Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Determinants of Regular and Occasional Consumers' Intentions to Buy Organic Food

This study analyzes the impact of ethical motivations, food safety and health-related concerns on purchasing intentions of habitual and less frequent consumers of organic food. A sample of 291 subjects was surveyed through a paper-and-pencil questionnaire and classified either as “regular” or “occasional” purchasers of organic food according to their buying frequency. Results show different determinants of intention for the two groups of subjects: ethical motivations affect the purchase intentions of regular consumers, whereas food safety concerns influence the purchase intentions of occasional consumers. Implications are discussed. The market for organic food continues to expand worldwide at an average rate of 20% annually. Currently, over thirty-seven million hectares of land worldwide are managed organically by roughly two million farmers. In Europe, more than 250,000 farms manage around ten million hectares of organic land, with the highest share of organic agricultural land found in Spain, Italy and Germany (Willer and Kilcher 2011). In the last decades, this increasing popularity has fueled the growth of a multidisciplinary stream of research that has investigated the psychological and anthropological drivers of organic food consumption. Several studies have concluded that ethical principles, such as ecological sustainability and care for animal welfare—which constitute a sort of “inspirational framework” for organic farming—drive consumers’ choices of organic food. Other studies posit that organic food purchase behavior is motivated by the perceived healthiness of such products (Guido 2009; Guido et al.
Optimal monetary policy rules : theory and estimation for OECD countries

This dissertation focuses on monetary policy rules in the OECD countries at both theoretical and empirical levels. It is divided into seven chapters. Chapter 1 presents some recent literature on monetary policy rules and introduces the goal and organization of this dissertation. Chapter 2 explores some empirical evidence of IS and Phillips curves, because these two equations have become baseline framework of monetary policy. Both backward- and forward-looking behaviors are considered. A time-varying Phillips curve is also estimated. Chapter 3 discusses two important monetary policy rules: the money supply rule and the interest rate rule. Advantages and disadvantages of these two rules are explored. Chapter 4 explores time-varying monetary policy rules with Chow break-point test and Kalman filter. The estimation results indicate that there are some structural changes in the monetary policy in the countries studied. The author also simulates the Euro-area economy under the assumption that the Euro-area had followed the time-varying US monetary policy in the 1990s and concludes that the monetary policy seems to be too tight in the Euro-area in the 1990s. Chapter 5 explores monetary policy rules under uncertainty. The author first explores empirical evidence of model uncertainty with a state-space model with Markov-switching. Based on this evidence, the author then explores monetary policy under uncertainty with two approaches: the adaptive learning and the robust control. The results indicate that uncertainty does not necessarily require caution and that state variables do not necessarily converge even in a deterministic model with the adaptive learning. Chapter 6 then explores monetary policy with financial markets. The author endogenizes the probability for the asset price bubble to increase or decrease in the next period and derives a nonlinear policy rule. The author also simulates the economy with financial asset in the presence of the zero-interest-rate bound and concludes that monetary policy should not ignore financial markets. Chapter 7 presents some concluding remarks of the dissertation.
Can ocular torsion be measured using the slitlamp biomicroscope?

PURPOSE To evaluate and compare a stereo-biomicroscopic technique of ocular torsion measurement with fundus photographic technique. METHODS This prospective masked observational study included 72 eyes of 36 consecutive subjects with normal ocular motility. The disc-foveal angle was measured by two masked investigators using a slitlamp stereo-biomicroscopic and fundus photographic technique. RESULTS The mean age was 13.7 years (6 - 44 years), and 15 (41.6%) were males. The average torsion using the slitlamp technique was 5.5 +/- 3.3 degrees and 6.1 +/- 4.3 degrees with fundus photographic technique. Clinical agreement between the two techniques for 5 degree and 6 degree torsion was 81% and 90% respectively. The average difference between the two techniques was 3.0 +/- 2.6 degrees . The mean inter-ocular difference was 3.3 +/- 2.7 degrees (SD, 2.77) and 5.5 +/- 4.6 degrees using the slitlamp and fundus photographic technique respectively. The Pearson correlation coefficient (r2) was 0.5. CONCLUSION The fundus photographic technique remains the gold standard test for the measurement of ocular torsion. The slitlamp biomicroscopic method can be useful where a fundus camera is unavailable. Further studies are required to test the repeatability of these tests.
Opportunistic colorectal cancer screening using colonoscopy. Comparative results between two historical cohorts in Bucharest, Romania.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Even though Romania has one of the highest incidence and mortality in colorectal cancer (CRC) in Europe, there is currently no organized screening program. We aimed to assess the results of our opportunistic CRC screening using colonoscopy. METHODS A single center retrospective study to include all opportunistic screening colonoscopies performed in two 18 month periods (2007-2008 and 2012-2013) was designed. All asymptomatic individuals without a personal or family history of adenoma or CRC and with complete colonoscopy performed in these two time periods were included. RESULTS We included 1,807 individuals, 882 in the first period, 925 in the second period. There were 389 individuals aged below 50, 1,351 between 50 and 75 and 67 older than 75 years. There were 956 women (52.9%), with a mean age of 58.5 (median 59, range 23-97). The detection rates were 12.6% for adenomas (6.1% for advanced adenoma) and 3.4% for adenocarcinoma. Adenoma incidence (4.9% in subjects under 50, 14.7% in those aged 50 to 75, and 16.4% in those older than 75, p<0.0001) and size (6.3mm in subjects younger than 50, 9.2mm in those 50 to 75 and 10.8mm in those older than 75, p=0.015) significantly increased with age. Adenoma incidence increased in the second period (14.8% vs. 10.3%, p=0.005), while adenoma size decreased in the second period (8.4mm vs. 10mm, p=0.006). There were no procedure related complications. CONCLUSIONS The neoplasia detection rate was 16% (12.6% adenoma, 3.4% adenocarcinoma). Adenoma incidence and size increased with age in both cohorts. In the second screening period significantly more and smaller adenomas were detected.
[Application of PA-MSHA vaccine adjuvant therapy and TAC scheme for treatment of breast carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Pseudomonas aeruginosa MSHA (PA-MSHA) vaccine combined with TAC scheme in the treatment of breast carcinoma. METHODS A non-blinded, randomized, controlled trial was conducted between January 2008 and June 2008 among 60 patients with breast carcinoma. The patients were randomized into control group (30 cases) with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and PA-MSHA group (30 cases) with PA-MSHA treatment in addition to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The therapeutic effect, adverse effects, surgical approaches, postoperative complications and cost-effectiveness in both groups were analyzed before and after the treatment. RESULTS The response rate in PA-MSHA group were significantly higher than that in the control group at 2, 3, and 4 weeks after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (P<0.05). The Karnofsky scores underwent no significant changes in PA-MSHA group after the chemotherapy, but significantly reduced in the control group (P<0.05). The incidence and severity of the toxic reactions and the rates of subcutaneous fluid, skin flap necrosis and infection in PA-MSHA group were significantly lower than those in the control group. The rate of operation following two neoadjuvant chemotherapy sessions was significantly higher in PA-MSHA group than in the control group. The cost of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for a 1% increment of the response rate was also significantly lower in PA-MSHA than in the control group. CONCLUSION PA-MSHA vaccine combined with TAC scheme can significantly enhance the therapeutic effect of breast carcinoma, lowers the rate of postoperative complications, and improve the efficacy of chemotherapy.
Enrolling in global networks and contingencies for China's solar PV industry

This study tests the contention in the Asian business systems literature that interacting with global managers and increasing experience via international education are ways by which Asian firms enroll in global networks, thus potentially leading to changes in their broader network contingencies. Chinese solar PV firms are examined given the competitiveness of Chinese products in the global marketplace and the importance being placed on solar energy domestically as China confronts increasing pressure to protect its environment and control pollution while meeting mounting energy needs. Results indicate an emphasis on extra-firm institutional network relationships both within and outside of China for all firms, characteristic of a bourgeoning energy sector. A unique result is that buyer–supplier networks are spatially influenced by extra-local managerial education. Enrolling in wider networks also matters as firms with internationally educated managers have more non-mainland Chinese managers, which mitigates traditional management practices at home.
Defective formation of the inner limiting membrane in laminin beta2- and gamma3-null mice produces retinal dysplasia.

PURPOSE Retinal basement membranes (BMs) serve as attachment sites for retinal pigment epithelial cells on Bruch's membrane and Müller cells (MCs) on the inner limiting membrane (ILM), providing polarity cues to adherent cells. The beta2 and gamma3 chains of laminin are key components of retinal BMs throughout development, suggesting that they play key roles in retinal histogenesis. This study was conducted to analyze how the absence of both beta2- and gamma3-containing laminins affects retinal development. Methods. The function of the beta2- and gamma3-containing laminins was tested by producing a compound deletion of both the beta2 and the gamma3 laminin genes in the mouse and assaying the effect on postnatal retinal development by using anatomic and electrophysiological techniques. Results. Despite the widespread expression of beta2 and gamma3 laminin chains in wild-type (WT) retinal BMs, the development of only one, the ILM, was disrupted. The postnatal consequence of the ILM disruption was an alteration of MC attachment and a resultant disruption in MC apical-basal polarity, which culminated in retinal dysplasia. Of importance, although their density was altered, retinal cell fates were unaffected. The laminin mutants have a markedly decreased visual function, resulting in part from photoreceptor dysgenesis. Conclusions. These data suggest that beta2 and gamma3 laminin isoforms are critical for the formation and stability of the ILM. These data also suggest that attachment of the MC to the ILM provides important polarity cues to the MC and for postnatal retinal histogenesis.
Health Care Costs, Taxes, and the Retirement Decision: Conceptual Issues and Illustrative Simulations

Soaring health costs are squeezing government and household budgets. Rising public costs are also likely to boost future tax burdens. This study considers how rising tax burdens and out-of-pocket health care costs will affect the timing of retirement. Conceptually, the impact of taxes depends on which particular taxes are raised. How well people anticipate future increases in taxes and health care costs, and how they react at younger ages, will crucially affect retirement impacts. If households are farseeing rational planners, higher health costs and tax burdens will likely induce more saving and harder work while young, muting effects on retirement decisions. To gauge the potential importance of rising taxes and health care costs to the retirement decision, the study compares projected retirement income for prototypical workers under two sets of assumptions about future tax and health care burdens. The results show that a moderate-income couple would have to work an additional 2.5 years under the scenario with high health care costs and tax burdens to receive as much income in the first year of retirement — net of taxes and out-of-pocket health spending — as they would receive under the low-cost scenario. The low-income couple would have to delay retirement under the high cost scenario by about 2.4 years to offset income lost from higher taxes and health costs, and the high-income couple would have to work an additional 2.8 years.
Incharge Financial Distress/Financial Well-Being Scale: Development, Administration, and Score Interpretation

This article describes development of the InCharge Financial Distress/Financial Well-Being Scale, designed to measure a latent construct representing responses to one’s financial state on a continuum ranging from overwhelming financial distress/lowest level of financial well-being to no financial distress/highest level of financial well-being. It describes a formative Delphi study, validity criteria and testing, factor analysis, Cronbach’s alpha coefficients, administration instructions, norming of the data and score interpretation, and implications for use.
Gender equality bargaining in France and the UK: An uphill struggle?

Collective bargaining is widely advocated as one means of addressing continued gender pay disparities. However, since collective bargaining has been weakened as a mode of employment regulation, its efficacy relative to statutory regulation is a matter of debate. This article examines the relationship between collective bargaining and the law and the impact of bargaining content and structures on gender equality outcomes, by focusing on France and the United Kingdom, two European Union (EU) countries which have markedly different collective bargaining traditions and structures, contrasting legal traditions and different gender regimes. The comparison highlights the respective contributions of supportive legislation, bargaining structures and bargaining equity as drivers of change, emphasizing the particular importance of supportive legislation in the two countries, as well as the particular vulnerability of UK gains (in the context of recessionary conditions, a voluntaristic approach and a weakened and localized bargaining framework) and the weakness of bargaining in relation in France, in the context of supportive legislation but inadequate legal enforcement.
A functional TNFRSF5 polymorphism and risk of non‐Hodgkin lymphoma, a pooled analysis

Interaction between CD40 and its ligand, CD154, has a key function in immune regulation. Recent experimental data support a role of deregulated CD40 signalling in lymphomagenesis. Data from earlier studies that are part of this pooling study implicate a functional polymorphism (−1C>T, rs1883832) in the TNFRSF5 gene encoding CD40 in the etiology of follicular lymphoma. Here, the association of this variant with non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) risk was replicated in a European multicenter study of 855 NHL cases and 1,206 controls. In the combined analysis of 2,617 cases and 3,605 controls, carrying the TT genotype was associated with an increased risk for all NHL (OR = 1.4; p for linear trend = 0.00009), diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (OR = 1.6; p for linear trend = 0.002) and follicular lymphoma (OR = 1.6; p for linear trend = 0.001). These data suggest a possible role of this functional polymorphism in lymphomas originating within the germinal center.
Modelling the US real GNP with fractionally integrated techniques

The US real GNP is analysed by means of fractionally integrated techniques. LM tests proposed by Robinson for testing unit roots and other fractionally integrated hypotheses are applied to the quarterly GNP series and to its log-transformation. The maximum likelihood estimation procedure of Sowell for estimating ARFIMA models is implemented. The results indicate that the order of integration of the US real output is much higher than one, and thus, the standard approach of taking first differences may still produce series with long memory behaviour.
Optimal Policy for Product R&D with Endogenous Quality Ordering: Asymmetric Duopoly

We examine the optimal R&D subsidy/tax policy under a vertically differentiated duopoly. In a significant departure from the existing work, we consider the case of asymmetric costs of product R&D where there is a small technology gap between firms. In our analysis, the endogeneity of quality ordering is explicitly taken into account. We show that the optimal policy is described by a firm-specific subsidy schedule that is contingent on firms' quality choices. The subsidy schedule not only corrects the distortion in product quality but also selects the socially preferred equilibrium. Both Bertrand and Cournot cases are analyzed.
Tunable Waveform Generators Using Single Dual-Current Output OTAS

Two novel electronic-tunable waveform generators using a single dual-current output operational transconductance amplifier (DO-OTA) with a few passive components are proposed in this paper. The first one can produce symmetrical square and triangular waveforms simultaneously. Based on the first topology, an additional N-MOS is adopted as a switching element to construct the second proposed circuit, which can generate a pulse waveform by a negative triggering signal. The repetitive frequency and pulse width of the presented circuits are adjustable by external passive components. Moreover, the output levels of the proposed circuits can be controlled by the DO-OTA's bias currents. These waveform generators feature more compact configurations compared to the existing designs. Experimental results are close to the theoretical analyses.
Analisis Penentu Perbezaan Upah Mengikut Kemahiran Di Malaysia

Di Malaysia, permintaan terhadap kemahiran buruh telah mengalami perubahan kesan daripada perubahan struktur ekonomi. Kesan selanjutnya, berlaku perubahan dalam nisbah upah antara kemahiran yang memihak kepada buruh yang lebih mahir. Terdapat banyak faktor yang menentukan tingkat upah pekerja seperti modal manusia khususnya pencapaian pendidikan, pengalaman dan latihan, faktor demografi dan sektor pekerjaan. Walau bagaimanapun, setelah mengambil kira semua perbezaan dalam pemboleh ubah yang berkaitan dengan produktiviti ini, perbezaan upah mengikut jenis pekerjaan atau kemahiran masih berlaku yang boleh disebabkan oleh perlakuan diskriminasi majikan. Kertas ini bertujuan mengenal pasti penentu perbezaan upah mengikut kemahiran di Malaysia. Analisis berdasarkan kepada data 2,216 ketua isi rumah yang dikutip pada tahun 2007/2008, hasil kajian ini menunjukkan pemboleh ubah modal manusia memainkan peranan utama dalam menentukan tingkat dan perbezaan upah mengikut kemahiran. Selanjutnya, hasil kajian juga menunjukkan 64.25 peratus daripada perbezaan upah pekerja mahir dengan pekerja separuh mahir dapat diterangkan oleh pemboleh ubah dalam model upah dan 35.75 peratus tidak dapat diterangkan. Bahagian yang tidak dapat diterangkan ini termasuklah amalan diskriminasi oleh majikan terhadap pekerja mereka. Bagi perbezaan upah antara pekerja mahir dengan tidak mahir pula, sebanyak 77.20 peratus dapat diterangkan dan 22.80 peratus tidak dapat diterangkan. Kata kunci: Perbezaan upah; diskriminasi; pekerja mahir; pekerja separa mahir; pekerja tidak mahir In Malaysia, demand for skills has been changing dramatically as a result of economic transformation. This subsequently resulted in changes in wage ratio between skills, which is more favourable towards skilled workers. However, it has been argued that wage rate does not merely depend on the demand for labour, but there are other factors that can influence workers’ wages. These include human capital variables like educational attainment, experience and training; demographic factors and job sectors. Even after taking into account the variations in these productivity-related variables, occupational wage differentials may still prevail as a result of employers' discriminatory practice. This paper attempts to measure wage differentials determinants by skills in Malaysia. The analysis is based on 2,216 heads of households data collected in 2007/2008. The result revealed that human capital variables play a major role in determining the level of wage and its differentials between skills. Moreover, the result demonstrates that 64.25 percent of skilled-semi skilled wage differentials are explained by the incorporated variables in the wage model, whereas 35.75 percent are unexplained. This unexplained portion includes the employers’ discriminatory practice against their workers. For the skilled-unskilled wage differentials 77.2 percent are explained and 22.8 percent are unexplained. Key words: Wage differentials; discrimination; skilled workers; semi-skilled workers; unskilled workers
The Media and Political Process

Introduction Politics: Image versus Substance What is Politics? Politics: Hype and Substance The Media as a Power Resource The Game of Political Impression Management What is Media-ized Politics? Western Political Development: An Evolving Symbiosis of Media and Politics The Origins of Liberal Democracy The Early Anglo Model The Massification of Liberal Democracy Managing Democracy: Taming Western Publics The Media's Evolving Role in Liberal Governance Liberal Democracy and the Public Sphere Political Media Practice: An Outline From Fourth Estate to Sensationalized Watchdogism News as Entertaining Spectacle Constructing the News Window 1: Journalistic Practices Constructing the News Window 2: Choosing Sources Constructing the News Window 3: Newsroom Struggles Institutionalizing the Media-Politician Relationship Journalists: Watchdogs or Symbiotic Partners? Journalistic 'Power' Spin-Doctoring: The Art of Political Public Relations The Rise of PR Professionals as Political Players Changes to the Political Process The Innovators of PR-ized Politics The Normalization of PR-ized Politics What is Political PR? The Tools of Political PR Selling Politicians and Creating Celebrity Constructing Celebrity The Game: Playing to a Televisual Audience Genres of Political Celebrity Selling Political Policies and Beliefs Worldviews Making Worldviews Popularizing Worldviews The Function of Worldviews Selling War/Selling Peace The Era of Mass Consent for Mass Killing Vietnam: A Televised Non-censored War The PR-ization of Warfare Nintendo Warfare The Iraq War Selling Peace The Media and Terrorism Terrorism as Communication Terrorist Audiences Fighting Terrorism Terrorism and the Media The Media and Foreign Relations The CNN Effect Foreign Policy Making: The Players The Media and Foreign Relations The Media-ized Dimension of Foreign Relations Conclusion: Searching for Answers (and Questions) What is Media-ization The Routines and Practices of Media-ized Politics Creating Hype Politics When Things Go Wrong for Spin-doctors Hype-Politics: A System in Trouble or a System Re-Inventing Itself? Is Media-ization Bad?