Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Migration and Income Redistribution Responsibilities

The importance of migration of AFDC beneficiaries as a determinant of state benefit levels is examined in this paper. A pooled cross-section time-series model fit to state data over the seventies indicates that benefit levels in other states have a positive influence on own-state benefits and a negative influence on recipients. This evidence is supported by that from a transition matrix, which shows that while very few AFDC households make an interstate move in a year, when they do move they are much more likely to go to a high-benefit state than to a low-benefit state. Both pieces of evidence argue for more centralization of income redistribution responsibilities in the United States.
Pregnancy and sex steroid hormones enhance circulating calcitonin gene-related peptide concentrations in rats.

Calcitonin-gene-related peptide (CGRP) is a 37 amino acid neuropeptide synthesized primarily in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and distributed widely in the perivascular nerves, suggesting that this peptide may play a role in the regulation of peripheral vascular tone. Since female sex steroid hormones have been implicated in the regulation of peripheral vascular tone during pregnancy, we postulated that they may alter the concentration of CGRP in the circulation and thus modulate the increased blood flow observed during pregnancy. In the present study, we measured changes in plasma concentrations of CGRP in non-pregnant, pregnant, and post-partum rats. Groups of ovariectomized rats were treated s.c. for 3 days either with 17beta-oestradiol (2.5 microg per injection twice daily), progesterone (2 mg per injection twice daily), or vehicle. Another group of adult, non-pregnant rats at dioestrus stage of the oestrous cycle was also used in this study. Plasma concentrations of CGRP were higher (P < 0.05) in rats on day 19 of pregnancy (22.0 +/- 3.0 pmol/l) compared to that during delivery (5. 0 +/- 2.0), post-partum day 2 (2.0 +/- 0.7) or in non-pregnant (4.9 +/- 1.6) state. Furthermore, in adult ovariectomized (6.0 +/- 0.6) rats, plasma CGRP concentrations were increased significantly (P < 0. 05) by oestradiol (10.0 +/- 1.0), progesterone (9.5 +/- 1.0) and oestradiol + progesterone (14.0 +/- 1.0). Thus, circulating concentrations of CGRP are elevated during pregnancy and by oestrogen and progesterone, suggesting that the elevated concentrations of CGRP may play an important role in vascular adaptations that occur during pregnancy.
Shifting to hydrological/hydrographic boundaries: a comparative assessment of national policy implementation in the Zerafshan and Ferghana Valleys

In the literature on the implementation of national policies there is an assumption that these get implemented uniformly within one country. Here, with a focus on the implementation of national policy on shifting from administrative to hydrological/hydrographic principles of water management in the Zerafshan Valley and the Ferghana Valley in Uzbekistan, this assumption is questioned. The case study demonstrates that national policies are resisted by lower-level bureaucrats, leading to diverse, even contradictory, outcomes of the same policy. The vested interests of a multiplicity of bureaucracies, the power of individual bureaucrats, and the discretional power given to bureaucracies in interpreting national policy are responsible for the different outcomes. The article calls for more comparative assessments across different regions for a better understanding of policy implementation.
It's Even Worse Than It Looks: How the American Constitutional System Collided with the New Politics of Extremism

Hyperpartisanship is as old as American democracy. But now, acrimony is not confined to a moment; it's a permanent state of affairs and has seeped into every part of the political process. Identifying the overriding problems that have led Congress--and the United States--to the brink of institutional collapse, It's Even Worse Than It Looks profoundly altered the debate about why America's government has become so dysfunctional. Through a new preface and afterword, Thomas Mann and Norman Ornstein bring the story forward, examining the 2012 presidential campaign and exploring the prospects of a less dysfunctional government. As provocative and controversial as ever, It's Even Worse Than It Looks will continue to set the terms of our political debate in the years to come.
The Effect of Culture and Gender on Perceived Service Quality: An Exploratory Comparison of Japanese and Thai Consumers

This study compares Japanese and Thai customers' expectations and evaluations of service quality as regards spa service in Thailand. Gender and cultural differences were hypothesized to influence consumers' postconsumption service quality evaluation and satisfaction. Data collected from customers of a traditional Thai spa in Bangkok revealed significant overall differences in the evaluation of service attributes in relation to customers' culture and gender. Among service quality dimensions, reliability was rated most important overall, and tangibility was found to be significantly higher for Thai females only. Finally, managerial recommendations are formulated, and study limitations with suggestions for further research presented.
Regulatory risk, borderline legality, fraud and financial restatement

Purpose - Companies vary in their attitudes toward regulatory (ethics) risk. The purpose of this study is to assess how regulatory risk-averse, risk neutral and risk seeking companies employ distinct managerial risk and slack accumulation strategies and differ in their auditor scores and bankruptcy risk. Design/methodology/approach - The authors test their hypotheses using the GAO-assembled database of financial restatements that allows contrasting voluntary restaters (firms that restated without being prompted either by external auditors or the SEC) and forced restaters (firms requested to restate by the SEC or external auditors). The paper uses logistic regression for comparing different groups of firms to test the hypotheses. Findings - The results of the data analysis mostly supported the hypotheses. The findings suggest that a firm's attitude towards regulatory risk is associated with organizational slack (available and potential), risk (managerial and organizational), and auditor's rating. Research limitations/implications - Some limitations of the study are: use of cross sectional data does not allow testing causal effects, relying on GAO office for categorizing firms in different regulatory category introduces the possibility of bias in analysis, and use of only North American firms in the sample limits the generalizability of the findings. Practical implications - Firms' attitudes toward regulatory risk and their respective risk and slack management strategies could be used to detect fraud early on before such firms transgress from the realm of legality to borderline legality and illegality. Originality/value - Some contributions of the study are: it shows that a firm's fraud tendency or regulatory risk behavior is associated with the type of slack accumulated and available in the firm, regulatory risk-averse companies take less managerial and bankruptcy risks, and earn higher evaluations from auditors, it demonstrates that regulatory risk-averse companies differ from regulatory risk neutral companies.
Is the Wrong Environment Enough to Cause Autism and Epilepsy? Interplay between Seizures and Aberrant Behaviors Due to Gestational Factors

Commentary Seizures are comorbid with many developmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, very few studies analyze the interactions between conditions or ask key questions about how seizures affect the abnormal behaviors observed in individuals with ASD. For example, do early childhood seizures hinder the ability to learn language, and therefore directly lead to the diagnostic criterion of impaired communication skills found in ASD? Or perhaps abnormal EEG activity disrupts visual processing of faces and reciprocal social interactions. The recent paper by Bercum et al. reports seizures, abnormal EEG activity, and behavioral testing in a new rat model of prenatal and perinatal environmental insults. The authors combined two clinically relevant gestational factors in a rat model: maternal stress throughout pregnancy (prenatal stress), followed by injections of terbutaline during the first postnatal week. Terbutaline is commonly used to halt preterm labor, which occurs in up to 18% of all births and preterm labor is a risk factor for autism (1). The rat is an altricial species, and therefore the first postnatal week is considered equivalent to the third trimester in the human. The Bercum model represents real-life common environmental stresses with adverse outcomes similar to clinical reports. While overall litter sizes were similar, a significant decrease was noted in pup birth weight after maternal stress. Low birth weight has been associated with increased risk for human autism (2). The study did not indicate how the sexes were affected with respect to birth weight. ASDs are more often diagnosed in males than females (4:1 ratio), and the effects of prenatal stress are more prevalent in males. In the Bercum study, the behavioral analyses were performed on males. A previous study with terbutaline reported significant sex differences, with females being most affected (3). A remaining question is whether female offspring would have been more affected by the gestational factors. The effects of the maternal stress and exposure to terbutaline on behavior were varied. When separated from their mothers, perinatal rodent pups emit ultrasonic vocalizations, Maternal Stress Combined With Terbutaline Leads to Comorbid Autistic-Like Behavior and Epilepsy in a Rat Model.
Implementing a Required Ethics Class for Students in Accounting: The Texas Experience

This paper describes a triangulated case study of the experiences and attitudes of educators in Texas regarding recent implementation of a three‐semester‐hour course in ethics as a prerequisite education requirement for CPA examination candidates. We present the results of (1) examining syllabi of courses on the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy (TSBPA)'s approved list as of January 2006; (2) two follow‐up surveys of course instructors; and (3) unstructured interviews of selected members and staff of the TSBPA. The purpose of this descriptive study is to gather information concerning the content and pedagogy in college and university ethics courses for CPA exam candidates in Texas. In addition, we report impressions of course instructors and TSBPA staff as to their course and implementation experiences. The results of this study may be useful to educators elsewhere who are attempting to design and implement future courses in ethics for accounting students. In addition, our findings might prove insig.
Careers in finance

This book provides a comprehensive guide for those seeking a career in finance. Comprehensive coverage and well-organized chapters offer an overview of the career path, discussion of qualifications, employment settings, earnings, and interviews with people on-the-job. It is packed with hard-hitting information on the variety of careers in communications plus an appendix of sources of additional information.
Last among equals: a comparison of innovation in construction, services and manufacturing in the UK

This paper contrasts the attitudes of firms towards innovation from the construction sector with those in services and manufacturing, using data from the UK innovation survey. We examine the liabilities that construction firms face in their innovative activities in comparison to other sectors, drawing from literature on the distinctiveness of construction as an economic activity. We find that the liabilities of immobility and unanticipated demand are among key distinguishing features that separate innovative behaviour in construction from other industries. The paper concludes with a discussion of the merits of cross‐sectoral comparative research of this kind, together with issues for further research.
On the Accuracy of Time-Series, Interest Rate, and Survey Forecasts of Inflation

There has been much work examining and evaluating different methodologies in forecasting inflation. For example, Fama (1975, 1977) develops an interest rate model to predict the 1-monthahead rate of inflation using the CPI. Fama and Gibbons (1982, 1984) modify the interest rate model to account for a nonconstant real rate of interest and compare it to a univariate timeseries forecasting model and to the Livingston forecasts. Carlson (1977a, 1977b) and others also analyze the consensus forecasts from the Livingston survey pertaining to multiperiod forecasts of inflation. Pearce (1979) considered the Livingston survey and time-series forecasts. Our purpose in this paper is to investigate further the relative forecasting ability of three different methodologies. In contrast to previous studies that have generally used the CPI to measure inflation, our analysis uses the implicit GNP deflator. This modification is motivated largely by the fact that calculations of the CPI inflat'n rate often are distorted greatly by changes in relative prices (e.g., Blinder 1980; Fischer 1981). This paper compares the accuracy of three different inflation forecasting procedures. These include a univariate time-series model, an interest rate model based on the methodology of Fama and Gibbons, and the median forecasts derived from the American Statistical Association-National Bureau of Economic Research survey. The evidence presented is based on ex ante forecasts of quarterly inflation rates using the GNP deflator for the period 1970:11984:11. Based on the evidence presented, the general conclusion is that the survey forecasts provide the most accurate inflation forecasts.
Just a Few Cents Each Day: Can Fixed Regular Deposits Overcome Savings Constraints?

Empirical evidence suggests that there is a high demand for informal savings mechanisms even though these often feature negative returns - such as deposit collectors, ROSCAs, microloans, and informal borrowing. This paper argues that individuals may face even higher negative returns to saving at home due to hyperbolic discounting and claims on savings by relatives. I outline a model that shows why hyperbolic discounters cannot reach their welfare-maximising level of savings, and why a commitment savings product with fixed period contributions can increase their achievable savings level. Using a novel dataset obtained from a small microfinance institution in Bangladesh, the paper then presents some first empirical evidence on the effects of a commitment savings product with fixed regular instalments. I find that the introduction of the regular saver product was associated with an increase in individuals’ savings contributions of 180 percent after a periods of five months. The paper concludes that the provision of commitment savings products with fixed contributions may reduce savings constraints and increase individuals’ welfare, providing a substitute for costly informal mechanisms. However, since the data originates from a field study with self-selection problems rather than a randomized controlled experiment, further studies are needed to confirm this effect.
Attitudes of nurses toward HIV-infected colleagues in Japan

Background: Nurses may be unwilling to accept HIV-infected colleagues who can continue to work with patients if the provider-to-patient transmission risks have been appropriately assessed. Aims: To assess the factors associated with nurses' willingness to accept HIV-infected colleagues as coworkers. Design: Descriptive and cross-sectional. Methods: An anonymous online survey targeting Japanese nurses working in hospitals or clinics (n = 992). Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate factors associated with their willingness to accept HIV-positive colleagues before or after a risk assessment. Results: Respondents who avoided contact with, and expressed discriminatory views about, HIV-infected colleagues were less willing to accept them. After undertaking an appropriate risk assessment, a high level of knowledge regarding HIV transmission increased the likelihood of acceptance towards HIV-infected colleagues. Conclusions: The use of risk assessment may increase nurses’ willingness to accept HIV-infected colleagues, particularly among co-workers with a high level of knowledge about HIV.
Sequential Group Lending: A Mechanism to Raise the Repayment Rate in Microfinance

This paper compares three lending mechanisms used by microfinance organizations, namely individual lending, simultaneous group lending and sequential group lend cotract enforcement is weak, sequential group lending unambiguously achieves the highest repayment rate. Hence sequential group lending can operate in settings in which simultaneous group lending and individual lending are not feasible due to weak contract enforcement. Simultaneous lending in contrast achieves the highest repayment rate if the level of official contract enforcement is high and if the likelihood of default is relatively low.
Pattern of pathogens and their sensitivity isolated from pus culture reports in a tertiary care hospital, puducherry

Aim: To analyze the pattern of pathogens involved and their antibiotic sensitivity isolated from pus culture reports in a tertiary care hospital. Methods: This observational study was conducted using pus culture and sensitivity reports collected retrospectively from the records maintained in the Department of Microbiology over a period of one year from May 2013 to April 2014 in our hospital. Data were analyzed using SPSS 21.0 and expressed as descriptive statistics. Results: During the study period, 124 pus culture and sensitivity reports were analyzed. E. coli (60.7%) was the most common organism isolated followed by Klebsiella (20.5%), Staph.aureus (9.8%). All isolates were sensitive to Meropenem (100%) and Piperacillin & Tazobactum (89%), Levofloxacin (65%) and Amikacin (62%). However, high resistance rates were observed with Ceftriaxone (70%), Ceftazidime (64%) and Cefuroxime (62%) in our study. Conclusion: E. coli and Klebsiella were commonly isolated form pus culture with maximum sensitivity to carbapenem and penicillin derivatives.
EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT PROTEIN , FIBRE AND ENERGY LEVELS ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF DIGESTIVE ORGANS IN GROWING MEAT RABBIT

Six groups of 40 New Zealand White rabbits, each were reared from 30 days of age on diets containing different protein, fibre and energy were used to study influences on productive performance, the development of digestive organs, biochemical and hormonal parameters of rabbits. Six groups were fed on diet A (control group), diet B (higher protein group), diet C (higher energy group), diet D (higher energy and lower fibre group), diet E (higher protein and energy group) and diet F (higher protein and energy with lower fibre group), respectively. The results showed that the average daily gain of rabbits fed on diet A, B, C, D, E and F was 22.8, 26.9, 24.7, 21.5, 28.1 and 24.5g, respectively, while the feed/gain rate was 3.6, 3.0, 3.2, 3.5, 2.7 and 3.1, respectively. This might suggested that higher protein, energy and fibre diet could increase the average daily gain and decrease the feed/gain rate. Rabbits fed on diet F had the highest relative weight of stomach, followed by diet B, A, C, E, and D, were 71.4, 67.1, 64.9, 53.8, 52.5, 52.3 g/kg, respectively. Rabbits fed on diet A had the highest relative weight of small intestinal contents, followed by diet C, E, F, B and D, were 58.0, 56.0, 52.8, 47.3, 46.3, 44.5 g/kg, respectively. Rabbits fed on diet A had the highest relative weight of caecum, followed by diet D, F, E, C and B, were 107.3, 98.6, 96.4, 88.4, 79.5, 76.2 g/kg, respectively. These suggested that the relative weights of stomach, small intestinal contents and caecum were significant affected by different protein, fibre and energy levels (p<0.01 or 0.05). However, there were no significant changes in the relative weights of stomach contents, small intestine and caecum contents (p>0.05). The activities of small intestine trypsin of rabbits fed on diet C were higher than those of other diets followed by diet A, D, F, E and B (p<0.05). However, no significant changes in the activities of small intestine amylase and lipase were observed (p>0.05). The values of plasma total protein, albumin, Albumin/Globulin ratio, glucose, total cholesterol and urea nitrogen revealed nonsignificant changes among all groups that received different dietary treatment (P>0.5).
Students' Motivational Processes and Their Relationship to Teacher Ratings in School Physical Education

In the present study, we used a model of motivation grounded in self-determination theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985, 1991; Ryan & Deci, 2000a, 2000b, 2002) to examine the relationship between physical education (PE) students' motivational processes and ratings of their effort and persistence as provided by their PE teacher. Data were obtained from 394 British secondary school students (204 boys, 189 girls, 1 gender not specified; M age = 11.97 years; SD = .89; range = 11-14 years) who responded to a multisection inventory (tapping autonomy-support, autonomy, competence, relatedness, and self-determined motivation). The students' respective PE teachers subsequently provided ratings reflecting the effort and persistence each student exhibited in their PE classes. The hypothesized relationships among the study variables were examined via structural equation modeling analysis using latent factors. Results of maximum likelihood analysis using the bootstrapping method revealed the proposed model demonstrated a good fit to the data, χ2 (292) = 632.68, p < . 001; comparative fit index = . 95; incremental fit index = . 95, standardized root mean square residual = . 077; root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = . 054 (90% confidence interval of RMSEA = .049 - .060). Specifically, the model showed that students who perceived an autonomy supportive environment experienced greater levels of autonomy, competence, and relatedness and had higher scores on an index of self-determination. Student-reported levels of self-determined motivation positively predicted teacher ratings of effort and persistence in PE. The findings are discussed with regard to enhancing student motivation in PE settings.
Wavelet Variance Analysis of Output in G-7 Countries

The large decline in output volatility experienced by most industrialized countries in the last decades has been thoroughly analyzed using standard time and frequency domain methods. In this paper we investigate the issue of moderation of volatility in G-7 economies and its sources, applying a multi-scaling approach to the industrial production indices of G-7 countries between 1961:1-2006:10. Using the MODWT estimates of wavelet variance we provide a scale-based analysis of variance that allows us to characterize the decline in volatility and to detect the importance of the various explanations of the moderation. The main scale-by-scale results stemming from multi scale analysis of variance are: i) a reduction in volatility which, although displayed by all the G-7 countries, is not uniform across time scales (as the decline is larger at short-term scales than at business cycle scales for France and Italy, and quite uniform across scale for the UK and the US) nor countries (as the decline is significant for a subset of countries only, i.e. France, Italy, the UK and the US); and ii) the moderation has to be attributable to the decline in the variance of both common (in the 1970s) and country-specific (in the 1960s) exogenous disturbances hitting the economy.