Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Honesty on the Streets. A Field Study on Newspaper Purchasing

Many publishers use an honor system for selling newspapers in the street. We conducted a field experiment to study honesty in this market, finding that a moral reminder increases the level of honesty in payments, whereas the same message has no effect on whether one is honest. Reminding customers of the legal norm has no effect. We argue that these results are consistent with a preference for honesty, based on an internalized social norm. Auxiliary evidence suggests that the moral message remains effective when it is posted for longer periods, and even when it is removed again. (authors' abstract)
Energy-Latency Tradeoff in Ultra-Reliable Low-Latency Communication With Retransmissions

High-fidelity, real-time interactive applications are envisioned with the emergence of the Internet of Things and tactile Internet by means of ultra-reliable low-latency communications (URLLC). Exploiting time diversity for fulfilling the URLLC requirements in an energy efficient manner is a challenging task due to the nontrivial interplay among packet size, retransmission rounds and delay, and transmit power. In this paper, we study the fundamental energy-latency tradeoff in URLLC systems employing incremental redundancy (IR) hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ). We cast the average energy minimization problem with a finite blocklength (latency) constraint and feedback delay, which is non-convex. We propose a dynamic programming algorithm for energy efficient IR-HARQ optimization in terms of number of retransmissions, blocklength, and power per round. Numerical results show that our IR-HARQ approach could provide around 25% energy saving compared with one-shot transmission (no HARQ).
Contemporaneous and Asymmetric Properties in the Price-Volume Relationships in China's Agricultural Futures Markets

In this paper, we choose six representative futures contracts—soybean, soy meal, corn, hard wheat, strong gluten wheat, and sugar—from China's futures markets to examine predictability and market efficiency from the perspective of the price-volume relationships. Our empirical results show that there is a positive unidirectional causality relationship between volume and return (absolute return). We also find that the trading volumes behave asymmetrically in bull and bear markets, which supports the "heterogeneity of traders" hypothesis but contradicts the "short-selling constraint" hypothesis. Finally, we find that China's futures markets are predictable using historical information and thus are not informationally efficient.
The Market Approach to Education: An Analysis of America's First Voucher Program

List of Figures ix List of Tables xi Preface xiii Acknowledgments xv 1. Introduction 3 2. The Enduring Controversy over Educational Choice 11 3. Educational Choice and the Milwaukee Voucher Program 29 Appendix to Chapter 3: Historical MPS Achievement Test Data 49 4. Who Participates in Choice Programs? 52 5. The Milwaukee Choice Schools 83 6. Outcomes of the Milwaukee Voucher Program 112 Appendix to Chapter 6: Modeling Selection Bias 152 7. The Politics of Vouchers 157 8. Implications and Conclusions 190 References 211 Index
Lessons from High Inflation Epidsodes for Stabilizing the Economy in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe has currently the highest rate of inflation in the world (an annual rate of 1,730 percent in February, 2007). The high rates of inflation have contributed to the contraction of the economy, which has declined by about 30 percent since 1999. This paper examines the stabilization experience of countries that experienced similar rates of inflation (above 1,000 percent) during 1980-2005 and draws lessons for Zimbabwe. First, with appropriate stabilization policies, the fall in inflation can be very rapid and output normally recovers within the first year or two of stabilization. Second, while reforms need to be comprehensive, a strong upfront fiscal consolidation, including elimination of quasi-fiscal activities, is a critical element of a successful stabilization program. Third, although stabilization itself can be done without significant external financing in the first year, most countries benefited from external policy advice and technical support, including from the IMF, during stabilization and from an increase in financial assistance in subsequent years.
Pixel-wise Attentional Gating for Parsimonious Pixel Labeling

To achieve parsimonious inference in per-pixel labeling tasks with a limited computational budget, we propose a \emph{Pixel-wise Attentional Gating} unit (\emph{PAG}) that learns to selectively process a subset of spatial locations at each layer of a deep convolutional network. PAG is a generic, architecture-independent, problem-agnostic mechanism that can be readily "plugged in" to an existing model with fine-tuning. We utilize PAG in two ways: 1) learning spatially varying pooling fields that improve model performance without the extra computation cost associated with multi-scale pooling, and 2) learning a dynamic computation policy for each pixel to decrease total computation while maintaining accuracy. We extensively evaluate PAG on a variety of per-pixel labeling tasks, including semantic segmentation, boundary detection, monocular depth and surface normal estimation. We demonstrate that PAG allows competitive or state-of-the-art performance on these tasks. Our experiments show that PAG learns dynamic spatial allocation of computation over the input image which provides better performance trade-offs compared to related approaches (e.g., truncating deep models or dynamically skipping whole layers). Generally, we observe PAG can reduce computation by $10\%$ without noticeable loss in accuracy and performance degrades gracefully when imposing stronger computational constraints.
A duration-based equity premium

Theoretically the expected return on any financial asset need not equal the average of the actual return. In this paper, the expected equity premium is estimated based on two fundamentals: the Gordon dividend model with constant growth, and duration analysis. The result is that the ex ante, or expected, equity premium is around 3.24%, with a standard error between 0.30% and 0.87%. Taking 0.87% as the standard error, the 95% confidence interval is between 1.53% and 4.95%. These figures show clearly that the actual equity premium is much higher than the expected one. The reason for that is due to unpredictable changes in interest rates, and other growth rates.
Dental and Jaw Injuries among Muay Thai Kickboxing Athletes.

Background It has been reported globally that boxing athletes suffer a high risk of injuries, predominantly dental and jaw injuries. While the popularity of Muay Thai kickboxing is increasing in Thailand, there has been very little research evidence regarding dental and jaw injuries among Thai boxing athletes. Objective This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and severity, as well as factors associated with sport-related dental and jaw injuries in the northeastern Thai boxing athletes. Material and Method A survey was conducted on 260 samples of Thai boxing athletes residing in the northeast Thailand, using both questionnaire and oral health examination. Data were analyzed using descriptive, bivariate statistics and multivariable logistic regression. Results The results showed that 23.5% of the boxing athletes had dental and jaw injuries. Findings from the final logistic regression model revealed that weight, location of training camp (the upper part versus the lower part provinces) and location of boxing camp (rural versus urban districts) were significantly associated with dental and jaw injuries, with the adjusted odds ratios (95% CI) being 1.069 (1.040, 1.099), 2.422 (1.283, 4.571) and 4.525 (1.923, 10.638), respectively. Conclusion The Muay Thai boxing athletes sustain substantial dental and jaw injuries, and are at subjection to impending risk of such injuries. The findings of this research may be useful for prevention and planning to reduce dental and jaw injuries among Thai boxing athletes in the future.
ReBISR: A Reconfigurable Built-In Self-Repair Scheme for Random Access Memories in SOCs

Built-in self-repair (BISR) technique has been widely used to repair embedded random access memories (RAMs). This paper presents a reconfigurable BISR (ReBISR) scheme for repairing RAMs with different sizes and redundancy organizations. An efficient redundancy analysis algorithm is proposed to allocate redundancies of defective RAMs. In the ReBISR, a reconfigurable built-in redundancy analysis (ReBIRA) circuit is designed to perform the redundancy algorithm for various RAMs. Also, an adaptively reconfigurable fusing methodology is proposed to reduce the repair setup time when the RAMs are operated in normal mode. Experimental results show that the ReBISR scheme can achieve high repair rate (i.e., the ratio of the number of repaired RAMs to the number of defective RAMs). The area cost of the ReBISR is very small, which is only about 2.7% for four RAMs (one 4 Kbit RAM, one 16 Kbit RAM, one 128 Kbit RAM, and one 512 Kbit RAM). Moreover, the time overhead of redundancy analysis is very small. For example, the ratio of the redundancy analysis time to the test time for a 512 Kbit RAM tested by a March-14 test with solid data backgrounds is only about 0.25%. On the other hand, the proposed fusing scheme can achieve about 86.94% reduction of repair setup time in comparison with a typical fusing scheme for 20 512 × 16 × 64-bit RAMs of which each RAM has one spare row and one spare column.
Crashing and creeping: agenda-setting dynamics in the European Union

Abstract Agenda-setting in the EU takes place in two ways: ‘from above’ through high-level political institutions urging EU action, and ‘from below’ through policy experts formulating specific proposals in low-level groups and working parties. This article formulates a theoretical framework for understanding the differences between these two processes. Moreover, it shows how they may interact and become intertwined in the course of actual agenda-setting processes. The utility of the approach is demonstrated in two contrasting case studies: one of EU anti-smoking policy and one of EU anti-bioterrorism policy.
Bipolar Electrogram Shannon Entropy at Sites of Rotational Activation: Implications for Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation

Background—The pivot is critical to rotors postulated to maintain atrial fibrillation (AF). We reasoned that wavefronts circling the pivot should broaden the amplitude distribution of bipolar electrograms because of directional information encoded in these signals. We aimed to determine whether Shannon entropy (ShEn), a measure of signal amplitude distribution, could differentiate the pivot from surrounding peripheral regions and thereby assist clinical rotor mapping. Methods and Results—Bipolar electrogram recordings were studied in 4 systems: (1) computer simulations of rotors in a 2-dimensional atrial sheet; (2) isolated rat atria recorded with a multi-electrode array (n=12); (3) epicardial plaque recordings of induced AF in hypertensive sheep (n=11); and (4) persistent AF patients (n=10). In the model systems, rotation episodes were identified, and ShEn calculated as an index of amplitude distribution. In humans, ShEn distribution was analyzed at AF termination sites and with respect to complex fractionated electrogram mean. We analyzed rotation episodes in simulations (4 cycles) and animals (rats: 14 rotors, duration 80±81 cycles; sheep: 13 rotors, 4.2±1.5 cycles). The maximum ShEn bipole was consistently colocated with the pivot zone. ShEn was negatively associated with distance from the pivot zone in simulated spiral waves, rats, and sheep. ShEn was modestly inversely associated with complex fractionated electrogram; however, there was no relationship at the sites of highest ShEn. Conclusions—ShEn is a mechanistically based tool that may assist AF rotor mapping.
Fiscal policy, employment by age, and growth in OECD economies

We build and parameterize a general equilibrium OLG model for an open economy to study hours of work in three age groups, education of the young, and aggregate per capita growth. The composition of fiscal policy plays a crucial role. The government sets tax rates on labor, capital and consumption. It allocates its revenue to productive expenditures (mainly for education), consumption and ‘non-employment’ benefits. Labor taxes and benefits may differ across age groups. We find that our model’s predictions match the facts remarkably well for all key variables in many OECD countries. We then use the model to investigate the effects of various fiscal policy shocks on employment by age and growth, as well as on welfare of current and future generations. We identify ‘non-employment’ benefits and labor taxes as the main policy variables affecting employment. Productive government expenditures are the most effective with respect to long-run output and growth. Long-run output and growth may benefit also from labor tax cuts targeted at older workers. Considering welfare effects, however, these policy measures may not be the ones preferred most by current generations.
Cervical Endplate and Facet Arthrosis: An Anatomic Study of Cadaveric Specimens

Study Design An anatomic, epidemiologic study of cervical endplate and facet arthrosis in cadaveric spines. Objective To determine the prevalence of cervical endplate and facet arthrosis and the relationship between these 2 entities in a large population sample. Summary of Background Data Cervical endplate and facet arthrosis are common radiographic findings, which have both been linked to pain. However, the prevalence and relationship between cervical endplate and facet arthrosis has not been clearly defined. Methods The cervical vertebrae from 234 cadaveric spines were examined by a single investigator for evidence of endplate and facet arthrosis. Arthrosis at each endplate and facet was graded on a continuum from 0 to IV. Race, age at death, and sex of each specimen were also recorded. Stepwise multiple linear regression was used to analyze any association between race, age, sex, endplate arthrosis, and facet arthrosis. Factors with P values <0.05 remained in the analysis. Two-tailed t tests for matched samples were used to analyze any difference between mean endplate and facet arthrosis severity scores among patients within the same decades of life. Results Concurrent cervical endplate and facet arthrosis was present in 77% of the study population. Stepwise multiple linear regression revealed significant (P<0.01) associations between endplate and facet arthrosis and between age and facet arthrosis. Race and sex did not correlate with facet arthrosis. In addition, patients in age groups 30 to 39, 40 to 49, 50 to 59, 60 to 69, 70 to 79, and 80 to 89 demonstrated more severe (P<0.01) endplate arthrosis in comparison with facet arthrosis. Conclusions Concurrent cervical endplate and facet arthrosis is a common condition. Cervical endplate arthrosis and advancing age are associated with cervical facet arthrosis independent of race and sex. Cervical endplate arthrosis precedes facet arthrosis.
Estrogen inhibition of basal and gonadotropin-stimulated progesterone production by rhesus monkey luteal cells in vitro.

To assess the direct effect of estrogen on primate luteal function, including the ability of estrogen to counteract a gonadotropic stimulus, luteal cells isolated from corpora lutea of rhesus monkeys were incubated in vitro in the presence of estrogen, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), or estrogen and hCG combined. Luteal cells were obtained during the mid-luteal (day 15–19 of the menstrual cycle; 5–8 days after the preovulatory LH surge) and late luteal (day 21–25 of the cycle; 9–12 days after the LH surge) phase of the menstrual cycle. Under basal conditions (no exogenous hormones), progesterone production by mid-luteal phase cells was significantly (P < 0.01) greater than that by late luteal phase cells and significantly (P < 0.01) decreased by the addition of 1000 and 10,000 ng 17β-estradiol (E2)/ml. Ten-fold less E2 (100 ng/ml) significantly (P = 0.01) reduced basal progesterone production by late luteal phase cells, but not by mid-luteal phase cells. E2 and estrone inhibited luteal cell progestero.
Counselor Education Faculty Positions: Requirements and Preferences in CESNET Announcements 2005-2009

Counselor Education faculty positions announced on CESNET from 2005 through 2009 (N = 424) were analyzed to ascertain current trends in required and preferred qualifications. Typical qualifications mentioned in announcements include education and experience in clinical settings, teaching, and research. After a doctoral degree, the most common qualification included was experience in clinical settings, indicated by either years of experience or licensure eligibility. Half of the openings did not specify one specialty; school counseling was mentioned most often. Teaching and research requirements frequently referred to "potential" and "commitment". Implications for faculty advisors and graduate students are included. Author's Notes Nancy Bodenhorn, Counselor Education, Virginia Tech Nadine Hartig, Counselor Education, Radford University Michelle R. Ghoston, Gonzaga University, Jasmine Graham, Gardner-Webb University Jesse J. Lile, University of Saint Joseph Corrine R. Sackett, Clemson University Laura Farmer, East Tennessee State University. Correspondence regarding this article should be sent to: Nancy Bodenhorn at nanboden@vt.edu.
A Novel Insight into the Role of Entry Tears in Type B Aortic Dissection: Pressure Measurements in an in Vitro Model

Introduction Predicting aortic growth in acute type B dissection is fundamental in planning interventions. Several factors are considered to be growth predictors in the literature and, among them, size and location of entry tears have been recognized to particularly influence the false lumen pressure. In this study, we develop an in vitro setting to analyze the actual impact of size and location of the entry tears on false lumen pressure, in the absence of other confounding factors such as the deformability of the aortic wall. Methods We formalize some indexes that synthetically describe the false lumen pressure with respect to the true lumen pressure. Then, we experimentally derive their values in several configurations of the in vitro setting, and we look for trends in the indexes with respect to the size and location of entry tears. Results: Results show that the tears have a relevant impact on the false lumen pressure, but that their size and location alone are not enough to explain the phenomena observed in vivo. Conclusions To predict the behavior of acute type B dissection, we therefore recommend not limiting to size and location, as many effects may derive from the interactions between these parameters and other patient characteristics.
Housing Problems and Mobility Plans Among the Elderly

Abstract This paper seeks to determine the ways in which the residential mobility process among the elderly is different from that of the non-elderly. A mobility model consisting of three sets of variables is presented and tested: (1) background characteristics (related to the individual, dwelling unit, and neighborhood) and housing and neighborhood problems, (2) housing and neighborhood satisfaction, and (3) intra-metropolitan moving plans. Regression analysis is utilized to explain variations in the likelihood of formulating intra-metropolitan moving plans among a sample of elderly residents of Cincinnati, Ohio. Residential problems (i.e., rising costs, physical deterioration, and crime) and failing health are shown to be important determinants of moving plans. Several background characteristics contribute to plans to remain, as does participation in governmental housing programs for the elderly. These results imply that an expansion in these programs could enable many elderly to remain in their homes w.
KMS adoption: the effects of information quality

Purpose – By expanding the technology acceptance model, this paper aims to provide a research model for examining the impact of information quality and task technology fit on the adoption of KMS.Design/methodology/approach – To test the proposed research model, data are collected through a questionnaire survey sent to IT managers of 500 large companies in Taiwan.Findings – Based on the study, it is suitable to use a technology acceptance model to study adoption of KMS and explore how two external variables, information quality and task technology fit, affect the intention to adopt. Additionally, information quality has a directly significant effect on ease of use that users perceive and usefulness where fit between task and KMS is high.Research limitations/implications – A mass mailing of a somewhat lengthy, blind survey to busy managers produces a somewhat low response rate. Thus, the generalized nature of the ﬁndings is somewhat in question, making replication of the study in Taiwan important.Practical .
Industrial Work and Political Participation: Beyond "Simple Spillover"

We suggest that the "simple political spillover" hypothesis—that participation in decision making at work increases the probability of participating in poli tics outside the workplace—ought to be respecified in such a way that it takes into account (1) the possible differential effects on political participation of direct and representational forms of decisional participation at work; (2) the possibility that the pathway between workplace and political participation is mediated by the former's impact on psychological outlooks; and (3) the pos sibility that participation in decision making in economically troubled enter prises may diminish political participation. Using a sample of 1,247 workers from producer cooperative, employee stock ownership, conventional union, and conventional non-union wood products mills, we show that this more complex spillover model gives us a better understanding of the linkages be tween workplace and political experiences.
The ergative construction in Kurdish

It is well known that during the course of their histories a number of Indo-European languages, all of them members of the Indo-Iranian branch of the family, developed an ergative construction. Thus, in certain tenses of the verb, their grammars came to treat in forlly identical manner the subject of an intransitive verb and the logical object of a transitive verb, the agent (or logical subject) of this latter being given a different morphological marker. Now although ergativity has been studied in a wide variety of languages as a synchronic phenomenon, the opportunities for examining it from a diachronic point of view are in the great majority of cases severely limited by lack of historical documentation. The Indo-Iranian languages, however, form a notable exception. These, thanks to the availability of texts from closely related languages covering a time-span of some three millennia, provide us with a chance to observe both the development of the construction and its subsequent decline. The present paper will do no more than attempt to trace a part of this process, namely the way in which the ergative construction has disappeared from a certain area of western Iranian. It bases its arguments upon the assumption that the geographical continuum of the Kurdish dialects, whose grammars exhibit the whole range of possibilities from fully ergative systems in the north to fully accusative systems in the south, reflects the successive stages of a diachronic process. This being granted, it should be possible by ordering the synchronic patterns of representative dialects from the northern, the central and the southern regions, to arrive at a picture of the historical sequence of events which has led to the loss of ergativity in the southern dialects and to isolate the mechanisms involved in their resultant restructuring. The wider problems of precisely how the construction arose historically and of why within the Indo-European family it appears to be confined to Indo-Iranian will not be dealt with here.