Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Maternal risk factors for gastroschisis in Canada.

BACKGROUND Gastroschisis is a congenital abdominal wall defect that occurs in one per 2200 pregnancies. Birth defect surveillance in Canada has shown that the prevalence of gastroschisis has increased threefold over the past 10 years. The purpose of this study was to compare maternal exposures data from a national gastroschisis registry with pregnancy exposures from vital statistics to understand maternal risk factor associations with the occurrence of gastroschisis. METHODS Using common definitions, pregnancy cohorts were developed from two databases. The Canadian Pediatric Surgery Network database, a population-based dataset was used to record maternal exposures for women who experienced a gastroschisis pregnancy, while a contemporaneous, geographically cross-sectional "control" cohort of pregnant women and their exposures was developed from Canadian Community Health Survey data. Groups comparison of maternal risk factors was performed using univariate and multivariate logistic generalized estimating equation techniques. RESULTS A total of 692 gastroschisis pregnancies (from Canadian Pediatric Surgery Network) and 4708 pregnancies from Canadian Community Health Survey were compared. Younger maternal age (odds ratio, 0.85; 95% confidence interval, 0.83-0.87; p < 0.0001), smoking (odds ratio, 2.86; 95% confidence interval, 2.22-3.66; p < 0.0001), a history of pregestational or gestational diabetes (odds ratio, 2.81; 95% confidence interval, 1.42-5.5; p = 0.0031), and use of medication to treat depression (odds ratio, 4.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.38-11.8; p = 0.011) emerged as significant associations with gastroschisis pregnancies. CONCLUSION Gastroschisis in Canada is associated with maternal risk factors, some of which are modifiable. Further studies into sociodemographic birth defect risk are necessary to allow targeted improvements in perinatal health service delivery and health policy.
Principal Support Is Imperative to the Retention of Teachers in Hard-to-Staff Schools.

Teacher retention is an ongoing problem in hard-to-staff schools. This research examined the relationship between principal support and retention of teachers in hard-to-staff schools. The purpose of this study was to, (a) to determine the relationship between teacher retention and principal support, (b) to examine the perception of support between teachers and principals and how these perceptions affect teacher retention in hard-to-staff schools, and (c) to discover if there is a correlation between the principal’s supports and teacher retention. The participants were both administrators and teachers who are currently employed. A non-experimental correlational design was used in which principals and teachers in hard-to-staff schools were surveyed regarding the role of principal supports in the retention of teachers. Findings in this study posited, personal growth and the ability to receive support from administrators regarding emotional, environmental and instructional support had an impact on a teacher’s decision to stay or leave in hard-to-staff schools. Participant teachers provided insight as to which forms of support they valued most from their principals. The recommendations guide administrators working in hard-to-staff schools to reduce teacher attrition and are also intended to encourage leaders to look more closely at their programs and their own styles of leadership and support. Specific recommendations are made for administrators, institutions, and teachers.
No association between regulator of G-protein signaling 9 (RGS9) and schizophrenia in a Jewish population.

Regulator of G-protein signaling 9 (RGS9) is a plausible candidate gene for schizophrenia, as this GTPase accelerating protein modulates dopamine D2 receptor signal transmission in basal ganglia (Rahman et al., 2003). RGS9-2 splice variant protein colocalizes with the dopamine D2 receptor through its DEP domain (Kovoor et al., 2005). RGS9 KO mice show augmented locomotor response to psychostimulants, whereas viral-mediated overexpression of RGS9 in rat striatum caused reduced locomotor response to dopamine D2 receptor agonists (Rahman et al., 2003). Supersensitivity of D2 receptors, as seen in RGS9 KO mice, is a common feature of psychosis (Seeman et al., 2006). Consistently, RGS9 expression was diminished in the amphetamine-treated rat model of schizophrenia, as well as in post-mortem brain of schizophrenia patients, compared with controls (Seeman et al., 2007). Weak association of RGS9 [rs4790953 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), in the 30 flanking region] with antipsychotic-induced tardive dyskinesia was reported in a sample from Taiwan (Liou et al., 2008). However, the association of this gene with schizophrenia has not been studied earlier.
Stable cartels revisited

Summary.This paper analyzes cartel stability when firms are farsighted. It studies a price leadership model á la D’ Aspremont et al. (1983), where the dominant cartel acts as a leader by determining the market price, while the fringe behaves competitively. According to D’ Aspremont et al. ‘s (1983) approach a cartel is stable if no firm has an incentive to either enter or exit the cartel. In deciding whether to deviate or not, a firm compares its status quo with the outcome its unilateral deviation induces. However, the firm fails to examine whether the induced outcome will indeed become the new status quo that will determine its profits. Although the firm anticipates the price adjustment following its deviation, it ignores the possibility that more firms may exit (or enter) the cartel. In other words, the firm does not consider the fact that the outcome immediately induced by its deviation may not be stable itself. We propose a notion of cartel stability that allows firms to fully foresee the result of their deviation. Our solution concept is built in the spirit of von Neumann and Morgenstern’s (1944) stable set, while it modifies the dominance relation following Harsanyi’s (1974) criticism. We show that there always exists a unique, non-empty set of stable cartels.
Artemisinin derivatives for treating severe malaria.

BACKGROUND Artemisinin derivatives may have advantages over quinoline drugs for treating severe malaria since they are fast acting and effective against quinine resistant malaria parasites. OBJECTIVES The objective of this review was to assess the effects of artemisinin drugs for severe and complicated falciparum malaria in adults and children. SEARCH STRATEGY We searched the Cochrane Infectious Diseases Group trials register, Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, Medline, Embase, Science Citation Index, Lilacs, African Index Medicus, conference abstracts and reference lists of articles. We contacted organisations, researchers in the field and drug companies. SELECTION CRITERIA Randomised and pseudo-randomised trials comparing artemisinin drugs (rectal, intramuscular or intravenous) with standard treatment, or comparisons between artemisinin derivatives in adults or children with severe or complicated falciparum malaria. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Eligibility, trial quality assessment and data extraction were done independently by two reviewers. Study authors were contacted for additional information. MAIN RESULTS Twenty three trials are included, allocation concealment was adequate in nine. Sixteen trials compared artemisinin drugs with quinine in 2653 patients. Artemisinin drugs were associated with better survival (mortality odds ratio 0.61, 95% confidence interval 0.46 to 0.82, random effects model). In trials where concealment of allocation was adequate (2261 patients), this was barely statistically significant (odds ratio 0.72, 95% CI 0.54 to 0.96, random effects model). In 1939 patients with cerebral malaria, mortality was also lower with artemisinin drugs overall (odds ratio 0.63, 95% CI 0.44 to 0.88, random effects model). The difference was not significant however when only trials reporting adequate concealment of allocation were analysed (odds ratio 0.78, 95% CI 0.55 to 1.10, random effects model) based on 1607 patients. No difference in neurological sequelae was shown. Compared with quinine, artemisinin drugs showed faster parasite clearance from the blood and similar adverse effects. REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS The evidence suggests that artemisinin drugs are no worse than quinine in preventing death in severe or complicated malaria. No artemisinin derivative appears to be better than the others.
Safety of Computer-assisted Surgery for Cannulated Hip Screws

Computer-assisted orthopaedic surgery has developed considerably during the past few years. Several manufacturers produce hardware and software for use in trauma surgery. Validation of these systems before clinical application is mandatory to be sure they work accurately and safely. The accuracy of surgical DOI: performance is highly correlated with the cut-out percentages of hip screws. In a standardized operative setting, three cannulated hip screws were inserted in each of 20 sawbones. The screws were positioned either by fluoroscopic navigation technique or by conventional operative technique depending on randomization. Our primary aim was to assess whether computer-navigated screw fixation is equally safe compared with conventional screw fixation using fluoroscopy. To determine safety, we investigated number of drilling attempts, screw position, and radiation time. Secondary to these safety parameters, we also compared the operating time between the two procedures to assess the efficiency of computer navigation. Statistical analysis showed no differences regarding accuracy of screw position. Computer-assisted surgery resulted in fewer drilling attempts and less radiation time, with a similar operation time. We believe the currently used navigation system is safe and accurate.
Effects of Larval Nutrition on Wolbachia-Based Dengue Virus Interference in Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae)

Abstract In order to assess the broad-scale applicability of field releases of Wolbachia for the biological control of insecttransmitted diseases, we determined the relationship between the larval diet of Aedes aegypti L. mosquitoes infected with Wolbachia strains and their susceptibility to dengue virus (DENV) infection via intrathoracic injection and oral inoculation. Larvae were reared on diets that varied in the quantity of food which had the effect of modifying development time and adult body size. Wolbachia wMel infection was associated with highly significant reductions in dengue serotype 2 (DENV-2) infection rates of between 80 and 97.5% following intrathoracic injection of adults emerging from three diet levels. Reductions were 100% in two diet level treatments following oral inoculation. Similarly, wMelPop infection was associated with highly significant reductions in DENV-2 infection rates of between 95 and 100% for intrathoracic injection and 97.5 and 100% for oral inoculation across diet level treatments. Larval diet level had no significant effect on DENV-2 infection rates in the presence of Wolbachia infection in mosquitoes that were intrathoracically injected with the virus. This indicates that the effectiveness of Wolbachia on vector competence disruption within Ae. aegypti is unlikely to be compromised by variable larval nutrition in field settings.
Income mobility and the welfare state: an international comparison with panel data

This article examines gross and net equivalent income mobility in the western and eastern states of Germany, in Great Britain and in the United States, using panel data of these countries from the period 1989-95. By comparing the differences between the mobility of gross and net equivalent income internationally, it analyses to what extent the welfare state reduces income mobility, thereby testing hypotheses concerning international differences in the mobility-reducing effect of the welfare state. The results show that the largest mobility-reducing effect is observed in eastern states of Germany, followed by western Germany. While the reduction of gross equivalent income mobility by the tax and transfer system is much smaller in Great Britain, this reduction cannot be observed in the USA at all. These results support the hypothesis that the mobility-reducing effect of the tax and transfer system is much stronger in conservative welfare states like Germany than in liberal welfare states like Great Britain and the USA. Résumé Cet article étudie les flux de revenus brut et net (y compris transferts) des individus dans le temps en Allemagne de l'Est et de l'Ouest, en Grande-Bretagne et aux Etats-Unis à partir de données couvrant la période 1989-95. Sur base d'une comparaison international sur les dynamiques entre revenus équivalents nets et bruts, il analyse dans quelle mesure le système de protection sociale réduit ces différences. Les résultats indiquent que l'effet de réduction le plus important s'observe en Allemagne de l'Est, suivie de l'Allemagne de l'Ouest. Si en Grande-Bretagne, cette réduction par le système de redistribution et d'imposition est nettement plus faible, aucune réduction ne s'observe aux Etats-Unis. Ces résultats soutiennent l'hypothèse selon laquelle l'effet réducteur de la mobilité des revenus par le système d'imposition et de redistribution est plus important dans les systèmes de sécurité sociale conservateurs comme l'Allemagne que dans le systèmes de protection sociale qualifié de libéraux comme la Grande-Bretagne et les Etats-Unis.
After Florida: Towards an economics of diversity

In recent years, most European countries have experienced substantial demographic changes and rising cultural diversity. Understanding the social and economic impacts of these shifts is a major challenge for policymakers. Richard Florida’s ideas have provided a popular – and pervasive – framework for doing so. This paper assess Florida’s legacy and sets out a ‘post-Florida’ framework for ‘technology, talent and tolerance’ research. The paper first traces the development of Florida’s ideas. ‘Florida 1.0’, encapsulated by the Three Ts framework, has performed badly in practice. There are problems in bringing causality to the fundamental relationships, and in consistently replicating the results in other countries. ‘Florida 2.0’, though suggests that Creative Class metrics have value as alternative measures of human capital. This create space for a post-Florida agenda based on economic micro-foundations. I argue that the growing body of ‘economics of diversity’ research meets these conditions, and review theory and empirics. Urban ‘diversity shocks’ shift the size and composition of populations and workforces, with impacts operating via labour markets, and through wider production and consumption networks. While short-term labour market effects are small, over time low-value industrial sectors may become migrant-dependent. Diversity may help raise productivity and wages through innovation, entrepreneurship, market access and trade channels. Bigger, more diverse cities help generate hybridised goods and services, but may also raise local costs through crowding. All of this presents new challenges for policymakers, who need to manage diversity’s net effects, and address both economic costs and benefits.
Covenant Violations and Dynamic Loan Contracting

This paper examines the dynamic allocation of control rights in private debt contracts of firms. We show that a covenant violation in the prior loan contract implies a stigma for borrowers which results in stricter loan contract terms in subsequent new loan contracts. Our analyses reject potentially other explanations such as firm characteristics or agency problems between the lender and firm management, shareholders or public debtholders. After covenant violations in the prior contract, new loans have on average 18bps higher spreads and include more of those covenant types which also have been violated in the prior contract, with tighter thresholds.
The Costs of Suboptimal Dynamic Asset Allocation: General Results and Applications to Interest Rate Risk, Stock Volatility Risk, and Growth/Value Tilts

The recent theoretical asset allocation literature has derived optimal dynamic investment strategies in various advanced models of asset returns. But how sensitive is investor welfare to deviations from the theoretically optimal strategy? Will unsophisticated investors do almost as well as sophisticated investors? This paper develops a general theoretical framework for answering such questions and applies it to three specific models of interest rate risk, stochastic stock volatility, and mean reversion and growth/value tilts of stock portfolios. Among other things, we find that growth/value tilts are highly valuable, but the hedging of time-varying stock risk premia is less important.
Improving Compliance with European Union Law Via Agencies: The Case of the European Railway Agency

European Union agencies are increasingly used to stimulate domestic compliance with EU law, without concrete evidence for whether and how these bodies actually realize this. Through in‐depth analysis of the European Railway Agency, this article enhances our empirical understanding of the working and functioning of EU agencies, and advances our thinking about compliance in international settings. It leads us to the insight that – in order to be capable of stimulating domestic compliance – agencies should be flexible to resort to a mix of compliance strategies in order to be able to cope with the varying domestic compliance situations.
Participation of smallholders in agroforestry agri-environmental scheme: A lesson from the rural mount Kenyan region

The likelihood of smallholder farmers not participating in agroforestry agri-environmental schemes and payments for ecosystem services (PES) may be due to limited farmland endowment and formal credit constraints. These deficits may lead to an ‘exclusive club’ of successful farmers, which are not necessarily poor, enjoying the benefits of agri-environmental schemes and PES although agri-environmental schemes and PES have been devised as a means of fostering rural sustainable development and improving the livelihood of poor smallholder farmers. Smallholder farmers in parts of rural Kenya continue to enroll in ‘The International Small Group Tree Planting Programme’ (TIST), an agri-environmental scheme, promoting agroforestry, carbon sequestration and conservation agriculture (CA). The question remains if these farmers are really poor? This study examines factors that determine the participation of smallholder farmers in TIST in parts of rural Kenya. We use survey data compiled in 2013 on 210 randomly selected smallholder farmers from Embu, Meru and Nanyuki communities; the sample consists of TIST and non-TIST members. A random utility model and logit regression were used to test a set of non-monetary and monetary factors that influence participation in the TIST. The utility function is conceptualized to give non-monetary factors, particularly the common medium of communication in rural areas – formal and informal – a central role. Furthermore, we investigate other factors (incl. credit accessibility and interest rate) that reveal the nature of farmers participating in TIST. The findings suggest that spread of information via formal and informal networks is a major driver of participation in the TIST program. Furthermore, variables such credit constrains, age and labour supply positively correlate with TIST participation, while for education the opposite is true. It is important to mention that these correlations, although somewhat consistent, were all found to be weak. The results indicate that participation in the TIST program is not influenced by farm size; therefore we argue that the TIST scheme is NOT an ‘exclusive club’ comprising wealthy and successful farmers. Older farmers’ being more likely to join the TIST is an argument for their long- rather than widely assumed short-term planning horizon and a new contribution to the literature. Given the importance of poverty alleviation and climate smart agriculture in developing countries, sustainable policy should strengthening the social and human capital as well as informal networks in rural areas. Extension services should effectively communicate benefits to less educated and credit constrained farmers.
Confianza a la Chilena: a comparative study of how e-services influence public sector institutional trustworthiness and trust

New information and communication technologies bring the enticing potential to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and transparency of government administration and services. One theorised outcome of egovernment that has received little empirical attention is its ability to build citizens’ trust in government. This thesis contributes to this knowledge through a comparative study of the impacts of two Chilean e-services on citizens’ trust in the institutions of democratic government. This research traces the causal processes from the influence of the e-services on the trustworthiness of public sector institutions to how, for whom, and in what circumstances the e-services directly affect citizens’ trust in those institutions. The research approach draws from social realist assumptions and, in particular, the ontology offered by critical realism. This approach allows for the development of a novel e-government and institutional trust framework that integrates a wide range of trust theories from political science, sociology, psychology, and information systems. Extending the framework, the thesis proposes fifteen middle-range causal hypotheses that link e-services to institutional trustworthiness and citizens’ trust in those institutions. These hypotheses are then empirically grounded in casespecific hypotheses which are subsequently tested and refined through both a within-case analysis and cross-case comparison. Within limits, this study provides insight into the potentials and limits of e-government to improve the trustworthiness of the public sector. Furthermore, by adopting a street-level epistemological perspective of citizens’ interpretations and explanations of e-service interactions, the thesis contributes to the micro-level understanding of the interactions of eservices and citizens’ trust in public sector institutions. A central finding is the importance of self-interested concerns and direct user benefits in shaping perceptions and interpretations of the citizen-e-service interaction. The findings also provide empirical insight into the theoretical and practical importance of discerning between theories of how to build trustworthy institutions and trust in those institutions.
Linking Ethnic Diversity & Two-Way Symmetry: Modeling Female African American Practitioners’ Roles

That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages, and lifed over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere. Nobody ever helps me into carriages, or over mud-puddles, or gives me any best place! And ain't I a woman? Look at me! Look at my arm! I have ploughed and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me! And ain't I a woman? I could work as much and eat as much as a man-when I could get it--and bear the lash as well! And ain't I a woman? I have borne thirteen children, and seen most all sold off to slavery, and when I cried out with my mother's griex none but Jesus heard me! And ain't I a woman? -Ain't 1 a Woman? Sojourner Truth (Isabella Baumfree), 1851