Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Exercise-Induced Bronchoconstriction among Greek elite athletes: Assessment of the validity of bronchial provocation tests

Background: Diagnosis of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) requires objective documentation with bronchial provocation tests (BPTs), since exercise-induced respiratory symptoms (EIRS) have poor diagnostic value. We aimed to assess EIRS, EIB and asthma in elite Greek athletes and evaluate the validity of BPTs in the diagnosis of airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) in this population. Furthermore rhinitis and atopy were also assessed. Methods: Two hundred elite athletes (55 with a previous asthma diagnosis) completed a questionnaire. Skin prick tests, exhaled Nitric Oxide and spirometry were consecutively performed. EIB was objectively assessed by the methacholine test, the eucapnic voluntary hyperpnoea (EVH) test, the mannitol test and the exercise test. Results: EIRS and asthma-like symptoms were highly reported by athletes in both groups. Atopy was found in 43.8% of athletes without a previous asthma diagnosis and in 62.3% of athletes with asthma. AHR to methacholine had the highest prevalence among all the BPTs that were performed in athletes without a previous asthma diagnosis (63%) and in athletes with asthma (86%). Athletes with asthma had more frequently a positive result in methacholine and EVH challenges, as compared with athletes without a previous asthma diagnosis(P=0.012, P=0.017, respectively), whilst AHR to mannitol had a similar prevalence between the two groups. Report of EIRS, asthma-like symptoms, rhinitis and atopy were not associated with a positive BPT response. Conclusion: Screening elite athletes for EIB using BPTs is suggested irrespective of report of EIRS or a previous asthma diagnosis. Conflicts of interest: None of the other authors has any conflict of interest related to the
Fair Value Accounting, Earnings Management and the use of Available-for-Sale Instruments by Bank Managers

Fair value accounting in banking has been criticized for the increased volatility that it generates in some accounting variables. One of its advantages, however, is that it reduces the possibility of discretionary earnings management, given that all gains and losses are immediately recognized. In this paper we qualify both considerations. The accounting regime of available-for-sale (AFS) securities allows for some degree of earnings and capital management: an AFS asset is reported at fair value but gains and losses over historical cost go into net income and measures of regulatory capital only when the asset is sold and the gain or loss realized. We use comprehensive data from US commercial banks and bank holding companies and provide evidence that fair value gains in AFS assets have consistently been used for earnings and capital management and that the holdings of AFS assets are related to the intensity of this activity. Our results show that the earnings management behavior is present both in listed and non-listed banks, suggesting that the motivations go beyond the incentives provided by capital markets. We also uncover significant differences in earnings management behavior over the years of the financial crisis.
What does it take to grow out of recession? An error-correction approach towards growth convergence of European and transition countries

Consequences from the subsiding 2008 financial crisis on long-run economic growth are widely debated. Existing literature on previous recessions, such as Cerra and Saxena (2008), emphasizes the long-term loss inflicted on per capita GDP levels. This paper concentrates on typical business cycles in advanced European and transition countries and assumes that lower than normal growth during recessions is followed by a recovery period with above normal growth until the economy reaches its pre-crisis level. The objective is to assess the capacity to rebound, the speed of convergence towards a normal growth path as well as potential nonlinearities. Through exploiting the cointegration relationships among variables in long-run growth regressions and by employing a variety of panel error-correction models, results show a strong evidence of error-correction and different linear speed in the convergence process with the transition economies outpacing Western European countries. Our analysis is further extended into a Panel Smooth Transition Error-Correction Model (PSTR-ECM) to account for different regimes in convergence patterns according to a selection of transition variables. Whereas the velocity of convergence for European core countries exhibits a nonlinear pattern and differs with respect to price and flexibility, transition countries remain linear in their return to the growth trend. Ultimately, our results suggest that internal adjustments remain the key factors for both European and transition countries to recover from negative economic growth shocks.
When does race matter? Exploring white responses to minority congressional candidates

ABSTRACT How significant of a factor is race in minority candidate evaluation? I present theory of race and minority candidate evaluation which argues that candidate race acts as an informational heuristic that affects perceptions of a candidate's ideological leaning and competence but that this effect is dependent on contextual factors, including the racial group and candidate partisanship. Using the 2010 and 2012 Cooperative Congressional Elections Study, I provide an observational look at Latino and Asian candidates in addition to black candidates for the first time, as well as minority candidates of both partisan stripes. I examine voter perceptions about candidates that might drive their vote choice, namely ideological assessments and competence assessments. I find that white voters are less likely to support Latino and black Democrats because they are viewed as less competent and more ideologically extreme. I find that Asian candidates and minority Republicans are largely unaffected by these biases.
Flight Instruction: The Challenge From Situated Cognition

A primary claim from the field of situated cognition is that learning is ineffective if removed from the context in which the target skills must be deployed. This claim is inconsistent with many of the mainstream approaches to education and cognition. I describe what it means to be situated, and I outline the central issues raised in the literature on situated cognition and situated learning. The ideas outlined here have several implications for the conduct of flight instruction. The most pervasive implications are that current and potential training practices in aviation can create a breach between instruction and practice and can lead to the development of inert skills. A recurrent theme for situated cognition is that there is a self-organizing character to learning. If adequately supported by the design of the workspace and the structure of the training program, this self-organizing character of learning will limit the possibility of a breach between instruction and practice and will ensure development.
AC 2007-71: FOSTERING CREATIVITY IN THE CAPSTONE ENGINEERING DESIGN EXPERIENCE

Can creativity be fostered during the capstone engineering design experience? What promotes the creativity of undergraduate seniors in mechanical engineering? The ideal venue to answer these questions is Youngstown State University’s mandatory capstone design course sequence of two semesters, the goal of which is to prepare senior engineering students to become project leaders in industry. The capstone sequence includes a combination of lectures, case studies, visiting speakers, and team projects. Oral presentations and written reports promote the required communication skills for project leadership. Expectantly, improving creativity skills in project leaders will impact future engineering designs. This capstone design class consisted of nine student design teams that synthesized, analyzed, manufactured, tested, and evaluated various projects for industry and other clients. Aspects of TRIZ, a Russian acronym for the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving, were incorporated into the existing capstone design instruction. The emphasis was on encouraging the students to think creatively using convergent methodology. Many real-world problems encompass multiple fields of engineering science involving open-ended problems and various possible solutions. The capstone design experience utilizes team projects to solve real-world problems through the application of TRIZ. Fostering creativity helps students to think in broader terms and enables them to become more innovative in finding solutions. This research has two objectives: 1) to study the teaching of creativity in the capstone design experience and 2) to assess the effectiveness of the creativity instruction with pre-tests and posttests using the Torrance 12,13 Tests of Creative Thinking (TTCT) for adults. The results of the first year of this three year, outcome-oriented, process study are presented and discussed in this work.
Flexible Spatial Multilevel Modeling of Neighborhood Satisfaction in Beijing

This article develops an innovative and flexible Bayesian spatial multilevel model to examine the sociospatial variations in perceived neighborhood satisfaction, using a large-scale household satisfaction survey in Beijing. In particular, we investigate the impact of a variety of housing tenure types on neighborhood satisfaction, controlling for household and individual sociodemographic attributes and geographical contextual effects. The proposed methodology offers a flexible framework for modeling spatially clustered survey data widely used in social science research by explicitly accounting for spatial dependence and heterogeneity effects. The results show that neighborhood satisfaction is influenced by individual, locational, and contextual factors. Homeowners, except those of resettlement housing, tend to be more satisfied with their neighborhood environment than renters. Moreover, the impacts of housing tenure types on satisfaction vary significantly in different neighborhood contexts and spatial locations.
A CFD and experimental study on cavitation in positive displacement pumps: Benefits and drawbacks of the ‘full’ cavitation model

ABSTRACT To fill the gap in the literature in terms of numerical studies of positive displacement (PD) pumps in a cavitating condition, a comprehensive and transient computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model of a PD pump, simulating the cavitation arising during the suction stroke, was created. The ‘full’ cavitation model was utilized to study its capability on PD pump cavitation. A set of three plunger speeds were simulated. Using the highest plunger speed, an assessment was made of the effect of 1.5, 3, 4.5 and 15 parts per million (ppm) of air mass fraction on pump performance and cavitation. An experimental test rig, replicating the CFD model, was designed and built in order to validate the numerical model and find its weaknesses. CFD modeled, in a consistent way, the fluid dynamics phenomena related to cavitation (the chamber pressure approaching the vapor pressure, the vaporization/condensation and the pressure spike occurrence at the end of the suction stroke marking the end of cavitation). On the other hand the CFD pressure trends calculated appeared stretched along the time axis with respect to the experimental data, and this highlighted issues in the multiphase and cavitation models: the vaporization/condensation rate calculated by CFD did not follow the real dynamics correctly because the non-condensable gas expansion was overestimated. This was seen when comparing the CFD/experimental results where the simulated pressure drop gradient at the beginning of the suction stroke and the pressure peaks as the valve closed exhibited a delay in their occurrence. The simulation results were sensitive to the dissolved air mass fraction as the delay depended on the amount of air dissolved in the water. Although the influence of the air mass fraction was considered consistent, the 3 ppm CFD case was the closest to the experimental results, whereas the analyst expected the 15 ppm case to be more accurate.
The Role of Mobility in Offsetting Inequality: A Nonparametric Exploration of the CPS

This paper explores how annual earnings mobility offsets annual earnings inequality, using matched CPS data. Mobility in the economy is estimated using nonparametric quantile regression, for which we adapt state-of-the-art smoothing techniques. Mobility is measured through the churning process (changes in earnings given initial earnings) in order to identify different mobility patterns for different earnings groups. For instance, upward mobility in high earners is far weaker than its converse, downward mobility for low earners. We assess the (positive or negative) contribution to offsetting of each pattern in mobility. Innovations in our approach also allow us to identify trends and minute changes in mobility, and to pinpoint which changes in mobility have offset the increases in inequality observed over the decades. Copyright 2002 by The International Association for Research in Income and Wealth.
Comparing diversity data collected using a protocol designed for volunteers with results from a professional alternative

In light of the continuing biodiversity crisis, the need for high‐resolution, broad‐scale ecological data is particularly acute. The expansive scale of volunteer data collection programmes provides an opportunity to address this challenge, however, protocols used to collect such data are typically less standardized than those used by professional scientists. Although previous studies have established that different protocols can lead to different results, it remains unclear how relevant these differences are to specific study goals, such as biodiversity assessment. This study uses both null model and Bayesian occupancy approaches to examine the capacity of a widely used volunteer survey protocol, the roving diver transect, to detect patterns of marine fish diversity. Richness estimates are compared with those obtained using the conventional belt transects favoured in many peer reviewed studies, examining the power of both protocols to detect statistically significant differences between survey sites and quantifying differences in detectability. Pairwise site comparisons of α‐diversity (i.e. within site diversity) were consistent between protocols, particularly for species totals. The roving diver transect protocol detected a substantially larger number of species than the belt transect protocol, due to notably higher detectability, even after controlling for confounding factors. Both protocols detected the same species pool, although the species richness among observations was higher for the belt protocol at certain sites. The significance of pairwise site β‐diversity (i.e. differentiation between sites) comparisons differed between the protocols and care should be exercised, when using either protocol, when studying variation in species composition. These results provide vital information for managers and researchers considering the use of volunteer data or protocols for the purpose of biodiversity assessment in aquatic systems, helping to quantify the value of thousands of existing survey records. The larger number of species detected by the volunteer protocol suggests this protocol may be advantageous with regards to the completion of taxonomic lists.
Multi-agent Economics and the Emergence of Critical Markets

The dual crises of the sub-prime mortgage crisis and the global financial crisis has prompted a call for explanations of non-equilibrium market dynamics. Recently a promising approach has been the use of agent based models (ABMs) to simulate aggregate market dynamics. A key aspect of these models is the endogenous emergence of critical transitions between equilibria, i.e. market collapses, caused by multiple equilibria and changing market parameters. Several research themes have developed microeconomic based models that include multiple equilibria: social decision theory (Brock and Durlauf), quantal response models (McKelvey and Palfrey), and strategic complementarities (Goldstein). A gap that needs to be filled in the literature is a unified analysis of the relationship between these models and how aggregate criticality emerges from the individual agent level. This article reviews the agent-based foundations of markets starting with the individual agent perspective of McFadden and the aggregate perspective of catastrophe theory emphasising connections between the different approaches. It is shown that changes in the uncertainty agents have in the value of their interactions with one another, even if these changes are one-sided, plays a central role in systemic market risks such as market instability and the twin crises effect. These interactions can endogenously cause crises that are an emergent phenomena of markets.
CHARACTERIZATION OF CHEEGER SETS FOR CONVEX SUBSETS OF THE PLANE

Given a planar convex domain Q, its Cheeger set CΩ is defined as the unique minimizer of |∂X|/|(X| among all nonempty open and simply connected subsets X of Ω. We prove an interesting geometric property of C Ω , characterize domains S2 which coincide with C Ω and provide a constructive algorithm for the determination of C Ω .
Cultural Roles and Coping Processes Among the Survivors of the Hanshin-Awaji (Kobe) Earthquake, January 17, 1995: An Ethnographic Approach

The purpose of this study is to explore the cultural influences on the long-term adaptation process, as well as the mental health status among the survivors of the Hanshin-Awaji (Kobe) Earthquake which occurred on the 17th of January, 1995. Based upon the inductive research perspective, an ethnographic approach with indepth semi-structured interviews was employed in this study. Two years after the natural disaster, face-to-face interviews by Japanese nationals were conducted with 20 survivors, who received serious damages such as family death, collapse of residence, and loss of property. The results found several unique cultural roles that might impact on the survivors’ coping strategies and adjustment processes. These cultural roles include: fatalism, the concept of Karma, rigid family boundary, selfsacrifice, endurance, and social comparison processes. These factors also played a significant role for the process of meaning attribution to the disaster and the survivors’ help-seeking patterns. This study also summarized the future research implications as well as clinical implications in order to develop more culturally-sensitive social work methodologies to support the long-term adjustment process of the survivors. ― ― 100 社 会 学 部 紀 要 第85号
The marginal propensity to earn, consume and save out of unearned income in South Africa

We use a rapid introduction of an unconditional cash grant (child support) in South Africa to estimate the marginal propensity to consume and earn out of a permanent change in unearned income. We find that the marginal propensity to earn is about to -0.25 for single-adult households, and somewhat lower for households with more than one adult. A very small fraction of the grant is saved. All in all, the marginal propensities estimated here are all similar to those reported in comparable papers using US data. However, they stand in contrast to some results on conditional cash transfers in other developing countries.
Professional nurses' attitudes and perceptions towards mentally ill in an associated psychiatric hospital

Research indicates that professional nurses with additional training in mental health nursing demonstrate more positive attitudes and perceptions towards mentally ill patients compared to those with less training. The aim of this study was to identify the factors which influence the attitudes and perceptions of professional nurses towards the mentally ill. A quantitative, exploratory, descriptive design was employed and cross-sectional survey was carried out among 60 professional nurses who were in permanent employment at a governmental associated psychiatric hospital in the Western Cape, South Africa. The findings indicated that nurses with post-registration diplomas in psychiatric nursing reported significantly higher role competency than those who only completed the basic four-year comprehensive nursing programme. The ethnicity of nurses played a role in the stereotyping of the mentally ill. No significant differences were evident between those professional nurses who had completed the advanced mental health course and those who had not. It is thus recommended that an introductory programme that addresses fallacies and negative attitudes towards the mentally ill should be made mandatory for all the students from the very early stages of their training.
Loughborough University Institutional Repository Forecasting returns : new European evidence

This paper builds on the recent debate on the in-sample and out-of-sample predictability of US aggregate returns using a wide range of predictors by providing new evidence for smaller and less market-oriented European countries. We find evidence that macro and technical predictors can (statistically) improve forecast accuracy and (economically) generate gains to investors; in contrast to the US results, predictability in our sample of European countries exists in recent data. We also find that simple forecast combinations consistently yield substantial benefits both in forecast accuracy and economic gain. For example, the magnitude of the forecasting gains for our European countries is often larger than those found for the US and other G7 countries. We provide initial evidence on the link between country characteristics and out-of-sample forecast performance. Our empirical results indicate market development is related to the forecast performance of macro variables. There is also some evidence that forecast performance is related to market size and liquidity. Deleted: suggest Deleted: not strongly Deleted: However market liquidity is related to the forecast performance of fundamental variables and market development is related to the forecast performance of macro variables.
Stimulating smallholder investment in sustainable land management: Overcoming market, policy and institutional challenges

The degradation of natural resources raises a variety of issues related to rural livelihoods, poverty, distribution of income and inter-generational equity. Land degradation also deprives smallholders and particularly the poor of a key resource and diminishes capacity to undertake critical investments, possibly leading to depletion of buffer stocks and increased vulnerability. These problems are most pronounced in areas with widespread poverty and fragile ecosystems such as arid, semi-arid and highland regions (Pender and Hazell, 2000; Shiferaw and Bantilan, 2004). In such areas sustainable intensification of agriculture through land conservation and management is a critical policy challenge.
The Features of a Survey on the Export Decisions of Swedish Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

This paper presents the features of a survey on Swedish firms' export decisions conducted in February 2015 focusing on a sample of 10,000 small and medium-sized enterprises. The survey was divided into two major sections. The first section targeted all firms and focused on firms' general situation (e.g. competition, type of co-operations, etc.). The second section focused on firms' export decisions and was only addressed to current, former and future exporters. Around 3,000 firms answered the questionnaire within a three-month period. We show that the survey does not suffer from any non-response biases by investigating whether respondents differ from non-respondents, whether early respondents differ from late ones, and whether the respondents' answers can be validated with external and more objective information. We are therefore confident that the survey may be used to represent the total population of small and medium-sized enterprises in the Swedish manufacturing sector.