Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pareto-Improving Income Tax Reform

This paper examines two tax regimes in a world where abilities to earn differ. It compares the distributions of utilities under a “flat” tax regime where all income is subject to a common tax rate, and proceeds finance a common transfer paid to all, with one with a menu of tax rates and transfers from which each can select the combination that suits him or her best. When the two regimes are optimized under a social welfare function that weights minimum utilities enough, or reflects a large enough requirement for government spending, it turns out that everyone is better off in the second regime than the first.
Audiological Results of the Bone-Anchored Hearing Aid HC200: Multicenter Results

Sixty-two patients with conductive or mixed hearing loss (average bone conduction threshold at 0.5, 1, and 2 kHz ranged from 1 to 44 dB hearing level) were fitted with a bone-anchored hearing aid (BAHA type HC200). Previously, 52 of them had used a conventional bone conduction hearing aid (CBHA) and 10 of them an air conduction hearing aid (ACHA). Audiological tests were conducted to compare the patients' performance with the BAHA to that with their previous conventional hearing aid. In the speech recognition in quiet test, only 5 patients in the CBHA group improved significantly: the majority had 100% scores with both hearing aids. In the speech recognition in noise test, 28 patients improved significantly. The mean improvement in the signal to noise ratio (S/N) in the CBHA group was −2.3 ± 2.4 dB. That none of the patients in the CBHA group performed worse with the BAHA led us to the conclusion that the BAHA is superior to the CBHA. None of the patients in the ACHA group achieved a better speech recognition in quiet score using the BAHA. On average, there was no significant improvement in the S/N ratio in the ACHA group, although in 6 patients the S/N ratio improved significantly, and in 1 patient it worsened significantly. From the whole group, the performance of only 2 patients, both in the ACHA group, was significantly worse with the BAHA on one of the speech recognition tests.
Design of a Randomized Controlled Trial for Ebola Virus Disease Medical Countermeasures: PREVAIL II, the Ebola MCM Study.

BACKGROUND Unique challenges posed by emerging infectious diseases often expose inadequacies in the conventional phased investigational therapeutic development paradigm. The recent Ebola outbreak in West Africa presents a critical case-study highlighting barriers to faster development. During the outbreak, clinical trials were implemented with unprecedented speed. Yet, in most cases, this fast-tracked approach proved too slow for the rapidly evolving epidemic. Controversy abounded as to the most appropriate study designs to yield safety and efficacy data, potentially causing delays in pivotal studies. Preparation for research during future outbreaks may require acceptance of a paradigm that circumvents, accelerates, or reorders traditional phases, without losing sight of the traditional benchmarks by which drug candidates must be assessed for activity, safety and efficacy. METHODS We present the design of an adaptive, parent protocol, ongoing in West Africa until January 2016. The exigent circumstances of the outbreak and limited prior clinical experience with experimental treatments, led to more direct bridging from preclinical studies to human trials than the conventional paradigm would typically have sanctioned, and required considerable design flexibility. RESULTS Preliminary evaluation of the "barely Bayesian" design was provided through computer simulation studies. The understanding and public discussion of the study design will help its future implementation.
Biological activity of a standardized freeze-dried platelet derivative to be used as cell culture medium supplement

Abstract Serum of animal origin and in particular fetal bovine serum is the most commonly utilized cell culture medium additive for in vitro cell growth and differentiation. However, several major concerns have been raised by the scientific community regarding the use of animal sera for human cell-based culture applications. Among the possible alternatives to the animal serum, platelet-derived compounds have been proposed since more than 10 years. Nevertheless, the high degree of variability between the different platelet preparations, and the lack of standardized manufacturing and quality control procedures, made difficult to reach a consensus on the applicability of this novel cell culture medium supplement. In this study, we describe the preparation of a standardized platelet-rich plasma (PRP) derivative obtained starting from human-certified buffy coat samples with a defined platelet concentration and following protocols including also freeze-drying, gamma irradiation and biological activity testing prior the product release as cell culture medium additive. Biological activity testing of the different preparations was done by determining the capability of the different PRP preparations to sustain human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) clone formation and proliferation. Taking advantage of a developed MSC in vitro clonogenicity test, we also determined biological activity and stability of the freeze-dried gamma-sterilized PRP preparations after their storage for different times and at different temperatures. The PRP effects on cell proliferation were determined both on primary cell cultures established from different tissues and on a cell line. Results were compared with those obtained in “traditional” parallel control cultures performed in the presence of bovine serum [10% fetal calf serum (FCS)]. Compared to FCS, the PRP addition to the culture medium increased the MSC colony number and average size. In primary cell cultures and in cell line cultures, the PRP promoted cell proliferation also in conditions where the FCS had not a proliferation stimulating effect due to either the nature of the cells and the tissue of origin (such as human articular chondrocytes from elderly patients) or to the critical low density cell seeding (such as for HeLa cells). In summary, the standardized PRP formulation would provide an “off-the-shelf” product to be used for the selection and expansion of several cell types also in critical cell culture conditions.
The European IFRS experiment: objectives, research challenges and some early evidence

This paper provides an academic perspective on the development of the EU's harmonisation project based on International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), on the costs and benefits of IFRS adoption in Europe, and on the research challenges that arise. The paper reviews the accumulating academic evidence, emphasizing the effectiveness and transparency of the enforcement framework, and documenting the main lessons to be learned from the research programme on EU IFRS implementation conducted within the INTACCT network. Results on the consequences of IFRS adoption and the quality of implementation are far from uniform across Europe, and depend on factors reflecting preparer incentives and the effectiveness of local enforcement. The paper also outlines a possible alternative proposal for the organisation and development of enforcement activities in Europe.
The Impact of Macroeconomic Policies on Income Distribution: An Empirical Study

There has been a growing awareness of the income distribution dimension of macroeconomic policies. This paper presents a framework for studying this issue empirically, and considers the case of the Philippines using data available from integrated surveys of households. After developing and estimating an analytical model, it was found that underemployment, inflation, and government spending worsen income distribution, while productivity gains, the real interest rate, and the real exchange rate were found to be progressive instruments.
The Weight of Society Over Time and Space: A Comprehensive Account of the Construction Material Stock of Japan, 1945–2010

In order to fully comprehend the socioeconomic metabolic (SEM) dynamics and material balance of nations, long‐term accounting of economy‐wide material stock is necessary in parallel to material flow accounts. Nevertheless, material stock accounts have been scarce, isolated, and mostly focused either on single materials, short time spans, or small regions. This study has two objectives: (1) review the state of the art of material stock research in the SEM discourse and (2) present a project to map, in a high level of detail, the in‐use construction material stocks of Japan and its 47 prefectures from the 1940s until the present era. This project documents the two major depositories of material stock: buildings and infrastructure. We describe the challenges and benefits of utilizing a bottom‐up approach, in order to promote its usage in material stock studies. The resulting database presents the accumulation of stock over time, as well as visually displaying the spatial distribution of the stock using geographical information systems (GIS), which, we argue, is an essential aspect of material stock analysis in the context of socioeconomic metabolism research.
Pretransplant Aspergillus Colonization of Cystic Fibrosis Patients and the Incidence of Post–Lung Transplant Invasive Aspergillosis

Background Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality among patients undergoing lung transplant. Cystic fibrosis-lung transplant recipients (CF-LTRs) may be at greater risk of IA following lung transplantation because of the presence of Aspergillus in their airways before transplantation. This study evaluated the impact of pretransplant Aspergillus colonization on the risk for IA among CF-LTRs. Methods A single-center retrospective cohort study of CF-LTRs was conducted between 2006 and 2010. Respiratory tract cultures before transplantation were reviewed to identify patients with pretransplant Aspergillus colonization. Patients with positive Aspergillus sputum culture or positive bronchoalvelolar lavage (BAL) galactomannan after transplantation were classified as having colonization or disease according to the International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation criteria. Results A total of 93 CF patients underwent lung transplantation. Seventy percent (65/93) of CF-LTRs had pretransplant Aspergillus colonization. Thirty-six patients had positive intraoperative Aspergillus culture from the native lung BAL. Overall, 22.5% (20/93) of CF-LTRs developed IA. Median time to IA was 42 days following transplantation. Positive intraoperative Aspergillus culture (OR 4.36, 95% CI 1.35–14.05, P=0.01) and treatment for acute cellular rejection within 90 days after transplantation (OR 3.53, 95% CI 1.03–12.15, P=0.05) were independent risk factors for IA. Antifungal prophylaxis was administered to 61% (57/93) of CF-LTRs. One-year mortality rate was 16% (15/93). IA was not associated with increased risk of death (OR 2.10, 95% CI 0.62–7.06, P=0.23). Conclusion Pretransplant Aspergillus colonization is frequent among CF-LTRs and a positive intraoperative Aspergillus culture produced a fourfold higher risk of developing IA.
The Road to Poverty Reduction: Corporate Governance and Female Participation in MFIs

1.Microfinance Industry – Context of Analysis. This paper is an introduction to the microfinance industry. It serves as a context of analysis, for the empirical settings and basis for building the theoretical argument for the thesis. 2.Women in Microfinance Institutions: The Road to Poverty Reduction and Gender Equality? One of the unique aspects of microfinance institutions is their focus on outreach, i.e. their ability to reach the poor. This paper explores whether the presence of women in microfinance institutions is associated with improved outreach. Building on prior research that shows that women tend to improve financial performance and social responsibility, we examine an original dataset of 226 microfinance institutions. The empirical results suggest that the presence of a female CEO, female managers and female loan officers is directly related to improved outreach, while the presence of women board members is not. 3. Women in Microfinance Institutions: Is There a Trade-Off Between Outreach and Sustainability? Abstract This paper’s contribution to the understanding of microfinance is two-fold. First, while it has been shown that female CEOs in MFIs increase financial performance, it will be argued that female managers, female loan officers and female board members will do the same. Secondly, having previously shown that having a female presence in management in MFIs improves social performance the outreach, it will be argued that having females in the MFIs’ management will not lead to a trade-off between outreach and sustainability. These findings are based on an original data set of 226 MFIs. Statistical analysis demonstrates that a weak relationship between female managers and female loan officers vis-a-vis financial performance, but female board members do not. The trade-off between outreach and sustainability can be avoided with the appointment of females to the MFIs’ management positions, but the same cannot be concluded for female board members.
Symptoms of Depression in a Canadian Urban Sample *

The prevalence and correlates of symptoms of depression in a Canadian urban sample were examined. A random sample of 524 respondents completed the CES-D scale and a variety of socio demographic questions. In this Sample, 15% of the males and 19% of the females had scores above the depression cut-point of 16 on the CES-D scale. These rates were very similar to results reported in various U.S. centres. Symptoms of depression were most common among the younger, less educated, and those employed in trades and farming. Depression was lowest in the older, more educated, the married and those employed in professional and management roles. Taken as a whole the set of sociodemographic predictors explained 11%) of the variance in symptoms of depression.
Power systems restructuring : engineering and economics

Preface. 1. Setting the Stage L. Hyman. Part I: Theoretical Challenges in Real-Time Operation. 2. Power Systems Operation: Old vs. New M. Ilic, F. Galiana. 3. Framework and Methods for the Analysis of Bilateral Transmissions F. Galiana, M. Ilic. Part II: Industry Experiences and Challenges. 4. The Political Economy of the Pool R. Green. 5. Practical Requirements for ISO Systems R. Masiello. Part III: Markets of the Future. 6. Agent Based Economics G. Sheble. 7. One-Part Markets for Electric Power: Ensuring the Benefits of Competition F.C. Graves, et al. Part IV: Planning in the New Industry. 8. System Planning under Competition R. Coxe, M. Ilic. 9. Transmission Networks and Market Power Z. Younes, M. Ilic. 10. Competitive Electric Services and Efficiency S.R. Connors. Part V: Power Systems Control in the New Industry. 11. New Control Paradigms for Deregulation L.H. Fink. 12. The Control and Operation of Distributed Generation in a Competitive Electric Market J. Cardell, M. Ilic. 13. Application of Dynamic Generation Control for Predatory Competitive Advantage in Electric Power Markets T. Gorski, C. DeMarco. Index.
Comparative Localization of Academic and Industrial Spillovers

This paper studies localization of academic and industrial knowledge spillovers. Using data on U.S. Research and Development laboratories, that quantify spatial aspects of learning about universities and firms as well as their locations, I find that academic spillovers are more localized than industrial spillovers. I also find that localization is increased by nearby stocks of R&D, but reduced by laboratory and firm size. These results on localized academic spillovers reflect open science and the industry-university cooperative movement, which encourage firms to work with local universities, so that localization coincides with the public goods nature of science. This situation contrasts with relations to other firms, where contractual arrangements are needed to access proprietary information, often at a considerable distance.
DOES THE EFFECTIVENESS OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS AFFECT FIRM PERFORMANCE OF CONSUMER CO-OPERATIVES? THE CASE OF ICOOP KOREA

type="main" xml:lang="fr"> Les cooperatives de consommation se sont fortement developpees en Coree depuis qu'elles ont ouvert leurs propres magasins. Les cooperatives trop orientees vers le developpement ou la croissance economique pourraient aisement ne plus etre attentives a la participation des membres, ce qui est une des priorites des cooperatives. Cela pourrait conduire a une perte de la valeur cooperative. Il est des lors important d'ajuster l’equilibre entre participation des membres et croissance economique. Cet article se centre sur le role des Conseils de direction pour ce faire. Il vise a examiner comment l'efficience de dirigeants influence la participation des membres et comment cette participation a un impact sur la performance des cooperatives dans le cas de iCOOP Coree. Des variables telles que la communication avec les membres et l'utilisation de connaissances et de techniques de gestion mesurent l'efficience des dirigeants dans le processus de prise de decision. Les donnees provenant d‘enquetes aupres de 222 directeurs de 30 cooperatives de premier degre sont analysees a l'aide d'un Modele d'Equation Structurelle. Les resultats de la recherche sont les suivants. En premier lieu, la communication de la direction avec les membres accroit la participation democratique de ceux-ci, et la participation accrue contribue a ameliorer la performance financiere. En second lieu, les techniques et les connaissances de gestion des dirigeants n'ont pas de relations significatives avec le niveau de participation des membres. Cependant la participation economique des membres a une relation positive significative avec la performance financiere. Les resultats revelent que la participation volontaire des membres augmente quand les Conseils de direction tentent d’etre fideles aux besoins des membres dans les processus de decision et cela peut aider les cooperatives a etre plus performantes financierement. Il s'agit sans doute d'une piste pour l‘equilibre entre valeurs cooperatives et croissance de l'entreprise que de nombreuses cooperatives tentent de realiser.
User Perceptions of Facebook Games

The popularity of social network sites have helped build and popularize the social (network) game genre. Presently, there are reports that social games are still growing in the established video game industry. This study focused on a giant sector of social games, that is, Facebook games. Particularly, the main goal of this study was to assess the general attitude, habit, and behavior of people who currently or previously played Facebook games. Of the 287 who completed the survey on Facebook games, over 70% indicated that they no longer play games on Facebook (i.e., past Facebook gamers). Respondents reported that the main reasons they stopped playing a Facebook game was due to being bored with the game, the game was too time-consuming, and real-world money and more friends were needed for the game to be fun. When asked what features would be associated with the “ideal” Facebook game, many indicated features such as fast loading time, good graphics, game rewards, and an option to play the game without needing real-world money.
Enhancing pipelined processor architectures with fast autonomous recovery of transient faults

Recent technology trends have made radiation-induced soft errors a growing threat to the reliability of microprocessors, a problem previously only known to the aerospace industry. Therefore, the ability to handle higher soft error rates in modern processor architectures is essential in order to allow further technology scaling. This paper presents an efficient fault-tolerance method for pipeline-based processors using temporal redundancy. Instructions are executed twice at each pipeline stage, which allows the detection of transient faults. Once a fault is detected the execution is stopped immediately and recovery is implicitly performed within the pipeline stages. Due to this fast reaction the fault is contained at its origin and no expensive rollback operation is required later on.
Ubiquitous signatures of nematic quantum criticality in optimally doped Fe-based superconductors

Discerning the nematic connection The phase diagram of any given family of iron-based superconductors is complicated: Superconductivity competes with antiferromagnetism, with a structural transition often thrown in for good measure. Transport experiments have shown that in one of these families, Ba(Fe1-xCox)2As2, a rotational electronic asymmetry, dubbed nematicity, drives the structural transition. Kuo et al. detected nematic fluctuations in five Fe-based superconductor families in the vicinity of optimal chemical doping: the doping that maximizes the superconducting transition temperature. Thus, nematicity may play a role in the mechanism of superconductivity in these compounds. Science, this issue p. 958 Transport data in five families of iron-based superconductors suggest that nematicity plays a role in superconductivity. A key actor in the conventional theory of superconductivity is the induced interaction between electrons mediated by the exchange of virtual collective fluctuations (phonons in the case of conventional s-wave superconductors). Other collective modes that can play the same role, especially spin fluctuations, have been widely discussed in the context of high-temperature and heavy Fermion superconductors. The strength of such collective fluctuations is measured by the associated susceptibility. Here we use differential elastoresistance measurements from five optimally doped iron-based superconductors to show that divergent nematic susceptibility appears to be a generic feature in the optimal doping regime of these materials. This observation motivates consideration of the effects of nematic fluctuations on the superconducting pairing interaction in this family of compounds and possibly beyond.
The Demand for Lottery Products

Lotteries constitute one of the fastest-growing categories of consumer expenditure in the United States. Not only have an increasing number of states legalized state lotteries, but the per capita expenditures on lotteries in lottery states have increased at an annual rate of 13 percent after inflation between 1975 and 1988. This article examines the demand for lottery products. A majority of the adult public in lottery states play in any one year, but relatively few of these players account for most of the action". Socioeconomic patterns of play, measured from both sales data and household surveys, offer some surprises -- for example, that the Engle curve of lottery expenditures decline with income. There is some evidence that lottery sales increase with the payout rate, although it is not clear that it would be profitable for the states to increase payout rates. The addition of a new game, such as lotto, does not undercut sales of existing games, and the oft-heard claim that interest (and sales) will "inevitably" decline is contradicted by the data. The organizational form of the lottery is evolving in response to the quest for higher revenues: in particular, smaller states are forming multistate game. This article is a chapter from Selling Hope: State Lotteries in America, an NBER monograph to be published by Harvard University Press in November, 1989.
Age Dependent Portfolio Selection

This paper addresses the issue of portfolio risk exposure as a function of age, and it focuses the debate by presenting detailed cross-sectional evidence about individual portfolios. It provides new empirical results that characterized the relationship between age and the risk exposure of individual portfolios. The evidence from cross-sectional data suggests that individuals do not follow behavior proscribed by economic theory or by Wall Street advisors, rather the results of this paper suggest that current body of theoretical literature does not adequately describe the behavior of individuals. It implies that a satisfactory model ofindividual behavior needs to focus on factors not linearly correlated with age.