Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
What do we really know about the determinants of public spending on education? A robustness check of three empirical models

A variety of theories concerning the determinants of public spending on education exist, but an encompassing one has yet to be formulated. Frequently examined determinants are regime type and globalization, but the empirical results for these variables are not consistent across studies. This paper contributes to the literature by anecdotally demonstrating that insufficient theory can lead to a lack of empirical robustness. Thereto, three different empirical models are replicated and altered. It is shown that changes in the sample, the inclusion of an additional variable or a different measurement method can lead to differing estimates. This instability is sometimes exacerbated by statistical shortcomings such as autocorrelation. In this study, both the results for regime type, measured by democracy, and globalization, captured by log trade openness, vary across samples and models, showing positive or insignificant effects. Regarding log trade openness, cross-country and within-country effects seem to differ systematically, which is contrary to previous findings and inexplicable by current theory. Given the lack of robustness, interpretation of results has to be careful and a consistent theory is needed as guidance for empirical analysis with external validity.
Effect of Cognitive Style and Professional Development on the Initiation of Radical and Non-Radical Management Accounting Innovations

This study examines the effects of adaptive/innovative cognitive style, and professional development on the initiation of radical and non-radical innovations by individual management accountants. Data are gathered through questionnaire and follow-up interviews with practising management accountants. The results show that management accountants with a more innovative (adaptive) cognitive style tend to initiate more (fewer) radical relative to non-radical innovations, and that this effect is amplified by professional development. The study has implications for research in management accounting innovation and for practice, including the importance of maintaining a balance of radical and non-radical innovations in organizations, and of professional development.
Special Interest Politics

This landmark theoretical book is about the mechanisms by which special interest groups affect policy in modern democracies. Defining a special interest group as any organization that takes action on behalf of an identifiable group of voters, Gene Grossman and Elhanan Helpman ask: How do special interest groups derive their power and influence? What determines the extent to which they are able to affect policy outcomes? What happens when groups with differing objectives compete for influence? The authors develop important theoretical tools for studying the interactions among voters, interest groups, and politicians. They assume that individuals, groups, and parties act in their own self-interest and that political outcomes can be identified with the game-theoretic concept of an equilibrium. Throughout, they progress from the simple to the more complex. When analyzing campaign giving, for example, they begin with a model of a single interest group and a single, incumbent policy maker. They proceed to add additional interest groups, a legislature with several independent politicians, and electoral competition between rival political parties. The book is organized in three parts. Part I focuses on voting and elections. Part II examines the use of information as a tool for political influence. Part III deals with campaign contributions, which interest groups may use either to influence policy makers' positions and actions or to help preferred candidates to win election.
The distribution of cultural and biological diversity in Africa

Anthropologists, biologists and linguists have all noted an apparent coincidence in species diversity and human cultural or linguistic diversity. We present, to our knowledge, one of the first quantitative descriptions of this coincidence and show that, for 2° × 2° grid cells across sub–Saharan Africa, cultural diversity and vertebrate species diversity exhibit marked similarities in their overall distribution. In addition, we show that 71% of the observed variation in species richness and 36% in language richness can be explained on the basis of environmental factors, suggesting that similar factors, especially those associated with rainfall and productivity, affect the distributions of both species and languages. Nevertheless, the form of the relationships between species richness and language richness and environmental factors differs, and it is unlikely that comparable mechanisms underpin the similar patterns of species and language richness. Moreover, the fact that the environmental factors considered here explain less than half of the variation in language richness indicates that other factors, many of which are likely to be historical or social, also influence the distribution of languages.
Critical illness myopathy: what is happening?

Purpose of reviewThe current review focuses on recent studies, both clinical and from basic sciences, which approach possible pathomechanisms of critical illness myopathy in order to better derive potential clinical strategies for a preventive or curative clinical setting. Trends and concepts of clinical diagnosis and handling will be evaluated and their implications for muscle physiology and nutritional/metabolic intervention discussed. Recent findingsConventional electrophysiology was combined with direct muscle stimulation to better differentiate critical illness myopathy from other neuromuscular disorders in critical illness. Muscle weakness was the result of impaired excitation–contraction-coupling at the level of the sarcolemma and the sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane. Critical illness may alter sodium and ryanodine receptor calcium-release channels. Also, increased muscle proteolysis contributes to weakness in critical illness myopathy. Myosin loss is due to the risk factors systemic inflammatory response syndrome/sepsis, steroids and neuromuscular blocking agents. Steroids can also induce necrosis and apoptosis in muscle. Inflammatory mediators aggravated muscle metabolic failure in critical illness myopathy. Ubiquitin–proteasome pathways, cyclooxygenase activation, altered glucose transporter expression, MyoD suppression, impaired respiratory chain enzymes, ATP depletion, glucose toxicity and insulin resistance can all contribute to the critical illness myopathy pathomechanism. SummaryThe search for pathomechanisms is an important task for both clinical and basic sciences. Targets for treatment or prevention of critical illness myopathy include systemic inflammatory response, increased proteolysis and reduced antioxidative capacitance in critically ill patients.
Bite performance in clariid fishes with hypertrophied jaw adductors as deduced by bite modeling

Within clariid fishes several cranial morphologies can be discerned. Especially within anguilliform representatives an increase in the degree of hypertrophy of the jaw adductors occurs. The hypertrophy of the jaw adductors and skeletal modifications in the cranial elements have been linked to increased bite force. The functional significance of this supposed increase in bite force remains obscure. In this study, biomechanical modeling of the cranial apparatus in four clariid representatives showing a gradual increase in the hypertrophy of the jaw adductors (Clarias gariepinus, Clariallabes melas, Channallabes apus, and Gymnallabes typus) is used to investigate whether bite force actually increased. Static bite modeling shows that the apparent hypertrophy results in an increase in bite force. For a given head size, the largest bite forces are predicted for C. apus, the lowest ones for C. gariepinus, and intermediate values are calculated for the other species. In addition, also in absolute measures differences in bite force remain, with C. apus biting distinctly harder than C. gariepinus despite its smaller head size. This indicates that the hypertrophy of the jaw adductors is more than just a correlated response to the decrease in absolute head size. Further studies investigating the ecological relevance of this performance difference are needed. J. Morphol. 253:196–205, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Public debt management before, during and after the crisis

During the financial and economic crisis, the public debt ratio in the European Union increased significantly, and public debt management had to be carried out in a completely new and unfavorable environment. The authors of this paper explore the changes in public debt management during and after the crisis. They describe the way in which three members of the Union – the Netherlands, Ireland and Hungary – dealt with the challenge of government financing during the crisis. These three countries were chosen because they all had a comparatively welldeveloped public debt management system before the crisis, and also due to the fact that during the crisis those responsible for public debt management pursued a policy of active accommodation to current market circumstances. Therefore, these case studies can illustrate the capacity of public debt management to contribute to the prevention of a sovereign debt crisis. In the conclusion, the authors give an overview of public debt management in Croatia in the period of the crisis and compare it with public debt management in the three countries whose experiences are presented in the paper.
The validity of hierarchical information integration choice experiments to model residential preference and choice

Integrated conjoint choice models have recently been introduced in the consumer choice literature as an approach to include a large number of influential attributes in a choice experiment and statistically test its assumed hierarchical structure. In the present article, the validity of integrated conjoint choice models is tested using housing choice as an example. The results of this study suggest that the parameters of housing utility functions derived from integrated conjoint choice models are not statistically different across experiments nor are they different from those derived from nonhierarchical conjoint models. This yields support for the validity of these models. Implications of these findings are discussed.
Cannabis and its Effects on Pilot Performance and Flight Safety: A Review

Cannabis is a commonly used recreational drug, which has widespread effects within the body. Smoking is the most common form of administration. The adverse effects of cannabis on behaviour, cognitive function and psychomotor performance are dose-dependent and related to task difficulty. Complex tasks such as driving or flying are particularly sensitive to the performance impairing effects of cannabis. Chronic cannabis use is associated with a number of adverse health effects, and there is evidence suggesting the development of tolerance to chronic use as well as a well-defined withdrawal syndrome. There is also evidence that the residual effects of cannabis can last up to 24 hours. Significantly, the modern dose of cannabis is much more potent than in the past, when the majority of the research was conducted. As such, the reported adverse health effects may well be conservative. Although only a limited number of studies have examined the effects of cannabis on pilot performance, the results overall have been consistent. Flying skills deteriorate, and the number of minor and major errors committed by the pilot increase, while at the same time the pilot is often unaware of any performance problems. Cannabis use in a pilot is therefore a significant flight safety hazard.
Tail Risk Management

In the current deleveraging episode, the severity and simultaneous realization of low-probability events across a number of strategies has brought portfolio tail-risk hedging to the center of investors' attention. In this article, the author discusses the basic principles and implementation considerations behind portfolio tail-risk management, emphasizing the importance of viewing tail risk as the consequence of a systemic shock during which normally uncorrelated markets become correlated due to a reduction in liquidity. This approach suggests that tail risk should be measured by performing macro scenario analysis and that hedges should be picked based on their cost and joint performance in periods of stress relative to the portfolio being hedged. Since liquidity reduction is a typical consequence of systemic shocks, the author also discusses specific operational issues that come to the fore in such events.
Source and identification of histamine-producing bacteria from fresh and temperature-abused albacore.

Histamine-producing bacteria were isolated from fresh and temperature-abused albacore using two different isolation procedures. Typically, the bacterial isolates on Niven's or modified Niven's medium produced negligible or low levels of histamine (<300 ppm) in histamine enumeration broth. The most frequently found species using this approach was Hafnia alvei. By prescreening on selective media (eosin methylene blue [EMB] agar for enteric bacteria; deMan Rogosa Sharpe agar for lactic acid bacteria: KF streptococcus agar for streptococci; pseudomonas isolation [PI] agar for pseudomonads; and staphylococcus medium 110 agar for staphylococci) prior to plating on histidine decarboxylase differential media, detection rate of true histamine formers increased. Prolific histamine producers capable of forming >1,000 ppm histamine in culture broth were isolated when PI and EMB agars were used for prescreening. Among the selective media tested, EMB agar was most effective in selecting high histamine producers, as demonstrated by the highest rate of true positives based on histamine analysis. Histamine-producing isolates were mostly enteric bacteria, including Morganella morganii, H. alvei, Klebsiella spp. , Citrobacter freundii, Enterobacter spp. , and Serratia spp. M. morganii isolated on PI agar from temperature-abused albacore muscle was found to be the highest histamine former. This species was not isolated from fresh albacore. while other enteric bacteria were frequently detected on the gills. However, only a few species isolated from both fresh and temperature-abused muscles were identified as high histamine formers.
Public Attitudes to the Use of Wildlife by Aboriginal Australians: Marketing of Wildlife and its Conservation

Indigenous Australians have socioeconomic attributes similar to those of residents in some developing countries. Their utilisation of wildlife could add to their economic opportunities. Attitudes of a sample of the Australian public towards the subsistence use of wildlife by Indigenous Australians and whether or not they should be allowed to sell wildlife and wildlife products are examined. Allowing such possibilities could provide economic incentives for nature conservation among local people. We explore whether those sampled believe that Indigenous Australians should do more than other groups and institutions to conserve Australia's tropical species, and whether or not they should be allowed to take common as well as endangered wildlife species for food. Attitudes of the sampled public towards Indigenous Australians earning income from trophy hunting and from the harvesting of northern long-necked turtles for the pet trade are canvassed. The possible conservation consequences of sale of wildlife by Indigenous Australians are discussed.
The Demand for Football Pools in Spain

Using data for all the fixtures for the seasons from 1972-73 to 2002-03, we estimate a dynamic model of demand for football pools in Spain paying attention to the effect of the main economic explanatory variables: the face value of a coupon, the effective price of a bet, and the jackpot. Additionally, we evaluate the importance of the composition of the list of games in the coupon, i.e., whether First Division matches are included. Results show that both the face value and the jackpot, but not the effective price, have significant effects on sales, which could have important implications in terms of how the structure of the game should be changed in order to have an effect on sales.
The impact of budget stabilization funds on state pension contributions

Despite the shortfalls in public employee pension funds, there is little known about the effect of fiscal institutions on pension funding. This paper focuses attention on the link between pension contributions and budget stabilization funds (BSFs) over the period 1997–2008. It employs the Blundell–Bond (1998) estimator in order to address the concern that the deposit and withdrawal rules that drive the management of BSFs may be endogenous to state pension contributions. Empirical results suggest that BSFs with strict deposit rules are associated with higher pension contributions, while strict withdrawal rules are associated with lower contributions.
Analysis and Forecast of Shaanxi GDP Based on the ARIMA Model

Based on the 2008 Shaanxi Statistical Yearbook and the relevant data of Shaanxi GDP in the years 1952-2007, SPSS statistical software and time series analysis are used to establish ARIMA (1.2,1) time series model, according to the four steps, recognition rules and stationary test of time series under AIC criterion. ACF graph and PACF graph are used to conduct the applicability test on model. Then, the actual value and predicted value in the years 2002-2007 are compared in order to forecast the GDP of Shaanxi Province in the next 6 years based on this model. Result shows that the relative error of actual value and predicted value is within the range of 5%, and the forecasting effect of this model is relatively good. It is forecasted that the GDP of Shaanxi Province is 647.750, 765.662, 905.866, 10735.10, 12744.69 and 15158.20 billion yuan in the year from 2008 to 2013, respectively. According to the result, GDP of Shaanxi Province shoes a higher growth trend in the years 2008-2013. The forecasting result of this model is only a predicted value. But the national economy is a complex and dynamic system. We should pay attention to the risk of adjustment in economic operation and adjust the corresponding target value according to the actual situation.
Community based study of sexually transmitted diseases in rural women in the highlands of Papua New Guinea: prevalence and risk factors.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and determine their risk factors/markers among a rural population of women in the highlands of Papua New Guinea. METHODS: Community based random cluster sample of women of reproductive age were interviewed and examined and had specimens collected for laboratory confirmation of chlamydial and trichomonal infection, gonorrhoea, syphilis, and bacterial vaginosis. RESULTS: Chlamydia trachomatis was detected in 26%, Trichomonas vaginalis in 46%, Neisseria gonorrhoeae in 1%, syphilis in 4%, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) (diagnosed clinically) in 14%, and bacterial vaginosis in 9% of 201 women. 59% of the women had at least one STD. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis taking the clustered sampling into account, independent risk factors for chlamydial infection were age < or = 25 years, < four living children, visualization of yellow mucopurulent endocervical secretions on a white swab, and bacterial vaginosis. Being married to a man who did not have other wives was protective. For trichomonal infection, independent risk factors were having no formal education, infertility, more than one sexual partner in the previous 12 months, treatment for genital complaints in the previous 3 months, abnormal vaginal discharge detected on examination, and chlamydial infection. Similar levels of trichomonal infection were found in all age groups. Among married women, rates of infection correlated with their perception of their husband having had other sexual partners in the previous 3 months, and this relationship was significant for chlamydial infection among women over 25. CONCLUSION: STDs are a major problem in this population, with the risk factors varying by outcome. Current treatment regimens are inappropriate given the high prevalence of trichomonal infection, and the available services are inadequate. Effective interventions are required urgently to reduce this burden and to prevent the rapid transmission of HIV.
Previous cervical cytology and high-risk human papillomavirus testing in a cohort of patients with invasive cervical carcinoma in Shandong Province, China

Background Currently, available data regarding previous cervical cytology and high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) test results to detect invasive cervical cancer are limited and controversial in China. Therefore, this retrospective study in a population of Chinese women with invasive cervical carcinoma aimed to gain further insight into the roles of cytology and hrHPV testing in cervical cancer screening. Methods A total of 1214 cases with a histological diagnosis of invasive cervical cancer were retrieved from the Pathology Database of Jinan KingMed Diagnostics (JKD) over a 5-year period. Previous cytology and hrHPV test results of 469 patients carried out within the year before cancer diagnosis were documented. Results A higher percentage of patients who had undergone prior screening had micro-invasive cervical carcinoma than patients who had no prior screening (25.4% vs. 12.1%, P < 0.001). Of the 469 patients with available prior screening results, 170 had cytology alone, 161 had hrHPV testing alone, and 138 had both cytology and hrHPV testing. There was a significantly lower percentage of hrHPV-positive cases with adenocarcinoma than with squamous cell carcinoma (77.8% vs. 96.4%, P = 0.001). The hrHPV test showed a significantly higher sensitivity than cytology alone (94.4% vs. 85.3%, P = 0.006). The overall sensitivity of the combination of cytology and hrHPV testing (98.6%) was much higher than that of cytology alone (P < 0.001) but only marginally higher than that of hrHPV testing alone (P = 0.058). Conclusions The results revealed that prior cervical screening can detect a significantly larger number of micro-invasive cervical cancers. The hrHPV test can provide a more sensitive and efficient strategy than cytology alone. As the addition of cytology to hrHPV testing can only marginally increase the efficiency of the hrHPV test, hrHPV testing should be used as the primary screening approach, especially in the low-resource settings of China.
The challenge of children's rights for Canada

Canada signed the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child over a decade ago, yet there is still a lack of awareness about and provision for children's rights. What are Canada's obligations to children? How has Canada fallen short? Why is it so important to the future of Canadian society that children's rights be met? Prompted by the gap between the promise of children's rights and the reality of their continuing denial, Katherine Covell and R. Brian Howe call for changes to existing laws, policies and practices. Using the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child as their framework, the authors examine the continuing problems of child poverty, child care, child protection, youth justice and the suppression of children's voices. They challenge us to move from seeing children as parental property to seeing children as independent bearers of rights. In The Challenge of Children's Rights for Canada, Canada's obligations and the rights of children are examined from the perspectives of research and development in the fields of developmental psychology, developmental neuroscience, law and family policy. This timely and accessible book will be of interest to academics, policy-makers and anyone who cares about children and about taking children's rights seriously.