Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assessing the Quality of Household Panel Data: The Case of the Panel Study of Income Dynamics

Evidence from a number of methodological studies are used to assess the overall quality of data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID). Despite substantial cumulative non-response over the nearly two decades spanned by the study, the sample is found to maintain its representation of the nonimmigrant population of the United States. The most important reasons for this result are that the study's following rules insure that the sample replaces itself in the same manner as the population (through the formation of new families by the offspring of old) and that nonresponse is largely unsystematic. Nonresponse also appears to be largely random with respect to parameters in a number of behavioral models. The accuracy of measures is assessed by comparing survey measures with national aggregates and with highly accurate individual validating data. PSID reports of transfer income appear to compare more favorably with program aggregates than do reports from other large-scale surveys such as the Current Popul.
Age-Based Comparison of Successful Probing in Nepalese Children with Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction

Purpose: To compare the success rates of probing in Nepalese children younger than 2 years versus children older than 2 years with nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO), and to identify factors associated with successful probing. Materials and Methods: Data was collected and analyzed retrospectively on children who underwent probing under general anesthesia for NLDO at Tilganga Eye Centre, Nepal, from May 2004 to October 2008. We compared successful probing rates in children less than or equal to 2 years old (group 1) versus children greater than 2 years old (group 2), and analyzed whether various clinical factors were associated with successful probing. Successful probing was defined as complete resolution of all clinical signs (discharge, epiphora or increased tear lake) at the outcome visit one month following surgery. Results: Data on 84 children (109 eyes) was reviewed. The mean age of children in group 1 and group 2 was 15.3 months and 37.3 months, respectively. The success rate of probing for the overall sample was 82.6% (90/109 eyes). The success rate in group 1 was 90.2% (55/61 eyes), and 72.9% (35/48 eyes) in group 2 (p=0.018). Increased age at time of probing (p=0.031) and duration of symptoms (p=0.027) were associated with decreased probing success. Conclusion: Early treatment of NLDO with probing, ideally prior to 2 years, is associated with better outcomes. Age appropriate intervention may reduce the incidence of complications from NLDO, which is highly prevalent in the low-lying areas of Nepal, including Kathmandu.
On a combination of the 1-2-3 Conjecture and the Antimagic Labelling Conjecture

This paper is dedicated to studying the following question: Is it always possible to injectively assign the weights 1, . , |E(G)| to the edges of any given graph G (with no component isomorphic to K2) so that every two adjacent vertices of G get distinguished by their sums of incident weights? One may see this question as a combination of the well-known 1-2-3 Conjecture and the Antimagic Labelling Conjecture. Throughout this paper, we exhibit evidence that this question might be true. Benefiting from the investigations on the Antimagic Labelling Conjecture, we first point out that several classes of graphs, such as regular graphs, indeed admit such assignments. We then show that trees also do, answering a recent conjecture of Arumugam, Premalatha, Baca and Semanicova-Feňovcikova. Towards a general answer to the question above, we then prove that claimed assignments can be constructed for any graph, provided we are allowed to use some number of additional edge weights. For some classes of sparse graphs, namely 2-degenerate graphs and graphs with maximum average degree 3, we show that only a small (constant) number of such additional weights suffices.
Lactate metabolism: a new paradigm for the third millennium

For much of the 20th century, lactate was largely considered a dead‐end waste product of glycolysis due to hypoxia, the primary cause of the O2 debt following exercise, a major cause of muscle fatigue, and a key factor in acidosis‐induced tissue damage. Since the 1970s, a ‘lactate revolution’ has occurred. At present, we are in the midst of a lactate shuttle era; the lactate paradigm has shifted. It now appears that increased lactate production and concentration as a result of anoxia or dysoxia are often the exception rather than the rule. Lactic acidosis is being re‐evaluated as a factor in muscle fatigue. Lactate is an important intermediate in the process of wound repair and regeneration. The origin of elevated [lactate] in injury and sepsis is being re‐investigated. There is essentially unanimous experimental support for a cell‐to‐cell lactate shuttle, along with mounting evidence for astrocyte–neuron, lactate–alanine, peroxisomal and spermatogenic lactate shuttles. The bulk of the evidence suggests that lactate is an important intermediary in numerous metabolic processes, a particularly mobile fuel for aerobic metabolism, and perhaps a mediator of redox state among various compartments both within and between cells. Lactate can no longer be considered the usual suspect for metabolic ‘crimes’, but is instead a central player in cellular, regional and whole body metabolism. Overall, the cell‐to‐cell lactate shuttle has expanded far beyond its initial conception as an explanation for lactate metabolism during muscle contractions and exercise to now subsume all of the other shuttles as a grand description of the role(s) of lactate in numerous metabolic processes and pathways.
Recognition of human-robot motion intentions by trajectory observation

The intention of humans and autonomous robots to interact in shared spatial areas is a challenging field of research regarding human safety, system stability and performance of the system's behavior. In this paper the intention recognition between human and robot from the control point of view are addressed and the time schedule of the exchanged signals is discussed. After a description of the kinematic and geometric relations between human and robot a so-called “compass dial” with the relative velocities is presented from which suitable fuzzy control rules are derived. The computation of the collision times at intersections and possible avoidance strategies are further discussed. Computations based on simulated and experimental data show the applicability of the methods presented.
Incorporation of Socioeconomic Status Indicators into Policies for the Meaningful Use of Electronic Health Records

Socioeconomic status (SES) has an important effect on health. Individuals with lower SES experience more chronic disease, are less likely to receive preventive care, and have shorter life expectancies. As the Affordable Care Act is implemented and increasing numbers of previously uninsured people gain access to health care, the imperative to recognize patients’ SES and develop health initiatives that account for the social determinants of health increases. Health care providers across the nation are adopting electronic health records (EHRs). Policies such as Meaningful Use offer opportunities systematically to incorporate the collection of standardized SES indicators into EHRs in ways that improve health, increase the understanding of the relationship between SES and health, and inform future policies. This paper examines the use of SES indicators in research, national surveys, and federal programs and finds adding an income question is the most feasible and optimal SES indicator for the inclusion in EHRs.
Measuring and Modeling Stable Isotopes of Mobile and Bulk Soil Water

Bulk soil water isotopes have an evaporation signal, but mobile water isotopes do not. These differences are time variant and linked to the volume and age of the mobile water. Two pore domains (fast and slow) improve simulations of soil water isotope dynamics. A new model accounts for isotopic exchange via water vapor between two pore domains. This exchange is relevant for proper simulation of the evaporation signal in bulk soil water.
Openness, Investment Climate, and FDI in Developing Countries

The paper assesses the importance of openness, infrastructure availability, and sound economic and political conditions in increasing developing countries' attractiveness with respect to FDI. The results show that these factors are particularly important for South Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. The paper also shows a higher impact of these factors on FDI in the manufacturing sector than on total FDI. The message to developing countries' policymakers is twofold. First, efforts towards openness should be initiated or further increased in order to make their economies attractive to foreign investors. Second, improvements in other aspects of the investment climate are important complements to openness and result in additional and sensitive increases in FDI inflows.
Central Bank Independence and Its Effect on Money Market Stability

Since 1990s many countries have moved toward greater central bank independence (CBI) by either amending their Central Bank’s laws or writing them de novo. Also countries of Western Balkans and many other transition countries have moved toward greater CBI. There are many potential benefits associated with greater CBI, and one of them is stable growth of money and liquidity. For a given level of money market development the hypothesis is that a more independent CB is likely to promote more stable growth of money supply (Dželetovic et al., 2008). As a result the main research task of this work is to estimate the effects of CBI on money market growth for five Western Balkans countries and five other European transition countries. Because the empirical studies were very limited for the relationship between CBI and money market growth, there were no clear conclusions. In addition, there were different measuring methodologies that attempt to quantify the extent of legal and actual CBI. Related to the main research task, this dissertation has examined the effects of CBI on money market stability (proxied by bank deposit growth) for a sample of 10 countries for a period from 1999-2009 by using fixed effect model. Through this methodology different regressions have been estimated, but the results were not robust and there are no clear finding on the relationship between CBI and money market growth.
Aggregate‐Scale Heterogeneity in Iron (Hydr)oxide Reductive Transformations

There is growing awareness of the complexity of potential reaction pathways and the associated solid‐phase transformations during the reduction of Fe (hydr)oxides, especially ferrihydrite. An important observation in static and advective‐dominated systems is that microbially produced Fe(II) accelerates Ostwald ripening of ferrihydrite, thus promoting the formation of thermodynamically more stable ferric phases (lepidocrocite and goethite) and, at higher Fe(II) surface loadings, the precipitation of magnetite; high Fe(II) levels can also lead to green rust formation, and with high carbonate levels siderite may also be formed. This study expands this emerging conceptual model to a diffusion‐dominated system that mimics an idealized micropore of a ferrihydrite‐coated soil aggregate undergoing reduction. Using a novel diffusion cell, coupled with micro‐x‐ray fluorescence and absorption spectroscopies, we determined that diffusion‐controlled gradients in Fe2+(aq) result in a complex array of spatially distributed secondary mineral phases. At the diffusive pore entrance, where Fe2+ concentrations are highest, green rust and magnetite are the dominant secondary Fe (hydr)oxides (30 mol% Fe each). At intermediate distances from the inlet, green rust is not observed and the proportion of magnetite decreases from approximately 30 to <10%. Across this same transect, the proportion of goethite increases from undetectable up to >50%. At greater distances from the advective‐diffusive boundary, goethite is the dominant phase, comprising between 40 and 95% of the Fe. In the presence of magnetite, lepidocrocite forms as a transient‐intermediate phase during ferrihydrite‐to‐goethite conversion; in the absence of magnetite, conversion to goethite is more limited. These experimental observations, coupled with results of reactive transport modeling, confirm the conceptual model and illustrate the potential importance of diffusion‐generated concentration gradients in dissolved Fe2+ on the fate of ferrihydrite during reduction in structured soils.
Exploring a Free Association Methodology to Capture and Differentiate Abstract Media Brand Associations: A Study of Three Cable News Networks

Brand equity theory asserts that the most powerful and enduring consumer-based brand associations are those that deal with intangible or abstract characteristics of a product rather than its functional or utilitarian attributes. In addition, strong brands evoke from consumers associations that are differentiated readily from direct competitors. This study explores the feasibility of using a free association methodology to capture and differentiate systematically abstract media brand associations. Using 3 24-hr cable news networks as an exploratory case study, the findings were encouraging, prompting the recommendation that such a technique can be a useful diagnostic tool for evaluating 1 aspect of media brand equity.
Vieillissement et choix de l'âge de la retraite

We modify the two period OLG model in order to distinguish the effects of individual ageing from changes in birth rate. We characterize optimal pension and retirement age policies in a dynamic framework. We consider a mixed pension scheme, fully funded but offering agents an actuarially fair choice of their retirement age, and show that it is able to implement the optimal solution. Numerical simulations describe the dilemmas which France currently faces.
Life‐Cycle Channel Coordination Issues in Launching an Innovative Durable Product

We analyze the dynamic strategic interactions between a manufacturer and a retailer in a decentralized distribution channel used to launch an innovative durable product (IDP). The underlying retail demand for the IDP is influenced by word‐of‐mouth from past adopters and follows a Bass‐type diffusion process. The word‐of‐mouth influence creates a trade‐off between immediate and future sales and profits, resulting in a multi‐period dynamic supply chain coordination problem. Our analysis shows that while in some environments, the manufacturer is better off with a far‐sighted retailer, there are also environments in which the manufacturer is better off with a myopic retailer. We characterize equilibrium dynamic pricing strategies and the resulting sales and profit trajectories. We demonstrate that revenue‐sharing contracts can coordinate the IDP's supply chain with both far‐sighted and myopic retailers throughout the entire planning horizon and arbitrarily allocate the channel profit.
Teachers’ Perceived Requirements for Collaborating with the Surrounding World

This study identifies teachers’ perceptions of requirements for including collaborations with the surrounding world in their teaching practice, with the aim of providing authentic and entrepreneurial learning environments for students. School management, time and teachers’ personal character traits and disposition were the most frequently stated areas of concern, followed by colleagues, surrounding world, economy and professional development. Concerns not previously identified include economy, localities, local curriculum, teachers’ unions as well as time to reflect and adjust to a different teaching approach. The results are worth considering for school and teacher development aimed at increasing school collaboration with the surrounding world (Less)
Online petitions in Australia: Information, opportunity and gender

This article compares offline and online petition signing in Australia, to examine whether online forms of political activity can mobilise citizens who would otherwise not participate. Using data from the 2010 Australian Election Study and a model of civic voluntarism comprising online and offline resources, the article presents several unexpected findings. First, women are significantly more likely than men to sign both written and e-petitions, and this will likely continue with the increasing circulation of e-petitions and corresponding decline in written petitions. Second, Australians from a non-English-speaking background are underrepresented in the signing of written petitions but not of e-petitions. Civic skills gained in the workplace and voluntary organisations positively predict both forms of petition signing, but language, gender and income do not constitute barriers to the signing of e-petitions. This article contributes to emerging evidence the internet can mobilise traditionally underrepresented groups to participate in political activity. 本文对澳大利亚脱线和在线请愿做了比较，以了解在线的政治活动能否动员起本来不参与政治的公民。 笔者使用了2010年澳大利亚选举研究的数据以及比较在线与脱线资源的公民志愿行动模型，获得了若干意想不到的发现。 首先，比起男子，妇女联署纸本及电子请愿书的可能性会大得多，这种情况会伴随着电子请愿的流行和纸本请愿的式微而继续下去。 公民在工作单位以及志愿者组织那里获得的技能有助于他们积极参与两种请愿，而语言、性别、收入也不构成电子请愿的障碍。 本文印证了互联网可以动员以往不大被代表的人群参与政治活动的说法。
A further investigation of the lead–lag relationship between the spot market and stock index futures: Early evidence from Korea

In this article, we investigate possible lead and lag relationship in returns and volatilities between cash and futures markets in Korea. Utilizing intraday data from the newly established futures market in Korea, we find that the futures market leads the cash market by as long as 30 minutes. This result is consistent with previous studies for the U.S. and other countries’ futures markets. With regard to volatility interaction between spot and futures markets, we find that, unlike the above results for returns, a bidirectional causality is more prevalent between cash and futures markets, and this relationship is entirely sample dependent. We also find that the trading volume has significant explanatory power for volatility changes in both spot and futures markets. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 19: 217–232, 1999
The Relationship between Economic Development and Female Labor Force Participation within the Framework of U-Shaped Hypothesis: Evidence from Turkey

This study discusses the effects of economic development on female labor force participation rates in Turkey in 1980-2000 within the framework of U-shaped hypothesis. In addition to the effects of economic development, other determinants of female labor force participation are also analyzed in five different econometric models. Descriptive statistics including time series evidences are exhibited in order to outline the reasons of the differences in female labor force participation rates in Turkey. The effects of economic development, different unemployment patterns, urbanization rate and total fertility rate on female labor force participation are found to be negative. On the other hand, it is found that education and agricultural share in the employment have positive effects on female labor force participation. Female labor force participation rate was 72.0 percent in 1955, 26.6 percent in 2000 percent and 24.4 percent in 2007. Time series evidence proves the existence of considerable slowdown in the decline of female labor force participation rates. Both econometric models and time series evidences suggest that Turkey is still experiencing the downward portion of U-shaped, may be, due to being at the early stages of economic development. Hence, Turkey is expected to lie on the upward portion of U-shaped in the following decades.
How R&D and tax incentives influence economic growth: Econometric study for the period between 1995 and 2008 of EU-15

Setting targets to increase the levels of R&D, a component that is present in the political and economic agendas of the European Member States with the promotion of active tax policies, suggests that it is possible for R&D to cause an impact on economic growth. This research work aims at understanding the influence of the evolution of R&D expenditures, as well as the influence of tax incentives on economic growth. For that, a panel data of 15 European countries, during the period between 1995 and 2008, was used. The econometric study confirms the foreseen importance, both in this study and in the literature, of the countries’ R&D efforts and their impact on economic growth. The positive effect of tax incentives on economic growth, combined with R&D levels, is highlighted and demonstrated, thus confirming a strategic orientation towards tax policies followed by the national institutions.
Temperature Monitor: A New Tool to Profile Charge Distribution in NROM Memory Devices

NROM memory cells are proposed as one of the most promising non-volatile memories. Issues on scaling and endurance have risen due to the presence of both electrons and holes for the control of their relative position and spread in the charge trapping material. In this paper, we present a new characterization tool able to sense charge distribution features in different program/erase conditions that can be efficiently used for program/erase bias optimization and reliability predictions. This new tool exploits temperature effects on ID-VGS current measurements
How Markets for Impure Public Goods Organize: The Case of Household Refuse Collection

What form of market organization should policymakers choose to ensure efficient provision of such impure public goods as police and fire protection, water and sewer services, and household refuse collection? ' The choices range from a laissez-faire reliance on the private market to government intervention in the form of either public or private monopoly. For the case of household refuse collection under a private market arrangement, a private firm will provide the collection service and be paid directly by the customer. Since the collector has no exclusive territorial rights, several firms may compete for business in the same area. At the other extreme of public monopoly under a municipal arrangement, the city will provide the service and finance collection from general tax revenues. Given the decision to intervene, however, a local government will eschew public
Swedish SMEs' Establishment of Business in Russia: A Case Study

This case study analyzes Swedish SMEs' establishment of business in Russia. The study is based on data from a project whose objective was to help Swedish SMEs enter the Russian market. Findings indicate that market visits positively affected the managers' view on the Russian market. Interviews with four SMEs that had been successful in establishing business in Russia highlight the importance of finding a local partner with access to working market channels. A conclusion drawn is that innovativeness, flexibility, and commitment are characteristics that the exporting SMEs and their Russian partners need to share.