACDF with cage (cage, n = 87), and cervical disc arthroplasty (arthroplasty, n = 603). Neck pain was reduced similarly by 63% to 69% in all groups. Comparable improvements were realized in arm pain after ACDF with allograft (75%) or arthroplasty (73%) that were greater than other treatment groups (62–68%). There was notable improvement in neck disability (61–65%) with allograft and arthroplasty after treatment. PCS scores improved with allograft (42%) and arthroplasty (44%). MCS scores improved modestly (16–21%) with allograft and arthroplasty. Fusion rates were 91% for allograft and autograft and 97% for cage. Adverse events were uncommon in all groups. Conclusion. ACDF with allograft, ACDF with autograft, ACDF with cage, and cervical disc arthroplasty show similar improvements in pain, function, and quality of life with correspondingly low adverse event rates. All ACDF procedures result in high fusion rates.
A fitness guided mutation operator for improved performance of MOEAs

In this paper we present a new fitness guided version of the classical polynomial mutation operator. The experimental results show that the proposed fitness guided polynomial mutation (FGPLM) operator outperforms the classical polynomial mutation operator when applied in Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGAII) in a number of performance measures that evaluate the proximity of the solutions to the Pareto front.
Control of Nonlinear and LPV Systems: Interval Observer-Based Framework

The problem of output stabilization of a class of nonlinear systems subject to parametric and signal uncertainties is studied. First, an interval observer is designed estimating the set of admissible values for the state. Next, it is proposed to design a control algorithm for the interval observer providing convergence of interval variables to zero, that implies a similar convergence of the state for the original nonlinear system. An application of the proposed technique shows that a robust stabilization can be performed for linear time-varying and linear-parameter-varying (LPV) systems without assumption that the vector of scheduling parameters is available for measurements. Efficiency of the proposed approach is demonstrated through two examples.
The fibre–folate debate in colo-rectal cancer

Intervention and prospective studies showing no effect of fibre in protection against colo-rectal cancer have challenged consensus recommendations that population intakes of fibre should be increased to reduce the risk of colo-rectal cancer. The European Prospective Investigation of Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) of 519 978 individuals aged 25–70 years is the largest prospective study of diet and cancer to date worldwide. It incorporates ten different European countries in order to increase heterogeneity in dietary habits and calibration procedures to reduce measurement error. Data for 1065 reported cases of colo-rectal cancer were reported in 2003. There was a 40% reduction in risk for the highest quintile v. lowest quintile of fibre in food after calibration. It has been suggested that these effects were a result of confounding by folate and other factors. Although there are a number of hypotheses to explain why folate should be protective in colo-rectal cancer, a meta-analysis has shown that folate in food may be protective but there is no effect of total folate (i.e. food plus supplements). In a further analysis of 1826 cases in EPIC, identified in the latest follow-up, the inclusion of an additional 761 cases has confirmed the previously published results, with a strong and significant reduction in colo-rectal cancer of approximately 9% reduction in risk for each uncalibrated quintile increase in fibre (P<0·001 for linear trend) compared with an 8% reduction in the previous report, which had not been adjusted for folate. Inclusion of the other covariates (physical activity, alcohol, smoking and red and processed meat) with folate has confirmed this significant inverse association for colon cancer and strengthened the association with left-sided colon cancer (P<0·001).
The role of intestinal transplantation in the management of babies with extensive gut resections.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE Modern neonatal care, surgical treatment, and total parenteral nutrition (TPN) have improved survival rate for babies with extensive gut resections. The authors examined the role of intestinal transplantation in the treatment of these patients. METHODS The authors reviewed all pediatric intestinal transplants performed for short bowel syndrome at our center (70 transplants performed between Aug 1994 and Feb 2002). Factors affecting patient survival were analyzed. RESULTS Older patient age at the time of transplant was a significant factor favorably affecting patient survival (P =.031). Trends toward better survival rates were observed in those transplants performed more recently (P =.063), in those patients with greater body weight (P =.084), in those not hospitalized at the time of transplant (P =.14), and in those without concomitant liver failure (P =.12). Three-year survival rate for patients greater than age 2 years and without liver failure was 90%. However, 32% of our recipients underwent transplant at age less than one year, and most in this group (75%) had concomitant liver failure. CONCLUSIONS For babies with irreversible intestinal failure, intestinal transplantation is a life-saving option. Results, which have recently improved, are best when transplantation compliments more conservative surgical treatments and TPN. However, there is a subset of patients who have liver disease early requiring urgent transplant.
PCAOB Inspections of International Audit Firms: Initial Evidence

This paper examines PCAOB inspections of international audit firms, based on an analysis of 175 first‐time and 56 second‐time inspection reports issued through February 4, 2012. We find that just over half of the inspection reports identify audit deficiencies, and two‐thirds cite quality control defects. Deficiency firms are smaller, but have more issuer clients than no‐deficiency firms, reflecting possible over‐extension into the issuer audit market. Affiliates of Big 4 firms are less likely to have deficiencies than are other firms. We find no significant differences in the rate of audit deficiencies or quality control defects based on whether the PCAOB acts alone or cooperates with a local regulator in conducting the inspection, or based on the home country's legal tradition (common law versus other). Audit deficiencies are most often related to substantive testing and the failure to perform sufficient audit procedures. The deficiencies most commonly relate to the balance sheet, while the individual account cited most often is revenues. Unlike prior research that examines US firms, there is no difference in the rate of audit deficiencies or quality control defects for first‐time versus second‐time inspections.