Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Turnover in the Labor Force

EVERY MONTH, AN IMPORTANT FRACTION of the population moves from one economic activity to another: Some are laid off and must seek work, or they quit to take new jobs; young people leave school and look for work; workers leave the labor force because of disability or duties at home. The continual process of turnover seems to be the characteristic of the modern American economy that distinguishes it from those of other developed countries, where the experience of individual workers appears to be much more stable over time. Is high turnover inevitable in a postindustrial economy? How do the various demographic groups in the labor force differ with respect to turnover? What is the relation between turnover and unemployment? What are the social benefits and costs of turnover and unemployment? These are some of the critical questions that I address in this paper. Any modern treatment of turnover and unemployment must distinguish between the role of events outside the control of the individual and the role of his response to his economic environment. Fluctuations in the demand for labor are the most important external source of disturbances in an individual's career, so it is conventional to distinguish between the demand side of the problem and the supply side. Turnover among jobs was the traditional explanation of the frictional unemployment hat exists to some extent in every economy, but until recently, it received little discussion. Even ten years ago, economists considered unemployment a simple shortage of
Characterization of Chicken IgY Specific to Clostridium difficile R20291 Spores and the Effect of Oral Administration in Mouse Models of Initiation and Recurrent Disease

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) are the leading cause of world-wide nosocomial acquired diarrhea. The current main clinical challenge in CDI is the elevated rate of infection recurrence that may reach up to 30% of the patients, which has been associated to the formation of dormant spores during the infection. We sought to characterize the effects of oral administration of specific anti-spore IgY in mouse models of CDI and recurrent CDI. The specificity of anti-spore IgY was evaluated in vitro. In both, initiation mouse model and recurrence mouse model, we evaluated the prophylactic and therapeutic effect of anti-spore IgY, respectively. Our results demonstrate that anti-spore IgY exhibited high specificity and titers against C. difficile spores and reduced spore adherence to intestinal cells in vitro. Administration of anti-spore IgY to C57BL/6 mice prior and during CDI delayed the appearance of the diarrhea by 1.5 day, and spore adherence to the colonic mucosa by 90%. Notably, in the recurrence model, co-administration of anti-spore IgY coupled with vancomycin delayed the appearance of recurrent diarrhea by a median of 2 days. Collectively, these observations suggest that anti-spore IgY antibodies may be used as a novel prophylactic treatment for CDI, or in combination with antibiotics to treat CDI and prevent recurrence of the infection.
Nonlinear Relationship between Frequent Price Discounts and Consumers’ Price Sensitivity

Although economists have traditionally considered the relationship between frequent price discounts and price sensitivity to be positive, the present study shows that this relationship could be nonlinear. Price discounts can stimulate sales because of the downward demand curve, but they can depress sales because consumers expect a lower price in the future. An increase in price sensitivity strengthens the aforementioned two effects, and the dominant effect determines whether price discounts can generate sales. In this paper, using a real options model, we show that when the second effect is stronger, an increase in price sensitivity decreases price discounts; the reverse is true when the first effect is dominant. Accordingly, practitioners can design efficient price-promotion programs on the basis of the product's price sensitivity.
Immigration population heterogeneity and earnings inequality in Hong Kong.

This paper analyzes the heterogeneity effect of immigration on earnings in-equality by decomposing the aggregate measure of total inequality. The analysis shows that a substantial portion of an increase in measured inequality could be due to shifts in shares of heterogeneous population groups caused by immigration policy rather than by widening earnings dispersion within these groups. The analysis is illustrated with census data of Hong Kong from 1981 to 1991. Income redistribution policy based on measured total inequality when there are shifts in population shares could be misguided. Copyright 1998 Western Economic Association International.
Adjuvant high-dose-rate brachytherapy in the management of oral cavity cancers: 5 years of experience in Iran

Purpose Brachytherapy is a cost-effective method for the management of oral cavity cancers in low to middle income countries. We aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of high-dose-rate interstitial brachytherapy (HDR-IBT) in patients with oral cavity cancer. Material and methods From 2009 to 2013, 78 patients (49 combined external beam radiotherapy [EBRT] plus IBT and 29 IBT monotherapy) with oral cavity cancers had been treated in our center. Slightly more than half the patients were male, and the median age was 54 years. The treatment was planned based on the Paris system. The main outcomes were disease-free and overall survival. Results The median follow-up duration was 36.5 months (range, 1.17-54.23). The actuarial four-year overall and disease-free survival rates were 83% and 65%, respectively. The local and locoregional control was achieved among 89.74% and 87.17% of patients, respectively. None of the factors including tumor size, node status, gender, and radiation modality (IBT alone vs. IBT + EBRT) had a significant statistical correlation to the local control rate. All the patients tolerated the planned treatment in the IBT alone group. Late complications included a case of trismus and three cases of catheter insertion site fibrosis. Conclusions HDR-IBT as a monotherapy or in combination with EBRT is an appropriate option for the management of oral cavity squamous cell carcinomas, and supports the improvement in treatment outcomes and toxicity profiles in adjuvant settings.
Caffeine, selected metabolic gene variants, and risk for neural tube defects.

BACKGROUND Investigations of maternal caffeine intake and neural tube defects (NTDs) have not considered genetic influences. Caffeine metabolism gene effects were examined in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study. METHODS Average daily caffeine was summed from self-reported coffee, tea, soda, and chocolate intake for mothers of 768 NTD cases, and 4143 controls delivered from 1997 to 2002. A subset of 306 NTD and 669 control infants and their parents were genotyped for CYP1A2*1F, NAT2 481C>T, and NAT2 590G>A. CYP1A2*1F was classified by fast or slow oxidation status, and NAT2 variants were categorized into rapid or slow acetylation status. Case-control logistic regression analyses, family-based transmission/disequilibrium tests and log-linear analyses, and hybrid log-linear analyses were conducted to produce odds ratios (ORs) or relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for caffeine intake and maternal and infant gene variants, and to examine interaction effects. RESULTS NTDs were independently associated with infant slow NAT2 acetylator status (RR, 2.00; 95% CI, 1.10-3.64) and maternal CYP1A2*1F fast oxidation status (OR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.10-2.03). Mothers who consumed caffeine, oxidized CYP1A2*1F quickly, and acetylized NAT2 slowly had a nonsignificantly elevated estimated risk for an NTD-affected pregnancy (OR, 3.10; 95% CI, 0.86-11.21). Multiplicative interaction effects were observed between maternal caffeine and infant CYP1A2*1F fast oxidizer status (p(interaction) = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS The association identified between maternal CYP1A2*1F fast oxidation status and NTDs should be examined further in the context of the other substrates of CYP1A2. Maternal caffeine and its metabolites may be associated with increased risk for NTD-affected pregnancies in genetically susceptible subgroups.
Descriptor Matching for a Discrete Spherical Image With a Convolutional Neural Network

In this paper, we propose a method of extracting feature descriptors from discrete spherical images using convolutional neural networks (CNNs). First, a captured full-view image is mapped to a discrete spherical image. Second, the features-from-accelerated-segment test algorithm is used to extract feature points in the discrete spherical image. Finally, an unsupervised CNN is used to obtain the descriptors of patches around each feature point. In the experiments, we compare these descriptors’ performance to the closest existing state-of-the-art feature descriptors of discrete spherical images, spherical oriented FAST and rotated BRIEF (SPHORB), for image pairs having different camera rotation, noise levels, and general motions. The experimental results demonstrate that our proposed CNN-based discrete spherical image feature descriptors clearly outperform SPHORB both in accuracy and robustness.
Electrospun polydioxanone–elastin blends: potential for bioresorbable vascular grafts

An electrospun cardiovascular graft composed of polydioxanone (PDO) and elastin has been designed and fabricated with mechanical properties to more closely match those of native arterial tissue, while remaining conducive to tissue regeneration. PDO was chosen to provide mechanical integrity to the prosthetic, while elastin provides elasticity and bioactivity (to promote regeneration in vitro/in situ). It is the elastic nature of elastin that dominates the low-strain mechanical response of the vessel to blood flow and prevents pulsatile energy from being dissipated as heat. Uniaxial tensile and suture retention tests were performed on the electrospun grafts to demonstrate the similarities of the mechanical properties between the grafts and native vessel. Dynamic compliance measurements produced values that ranged from 1.2 to 5.6%/100 mmHg for a set of three different mean arterial pressures. Results showed the 50:50 ratio to closely mimic the compliance of native femoral artery, while grafts that contained less elastin exceeded the suture retention strength of native vessel. Preliminary cell culture studies showed the elastin-containing grafts to be bioactive as cells migrated through their full thickness within 7 days, but failed to migrate into pure PDO scaffolds. Electrospinning of the PDO and elastin-blended composite into a conduit for use as a small diameter vascular graft has extreme potential and warrants further investigation as it thus far compares favorably to native vessel.
Aldose reductase deficiency reduced vascular changes in neonatal mouse retina in oxygen-induced retinopathy.

PURPOSE Retinal neovascularization is the major pathologic process in many ocular diseases and is associated with oxidative stress. Deficiency of aldose reductase (AR), the first enzyme in the polyol pathway for glucose metabolism, has been shown to reduce oxidative stress and blood vessel leakage. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of AR deficiency on retinal neovascularization in a murine oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) model. METHODS Seven-day-old wild-type (WT) and AR-deficient (AR(-/-)) mice were exposed to 75% oxygen for 5 days and then returned to room air. Vascular obliteration, neovascularization, and blood vessel leakage were analyzed and compared. Immunohistochemistry for AR, nitrotyrosine (NT), poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and Iba-1, as well as Western blots for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), phospho-Erk (p-Erk), phospho-Akt (p-Akt), and phospho-IκB (p-IκB) were performed. RESULTS Compared with WT OIR retinae, AR(-/-) OIR retinae displayed significantly smaller central retinal vaso-obliterated area, less neovascularization, and reduced blood vessel leakage. Significantly reduced oxidative stress and glial responses were also observed in AR(-/-) OIR retinae. Moreover, reduced microglial response in the avascular area but increased microglial responses in the neovascular area were found with AR deficiency. Furthermore, expression levels of VEGF, p-Erk, p-Akt, and p-IκB were significantly reduced in AR(-/-) OIR retinae. CONCLUSIONS Our observations indicated that AR deficiency reduced retinal vascular changes in the mouse model of OIR, indicating that AR can be a potential therapeutic target in ischemia-induced retinopathy.
Smoking and health promotion in Nazi Germany.

Accepted December 1993 Accepted for publication January 1994 In his recent paper in this journal "A birth cohort analysis of the smoking epidemic in West Germany", Brenner1 presents data showing that smoking rates increased dramatically from the late 1920s onwards and that the reductions now being seen are limited to men with higher education. His conclusions are that intensified education programmes are required among teenagers, together with res trictive smoking policies at the workplace and on transportation systems. Brenner believes that the relatively limited progress made against smoking in Germany is due to the slow adoption of antismoking campaigns compared with other countries such as the USA. In this commentary we show that, contrary to these assertions, energetic antismoking campaigns were adopted in Germany at a very early stage. Indeed, all of the activities Brenner now com mends were vigorously implemented during the Nazi period in Germany, with, as he clearly demonstrates, little effect on stemming the growing tide.
QTL Mapping for Yield and Resistance against Mediterranean Corn Borer in Maize

Introduction: The Mediterranean corn borer (MCB), Sesamia nonagrioides, is a major pest of maize, Zea mays, in Mediterranean countries, inflicting significant kernel yield losses. For that reason, it necessary to know the genetic mechanisms that regulate the agronomic and resistance traits. A quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping study for yield, resistance against MCB attack, and other relevant agronomic traits was performed using a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from the cross A637 × A509 that is expected to segregate for yield, and ear, and stalk resistance to MCB. 171 RILs were evaluated in 2014 and 2015 at Pontevedra, Spain, along with the two parental inbreds A637 and A509 using a 13 × 14 single lattice design with two replications. A genetic map with 285 SNP markers was used for QTL analysis. Our objectives were to detect QTL for resistance to MCB and tolerance-related agronomic traits, to gain insights on the genetic relationship between resistance to MCB attack and yield, and to establish the best way for simultaneously improving yield and resistance to MCB. Results: Twelve significant QTL were detected for agronomic and resistance traits. QTL at bins 1.10 and 5.04 were especially interesting because the same allelic variant at these QTL simultaneously improved yield and insect resistance. In contrast, in the region 8.04–8.05, QTL showed opposite effects for yield and resistance. Several QTL for indexes which combine yield and resistance traits were found especially in the region 10.02–10.03. Conclusions: Selecting genotypes with the favorable allele of QTL on chromosome 5 (bin 5.01) will decrease tunnel length without affect yield, silking and plant height and QTL on the region 5.04 could be used to improve stalk resistance and yield simultaneously. An allele of QTL on bin 9.07 will increase ear resistance to MCB attack but it could produce later varieties while favorable allele in region 1.10 could improve ear and stalk resistance and yield without secondary negative effects. The region 8.03–8.05 mainly but also the region 10.02–10.03 and 5.04 may play an important role to elucidate the association between yield, other agronomic traits and MCB resistance.
TESTING DIFFERENT CLASSES OF ENDOGENOUS GROWTH MODELS: INDUSTRY EVIDENCE FOR THE NEW ZEALAND ECONOMY

The endogenous growth literature can be broadly separated into two classes of growth models: Rival human capital models and non-rival "idea" models. Both classes differ in their positive and normative implications for growth. Following Klenow's (1998) approach, this paper uses industry panel data to investigate which class of growth models might be the most appropriate for the New Zealand economy: Exogenous growth, or one of the two classes of endogenous growth models. In contrast to Klenow's findings for the United States, in the New Zealand case rival human capital models seem more applicable, though none of the models correctly predicts all of the empirical relationships.
Potential reward reduces the adverse impact of negative distractor stimuli

Abstract Knowledge about interactions between reward and negative processing is rudimentary. Here, we employed functional MRI to probe how potential reward signaled by advance cues alters aversive distractor processing during perception. Behaviorally, the influence of aversive stimuli on task performance was reduced during the reward compared to no-reward condition. In the brain, at the task phase, paralleling the observed behavioral pattern, we observed significant interactions in the anterior insula and dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, such that responses during the negative (vs neutral) condition were reduced during the reward compared to no-reward condition. Notably, negative distractor processing in the amygdala appeared to be independent of the reward manipulation. During the initial cue phase, we observed increased reward-related responses in the ventral striatum/accumbens, which were correlated with behavioral interference scores at the subsequent task phase, revealing that participants with increased reward-related responses exhibited a greater behavioral benefit of reward in reducing the adverse effect of negative images. Furthermore, during processing of reward (vs no-reward) cues, the ventral striatum exhibited stronger functional connectivity with fronto-parietal regions important for attentional control. Together, our findings contribute to the understanding of how potential reward influences attentional control and reduces negative distractor processing in the human brain.
Corporate Governance and Stakeholder Opportunism

Corporate governance has become one of the most prominent topics for management scholars, top executives, and regulators alike over the last couple of decades. Originally a domain of economics and finance (as well as law), the theme has spread to other areas such as strategic management and organization theory in recent years. This paper will first give a brief overview on major developments in the field of corporate governance. These developments encompass, on the one hand, the extension of the classical focus on formal systems and structures to perspectives that address behavioral as well as process issues. On the other hand, the terrain has been broadened from its traditional narrow interest in the principal agent problem between shareholders and management to the more comprehensive stakeholder approach of corporate governance. Building on these developments, this paper will subsequently elaborate on a further extension of the topic by emphasizing the concept of stakeholder opportunism. The classical principal agent problem results from possible opportunistic behavior of the management, which compromises the interests of the shareholders. However, as the notion of stakeholder opportunism points out, not only the management of a company can exercise opportunism; rather, all stakeholders of a company can (and will to some extent) have options to behave opportunistically and at the same time bear the risk of being victims of the opportunism of other stakeholders. This paper develops a conceptual framework for analyzing the determinants and dynamics of the various stakeholders' opportunism options and risks as well as of the actual opportunistic behavior of stakeholders. Employing this framework, implications of the notion of stakeholder opportunism for managers and regulators are discussed, and perspectives for further research are identified.
Subsonic Dynamic Stability Tests of a Sample Return Entry Vehicle

An investigation has been conducted in the NASA Langley 20-Foot Vertical Spin Tunnel (VST) to determine the subsonic dynamic stability characteristics of a proposed atmospheric entry vehicle for sample return missions. In particular, the effects of changes in aft-body geometry on stability were examined. Freeflying tests of a dynamically scaled model with various geometric features were conducted, including cases in which the model was perturbed to measure dynamic response. Both perturbed and non-perturbed runs were recorded as motion time histories using the VST optical data acquisition system and reduced for post-test analysis. In addition, preliminary results from a static force and moment test of a similar model in the Langley 12-Foot Low Speed Tunnel are presented. Results indicate that the configuration is dynamically stable for the baseline geometry, but exhibits degraded dynamic behavior for the geometry modifications tested.
Prevention of experimental myointimal hyperplasia by immunomodulation.

INTRODUCTION we have tested the hypothesis that treatment with a mycobacterial preparation that modulates the antibody response, would diminish restenosis in a rat angioplasty model. MATERIALS/METHODS male Sprague-Dawley rats were used. All immunisations were given subcutaneously. Group A (control) received normal saline on days 0, 21, and 42. Group B received SRL172 on days 0, 21, and 42. Group C received SRL172 on days 0, 21, and 42, and hsp65/Incomplete Freund's on days 21 and 42. Group D received hsp65/Freund's on days 21 and 42. Right common carotid arteries were balloon-injured on day 63 using a standard technique known to produce MIH and animals were sacrificed on day 77. For each carotid 6 microm cross sections were cut from paraffin blocks. Cross-sectional areas were measured by computerised planimetry. RESULTS balloon injury resulted in MIH in all animals. Data represents mean+/-SEM for the percentage of area enclosed within the internal elastic lamina occupied by MIH (% MIH); which for groups A, B, C, and D was 85+/-11, 24+/-3, 27+/-7, and 17+/-3 respectively. All the treatment groups had significantly less MIH when compared to the control group but no statistically significant difference was found between any of the treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS this is the first report that immunomodulation with mycobacterial material suitable for use in man, can reduce MIH. Since such modulation has low risk, this raises the prospect of an important new therapeutic modality to combat restenosis.
Emotion Induced Blindness Is More Sensitive to Changes in Arousal As Compared to Valence of the Emotional Distractor

Emotion Induced Blindness (EIB) refers to the impairment in the identification of a neutral target image that follows a threatening or fearful distractor image. It has been suggested that valence plays a significant role in driving the perceptual impairment in EIB. Recent findings from the literature suggest that arousal has a very important role in biasing early cognitive functions. Hence, in the present study, we systematically investigate the role of valence (Experiment 1) and arousal (Experiment 2) in determining the impairment in EIB. The results suggest that when valence is controlled for, the stimuli with higher arousal level lead to greater impairment in target detection. Moreover, under high arousal condition, both positive and negative stimuli lead to significantly greater impairment in target detection. Present study suggests that impairment in EIB is sensitive to the arousal component of the emotional image as compared to valence. The arousal biased competition account that explains the effect of arousal on cognitive processing can sufficiently explains the current results.