Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Product Quality and Intra-Industry Trade

In this study, we argue that the conventional intra-industry trade (IIT) index does not directly address the quality issue and propose a methodology to make full use of unit price gap information to deduce quality differences between simultaneously exported and imported products. By applying this measure to German trade data at the eight-digit level, we study the quality change of Chinese export goods in its IIT with Germany. We compare the case of China with those of Eastern European countries, which are also major trading partners of Germany. Our results show that the unit value difference in IIT between Germany and Eastern European countries is clearly narrowing. However, China’s export prices to Germany are much lower than Germany’s export prices to China, and this gap has not narrowed over the last 23 years. This is at odds with the common perception that China’s product quality has improved, as documented by Rodrik [Rodrik, D (2006). Whats so special about China’s exports? China and World Economy, 14(5), 1–19. ] and Schott [Schott, P (2008). The Relative sophistication of Chinese exports. Economic Policy, 53, 5–49. ]. Our results support Xu [Xu, B (2010). The sophistication of exports: Is China special? China Economic Review, 21(3), 482–493. ], which argued that incorporating the quality aspect of the exported goods weakens or even eliminates the evidence of the sophistication of Chinese export goods in Rodrik [Rodrik, D (2006). Whats so special about China’s exports? China and World Economy, 14(5), 1–19. ].
Cancer predisposing BARD1 mutations affect exon skipping and are associated with overexpression of specific BARD1 isoforms.

BARD1 is the main binding partner of BRCA1 and is required for its stability and tumor-suppressor functions. In breast cancer and other epithelial cell carcinomas, alternatively spliced isoforms of BARD1 are highly upregulated and correlated with poor outcome. Recent data indicate that germline mutations of BARD1 may predispose to breast and/or ovarian cancer. To evaluate the role of BARD1 germline mutations in predisposition to ovarian cancer we scanned a cohort of 255 patients for the presence of previously reported mutations located in exons 5, 8 and 10 using high-resolution melting analysis. Within this group we identified single-patients carrying mutation in exon 8 (c.1690C>T, p.Gln564Ter), two different variants in exon 10 (c.1972C>T, p.Arg658Tyr; c.1977A>G, p.=) and a carrier of novel missense mutation located in exon 5 (c.1361C>T, p.Pro454Leu). Three out of four identified mutations alter exonic splicing enhancing motives and result in expression of incorrect splicing skipping of exons 5, 8, and 2-9, respectively. Our data indicate that BARD1 variants may predispose to ovarian cancer in limited number of patients although based on actual data it is difficult to estimate its actual penetrance.
Social capital and human resource management in international joint ventures in Vietnam: a perspective from a transitional economy

This study highlights the importance of social capital in international joint ventures (IJVs), and examines human resource practices as a factor shaping such social capital. Comprehensive measures of social capital are developed and tested, which extend prior work on ‘bonding’ and ‘bridging’ social capital. We also link social capital with its anticipated antecedents and consequences. The study's findings are based on data collected from 164 IJVs located in Vietnam. IJV performance was predicted by training and by the level of trust and cooperation between foreign and local personnel. Training (including acquisition of management skills, technology, and cross-cultural understanding) also was predictive of the measures of social capital. A key practical implication arising from this study is that the return on investment from training of joint venture personnel can stem not only from the transfer of technical and management skills needed for developing competitive advantage, but also from the positive impact on social capital, which further contributes to venture success. The establishment of written objectives and plans for the venture, as well as the IJV's level of control regarding its own HR functions also was found to be related to some components of social capital. The findings of this study reinforce the call to build on the contributions of local personnel in joint ventures, and in Vietnam in particular.
Distributed Joint Offloading Decision and Resource Allocation for Multi-User Mobile Edge Computing: A Game Theory Approach

Due to the spectrum reuse in small cell network, the inter-cell interference has great effect on MEC's performance. In this paper, for reducing the energy consumption and latency of MEC, we propose a game theory based jointing offloading decision and resource allocation algorithm for multi-user MEC. In this algorithm, the transmission power, offloading decision, and mobile user's CPU capability are determined jointly. We prove that this game is an exact potential game and the NE of this game exists and is unique. For reaching the NE, the best response dynamic is applied. We calculate the best responses of these three variables. Moreover, we investigate the properties of this algorithm, including the convergence, the computation complexity, and the price of anarchy. The theoretical analysis shows that the inter-cell interference has great effect on the performance of MEC. The NE of this game is Pareto efficiency and also the global optimal solution of the proposed optimal issue. Finally, we evaluate the performance of this algorithm by simulation. The simulation results illustrates that this algorithm is effective on improving the performance of the multi-user MEC system.
The myth of decoupling

The decoupling hypothesis is the idea that business cycles in emerging market economies have become more independent from business cycles in advanced economies in recent years. Decoupling essentially amounts to a structural break in the degree of business cycle interdependence between the two groups of economies, and it can be tested as such. We develop an innovative measure of business cycle interdependence based on the Euclidean distance, available at the annual frequency, which allows for a proper test for a structural break in a graphical setup. We also make use of a standard econometric test. Both approaches point to the same conclusion: there has been no decoupling in recent years. If anything, the degree of business cycle interdependence has become stronger.
Are small business owner/managers really entrepreneurial?

There have been many discussions of the differences and similarities between small business owner/managers and entrepreneurs. Some argue that small business start–up owners create the company for the main purposes of profit and growth, and therefore they should be grouped as entrepreneurs. However authors in support of a behavioural approach suggest that the trait view on entrepreneurs is not sufficient as innovative behaviour may not be found among small business owner managers especially when the company has been established and operated in the stable stage. This paper presents the analyses of entrepreneurial activities reported by diary method of 10 business owner managers in Hong Kong from various manufacturing industries. Time allocation on different entrepreneurial activities is analysed. The findings do confirm that small business owner managers spend a large amount of time on activities related to the entrepreneurial role in running their business, but there are some variations from company to com.
Detecting Traffic Lights by Single Shot Detection

Recent improvements in object detection are driven by the success of convolutional neural networks (CNN). They are able to learn rich features outperforming hand-crafted features. So far, research in traffic light detection mainly focused on hand-crafted features, such as color, shape or brightness of the traffic light bulb. This paper presents a deep learning approach for accurate traffic light detection in adapting a single shot detection (SSD) approach. SSD performs object proposals creation and classification using a single CNN. The original SSD struggles in detecting very small objects, which is essential for traffic light detection. By our adaptations it is possible to detect objects much smaller than ten pixels without increasing the input image size. We present an extensive evaluation on the DriveU Traffic Light Dataset (DTLD). We reach both, high accuracy and low false positive rates. The trained model is real-time capable with ten frames per second on a Nvidia Titan Xp. Code has been made available at https://github.com/julimueller/tl_ssd.
The transitions storyline in Dutch environmental policy

In 2001 the Dutch government adopted a new policy in its Fourth National Environmental Policy Plan. Its transitions approach seeks radically more sustainable socio-technical systems, and represents an attempt to reinvigorate ecological modernisation. To explain the rise of this distinct policy storyline, a coalition of researchers and policy-makers forming the transition storyline is analysed. The interpretative flexibility of the storyline in relation to prevailing institutional priorities explains its success but also builds in limits by making subsequent institutionalisation susceptible to capture by incumbent interests, as illustrated by implementation in the energy sector.
Role of Inner Speech on Serial Recall in Children with ASD: A Pilot Study Using the Luria Hand Test

This study was conducted to investigate the relation between the effect of articulatory suppression on the serial recall and severity of social impairments among children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The Luria hand test (LHT) was administered to evaluate the capacity for serial recall in 13 children with ASD. The LHT was administered under three conditions: control, under articulatory suppression, and under spatial suppression. Performance on the LHT of children with ASD was significantly lower in terms of both articulatory suppression and the spatial suppression condition. Moreover, the severity of social impairment in children with ASD was related to individual differences of effects of articulatory suppression on the LHT, but not with effects of spatial suppression. These results support the notion that dialogic inner speech which mediates complex cognitive abilities has inherently social origins.
1 Novel combinatorial therapeutic strategy to overcome 2 gain-of-function p 53 mutations 3

Mutations in the “guardian of the genome” TP53 predominate in solid tumors. In 31 addition to loss of tumor suppressor activity, a specific subset of missense mutations confers 32 additional oncogenic properties. These “gain-of-function” (GOF) mutations portend poor 33 prognosis across cancer types regardless of treatment. Our objective in this study was to identify 34 novel therapeutic opportunities to overcome the deleterious effects of GOF TP53 mutants. Using 35 gynecologic cancer cell lines with known TP53 mutational status, we established that treatment 36 with a proteasome inhibitor induced cell death in cells with two recurrent GOF TP53 mutations 37 (R175H and R248Q), and addition of a histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) enhanced this effect. 38 By contrast, p53-null cancer cells were relatively resistant to the combination. Towards 39 understanding the mechanism, we found that proteasome inhibition promotes apoptosis of cells 40 with TP53 GOF mutations, potentially through induction of the unfolded protein response. In line 41 with the reported hyperstabilization of GOF p53 protein, cells treated with HDACi exhibited 42 reduced levels of p53 protein. Together, these data form the basis for future clinical studies 43 examining therapeutic efficacy in a preselected patient population with GOF TP53 mutations. 44
An Analysis of Supply Response for Natural Rubber in Cambodia

In this paper, a partial adjustment and adaptive expectation mechanism are applied to analyze the supply response of natural rubber in Cambodia. The planted area and average yield are set as the supply response. Data from 1990-2008 were used in the analysis. The factor that had the most positive influence on the supply was rubber prices followed by rainfall and lagged dependent variables. However, the supply negatively responded to prices of alternative crops. In terms of elasticities of rubber supply with respect to its own price, they were inelastic in the short run and elastic in the long run. The long-run supply elasticities were relatively greater than the short run by five to twenty times. That indicates rubber farmers adjust their production planning in the long run more frequently than in the short run.
Sleep habits of students attending elementary schools, and junior and senior high schools in Akita prefecture

Abstract It is widely accepted that students in Japan sleep fewer hours than what they actually need. However, epidemiological data on sleep habits among students are scarce. The sleep habits and related problems among 1650 students in Akita prefecture were studied. The results revealed that schoolchildren attending elementary schools seemed to sleep for a sufficient number of hours, whereas students attending junior or senior high schools were not sleeping enough. In particular, approximately half of the students attending senior high schools answered that they slept 6 h or less on weekdays and nodded off during classes more than twice a week.
Interaction of Growth Hormone-activated STATs with SH2-containing Phosphotyrosine Phosphatase SHP-1 and Nuclear JAK2 Tyrosine Kinase*

Growth hormone (GH) rapidly stimulates tyrosine phosphorylation followed by serine/threonine phosphorylation of multiple cytoplasmic STAT transcription factors, including one, STAT5b, that is uniquely responsive to the temporal pattern of plasma GH stimulation in rat liver and is proposed to play a central role in the activation of male-expressed liver genes by GH pulses in vivo (Waxman, D. J., Ram, P. A., Park, S. H., and Choi, H. K. (1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270, 13262–13270). We now show that JAK2, the GH receptor-associated tyrosine kinase, is present both in the cytosol and in the nucleus in cultured liver cells and in rat liver in vivo and that GH-activated STAT3 but not STAT5b becomes associated with nuclear JAK2. GH is also shown to activate by 3–4-fold SHP-1, a phosphotyrosine phosphatase that contains twosrc homology 2 (SH2) domains. GH also induces nuclear translocation and binding of SHP-1 to tyrosine-phosphorylated STAT5b, suggesting that this GH-activated phosphatase may play a role in dephosphorylation leading to deactivation of nuclear STAT5b following the termination of a plasma GH pulse in male rat liver in vivo. No such association of SHP-1 with GH-activated STAT3 was detected, a finding that could help explain the marked desensitization of STAT3, but not STAT5b, to subsequent GH pulses following an initial GH activation event.
Trends and measurement of HIV prevalence in northern Malawi

Background: Most data on HIV prevalence in Malawi come from antenatal clinic (ANC) surveillance and are, therefore, subject to bias. Objectives: HIV prevalence and risk factors were measured using population-based data to assess the accuracy of ANC surveillance and changes in prevalence and risk factors for HIV over time. Methods: HIV prevalence was measured in 1988–1993 and 1998–2001 in community controls from case–control studies of mycobacterial disease in Karonga District, Malawi. ANC surveillance studies in the district began in 1999. Results: Age and area-standardized HIV prevalence in women aged 15–49 years in the community was 3.9% in 1988–1990, 12.5% in 1991–1993 and 13.9% in 1998–2001. For men, HIV prevalence was 3.7%, 9.2% and 11.4% in the same periods. In 1988–1993, HIV positivity was associated with occupations other than farming, with increased schooling and being born outside Karonga District. In 1998–2001, non-farmers were still at higher risk but the other associations were not seen. The age- and area-adjusted HIV prevalence in the ANC in 1999–2001 was 9.2%. The underestimate can be explained largely by marriage and mobility. Reduced fertility in HIV-positive individuals was demonstrated in both ANC and community populations. A previously recommended parity-based adjustment gave an estimated female HIV prevalence of 15.0%. Conclusions: HIV prevalence has increased and continues to be higher in non-farmers. The increase is particularly marked in those with no education. ANC surveillance underestimated HIV prevalence in the female population in all but the youngest age group. Although there were differences in sociodemographic factors, a parity-based adjustment gave a reasonable estimate of female HIV prevalence.
The association between disclosure level and information quality: voluntary management earnings forecasts

This study investigates the empirical association between managers information advantages and disclosure quality choice in the context of management earnings forecasts (MEF). The main hypothesis is that the quality of information available to managers is associated with cross-sectional differences in firm characteristics, and that managers information advantages determine four classes of forecast pattern: no disclosure, qualitative disclosure (open-ended interval estimate or general impression), range (close-interval estimate) forecasts and point estimate. Prior works were extended through utilization of a multi-level forecast precision model, and through comparison of selected firm characteristics in forecast years with non-forecast years. The major findings of this study are as follows. First, the results support the notion that managers are likely to select low-level disclosure precision as the magnitude of earnings volatility increases. Second, the findings indicate that the proportion of outside ownership is significantly associated with high-level forecast precision. Lastly, the results indicate the dispersion of analysts forecasts (before the MEF) is larger in the year of the MEF than in a non-forecast year. A discussion of the implications of these results is provided.
The Influence of Markets and Policy on Spatial Patterns of Non-Timber Forest Product Extraction

When villagers extract resources, such as fuelwood, fodder, or medicinal plants from forests, their decisions over where and how much to extract are influenced by market conditions, their particular opportunity costs of time, minimum consumption needs, and access to markets. This paper develops an optimization model of villagers’ extraction behavior that clarifies how, and under what conditions, policies that create incentives such as improved returns to extraction in a buffer zone might be used instead of adversarial enforcement efforts to protect a forest’s pristine “inner core. ” (JEL Q23)
Sources of Productivity Slowdown in European Countries During 1990s

In this paper we argue that the slowdown in labor productivity and not the low contribution of labor is at the root of the slowdown of the European economic growth in the fifteen yars. Using a simple dynamic model of the labor market, we show that the poor performance of the European economies can only be accounted for by a combination of two shocks: a negative supply shock to the labor demand due to the deceleration of technological progress and a positive supply shock resulting from the labor market reforms. We use a structural VAR model to estimate the contribution of these two shocks to thedynamics of employment and labor productivity. Our main conclusions are that the technological shock is able to explain the decrease of the growth rate of labor productivity but not the increase in employment. In turn, the non technological shock can capture the dynamics of employment but not the slowdown of labor productivity. Thus, both shocks are necessary to provide a complete picture of the employment-productivity tradeoff in Europe during
The Importance of Employment Protection for Skill Development in Coordinated Market Economies

During the heyday of neoliberalism, employment protection was widely believed to be one of the main causes of Europe's poor economic performance and high unemployment. We challenge this view and instead argue that employment protection is crucial to preserving Europe's export success in higher value-added industries. In particular, we explore the relationship between employment protection and skills development.
A CMOS Amperometric System for Multi-Neurotransmitter Detection

In vivo multi-target and selective concentration monitoring of neurotransmitters can help to unravel the brain chemical complex signaling interplay. This paper presents a dedicated integrated potentiostat transducer circuit and its selective electrode interface. A custom 2-electrode time-based potentiostat circuit was fabricated with 0.13 μm CMOS technology and provides a wide dynamic input current range of 20 pA to 600 nA with 56 μW, for a minimum sampling frequency of 1.25 kHz. A multi-working electrode chip is functionalized with carbon nanotubes (CNT)-based chemical coatings that offer high sensitivity and selectivity towards electroactive dopamine and non-electroactive glutamate. The prototype was experimentally tested with different concentrations levels of both neurotransmitter types, and results were similar to measurements with a commercially available potentiostat. This paper validates the functionality of the proposed biosensor, and demonstrates its potential for the selective detection of a large number of neurochemicals.
The Impact of Internal and External Characteristics on the Adoption of Climate Mitigation Policies by US Municipalities

Many US municipalities are engaged in climate mitigation planning, or efforts to reduce their communities' greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through land-use, transportation, and energy planning. However, they face a number of procedural and institutional obstacles that limit the adoption and implementation of those plans. The literature identifies some of the factors that lead municipalities to join relevant policy networks, but provides little guidance for overcoming the aforementioned obstacles and adopting policies to reduce community-wide GHG emissions. With this study I increase the understanding of climate mitigation planning by examining whether the adoption of these plans and policies is driven primarily by local demographic, economic, environmental, or political – institutional characteristics. My research is based upon a survey of 255 US municipalities. I combine the survey responses with secondary data and use multiple regression techniques to estimate the impact of fifteen demographic, political – institutional, economic, and environmental variables on the adoption of climate mitigation plans and policies. The influence of neighboring jurisdictions, the presence of staff members assigned to energy or climate planning, and the level of community environmental activism are found to have the greatest impact on climate mitigation policy adoption. These findings support the conclusion that the extent of climate mitigation planning is driven primarily by internal processes, and municipalities that are successful in this area do not fit any one profile according to their demographic, economic, or environmental characteristics.