Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Growth and Distribution of Agrarian Assets in the Punjab

This is a micro study of the growth and distribution of the non-land agrarian assets in the Punjab between 1970 and 1984. This period of farm accumulation is interesting especially since it allows us to trace the agricultural productivity impact of the Green Revolution (introduced in the late I960s) on the distribution of wealth. The Green Revolution was based on a wide spread adoption of inputs, HYV seed, and fertiliser, albeit with some evidence of time lags and differentials across farm size, and it generated a high rate of acquisition of agrarian assets, especially tubewells and mechanisation. The introduction of the HYV inputs definitely enhanced profitability, income, and wealth in the farm sector, but its impact on the distribution of agrarian assets across income classes was not so definite. This study focuses on this less well-researched aspect of the distribution of wealth generated by the Green Revolution. To examine asset accumulation, we posit an analytical framework of exogenous and endogenous constraints on growth, which is useful in picking up both the common and contrasting patterns of growth and distribution across the two distinct regions of the Punjab, the canal colonies, and southern Punjab. The first exogenous constraint of an imperfect credit market is macro in nature, and is common to both regions, which strongly handicaps asset acquisition by small farmers. Further, there is evidence that, given the new technology, the ownership of assets is an important determinant of both growth and distribution. So this initial equity bias against small farmers in the first round of accumulation implies an even greater bias in the second round. The second endogenous constraint is regionally specific to the more land-concentrated southern region, which generates supervision costs for the largest operators, preventing them from expanding their operated area further through increased mechanisation. It also adds to the persistence in southern Punjab of the contractual form of sharecropping, in contrast to the proliferation of self-cultivation and use of wage-labour in the canal colonies.
Creating community networks: Can sporting events offer meaningful sources of social capital?

Hosting sporting events has emerged as a means for cities to reposition themselves in an increasingly competitive global marketplace. Despite the widespread use of sporting events in urban development, the degree to which the local community fits into the plans of a city's pro-growth agenda has been questioned. None the less, events may provide opportunities for community development. Thus, this paper explores the potential that the hosting of sporting events has for the creation of community networks. Following an overview of sporting events and a discussion of forms of capital, we suggest that the construct of social capital might offer an important theoretical paradigm for understanding how sporting events can be used to build community networks and facilitate improved social relations.
The Impact of Website Quality Dimensions on Customer Satisfaction in the B2C E-commerce Context

Abstract Business-to-consumer electronic commerce deals with both Web-based information systems and marketing activities. Based on the information systems and marketing literature, this study proposes a research model for understanding the influences of website quality dimensions (system quality, information quality, and service quality) on customer satisfaction. Two system quality variables (website design and interactivity), two information quality variables (informativeness and security), and three service quality variables (responsiveness, trust, and empathy) are identified as critical variables that have an impact on customer satisfaction. Data from a survey of 297 customers of online bookstores were used to test the research model. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to test the validity of the measurement model, and the structural model also was analyzed to examine the associations hypothesized in the research model. The analytical results showed that website design, interactivity, informativeness, security responsiveness, and trust affect customer satisfaction, while empathy does not have a statistically significant effect on customer satisfaction. Overall, system quality, information quality, and service quality are important antecedents of customer satisfaction. Finally, the findings in this study are expected to provide helpful guidelines to both practitioners and researchers.
Tobacco use by black and white adolescents: the validity of self-reports.

OBJECTIVES Previous studies concluded that Black adolescents use tobacco and other drugs less than White adolescents. The Black-White differences typically were attributed to variations in background and life-style. The objective of the research reported in this paper was to determine whether the presumed difference in tobacco use is due to Black-White differences in the validity of self-reports. METHODS We used biochemical measures to compare the validity of self-reports of tobacco use by 1823 Black and White adolescents and to assess the contribution of variation in validity to Black-White differences in reported tobacco use. RESULTS The sensitivity of Blacks' reports was significantly less than the sensitivity of Whites' reports. The specificity of Whites' reports was significantly less than the specificity of Blacks' reports. Much of the Black-White differences in reports of cigarette smoking and tobacco use were due to Black-White differences in validity. CONCLUSIONS Studies of Black-White differences should adjust for the invalidity of reports or acknowledge that much of the difference may be due to measurement error.
Cost Monotonic 'Construct and Charge' Rules for Connection Situations

The special class of conservative charge systems for minimum cost spanning tree (mcst) situations is introduced.These conservative charge systems lead to single-valued rules for mcst situations, which can also be described with the aid of obligation functions and are, consequently, cost monotonic.A value-theoretic interpretation of these rules is also provided.
Endocrine patterns associated with puberty in male and female cattle.

In four studies secretion patterns of LH, FSH, prolactin, testosterone and progesterone were measured in male and female cattle to determine endocrine changes associated with sexual maturation. Two periods of increasing gonadotrophin secretion were observed, the second one coinciding with puberty. A short luteal phase of 8-12 days precedes the first oestrus at 10-11 or 14 months of age. The testosterone values of the bulls increased with age from 5-6 months. Prolactin levels in the bulls increased at the time of the first testosterone rise. A frequency of about 1-2 LH and FSH pulses/8 h occurred at 1, 2, 5 and 10 months of age. The pituitary response to GnRH (1 microgram/kg i.v.) was tested in 2 male and 2 female calves at monthly intervals. LH and FSH were released at all ages but a reduced FSH response occurred in both sexes after the 5th month. A small testosterone release was observed as early as 1 month after birth in males similar to those observed after endogenous LH pulses. We conclude that the initiation of puberty in both sexes is controlled by the same neuroendocrine mechanisms. The pituitary gland, ovaries and testes are already able to respond to specific stimuli long before puberty, and they may also be involved indirectly due to changes in the feedback system modulating gonadotrophin secretion.
Using Jump-Diffusion Return Models to Measure Differential Information by Firm Size

Abstract Portfolios of stocks issued by small firms are well known to earn rates of return in excess of those commensurate with their market sensitivities. One common explanation for this phenomenon is that small firm stocks are riskier than large firm stocks because less information is available about the former than about the latter. A necessary condition for such an explanation to be valid is that the information effect not be eliminated by combining the individual stocks into portfolios. This paper uses jump-diffusion return models to gauge the impact of information by firm size. The results show that portfolios of small firm stocks are no more prone to information surprises than are portfolios of large firm stocks. However, portfolios of small firm stocks are found to react more severely than portfolios of large firm stocks when surprises do occur.
Value of ultrasound elastography in detecting small breast tumors.

BACKGROUND Detecting small breast tumors is difficult for conventional ultrasound. The goal of this study was to assess the value of ultrasound elastography in characterizing small breast tumors and to compare its sensitivity, specificity and accuracy with conventional ultrasound. METHODS A total of 308 breast tumors less than 2 cm in size from 283 in-hospital patients examined with both conventional ultrasound and ultrasound elastography were retrospectively analyzed. The results were compared to surgical pathology. RESULTS There were 104 malignant and 204 benign lesions. The sensitivities of sonography and sonoelastography were similar (P < 0.05), and the sensitivity of the two modalities combined improved remarkably to 97.1%. The mean elastic score of malignant and benign tumors less than 2 cm were 3.76 ± 1.01 and 1.73 ± 0.99, respectively (P < 0.05), and the mean elastic score of the false-negative lesions on conventional ultrasound was 3.61 ± 1.14. CONCLUSIONS Ultrasound elastography in combination with conventional ultrasound can improve the sensitivity for detecting small breast tumors. It is also valuable in detecting small malignant tumors which are difficult to diagnose with conventional ultrasound. Ultrasound elastography can be a useful adjunct to conventional ultrasound in diagnosing small breast tumors.
Additions to and Deletions from an Open-Ended Market Index: Evidence from the Australian All Ordinaries

The shares of companies added to (deleted from) closed-end indices such as the S&P 500 experience significant positive (negative) abnormal returns. We examine companies added to or deleted from an open-ended market index where changes occur regularly and can be predicted in advance. Our results are broadly consistent with those for closed-end indices and are robust to benchmarks used to control for market, size and industry effects. Analysis of daily returns and volume shows significant effects around the change date. By construction, companies entering the index outperform index benchmarks prior to inclusion. After controlling for selection bias, additions outperformed over the 4 months prior to inclusion.
Characterization and analysis of an NAD(P)H dehydrogenase transcriptional regulator critical for the survival of cyanobacteria facing inorganic carbon starvation and osmotic stress

The three Synechocystis PCC6803 genes homologous to proteobacterial Calvin cycle regulators (cbbR) have been analysed. sll0998 appeared to be crucial to cell viability, whereas both sll0030 and sll1594 were found to be dispensable for cell growth. In spite of their sequence homology, Sll0030 and Sll1594 did not appear to regulate the transcription of Calvin cycle key genes. Further analysis of Sll1594 showed that this protein plays an important role in the adaptation to inorganic carbon starvation and osmotic stress. Sll1594 mediates the response to these stress conditions by regulating the transcription of a new regulon including the monocistronic genes sll1594 and slr1727 (encoding a presumptive Na+/H+ antiporter), as well as the ndh3 operon encoding the NAD(P)H‐dehydrogenase subunits F3 and D3 and a protein of unknown function. The sll1594 gene and the ndh3 operon are negatively controlled by Sll1594, which also regulates the expression of the slr1727 gene. Sequence alignment of the diverse Sll1594 DNA binding sites led us to propose the TCAATG‐(N10)‐ATCAAT sequence as the consensus motif. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the characterization and analysis of a transcriptional regulator for ndh genes in a photoautotrophic organism.
Occupational Advantage in the Eighties: An Analysis of the Lifetime Earnings of Men

Changes in lifetime earnings potential for men by occupation and socio-economic group are reported for data from the New Earnings Survey. Previous work on the distribution of earnings is augmented, most notably by examining earnings in the 'long run' rather than current earnings and by considering the impact of unemployment on earnings streams. The mean of lifetime earnings across occupations grew by 2.6 per cent although the pattern of growth was uneven and the dispersion of lifetime earnings increased substantially. The analysis for socio-economic groups show that the main beneficiaries are the 'managers', 'professional' and 'intermediate non-manuals'. When the effects of unemployment are taken into account, every group except 'foremen and supervisors' improved their position relative to the 'unskilled', but the extent of the improvement increased with the value of lifetime earnings.
Intrafamilial transmission of hepatitis C virus in Italy: a systematic review

Background Hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission is mainly due to parenteral exposure; however, in absence of such risk factor, there are reports of intrafamilial spread of HCV and observational studies suggest an increased risk for households of infected subjects. The aim of our study was to systematically review and meta-analyse studies about HCV prevalence among households of HCV patients in Italy. Methods PubMed and Embase were searched to identify Italian studies about HCV intrafamilial transmission. Keywords used were: ‘HCV’, ‘Hepatitis C’, ‘intrafamilial’, ‘family’ and ‘Italy’. Selected studies were reviewed to assess the quality and meta-analysed using StatsDirect software. Results 25 studies were selected. The pooled overall prevalence was 9% (95% CI 7.1% to 11.1%). The highest pooled prevalence was found among sexual partners of index cases: 14.7% (95% CI 10.7% to 19.2%) globally and 9.9% (95% CI 3.6% to 18.8%) and 17.6% (95% CI 12.1% to 24%) in northern and central-southern regions, respectively. The meta-analysis of high-quality studies yielded the lowest HCV prevalence. Conclusion To be a HCV patient household is a risk factor for HCV and counselling for these households should be provided.
Sticky Goods Prices, Flexible Asset Prices, Monopolistic Competition, and Monetary Policy

A monetary general equilibrium asset-pricing model with sticky goods prices is developed. Goods prices are set by monopolistically competitive firms that maximize stock market value. Equilibria with underutilization of resources, excess capacity, in some states result, in contrast to previous monetary asset-pricing models. The degree of competition affects capacity utilization. Monetary policy can affect output and resource utilization, in addition to real asset prices, depending upon the amount of information available to the monetary authority.
Performance Measurement and Information Production

When performance measures are used for evaluation purposes, agents have some incentives to learn how their actions affect these measures. We show that the use of imperfect performance measures can cause an agent to devote too many resources (too much effort) to acquiring information. Doing so can be costly to the principal, because the agent can use information to game the performance measure to the detriment of the principal. We analyze the effect of endogenous information acquisition on the optimal incentive strength and the quality of the performance measure used.
Anatomy of a media event: How arguments clashed in the 2001 human cloning debate

This paper studies the distinctive role that staged media events play in the public understanding of genetics: they can focus the attention of the media, scientists and the public on the risks and benefits of genetic advances, in our case, cloning; they can accelerate policy changes by exposing scientific, legal and ethical uncertainties; the use of images, metaphors, cliche´s and cultural narratives by scientists and the media engaged in this event can reinforce stereotypical representations of cloning, but can also expose fundamental clashes in arguments about cloning. The media event staged by two fertility experts in 2001 is here analysed as a case study.
Gender Differences in Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior and BMI in the Liberec Region: the IPAQ Study in 2002–2009

Gender Differences in Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior and BMI in the Liberec Region: the IPAQ Study in 2002-2009 The occurrence of overweight, obesity and physical activity (PA) belongs to major factors influencing health. However, information on the longitudinal development of PA in Europe has been, up until now, insufficient. The aim of the study was to describe the changes in PA, sedentary behavior and BMI in the inhabitants of the Liberec region during the surveybetween 2002 - 2009. The data were obtained in 2002-2004 using the short version of the IPAQ questionnaire, in 2005-2009 using the long version of the IPAQ. The sample of participants comprised 957 males and 1066 females aged 25-60 years. A significant decrease in sitting accounting for minutes on working days has been recorded both in men and women. A significant increase of PA both in men and women was reported, however the interpretation of the increase needs to be done cautiously due to the application of the short and long version of the IPAQ. Regarding PA intensity, men show more PA in total than women, which can be explained mainly by the differences in vigorous PA. Women show significantly lower values of BMI in all years in which surveys were conducted than men (p<0.001). Based on self-reported data, we have recorded an increase in the number of overweight and obese people. Time spent sitting on working days has had a tendency to decrease, yet a negative trend in the decrease in self-reported total PA has not been confirmed. Despite the fact that there has been an increase in self-reported PA, no decrease in BMI was registered.
TROPHOBLAST SAMPLING IN EARLY PREGNANCY. CULTURE OF RAPIDLY DIVIDING CELLS FROM IMMATURE PLACENTAL VILLI

Trophoblast was obtained by ordinary suction curettage and by transcervical aspiration with a medicut cannula from women having a therapeutic abortion in the first trimester of pregnancy. The decidual tissue which is invariably attached to early placental villi was separated and pure cultures obtained from the trophoblast layers and from the mesenchymal core of placental villi. Cytotrophoblast had a very limited life span in tissue culture, whereas mesenchymal cells grew rapidly and could be used for antenatal diagnosis.
Understanding the application of Kaizen methods in construction firms in China

Purpose – Kaizen or continuous improvement is a renowned Japanese management philosophy implemented in many industries all over the world. It is geared towards the everyday worker and management, and aims to continually improve the workplace, even on a small scale. The extent of implementation in China is unknown. This paper seeks to discuss this issue.Design/methodology/approach – This study has the objective of filling a gap by addressing the implementation issues facing kaizen in a project setting, and employs qualitative methods to investigate the application of kaizen within large Chinese construction firms. The material for this study is taken from interviews of 27 Chinese building professionals from 16 large Chinese firms in 2011.Findings – The interview results indicate that different types of activities associated with kaizen have been adopted by Chinese construction firms at the project level.Research limitations/implications – There are considerable challenges identified in this study. This inc.
Organizational life cycle and performance among SMEs: Generic strategies for high and low performers

Purpose – This exploratory study seeks to bridge a gap in the literature by exploring the life cycle‐strategy relationship to discover the preferred strategy for high and low performing firms in four of the five stages of the organizational life cycle.Design/methodology/approach – In total, 600 managers randomly chosen from chamber of commerce membership lists in the southern USA were mailed an extensive scale that included items to measure life cycle stage, generic strategy, industry attractiveness and stability, size, and satisfaction with performance. The instrument included 20 life‐cycle items, four items for each of the five stages.Findings – Partial support was found for the expected relationship between strategy and performance as firms move through the organizational life cycle. New, high‐performing organizations that were satisfied with their performance preferred first mover strategies, while renewing organizations categorized as high performers also emphasized the first mover strategic approach.
Within- and between-patch variability of predation intensity on the mussel Mytilus trossulus Gould on a rocky intertidal shore in Oregon, USA

Variability of predation intensity is an important cause of spatial differences of community structure and organization in the intertidal rocky shore. Field experiments were conducted to evaluate the within- and between-patch variability of the effects of different types of predators (small invertebrates and birds) on Mytilus trossulus Gould, which occupies an intermediate position in the competitive hierarchy among sessile organisms in disturbance patches within a California mussel (Mytilus californianus Conrad) bed community on the central Oregon Coast. Predation by birds did not significantly affect the mortality of M. trossulus. On the contrary, predation by small invertebrate whelks (Nucella spp.) had a significant effect on M. trossulus mortality. Predation by whelks also caused between- and within-patch variability of mortality of M. trossulus. Within patches, M. trossulus mortality at patch margins was significantly higher than at patch centers only when invertebrate predators were present. Wave exposure did not cause between-patch variability of predation intensity. Between-and within-patch variability of predation intensity may be caused by the variability of supply of whelks from the surrounding mussel mat. The movement of predators between patches and surrounding matrices may play an important role in the patch dynamics of these communities.
A Comment on "Why Did Child Support Award Levels Decline from 1978 to 1985?" by Philip K. Robins

Between 1978 and 1985 the mean real value of child support payments due declined 25 percent. In this journal, Philip Robins argued most of this decline was the result of an increase in the ratio of female to male earnings, but we argue his conclusion is based upon an inappropriate use of decomposition analysis. We show child support due declined largely as a result of a secular decline in the real value of new awards, which have fallen almost three percent per year since 1961, and we investigate why new awards declined. Our findings have implications for reforms contained in the Family Support Act of 1988.