Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Growing Apart? Australia and New Zealand growth experiences, 1870–1993

The paper uses a recently created annual per capita income series for New Zealand, 1870-1993 to consider the existence of convergence between New Zealand and Australia. The results show that the New Zealand GDP per capita series is integrated of order 1, I(1), and neither a single or joint break overturns the null of a unit root. Based on the time series properties of Australian data described in Oxley and Greasley (1995) this result for the New Zealand data is incompatible with her belonging to a trans-Tasman Convergence Club. A conjunction of smaller size, more insular economic policies, and a less favourable resource endowment distinguishes New Zealand's economic development from Australia's.
Competition and the performance of english secondary schools: further evidence

Both advocates of competition as a means to better school performance and economics‐based research on this issue assume a direct relationship between a more competitive market structure (in terms of the number and concentration of schools in a local market) and better school performance. This is an application to schools of the structure‐conduct‐performance model. It is assumed that head teachers and other professionals are motivated solely by self‐interest, so that lack of competition results in x‐inefficiency. However, if educational professionals are motivated by other considerations, in particular their values and beliefs, there is no automatic link between competitive structure and forms of competitive conduct that lead to better school performance. Since it is competitive conduct that affects school performance, the hypothesis of a postitive relationship between competition and performance is investigated in this study by collecting and analysing data on perceptions of competitive conduct from a survey of headteachers. An analysis of these data combined with administrative data finds that: 1. the two measures of perceived competition are only weakly related to measures of structural competition; 2. the number of perceived competitors is positively and significantly related to school performance in terms of the percentage of students obtaining 5 or more grades A* to C at GCSE but not the percentage obtaining 5 + A*–G grades.
Alterations in serum levels of lipids and lipoproteins with indinavir therapy for human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients.

Alterations in lipid metabolism have been associated with the use of protease inhibitors. Sequential lipid analyses were performed on serum samples from human immunodeficiency virus-infected antiretroviral-naive patients who received indinavir in combination with two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors. Serum levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoproteins (HDLs), and low-density lipoproteins (LDLs) were measured at baseline and at periodic intervals. After 48 weeks of indinavir therapy, mean serum levels +/- SD rose as follows: cholesterol, from 167.2 +/- 36.0 to 206.3 +/- 32.4 mg/dL (P < .0005); triglycerides, from 110.4 +/- 47.5 to 158.4 +/- 72.5 mg/dL (P < .0101); and LDLs, from 106.6 +/- 35.1 to 136.1 +/- 31.6 mg/dL (P = .0029). There was no significant change in the serum HDL fraction. Mean serum lipoprotein (a) levels +/- SD rose from 6.5 +/- 1.4 to 9.6 +/- 2.0 mg/dL after 30 weeks (P = .0695). Potential mechanisms for the noted increases include alterations in serum lipoprotein lipase activity or changes in hepatic lipid metabolism. The clinical significance of these changes remains to be determined.
Individual Rationality and Learning: Welfare Expectations in East Germany Post-Reunification

In this paper we test the Rational Expectations hypothesis using longitudinal data on expectations and realizations of individual welfare for East Germans in the years following reunification. German reunification was unexpected and delivered a large shock to the future prospects of the inhabitants of the former East Germany. We therefore take it as a "natural" experiment through which to study the rationality of expectations. Our results show that East Germans significantly over-estimated the welfare gains immediately following reunification. The prediction error was largest for the young, the poorly educated and those with children. However, expectations and realizations of life satisfaction in East Germany had converged by 1995, at a level considerably below that of West Germans. We hence conclude that expectations were close to rational after the dust of reunification had settled, but that expectations are not likely to be rational in times of great transition or volatility.
Adaptive Estimation in the Panel Data Error Component Model with Heteroskedasticity of Unknown Form

The authors show that the adaptive estimation result for the heteroskedasticity of an unknown form time-series (or cross-section) model can be generalized to the panel data error components model. The authors give recursive transformations that change the error term of a random effects model and the first differenced error term of a fixed effects model into classical errors. They also propose a modified Breusch-Pagan test for testing the random individual effects. Monte Carlo evidence suggests that the proposed estimator performs adequately in small samples. Copyright 1994 by Economics Department of the University of Pennsylvania and the Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association.
Robust strategies: lessons from GKN 1759–2013

GKN is Britain's surviving top 50 company from 1905, a flourishing world top-player in automotive and aero components. This article traces 254 years of its development, domestically and internationally, drawing on corporate access and the author's worldwide field research since 1974, and three in-depth business histories including one by the co-author. Lessons confirm just some traits expected of successful ‘Built To Last’ (BTL) companies. However, GKN's ‘robust’ sustained strategy also reflects financial conservatism; constant adaptation to its historical and competitive context; highly proactive internationalisation and, from 1902 onwards, a determination to develop always at least ‘three major business legs’ to survive evolutionary processes as sectors mature and consolidate globally.
Hotel Theming in China: A Qualitative Study of Practitioners’ Views

ABSTRACT Facing increasing competition, many hotels have adopted “theming” as a marketing strategy. Although still in its fledgling stage, hotel theming has already gained popularity in the growing Chinese hotel market. This study conducted focus group discussions to understand the concepts behind hotel theming in China. Respondents were 41 practitioners from the Chinese hotel industry, who were enrolled in an executive graduate program. Data revealed that hotel theming has four analytical dimensions, namely, the current state, perceived facilitators, inhibitors, and future prospective for developing such strategy in China. Results showed that the specific traits of the Chinese hotel market are highly important for the success of hotel theming in the given context.
The Path to Higher Growth: Does Revamping Japan's Dual Labor Market Matter?

This paper argues that Japan’s excessive labor market duality can reduce Total Factor Productivity (TFP) due to a negative impact on non-regular workers’ effort and on firms’ incentives to train them. On the basis of cross-country empirical evidence, the paper proposes some reform options. In particular, our analysis suggests that reducing the difference in employment protection between regular and non-regular workers would substantially reduce labor market duality in Japan. One reform consistent with these findings is the introduction of a Single Open Ended Contract for all newly hired workers. This reform could be complemented by a shift towards a model that combines labor market flexibility and security (“flexicurity”) and by policies aimed at encouraging wage growth.
Coeliac disease in Dutch patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis and vice versa.

AIM To define the association between Hashimoto's thyroiditis and coeliac disease in Dutch patients. METHODS A total of 104 consecutive patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis underwent coeliac serological tests (antigliadins, transglutaminase and endomysium antibodies) and HLA-DQ typing. Small intestinal biopsy was performed when any of coeliac serological tests was positive. On the other hand, 184 patients with coeliac disease were subjected to thyroid biochemical (thyroid stimulating hormone and free thyroxine) and thyroid serological tests (thyroglobulin and thyroid peroxidase antibodies). RESULTS Of 104 patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, sixteen (15%) were positive for coeliac serology and five patients with documented villous atrophy were diagnosed with coeliac disease (4.8%; 95% CI 0.7-8.9). HLA-DQ2 (and/or -DQ8) was present in all the five and 53 patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (50%; 95% CI 43-62). Of 184 patients with coeliac disease, 39 (21%) were positive for thyroid serology. Based on thyroid biochemistry, the 39 patients were subclassified into euthyroidism in ten (5%; 95% CI 2-9), subclinical hypothyroidism in seven (3.8%; 95% CI 1.8-7.6), and overt hypothyroidism (Hashimoto's thyroiditis) in 22 (12%; 95% CI 8-16). Moreover, four patients with coeliac disease had Graves' disease (2%; 95% CI 0.8-5) and one patient had post-partum thyroiditis. CONCLUSION The data from a Dutch population confirm the association between Hashimoto's thyroiditis and coeliac disease. Screening patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis for coeliac disease and vice versa is recommended.
Building Boom and Political Corruption in Spain

As evidenced by the countless scandals of recent years, town planning has become a very serious source of political corruption in Spain. As will be analysed in this article, corruption was caused by the confluence of three major factors: the singularities of the Spanish town-planning model, defective oversight mechanisms for municipalities, and the extraordinary growth of housing construction during the last ten years. Finally, the new law on the subject is reviewed and solutions are suggested.
Noncooperative regulation of a nonlocalized externality

With a nonlocalized pollution externality, different groups bear the costs and benefits of abatement. In the case of acid rain these groups are, respectively, consumers in the Midwest and pollutees in the Northeast. These groups have conflicting interests that are represented respectively by a public utilities commission and an environmental regulator. We analyze a model in which the Environmental Protection Agency, acting as a von Stackelberg leader, regulates pollution, and the public utility commission regulates the price for a monopolist that has private information about the effectiveness of its abatement alternatives. We characterize a noncooperative equilibrium and compare it with a cooperative equilibrium.
China stock price reactions to financial announcements: evidence from segmented markets

This paper examines empirically Chinese stock price reactions to financial announcements for 2002. We find that B share prices react more strongly to negative financial announcements than A shares. The announcements can lead to excess returns. One explanation is that the markets are segmented by the inconvertibility of China’s currency, as well as by the structural change of investors. Meanwhile China listed companies need to improve their transparency and disclosure.
Regression methods in pricing American and Bermudan options using consumption processes

Numerical algorithms for the efficient pricing of multidimensional discrete-time American and Bermudan options are constructed using regression methods and a new approach for computing upper bounds of the options’ price. Using the sample space with payoffs at optimal stopping times, we propose sequential estimates for continuation values, values of the consumption process, and stopping times on the sample paths. The approach allows the constructing of both lower and upper bounds for the price by Monte Carlo simulations. The algorithms are tested by pricing Bermudan max-calls and swaptions in the Libor market model.
Assessment literacy of foundation phase teachers: An exploratory study

This study explores foundation phase teachers’ assessment literacy, and their understanding and use of formative and summative assessment. Using questionnaires, observations and interviews, data were obtained from Grade 1, 2 and 3 teachers from a school each in quintile 2, 3 and 5. Teachers from all three schools demonstrated equally low levels of assessment literacy. While understanding of summative assessment was noticeably higher, all teachers demonstrated very poor understanding of formative assessment. Notwithstanding the small sample size, the study highlights the need for professional development programmes to focus on enhancing teachers’ assessment literacy. It also calls for additional research on a conceptualisation of assessment literacy that is relevant to South African teachers, and for determining the impact of concepts and practices advocated in the national assessment and curriculum policies on teachers’ use of assessment to address the learning needs of all learners across schools in the different quintile categories.
Assessment of Cervical Myelopathy Using Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and Prediction of Prognosis After Laminoplasty

Study Design. This study investigated the clinical usefulness of motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) produced by transcranial magnetic stimulation of the brain for cervical myelopathy patients. Objective. The purpose of this study was to determine the usefulness of MEPs for the assessment of the severity of myelopathy and prediction of the outcome of laminoplasty. Summary of Background Data. Magnetic stimulation has been widely used for examination of the descending excitatory motor pathways in the central nervous system, but little attention has been paid to cervical myelopathy. Methods. We measured the MEPs of 56 patients who underwent surgery for cervical myelopathy. The MEPs from the abductor pollicis brevis, abductor digiti minimi, tibialis anterior, and abductor hallucis muscle were evoked by transcranial magnetic brain stimulation. The latency from the anterior horn cell of the spinal cord to the hand or foot muscles was also measured, with the F-value [(F + M − 1)/2] calculated. This was followed by estimation of the central motor conduction time (CMCT). Severity of clinical disability was scored on the basis of symptoms according to a modified ADL scale for cervical myelopathy of the Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score. Results. The average CMCT of the symptomatic side significantly correlated with the preoperative JOA score. The average CMCT of the symptomatic side significantly correlated with the 1-year postoperative JOA score. The average CMCT for patients with poor outcome was significantly longer than that for patients with good outcome. CMCT of 15 milliseconds or more in the upper extremities or that of 22 milliseconds or more in the lower extremities indicated poor prognosis. Conclusion. In patients with cervical myelopathy, the CMCT significantly correlated with the results of clinical assessment. These findings regarding the duration of CMCT may be useful parameters in spinal pathology for prediction of the outcome of surgical treatment.
WAGE INTERDEPENDENCE THROUGH DECENTRALIZED BARGAINING

Abstract. The idea that sector-specific unions are influenced by the wages obtained by other unions has mainly been used to support the empirical observation that wages are highly correlated among industries. The sources of wage interdependence can mainly be found in unions’preferences, in the nature of technology and in price and demand determination. The presence of externalities and of strategic complementarity among unions leads to suboptimal equilibria, which generates non-desired inflation, unemployment and possibly also trade balance deficit. This enforces the idea that part of current unemployment can be eliminated by improving the cooperation between social actors.
Effects of Political Monopoly on Economic Development

This paper has two objectives. First, it presents a survey of the literature surrounding the relation between political monopoly and economic development. Second, it offers an analysis of how commoners' high degree of tolerance towards unfair inequality of income distribution between theirs and the monopolizing ruling elites leads to poor economic development. We assert that free migration between states causes monopoly rent to shrink because it poses a threat to the ruling elites due to fiscal competition between states. The shrinking in monopoly rent implies a higher level of division of labour, which results in a greater extent of the market and higher aggregate productivity. Copyright 2007 The Authors Journal compilation 2007 Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Developing relationships within the framework of local economic development in Spain

This study is aimed at analysing the relationships between local development agencies and various actors from within their environments. The authors explore the applicability of a relationship marketing approach to local development and propose the influence of economic development objectives on the relational orientation of partnerships, as well as the correspondence between the relational orientation, the results obtained and the expectations of continuity. The empirical study focuses on particular cases of Spanish development agencies operating at local and regional level. A structural equations analysis in a sample of 174 relationships of 18 local development agencies evidences that while the relational orientation of internal relationships and lateral relationships with other development agents is hardly influenced by the objectives of economic development, the closeness of vertical relationships (residents, firms, tourists and local entrepreneurs) depends to a large extent on these objectives. Moreover, it has been confirmed the that effect of relational orientation on competitiveness, on efficient management, and on satisfaction, whereas the creation of infrastructures seems not to be a direct result. The authors conclude that managing relationships with suppliers and target groups as alliances, working together, sharing information, resolving conflicts satisfactorily, and sharing common values, will guarantee performance and resources management efficiency, and will ensure the continuity of fruitful relationships.
Contribution CLASSIFICATION OF BREAST TUMORS USING ELASTOGRAPHIC AND B-MODE FEATURES : COMPARISON OFAUTOMATIC SELECTION OF REPRESENTATIVE SLICE AND PHYSICIAN-SELECTED SLICE OF IMAGES

WOO KYUNG MOON,* SHAO-CHIEN CHANG,y JUNG MIN CHANG,* NARIYA CHO,* CHIUN-SHENG HUANG,z JEN-WEI KUO,y and RUEY-FENG CHANGyx *Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Hospital, Korea; yDepartment of Computer Science and Information Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; zDepartment of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; and xGraduate Institute of Biomedical Electronics and Bioinformatics, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
How Human Amygdala and Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis May Drive Distinct Defensive Responses

The ability to adaptively regulate responses to the proximity of potential danger is critical to survival and imbalance in this system may contribute to psychopathology. The bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) is implicated in defensive responding during uncertain threat anticipation whereas the amygdala may drive responding upon more acute danger. This functional dissociation between the BNST and amygdala is however controversial, and human evidence scarce. Here we used data from two independent functional magnetic resonance imaging studies [n = 108 males and n = 70 (45 females)] to probe how coordination between the BNST and amygdala may regulate responses during shock anticipation and actual shock confrontation. In a subset of participants from Sample 2 (n = 48) we demonstrate that anticipation and confrontation evoke bradycardic and tachycardic responses, respectively. Further, we show that in each sample when going from shock anticipation to the moment of shock confrontation neural activity shifted from a region anatomically consistent with the BNST toward the amygdala. Comparisons of functional connectivity during threat processing showed overlapping yet also consistently divergent functional connectivity profiles for the BNST and amygdala. Finally, childhood maltreatment levels predicted amygdala, but not BNST, hyperactivity during shock anticipation. Our results support an evolutionary conserved, defensive distance-dependent dynamic balance between BNST and amygdala activity. Shifts in this balance may enable shifts in defensive reactions via the demonstrated differential functional connectivity. Our results indicate that early life stress may tip the neural balance toward acute threat responding and via that route predispose for affective disorder. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Previously proposed differential contributions of the BNST and amygdala to fear and anxiety have been recently debated. Despite the significance of understanding their contributions to defensive reactions, there is a paucity of human studies that directly compared these regions on activity and connectivity during threat processing. We show strong evidence for a dissociable role of the BNST and amygdala in threat processing by demonstrating in two large participant samples that they show a distinct temporal signature of threat responding as well as a discriminable pattern of functional connections and differential sensitivity to early life threat.
Biotransformation and toxicokinetics of musk xylene in humans.

Musk xylene (1-tert-butyl-3,5-dimethyl-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene, MX) is widely used as a fragrance ingredient in detergents and toiletries and is an environmental contaminant. High concentrations of MX have been found in fish, and humans are constantly exposed to MX as a result of its stability in the environment. We investigated the biotransformation and toxicokinetics of MX in humans. A single dose of 0.3 mg/kg body wt of 15N-labeled MX (15N-MX) was given to six volunteers (three male and three female) by the oral route and to another six volunteers (three males and three females) by the dermal route. Urine was collected for 96 h after exposure. Blood samples were taken at intervals for up to 140 days after administration. The metabolite 1-tert-butyl-3,5-dimethyl-15N-4-amino-2,6-dinitrobenzene in urine and 15N-MX in plasma were quantified by gas chromatography/electron-capture mass spectrometry (GC-MS/NCI). Peak plasma concentrations of 15N-MX after oral administration were 36-262 and 1.6-5.5 ng/ml plasma after dermal administration. The toxicokinetics of 15N-MX in plasma can be described by a two-compartment kinetic model with an initial rapid decrease, due to the distribution from the blood into a second compartment (likely fat tissue) and a terminal elimination phase with an average half-life of 70 days for both routes of administration. The amount of 1-tert-butyl-3,5-dimethyl-15N-4-amino-2,6-dinitrobenzene (15N-4-A-MX) in recovered urine represented 0.1-0.5% of the oral applied dose of 15N-MX, respectively, 0.02-0.16% of dermal dose. After a short time of invasion the concentrations of 15N-4-A-MX in urine reached a maximum 18-24 h after administration. The further elimination of the metabolite occurred by first-order kinetics with an average elimination half-life of 11.8 h. After the single oral or dermal dose of 15N-MX, 15N-4-A-MX was not detected in hemoglobin. However, hemoglobin samples contained 1-tert-butyl-3, 5-dimethyl-4-amino-2,6-dinitrobenzene (4-A-MX) (11.4-18.9 fmol/mg Hb), likely derived from chronic environmental exposures.