Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Using the Pareto Distribution to Improve Estimates of Topcoded Earnings

Inconsistent censoring in the public-use March Current Population Survey (CPS) limits its usefulness in measuring labor earnings trends. Using Pareto estimation methods with less-censored internal CPS data, we create an enhanced cell-mean series to capture top earnings in the public-use CPS. We find that previous approaches for imputing topcoded earnings systematically understate top earnings. Annual earnings inequality trends since 1963 using our series closely approximate those found by Kopczuk, Saez, & Song (2010) using Social Security Administration data for commerce and industry workers. However, when we consider all workers, earnings inequality levels are higher but earnings growth is more modest
Thermalization of heavy quarks in the quark-gluon plasma

Charm- and bottom-quark rescattering in a quark-gluon plasma (QGP) is investigated with the objective of assessing the approach toward thermalization. Employing a Fokker-Planck equation to approximate the collision integral of the Boltzmann equation we augment earlier studies based on perturbative parton cross sections by introducing resonant heavy-light quark interactions. The latter are motivated by recent QCD lattice calculations that indicate the presence of “hadronic” states in the QGP. We model these states by colorless (pseudo-) scalar and (axial-) vector D and B mesons within a heavy-quark effective theory framework. We find that the presence of these resonances at moderate QGP temperatures substantially accelerates the kinetic equilibration of c quarks as compared to using perturbative interactions. We also comment on consequences for D-meson observables in ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collisions.
Domestic politics and the escalation of commercial rivalr: Explaining the War of Jenkins’ Ear, 1739–48

The study of international rivalry is a thriving research program in international relations, but it focuses primarily on strategic rivalries and generally neglects both commercial rivalries and the impact of domestic politics. We examine commercial rivalry and the causal paths through which it can escalate to war. After identifying alternative theoretical explanations, we focus on the Anglo-Spanish rivalry of the 1730s and the processes through which it escalated to the War of Jenkins’ Ear (1739–48). We examine both balance of power and dyadic trade rivalry explanations, and then give special attention to domestic politics in Britain. We argue that the commercial rivalry was a necessary but not sufficient condition for the war of 1739. The Walpole ministry was opposed to war, and the rivalry would not have escalated in the absence of domestic pressures from mercantile interests, a xenophobic public, a politically opportunistic parliamentary opposition, and a divided cabinet.
UN Peacekeeping Economies and Local Sex Industries: Connections and Implications

“Peacekeeping economies” have not been subject to much analysis of either their economic or socio-cultural and political impacts. This paper uses a gendered lens to explore some ramifications and lasting implications of peacekeeping economies, drawing on examples from four post-conflict countries with past or ongoing United Nations peacekeeping missions: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Liberia, and Haiti. The paper is particularly concerned with the interplay between the peacekeeping economy and the sex industry. It examines some of the characteristics and impacts of peacekeeping economies, arguing that these are highly gendered – but that the “normalization” of peacekeeping economies allows these effects to be overlooked or obscured. It also contends that these gendered characteristics and impacts have (or are likely to have) broad and lasting consequences. Finally, the paper considers the initial impacts of UN efforts to tackle negative impacts of peacekeeping economies, particularly the zero-tolerance policy against sexual exploitation and the effort to “mainstream” gender and promote gender equality in and through peacekeeping. The paper suggests that the existence and potential longterm perpetuation of a highly gendered peacekeeping economy threatens to undermine the gender goals and objectives that are a component of most peace operations.
Random perturbations of chaotic dynamical systems: stability of the spectrum

For piecewise expanding one-dimensional maps without periodic turning points we prove that isolated eigenvalues of small (random) perturbations of these maps are close to isolated eigenvalues of the unperturbed system. (Here `eigenvalue' means eigenvalue of the corresponding Perron-Frobenius operator acting on the space of functions of bounded variation.) This result applies e.g. to the approximation of the system by a finite state Markov chain and generalizes Ulam's conjecture about the approximation of the Sinai-Bowen-Ruelle invariant measure of such a map. We provide several simple examples showing that for maps with periodic turning points and for general multidimensional smooth hyperbolic maps isolated eigenvalues are typically unstable under random perturbations. Our main tool in the one-dimendional case is a special technique for `interchanging' the map and the perturbation, developed in our previous paper (Blank M L and Keller G 1997 Stochastic stability versus localization in chaotic dynamical systems Nonlinearity 10 81-107), combined with a compactness argument.
Ellipticals with Kinematically Distinct Cores: V – I Color Images with WPFC2

We have analyzed Hubble Space Telescope WFPC2 F555W and F814W (i.e., V and I) images for 15 elliptical galaxies with kinematically distinct cores. For each of them, we have derived surface brightness and isophotal parameter profiles in the two bands, color maps, and radial profiles in V - I. Most galaxies show patchy dust absorption close to their nuclei. However, there are generally no indications of homogeneous, diffuse dust components close to the nuclei. The nuclear colors in the unobscured regions are most likely representative of the central stellar populations. We have detected photometric evidence for faint stellar disks, on scales of a few tens to a few arcseconds, in seven galaxies, namely NGC 1427, 1439, 1700, 4365, 4406, 4494, and 5322. In NGC 1700, the isophotes are slightly boxy at the scale of the counterrotating component and disky at larger radii. We find no difference in V - I color greater than 0.02 mag between these disks and the surrounding galactic regions. Hence, the stellar populations in the kinematically distinct cores are not strongly deviant from the population of the main body. Specifically, there is no evidence for a dominating population of blue, very metal weak stars as predicted by some of the formation scenarios. This argues against models in which small galaxies fall in and survive in the nuclei, unless supermassive black holes are present. These would likely disrupt the accreted small systems. For one galaxy, NGC 4365, the innermost region is bluer than the surrounding regions. This area extends to ~15 pc and contains a luminosity of ~2.5 × 106 L☉. If interpreted as a stellar population effect, an age difference of ~3-4 Gyr, or an [Fe/H] variation of about 0.2 dex, is derived. The nuclear intensity profiles show a large variety: some galaxies have steep cusp profiles, while others have shallow cusps and a “break radius. ” The nuclear cusps of galaxies with kinematically distinct cores follow the same trends as the nuclei of normal galaxies. We have not been able to identify a unique, qualifying feature in the WFPC2 images that distinguishes the galaxies with kinematically distinct cores from the kinematically normal cores. It is possible that statistical differences exist: possibly, the kinematically distinct cores have a higher fraction of nuclear disks. The similarity of both types of cores puts strong constraints on the formation scenarios. Simulations of galaxy mergers, with the inclusion of star formation and nuclear black holes, are needed to resolve the question of how these structures may have formed. Spectra with high spatial resolution are needed to study the nuclear structure of the distinct component in detail.
A completely integrated single-chip phase-locked loop with a 15 GHz VCO using 0.2 /spl mu/m E-/D-HEMT-technology

A completely integrated single-chip phase-locked loop was designed using a 0.2 /spl mu/m-enhancement/depletion AlGaAs/GaAs/AlGaAs-HEMT technology. The chip contains a VCO with 15 GHz center frequency, as well as a frequency divider, a phase detector, and a loop filter. The fabricated chip size is 1.5/spl times/1.5 mm/sup 2/. The power consumption is 0.5 W using a supply voltage of 5.0 V. The lock range is approximately /spl plusmn/270 MHz. The phase noise is -100 dBc/Hz at 100 kHz and -107 dBc/Hz at 1 MHz offset from the carrier, respectively.
Serial assessment of biochemical parameters of red cell preparations to evaluate safety for neonatal transfusions

Background & Objectives: Neonatologists often prefer fresh blood (<7 days) for neonatal transfusions. The main concerns for stored RBCs are ex vivo storage lesions that undermine red cell functions and may affect metabolic status of neonatal recipients. This study was designed to evaluate serial in vitro changes of biochemical parameters in different RBC preparations during storage to consider for neonatal transfusions even after storage beyond one week. Methods: Twenty five units each of whole blood (CPDA-1 RBC, SAGM RBC) were selected for serial biochemical parameter assessment after each fulfilled the quality criteria (volume and haematocrit). These units were tested serially for supernatant potassium, pH, lactate, haemoglobin, glucose and red cell 2,3 diphosphoglycerate (2,3 DPG) up to 21 days of storage. Results: Within each group of RBC, rise in mean concentration of potassium, lactate and plasma haemoglobin from day 1 to 21 of storage was significant in CPDA-1 RBC having the highest levels at day 21. From day 3 to 21, SAGM RBC had higher mean pH value than CPDA-1 RBC though this difference was not statistically significant. SAGM RBC had highest mean glucose concentration during storage than other two types of red cell preparations (P<0.005). Within each group, fall in mean 2,3 DPG concentration from day 1 to 7 was significant (P<0.05). A positive correlation existed between mean plasma potassium and haemoglobin in all three types of red cells (r=0.726, 0.419, 0.605 for CPDA-1 RBC, SAGM RBC and whole blood respectively, P<0.005). Interpretation & Conclusions: All the three red cell preparations tested revealed biochemical changes within acceptable limits of safety till 21 days of storage. CPDA-1 RBCs had the highest degree of these changes.
Spontaneous Regression of High-Grade Cervical Dysplasia: Effects of Human Papillomavirus Type and HLA Phenotype

Purpose: Persistent infection with oncogenic human papillomaviruses (HPV) plays a central etiologic role in the development of squamous carcinomas of the cervix and their precursor lesions, cervical intraepithelial neoplasias (CIN). We carried out a prospective observational cohort study evaluating known, quantifiable prognostic variables of clinical behavior in women with high-grade cervical lesions. Experimental Design: Our study cohort included healthy women with high-grade cervical lesions (CIN2/3) with residual visible lesions after colposcopically directed biopsy. We prospectively followed 100 women over 15 weeks before standard resection. HPV typing was done using PCR and a reverse line blot detection method. Results: The rate of spontaneous histologic regression, defined as (CIN1 or less at resection) was 28%. The overall rate of HPV infection was 100%. HPV16 was identified in 68% of the lesions. Women with HPV16 only were significantly less likely to regress, compared with women with HPV types other than HPV16 (odds ratio, 0.342; 95% confidence interval, 0.117-0.997; P = 0.049). In the cohort with HPV16 only, patients who had an HLA*A201 allele had similar outcomes to those who did not carry A201. However, among patients with HPV types other than HPV16, the HLA*A201 allele interaction was significant; patients with HLA*A201 were the least likely to resolve. Conclusions: CIN2/3 lesions associated with HPV16 alone are significantly less likely to resolve spontaneously than those caused by other types. Interactions among HPV type, HLA type, and regression rate support a role for HLA-restricted HPV-specific immune responses in determining disease outcome.
Habitat Size, Recruitment, and Longevity as Factors Limiting Population Size in Stage‐Structured Species

Surprisingly little research has evaluated how habitat size may limit the population size of species that use different habitats at different stages of their lives. Here we develop simple discrete‐time models to describe the population dynamics of species that use separate juvenile and adult habitats. Analytic solutions, model simulations, and elasticity and sensitivity analyses show that adult abundance is only limited by the size of the juvenile habitat when both adult habitat size and recruitment are much larger than juvenile habitat size. Juvenile habitat plays a marginally greater role in limiting population size for species with closed populations, where recruitment is proportional to adult abundance, versus open populations. Because adult populations often accumulate pulses of juveniles, adult habitat size can strongly limit population size over a broad range of parameter values, an effect that increases as the longevity of a species increases. Limited empirical research from a range of taxa supports these model predictions, although few studies were designed to actually test the limiting role of juvenile versus adult habitat. Future research must carefully evaluate whether and how processes at the juvenile stage affect adult abundance, and conservation efforts may be able to use this model to evaluate the cost‐effectiveness, vis‐à‐vis increasing adult abundance, of time and money allocated to protecting juvenile habitats.
An OSPF topology server: design and evaluation

In large scale, operational Internet protocol networks, creating timely, accurate and network-wide views of the intradomain topology is a fundamental problem. Topical network backbones consist of hundreds of routers, which establish routing adjacencies with one another through static configuration and dynamic routing protocols, such as open shortest path first (OSPF). We describe the design of an OSPF topology server which tracks intradomain topology, by passively and safely listening into OSPFs reliable flooding mechanism, or by pushing and pulling information from the routers via the simple network management protocol. We provide a detailed evaluation and comparison of the two approaches in terms of operational issues, reliability and timeliness of information.
Bilateral internal mammary artery grafting reverses the negative influence of gender on outcomes of coronary artery bypass grafting surgery.

OBJECTIVES Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) has historically demonstrated higher hospital mortality in women compared with men. The influence of gender on long-term outcomes has not been clearly defined. METHODS A retrospective analysis of 4584 consecutive CABG patients was conducted: 3647 men (1761 single internal mammary artery, [SIMA]; 1886 bilateral IMA, [BIMA]) and 937 women (608 SIMA and 329 BIMA). Propensity-score analysis and optimal matching algorithms were used to create matched groups for baseline risk factors between men and women (SIMA: 602 men and 602 women; BIMA: 328 men and 328 women). Cross-sectional follow-up (6 weeks to 32.1 years; mean 12.8 years) was 96.7% complete. RESULTS Hospital mortality was higher in unmatched female vs male patients (SIMA 36/608; 5.9 vs 72/1761; 4.1%; BIMA 11/329; 3.3 vs 47/1886; 2.5%; P = 0.010). However, in the matched groups the increased hospital mortality for females approached statistical significance in the SIMA but not in the BIMA patients. (SIMA male 21/602, 3.5%; female 35/602, 5.8%; P = 0.055; BIMA male 12/328; 3.7%; female 11/328; 3.4%; P = 0.832). When propensity matched for baseline variables, the female SIMA patients experienced prolonged survival compared with their male counterparts. (male vs female, 20-year survival 17.0 ± 2.0 vs 26.4 ± 2.3%; median 10.4 vs 11.4; P = 0.043.) However, long-term survival between the matched male and the female BIMA patients was comparable (male vs female, 20-year survival 31.3 ± 3.6 vs 30.1 ± 3.6%; median 13.7 vs 13.7; P = 0.790). CONCLUSIONS When liberally applied, BIMA grafting ameliorates both the increased perioperative mortality in female patients and the reduced long-term survival of male patients, effectively reversing the negative influence of gender on both short- and long-term outcomes of CABG surgery.
Comparison of photosynthetic acclimation to elevated CO2 and limited nitrogen supply in soybean

Plants grown at elevated CO2 often acclimate such that their photosynthetic capacities are reduced relative to ambient CO2-grown plants. Reductions in synthesis of photosynthetic enzymes could result either from reduced photosynthetic gene expression or from reduced availability of nitrogen-containing substrates for enzyme synthesis. Increased carbohydrate concentrations resulting from increased photosynthetic carbon fixation at elevated CO2 concentrations have been suggested to reduce the expression of photosynthetic genes. However, recent studies have also suggested that nitrogen uptake may be depressed by elevated CO2, or at least that it is not increased enough to keep pace with increased carbohydrate production. This response could induce a nitrogen limitation in elevated-CO2 plants that might account for the reduction in photosynthetic enzyme synthesis. If CO2 acclimation were a response to limited nitrogen uptake, the effects of elevated CO2 and limiting nitrogen supply on photosynthesis and nitrogen allocation should be similar. To test this hypothesis we grew non-nodulating soybeans at two levels each of nitrogen and CO2 concentration and measured leaf nitrogen contents, photosynthetic capacities and Rubisco contents. Both low nitrogen and elevated CO2 reduced nitrogen as a percentage of total leaf dry mass but only low nitrogen supply produced significant decreases in nitrogen as a percentage of leaf structural dry mass. The primary effect of elevated CO2 was to increase non-structural carbohydrate storage rather than to decrease nitrogen content. Both low nitrogen supply and elevated CO2 also decreased carboxylation capacity (Vcmax) and Rubisco content per unit leaf area. However, when Vcmax and Rubisco content were expressed per unit nitrogen, low nitrogen supply generally caused them to increase whereas elevated CO2 generally caused them to decrease. Finally, elevated CO2 significantly increased the ratio of RuBP regeneration capacity to Vcmax whereas neither nitrogen supply nor plant age had a significant effect on this parameter. We conclude that reductions in photosynthetic enzyme synthesis in elevated CO2 appear not to result from limited nitrogen supply but instead may result from feedback inhibition by increased carbohydrate contents.
PENGARUH DEBT TO EQUITY RATIO, RETURN ON EQUITY, EARNING PER SHARE, DAN PRICE EARNING RATIO TERHADAP HARGA SAHAM (Studi pada Perusahaan Food and Beverages yang Terdaftar di BEI Tahun 2008-2011)

Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa secara simultan DER, ROE, EPS, dan PER memiliki pengaruh signifikan sebesar 64,6% terhadap harga saham, sedangkan sisanya 35,4% dipengaruhi variabel lain yang tidak digunakan dalam penelitian. Secara parsial, variabel DER, ROE, dan EPS signifikan pengaruhnya terhadap harga saham. DER berpengaruh negatif terhadap harga saham dengan nilai koefisien beta sebesar -55,3%. ROE berpengaruh positif terhadap harga saham dengan nilai koefisien beta sebesar 86,2%. EPS berpengaruh positif terhadap harga saham dengan nilai koefisien beta sebesar 43,4%. Kata kunci : Debt to Equity Ratio , Return o n Equity , Earning Per Share , Price Earning Ratio , Harga Saham
Garbage and Recycling in Communities with Curbside Recycling and Unit-Based Pricing

This paper estimates the impact of a user fee and a curbside recycling program on garbage and recycling amounts, allowing for the possibility of endogenous policy choices. Previous estimates of the effects of these policies could be biased if unobserved variables such as local preference for the environment jointly impact the probability of implementing these policies and the levels of garbage and recycling collected in the community. A simple sequential model of local policymaking is estimated using original data gathered from a large cross-section of communities with user fees, combined with an even larger cross-section of towns without user fees but with and without curbside recycling programs. The combined data set is larger and more comprehensive than any used in previous studies. Without correction for endogenous policy, the price per unit of garbage collection has a negative effect on garbage and a positive cross-price effect on recycling. When we correct for endogenous policy, then the effect of the user fee on garbage increases, and the significance of the cross-price effect on recycling disappears.
Nutritional Status and Falls in Community-Dwelling Older People: A Longitudinal Study of a Population-Based Random Sample

Background Falls are common in older people and may lead to functional decline, disability, and death. Many risk factors have been identified, but studies evaluating effects of nutritional status are limited. To determine whether nutritional status is a predictor of falls in older people living in the community, we analyzed data collected through the Survey of Health and Living Status of the Elderly in Taiwan (SHLSET). Methods SHLSET include a series of interview surveys conducted by the government on a random sample of people living in community dwellings in the nation. We included participants who received nutritional status assessment using the Mini Nutritional Assessment Taiwan Version 2 (MNA-T2) in the 1999 survey when they were 53 years or older and followed up on the cumulative incidence of falls in the one-year period before the interview in the 2003 survey. Results At the beginning of follow-up, the 4440 participants had a mean age of 69.5 (standard deviation = 9.1) years, and 467 participants were “not well-nourished,” which was defined as having an MNA-T2 score of 23 or less. In the one-year study period, 659 participants reported having at least one fall. After adjusting for other risk factors, we found the associated odds ratio for falls was 1.73 (95% confidence interval, 1.23, 2.42) for “not well-nourished,” 1.57 (1.30, 1.90) for female gender, 1.03 (1.02, 1.04) for one-year older, 1.55 (1.22, 1.98) for history of falls, 1.34 (1.05, 1.72) for hospital stay during the past 12 months, 1.66 (1.07, 2.58) for difficulties in activities of daily living, and 1.53 (1.23, 1.91) for difficulties in instrumental activities of daily living. Conclusion Nutritional status is an independent predictor of falls in older people living in the community. Further studies are warranted to identify nutritional interventions that can help prevent falls in the elderly.
Curbing Inflammation in Burn Patients

Patients who suffer from severe burns develop metabolic imbalances and systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) which can result in multiple organ failure and death. Research aimed at reducing the inflammatory process has yielded new insight into burn injury therapies. In this review, we discuss strategies used to curb inflammation in burn injuries and note that further studies with high quality evidence are necessary.