Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Labor Policy Analysis for Jobs Expansion and Development

The Philippines is at a crossroad. It can choose to continue to follow current unrealistic policies that despite good intentions have been shown to be actually detrimental to the poor. Or, it can elect to try another development path to get a better chance at reducing poverty. This study proposes a 12-point agenda, conveniently referred to as the Jobs Expansion and Development Initiative (JEDI) for poverty reduction. JEDI has two objectives. One is to expand gainful jobs through the acceleration of labor intensive production, particularly, the manufacturing of tradable commodities. The other is to improve investments in education and other human capital development and sustain total factor productivity gains. These objectives require inter alia minimum wage reform, which should be undertaken immediately, while investors are looking for new places to locate labor-intensive production and the Philippine economy is getting another look as a potential destination. The study recognizes the Filipinos` aspirations for secure jobs with decent wages. But it challenges the idea that imposing minimum wages and other current labor regulations should be the weapons of choice. They do not work; worse, there is preponderant evidence of its detrimental consequences. Alternatives should, therefore, be considered, such as better education, increased labor-intensive manufacturing, and greater opportunities for training on the job. Arguably, alternatives like these might take time. Consequently, bridging social protection programs need to be implemented in the meantime to help the poor directly with their subsistence needs. For this, instead of imposing mandatory minimum wages, the paper points out that it would be better to use direct and temporary income subsidy, carefully targeted to extremely poor households to meet suitable norms that society considers a public good. Such an approach would be both efficient and equitable, conforming to the general principle of public economics that a public good should be financed by general tax revenues. The study concludes that the time has come for the country to leave the beaten path and try new approaches that would rebalance current labor laws and practices to expand gainful jobs and minimize unintended consequences detrimental to the poor, the young, the women, the less educated, and the unorganized workers.
Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation

call-out and delivery of the patient to his or her final destination) for EMS helicopters is under two hours, for ITH missions this figure is around four hours. It takes the medical team between 45 minutes and an hour to prepare a patient for flight, and about the same time to make the hand-over to the receiving hospital. For an IC patient, a t i p by road is virtually impossible. In many cases, a helicopter is the only practical way to transport a patient from one place to the other. For an lTH it is crucial that the cabin is large enough to accommodate all the medical equip ment and personnel and gives good access to the patient. The Agusta Bell 212 helicopter seems to be ideal for this purpose. It is twin-engined, which is considered obligatory for flights over urban areas. The high costs of purchase and ownership might be an additional reason to provide a maximum of the military helicopters' abilities for public benefit. Once in service a military helicopter fleet must be in permanent operation. This means, that the whole system flight-line and maintenance only works if the equipment is in constant use. Our transport helicopters fly a total of about 5000 flight hours a year. EMS and ITH missions contain various features to keep the training level of a qualified military aircrew high. Of course, it is a political decision to give civil access to flight hours dedicated for military use. In peacetime I think it is worth critical contemplation. The ITH service in Austria is provided as an assistance service for our Ministry of the Interior, which operates most of the small ambulance helicopters together with the Federal Automobile Club and smaller Austrian Air Force helicopters.
Health nutrition and economic development.

The relationship between economic development and health has received far less attention than the relationship between development and schooling. However, recent studies indicate that better health is associated with improved labor market outcomes, particularly in low-income settings. Difficulties in disentangling the causal mechanisms underlying these associations are discussed, highlighting the role of behaviors and measurement of health. The empirical literature is reviewed, and implications of results for the functioning of markets are drawn out. The discussion includes an evaluation of the empirical evidence in support of the nutrition (health) efficiency wage hypothesis: we conclude that it is thin.
Birds of a Feather Sit Together: Physical Similarity Predicts Seating Choice

Across four studies, people sat (or reported they would sit) closer to physically similar others. Study 1 revealed significant aggregation in seating patterns on two easily observed characteristics: glasses wearing and sex. Study 2 replicated this finding with a wider variety of physical traits: race, sex, glasses wearing, hair length, and hair color. The overall tendency for people to sit beside physically similar others remained significant when controlling for sex and race, suggesting people aggregate on physical dimensions other than broad social categories. Study 3 conceptually replicated these results in a laboratory setting. The more physically similar participants were to a confederate, the closer they sat before an anticipated interaction when controlling for sex, race, and attractiveness similarity. In Study 4, overall physical similarity and glasses wearing similarity predicted self-reported seating distance. These effects were mediated by perceived attitudinal similarity. Liking and inferred acceptance also received support as mediators for glasses wearing similarity.
Explaining Changes in the Social Structure of Employment: The Importance of Geography

Spatial inequality of income and employment is increasing in Australian cities. This paper explores the factors underlying increasing neighbourhood inequality with a particular focus on employment inequality. Particular attention is paid to the role of public housing: the increased targeting of public housing is identified as a partial explanation of the observed changes. A conventional Blinder decomposition is used to identify the role of observable characteristics of the population, such as education, demographics, ethnicity and industry structure, and returns to those characteristics. The changes in observable personal characteristics indicate that there has been a significant amount of sorting by these characteristics since 1976. For example, Australian cities have become more socially stratified since that time with well educated people increasingly living together. However, it is important to note that the differences between low-status and other areas cannot be explained solely by changes in personal characteristics of the local residents. In summary, geography apparently matters!
An efficient approximation scheme for the one-dimensional bin-packing problem

We present several polynomial-time approximation algorithms for the one-dimensional bin-packing problem. using a subroutine to solve a certain linear programming relaxation of the problem. Our main results are as follows: There is a polynomial-time algorithm A such that A(I) ≤ OPT(I) + O(log2 OPT(I)). There is a polynomial-time algorithm A such that, if m(I) denotes the number of distinct sizes of pieces occurring in instance I, then A(I) ≤ OPT(I) + O(log2 m(I)). There is an approximation scheme which accepts as input an instance I and a positive real number ε, and produces as output a packing using as most (1 + ε) OPT(I) + O(ε-2) bins. Its execution time is O(ε-c n log n), where c is a constant. These are the best asymptotic performance bounds that have been achieved to date for polynomial-time bin-packing. Each of our algorithms makes at most O(log n) calls on the LP relaxation subroutine and takes at most O(n log n) time for other operations. The LP relaxation of bin packing was solved efficiently in practice by Gilmore and Gomory. We prove its membership in P, despite the fact that it has an astronomically large number of variables.
The Influence of Institutions on Corporate Governance through Private Negotiations: Evidence from TIAA-CREF

This paper analyzes the process of private negotiations between financial institutions and the companies they attempt to influence. It relies on a private database consisting of the correspondence between TIAA-CREF and 45 firms it contacted about governance issues between 1992 and 1996. This correspondence indicates that TIAA-CREF is able to reach agreements with targeted companies more than 95 percent of the time. In more than 70 percent of the cases, this agreement is reached without shareholders voting on the proposal. We verify independently that at least 87 percent of the targets subsequently took actions to comply with these agreements. Copyright The American Finance Association 1998.
Sports Economics: Theory, Evidence and Policy

Sports Economics is the ideal introduction for all sport management and sport policy students and those for whom economics is a relatively new area of study. The book will also provide an ideal introduction to sports economics for economics students new to the area. Specifically designed to make economics accessible the context of sport is the focus of analysis, ensuring that this book is lively, accessible and approachable.The full scope of the sports economy is examined, covering the three main arenas in which sport takes place - mass participation, professional sports and sports events. The key elements of the economic representation of these three markets are considered, such as the underlying demand for and supply of these sports, together with the main policy issues affecting themWhilst truly international in scope, it focuses particularly on specific comparisons between the US, the UK and mainland Europe. The breadth of discussion and international emphasis is brought to life by a detailed discussion of the evidence throughout the book to illustrate the key themes discussed - ideal for both lecturer and student. Reflection questions and Boxes are also used in chapters to prompt the reader to think about specific points as well as to provide the context for specific theoretical or empirical contributions that have been used to analyse sport.
Unemployment and Inactivity Traps in the Czech Republic: Incentive Effects of Policies

We investigate to what extent high net replacement rates between non-work and work household income may distort work incentives. Using a microsimulation model, we find that net replacement rates are particularly high for households with a working partner and children. While net replacement rates decreased moderately between 1996 and 2006 as wages rose faster than social benefits, the incidence of unemployment traps remains high. In particular, about a third of all employed individuals have a low incentive to avoid short spells of unemployment with the unemployment benefits provided, while unemployment traps are also widespread among the unemployed. The incidence of unemployment traps increased further in 2007 despite a reform of benefits. In particular, housing benefit, which was overhauled to reflect housing costs, increases net replacement rates, distorting work incentives particularly among households with children. In addition, the rise in parental allowance may lock eligible individuals in non-employment, increasing the loss of human capital among non-working parents. This is particularly important for single parents, who face the highest specific unemployment rate, and also long unemployment spells among all household types. While the link between net replacement rates and labour market stocks and flows is not straightforward across household types, further research should focus on the labour market behaviour of particular household types.
Germline Met Mutations in Mice Reveal Mutation- and Background-Associated Differences in Tumor Profiles

Background The receptor tyrosine kinase Met is involved in the progression and metastasis of numerous human cancers. Although overexpression and autocrine activation of the Met signaling pathway are commonly found in human cancers, mutational activation of Met has been observed in small cell and non-small cell lung cancers, lung adenocarcinomas, renal carcinomas, and mesotheliomas. Methodology/Principal Findings To investigate the influence of mutationally activated Met in tumorigenesis, we utilized a novel mouse model. Previously, we observed that various Met mutations developed unique mutation-specific tumor spectra on a C57BL/6 background. Here, we assessed the effect of genetic background on the tumorigenic potential of mutationally activated Met. For this purpose, we created congenic knock-in lines of the Met mutations D1226N, M1248T, and Y1228C on the FVB/N background. Consistent with the mutation-specific tumor spectra, several of the mutations were associated with the same tumor types as observed on C57BL/6 background. However, on the FVB/N background most developed a high incidence of mammary carcinomas with diverse histopathologies. Conclusions/Significance This study demonstrates that on two distinct mouse backgrounds, Met is able to initiate tumorigenesis in multiple cell types, including epithelial, hematopoietic, and endothelial. Furthermore, these observations emphasize that even a modest increase in Met activation can initiate tumorigenesis with both the Met mutational spectra and host background having profound influence on the type of tumor generated. Greater insight into the interaction of genetic modifiers and Met signaling will significantly enhance our ability to tailor combination therapies for Met-driven cancers.
Selective Deletion of Bdnf in the Ventromedial and Dorsomedial Hypothalamus of Adult Mice Results in Hyperphagic Behavior and Obesity

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its receptor TrkB are expressed in several hypothalamic and hindbrain nuclei involved in regulating energy homeostasis, developmentally and in the adult animal. Their depletion during the fetal or early postnatal periods when developmental processes are still ongoing elicits hyperphagic behavior and obesity in mice. Whether BDNF is a chief element in appetite control in the mature brain remains controversial. The required sources of this neurotrophin are also unknown. We show that glucose administration rapidly induced BDNF mRNA expression, mediated by Bdnf promoter 1, and TrkB transcription in the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) of adult mice, consistent with a role of this pathway in satiety. Using viral-mediated selective knock-down of BDNF in the VMH and dorsomedial hypothalamus (DMH) of adult mice, we were able to elucidate the physiological relevance of BDNF in energy balance regulation. Site-specific mutants exhibited hyperphagic behavior and obesity but normal energy expenditure. Furthermore, intracerebroventricular administration of BDNF triggered an immediate neuronal response in multiple hypothalamic nuclei in wild-type mice, suggesting that its anorexigenic actions involve short-term mechanisms. Locomotor, aggressive, and depressive-like behaviors, all of which are associated with neural circuits involving the VMH, were not altered in VMH/DMH-specific BDNF mutants. These findings demonstrate that BDNF is an integral component of central mechanisms mediating satiety in the adult mouse and, moreover, that its synthesis in the VMH and/or DMH is required for the suppression of appetite.
A Cross-sectional Study for Assessment of Untreated Dental Caries and Its Consequences among Slum-dwelling Children

Introduction Dental caries affects humans of all ages throughout the world and remains the major dental public health problem among children globally. Materials and methods A cross-sectional study was conducted using the cluster sampling technique to obtain the required sample size of 400 children from urban slum population of Faridabad, Haryana, India. Data were collected using World Health Organization dentition status 1997 criteria and PUFA/pufa index. Type of study Cross-sectional study. Results Among 6- to 12-year-age group, 68.5% subjects had one or more decayed deciduous teeth, of which 65.3% subjects had one or more pufa score, and 26.4% subjects were having one or more decayed permanent teeth, of which 16.7% subjects were having one or more PUFA score. The overall caries prevalence was 79.64% and overall prevalence of one or more than one PUFA+pufa was reported in 69.2% subjects. Conclusion The findings of the study showed the relevance of PUFA/pufa index to address the neglected problem of untreated caries and its consequences. The study also suggests the importance for implementation of the primary oral care programs for this deprived population. How to cite this article Marya C, Kataria S, Nagpal R, Oberoi SS, Dhingra C, Arora D. A Cross-sectional Study for Assessment of Untreated Dental Caries and Its Consequences among Slum-dwelling Children. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2017;10(1):29-33.
A Theory of Incentives in Procurement and Regulation

More then just a textbook, A Theory of Incentives in Procurement and Regulation will guide economists' research on regulation for years to come. It makes a difficult and large literature of the new regulatory economics accessible to the average graduate student, while offering insights into the theoretical ideas and stratagems not available elsewhere. Based on their pathbreaking work in the application of principal-agent theory to questions of regulation, Laffont and Tirole develop a synthetic approach, with a particular, though not exclusive, focus on the regulation of natural monopolies such as military contractors, utility companies, and transportation authorities. The book's clear and logical organization begins with an introduction that summarizes regulatory practices, recounts the history of thought that led to the emergence of the new regulatory economics, sets up the basic structure of the model, and previews the economic questions tackled in the next seventeen chapters. The structure of the model developed in the introductory chapter remains the same throughout subsequent chapters, ensuring both stability and consistency. The concluding chapter discusses important areas for future work in regulatory economics. Each chapter opens with a discussion of the economic issues, an informal description of the applicable model, and an overview of the results and intuition. It then develops the formal analysis, including sufficient explanations for those with little training in information economics or game theory. Bibliographic notes provide a historical perspective of developments in the area and a description of complementary research. Detailed proofs are given of all major conclusions, making the book valuable as a source of modern research techniques. There is a large set of review problems at the end of the book.
Rhinosinusitis and Aspirin-Exacerbated Respiratory Disease

Rhinosinusitis is a feature of aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD), which in the initial phase is manifested as nasal congestion, mostly affecting females at the age of around 30 years on average. Subsequently, nasal inflammation progresses to chronic eosinophilic rhinosinusitis, asthma, nasal polyposis, and intolerance to aspirin and to other NSAIDs. While it has been long established that NSAIDs cause inhibition of cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1), leading to excessive metabolism of arachidonic acid (AA) to cysteinyl-leukotrienes (cys-LTs), there is now evidence that both cytokines and staphylococcus superantigens amplify the inflammatory process exacerbating the disease. This paper gives a brief overview of the development of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) in sensitive patients, and we share our experience in the diagnosis and management of CRS in AERD.
Transparency and Financing Choices of Family Firms

Abstract While recent literature documents that U.S. family firms differ markedly from their nonfamily counterparts, there is a paucity of evidence on how these firms differ in terms of their cost of capital or financial structure. In this paper, we show that family and nonfamily firms differ in their debt maturity and leverage ratios in a manner consistent with the higher expropriation potential of family firms. Moreover, while more transparency causes both family and nonfamily firms to increase the maturity structure of their debt and reduce leverage ratios, the effects are stronger for family firms.
Nuclear obscuration in the high-ionization Seyfert 2 galaxy Tol 0109–383

ABSTRACT We report the BeppoSAX detection of a hard X-ray excess in the X-ray spectrum ofthe classical high-ionization Seyfert 2 galaxy Tol 0109–383. The X-ray emission of thissource observed below 7 keV is dominated by reﬂection from both cold and ionized gas,as seen in the ASCA data. The excess hard X-ray emission is presumably due to thecentral source absorbed by an optically thick obscuring torus with N H ∼ 2×10 24 cm −2 . The strong cold X-ray reﬂection, if it is produced at the inner surface of the torus,is consistent with the picture where much of the inner nucleus of Tol 0109–383 isexposed to direct view, as indicated by optical and infrared properties. However, theX-ray absorption must occur at small radii in order to hide the central X-ray sourcebut leave the optical high-ionization emission line region unobscured. This may alsobe the case for objects like the Seyfert 1 galaxy Mrk231.Keywords: Galaxies: individual: Tol 0109–383— Galaxies: Seyfert — X-rays: galax-ies 1 INTRODUCTIONIt is widely accepted that obscuration is the key for ex-plaining the Seyfert 2 properties in active galaxies (An-tonucci 1993). However, the obscuring material in Seyfert2 nuclei might take various forms or have a complex struc-ture, and its distribution appears to be spread over awide range of radii (e.g., sub-pc to a few hundred pc),as argued by several authors (e.g., Malkan et al 1998;Taniguchi & Murayama 1998; Matt 2000). Depending onthe observational techniques employed, the obscuration in-ferred of an active nucleus could be diﬀerent. In particular,optical/near-infrared results often diﬀer from X-ray results(e.g., Goodrich, Veilleux & Hill 1994) as they probe diﬀer-ent phenomena taking place at diﬀerent optical depths. Thiscan, in turn, be used to investigate the structure of obscu-ration in Seyfert 2 nuclei.The obscuring matter illuminated by a hidden activenucleus in Seyfert 2 galaxies is an important source of emis-sion over a wide range of wavelengths. While dust reradi-ation in the far-infrared and some strong optical emissionlines, such as [OIII]λ5007, are considered to be isotropic,any illuminated surface of the obscuring matter could beviewing-angle dependent if it is in the form of a torus(Heckman 1995). High-ionization emission lines (Pier & Voit1995; Murayama & Taniguchi 1998), hot (T
Component mode synthesis and eigenvalues of second order operators : discretization and algorithm

La synthese modale fait partie de la classe des methodes de Galerkin et permet de calculer les elements propres d'un operateur differentiel sur un domaine que l'on peut decomposer en differents sous-domaines sur chacun desquels on suppose connue une partie des elements propres du meme operateur. L'energie s'echange entre les sous-domaines grâce a des fonctions definies sur le domaine entier et appelees «modes statiques». On presente une nouvelle methode «a interfaces fixes», dont la version discretisee generalise celle de Hurty, Craig et Bampton. Elle est fondee sur un choix special de «modes statiques» comme fonctions propres de l'operateur de Poincare-Steklov associe a la decomposition du domaine