Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Self-Fulfilling Expectations and Economic Growth: A Model of Technology Adoption and Industrialization

In this work, the authors construct a model that integrates both industrialization and endogenous growth. They feature the role of technology adoption in sustaining growth and achieving industrialization. The authors' economy contains multiple equilibria for an initial history. They found that only self-fulfilling expectations matter in selecting an equilibrium, whereas history plays no role. The authors' equilibrium is shown to involve a threshold property: when the economy starts above this threshold, the economy is able to sustain growth; otherwise, it is not. Both the rate of economic growth and the process of industrialization increase gradually and approach an upper hound. Copyright 1998 by Economics Department of the University of Pennsylvania and the Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association.
Women's career progression barriers and organisational justice: a study of Iranian society

Purpose – For a long time, women have not been judged by the same standards as men when trying to enter a trade or profession reserved traditionally for men or even after becoming part of it, while progressing. This paper explores the concept of career progression of female staff in an academic institute. It seeks to answer the following research questions: What barriers are faced by women in career progression? What are the differences in perceptions among female sub‐groups regarding these barriers? What policies and improvement programs can be provided to promote women's career progression? What is the relationship between women's career progression and justice? Design/methodology/approach – According to the research objectives, the best way to collect the required data was a questionnaire. In this research, three different questionnaires were used. Also, to rank women's career progression barriers, the TOPSIS technique was used.Findings – The authors found that there is a significant relationship betwee.
Ovarian Hormones in Premenopausal Women: Variation by Demographic, Reproductive and Menstrual Cycle Characteristics

Background. Ovarian function influences many areas of concern in women’s health, including breast cancer and other chronic diseases. However, ovarian function has been little studied in healthy, premenopausal women, partly because of cyclical variation. Methods. We measured biomarkers of ovarian function (daily urinary metabolites of estrogen and progesterone) among 411 women age 18–39 years, who were Kaiser Permanente members in Northern California in 1990–1991. We have summarized the hormone metabolite levels of about 1,500 cycles and examined their associations with demographic and menstrual cycle characteristics. Results. Cycles with a short follicular phase showed elevations of 10–13% in both baseline (days 1–5) and average follicular-phase estrogen metabolite levels, as well as some elevations in progesterone metabolites. Progesterone metabolite levels were directly related to the length of the luteal phase. Compared with whites, Hispanics had estrogen metabolite levels that were 7–13% higher in the follicular and luteal phases, whereas nonwhite, non-Hispanic women (primarily Asians) had slightly lower levels. Generally, women with a prior pregnancy or those with a later age at menarche had lower estrogen metabolite levels, whereas women with prior induced abortions had higher levels. Luteal-phase progesterone metabolite levels tended to be lower among women who were overweight, were less educated, were older at their first livebirth, or had an induced abortion. Conclusions. Some menstrual cycle characteristics provide a crude surrogate of the hormonal milieu, particularly luteal-phase length and progesterone levels. Hormone levels varied by reproductive characteristics, potentially explaining their relevance to breast cancer risk.
Product Innovation by a Durable-Good Monpoly

We consider a durable-good monopolist that periodically introduces new models, each new model representing an improvement upon its predecessor. We show that if the monopolist is able neither to exercise planned obsolescence (i.e., artificially shorten the lift of its products) nor to give discounts to repeat customers, the rate of product introductions is too slow -- in comparison with the social optimum. On the other hand, if the monopolist is able to artificially shorten the durability of its products or to offer price discounts to repeat customers, it can raise its profit and, at the same time, implement the social optimum.
Longitudinal fractures of the condyles of the third metacarpal and metatarsal bones in racehorses: 224 cases (1986-1995).

OBJECTIVE To determine type, distribution, and radiographic appearance of condylar fractures of the third metacarpal bone (MC-3) or third metatarsal bone (MT-3) in Thoroughbreds (TB), Standardbreds (SB), and Arabians, to assess long-term outcome of horses in which fractures were repaired surgically, and to identify variables associated with prognosis for return to racing. DESIGN Retrospective study. ANIMALS 224 horses with 233 fractures. PROCEDURE Medical records and radiographs obtained before and after treatment were reviewed. Racing performance before and after treatment was determined by reviewing race records. RESULTS TB were overrepresented and SB were underrepresented, compared with the hospital population. Thoroughbreds had significantly more lateral condylar fractures and significantly more forelimb fractures than did SB. Thoroughbreds were less likely to race after treatment if they had complete, rather than incomplete, lateral condylar fracture or had concurrent proximal sesamoid bone fracture. Convalescent time for TB with medial condylar fractures of MT-3 was significantly longer than that for TB with lateral condylar fractures of MT-3. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS Horses with condylar fractures of MC-3 and MT-3 that had minimal pathologic changes in the involved joint had a favorable prognosis for returning to racing after surgical treatment. Prognosis for horses with complete condylar fractures, particularly those with substantial pathologic changes in the involved joint, was worse.
Seeds, Grain Trade, and Power Off-land: Chinese Agribusiness in Global Agrarian Change

When the initial discussion of land grabs began in 2008-09, China was identified as a primary source of actors engaged in land purchases leading to dispossession (GRAIN, 2008; Zoomers, 2010). However, since these early reports, the centrality of China’s role in the global land grab has been questioned (Bräutigam & Zhang, 2013). This paper offers an alternative perspective to the existing scholarship, instead using Chinese corporate actors in the grain sector (with varying attachment to the Chinese state) as a lens for understanding China’s role in global agrarian change. I argue that to define China’s role in global agrarian change with too strong a focus on grabbed land overlooks the massive changes in Chinese and global agribusiness, which themselves have tremendous implications for global land politics. Despite calls to broaden the focus from land (Amanor, 2012; Hall, 2013; White et al, 2012), land grab debates have remained centered on particular investments and expulsions at the expense of examining the broader restructuring of global agribusiness. Situating China’s broader international agribusiness investments will help us to understand its broader orientation in global agrarian change, of which land grabs are only one part. As Lang (2010, 88) argues, focus must be on “food supply chains, beyond as well as including agriculture, because power and capital have moved off the land, controlling access to mostly urban markets. ” Off-land developments in the grain sector help to explain aspects of the land grab and understand emerging influence on agrarian change. With this in mind, cases from the seed and processing sectors will be examined to illustrate China’s position in relation to global agribusiness and land grabs. In order to situate the implications of China’s rise for global agrarian change, I will first examine China’s place in land grab explanations and the context of the global agrifood system. I will then briefly examine current Land Matrix data and China’s developing agribusiness networks in both grain (including corn, rice, soybean) seed and processing/trade industries. The implications of these changes for global land food, land, and environmental politics are explored, noting that off-land changes have important relationships to agrarian systems globally.
An in vitro comparison of pH changes in root dentine following canal dressing with calcium hydroxide points and a conventional calcium hydroxide paste.

AIM This study aimed to measure and compare pH changes at apical and cervical sites on the external root surface of extracted teeth dressed with calcium hydroxide in two different formulations. METHODOLOGY Root canals of 45 single-rooted extracted human teeth were accessed and shaped using a step-down technique with rotary instrumentation. Standard cavities were prepared on the external root surface at specific apical and cervical sites. The teeth were randomly allocated to three groups. Teeth in group A were dressed with calcium hydroxide points, those in group B were dressed with an aqueous calcium hydroxide paste and teeth in group C were left unfilled. Following storage in humid conditions, the pH of the dentine at apical and cervical sites was measured at baseline and then at 24 h, 72 h, 1 week, 10 days, 2 weeks and 3 weeks. RESULTS The pH of the root dentine at both apical and cervical sites was significantly greater (P < 0.001) in teeth dressed with aqueous calcium hydroxide paste compared with those dressed with calcium hydroxide points, when averaged out across all time periods. For all groups, there was a significant difference between the mean apical and cervical pH values for each tooth with lower values for the apical sites (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION The results of this study indicate that an aqueous calcium hydroxide paste was more effective than calcium hydroxide points at raising the pH on the external root surface of extracted teeth.
Export Liberalization and Household Welfare: The Case of Rice in Vietnam

Vietnam has rapidly become one of the three largest rice exporters in the world, in spite of a binding export quota. This article uses a multimarket spatial-equilibrium model to examine the effect of further liberalization on regional rice prices. Household data are then used to calculate the welfare impact of these price changes on different household groups. The results suggest that although rice export liberalization would raise food prices and exacerbate regional inequality, it would also increase average real income and reduce (slightly) the incidence and severity of poverty. We explore several explanations of these apparently paradoxical results. Copyright 1998, Oxford University Press.
Framework for teaching and learning informed shared decision making.

Patients should be involved in making decisions about their health care. The ethical imperative of autonomy is reflected in legal trends that require a high standard of disclosure for informed consent, amounting to a principle of informed choice.1–3 Outcomes of care and adherence to treatment regimens improve when patients are more involved.4,5 Consumerism is part of the social spirit, and governments exhort citizens to take more responsibility.
Innovation in the Public Procurement Process: A study of the creation of innovation-friendly public procurement

Public sector organizations are large buyers and, in previous research public sector, have been regarded to be able to affect the market through demand-driven innovation, especially if different public sector entities collaborate with each other. However, what this study shows is that it is not necessary to be big or to collaborate in order to make an impact on the market, as even smaller local authorities have the ability to affect. In fact, it could even be an advantage to be small. The important factor is to think strategically about purchasing and to have knowledge about the market.
Toxigenic Helicobacter pylori Infection Precedes Gastric Hypochlorhydria in Cancer Relatives, and H. pylori Virulence Evolves in These Families

Purpose:Helicobacter pylori infection by virulent strains is associated with gastric adenocarcinoma. We aimed to determine whether infection with virulent H. pylori preceeded precancerous gastric hypochlorhydria and atrophy in gastric cancer relatives and quantify the extent of virulence factor evolution. Experimental Design:H. pylori strains from 51 Scottish gastric cancer relatives were characterized by genetic fingerprinting and typing the vacuolating cytotoxin gene (vacA), the cytotoxin-associated gene (cagA), and housekeeping genes. We phenotyped strains by coculture with gastric epithelial cells and assessing vacuolation (microscopy), CagA tyrosine phosphorylation (immunoblot), and interleukin-8 secretion (ELISA). Results: Toxigenic (vacA type s1/m1) H. pylori was associated with precancerous gastric hypochlorhydria (P < 0.01). Adult family members with this type of H. pylori had the same strain as currently noncohabiting adult family members in 68% cases, implying acquisition during childhood from each other or a common source. We analyzed different isolates of the same strain within families and showed that H. pylori commonly microevolved to change virulence: this occurred in 22% individuals and a striking 44% cases where the strain was shared within families. Microevolution in vacA occurred by extragenomic recombination and in cagA by this or duplication/deletion. Microevolution led to phenotypic changes in virulence. Passage of microevolved strains could be tracked within families. Conclusions: Toxigenic H. pylori infection precedes and so likely causes gastric hypochlorhydria, suggesting that virulent H. pylori increases cancer risk by causing this condition. Microevolution of virulence genes is common within families of gastric cancer patients and changes H. pylori virulence.
Association analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms in miR-146a and miR-196a2 on the prevalence of cancer in elderly Japanese: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) affecting microRNA (miR) sequences may influence carcinogenesis. Our current study primarily aimed to confirm previously conducted association studies between rs2910164 found on miR-146a, and rs11614913 located on miR-196a2 polymorphisms and cancer phenotypes in the Japanese elderly population. rs2910164 (G/C) and rs11614913 (T/C) polymorphisms were determined by genotyping on the samples collected from 1,351 consecutive autopsy cases registered in the Japanese SNPs for geriatric research (JG-SNP) data base. Cancer samples were systematically reviewed, pathologically verified and assessed with respect to miR-146a and miR-196a2 genotypic variation. The current study covered 726 males and 625 females with a mean age of 80.3±8.9 years. The study included 524 subjects without cancer and 827 subjects with at least one type of cancer, such as gastric (n=160), lung (n=148), colorectal (n=116) or others. Males with cancers (n=467) were more numerous than females (n=360). Both rs11614913 (CT: TT adjusted odds ratio (OR) 95% confidence interval (95%CI)=0.98 (0.75-1.28), p=0.873, CC: TT adjusted OR (95%CI)=1.06 (0.76-1.47), p=0.737, CT+CC: TT, adjusted OR (95%CI)=0.99 (0.77-1.29), p=0.990), and rs2910164 (CG: CC adjusted OR (95%CI)=1.12 (0.87-1.44), p=0.383, GG: CC adjusted OR (95%CI)=1.03 (0.71-1.48), p=0.887, CG+GG: CC adjusted OR (95%CI)=1.10 (0.87-1.39), p=0.446) polymorphisms did not show significant association with overall cancer in all subjects. However, "CC" genotype in rs11614913 polymorphism was significantly associated with increased gastric cancer (n=160) in all subjects (CC: CT+TT, adjusted OR (95%CI)=1.50 (1.02-2.22), p=0.040). We found that rs11614913 and rs2910164 do not pose general cancer risk, but rs11614913 may influence gastric cancer in Japanese elderly population. Confirmation of our study results requires further investigations with larger subject populations.
Evidence for state and time nonseparable preferences: the case of Finland

Preferential modifications to the standard state and time separable power utility are studied for the Finnish equity and bond returns. The reported ambivalence of the high equity premium and low Sharpe ratio makes the Finnish market an important case study. The estimations of the Epstein and Zin (1991) recursive utility and the Campbell and Cochrane (1999) habit formation preferences show that Finnish risk premia are time-varying across samples. Moreover, the results demonstrate that stronger time preferences improve the explanation of asset returns for the modified preferences more so than assuming tighter time preference and higher risk aversion (RA). We conclude that the Campbell–Cochrane-based pricing kernel outperforms the competing models in generating plausible model parameters and suppressing specification errors. The study supports the US evidence relative to the conclusions drawn from the European economies in comparable studies.
Liquidity Risk and Momentum Spilloverfrom Stocks to Bonds

This article investigates the role of liquidity risk in the momentum spillover from stocks to bonds by using a large data sample. The evidence strongly suggests that liquidity risk is an important determinant of momentum spillover returns. This finding is robust to controls for effects of trading liquidity, credit risk, behavioral factors, and bond characteristics. On average, liquidity risk explains about 40% of momentum spillover profits for investment-grade bonds and 55% for speculative-grade bonds over the 16-year sample period. A significant portion of momentum spillover returns can be viewed as compensation for investors’ exposure to liquidity risk when engaging in trading this anomaly.
A review of the GOLD guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of death in the USA, and represents a major health, social and economic burden. COPD is underdiagnosed and often misdiagnosed, which likely contributes to the continuing increases in the prevalence, morbidity and mortality associated with this disease. This is unfortunate because whereas COPD cannot be cured, it can be treated effectively, particularly during the earlier stages of the disease. Evidence‐based guidelines, developed to assist in the prevention, diagnosis and management of COPD, are available to healthcare professionals interested in learning more about COPD. These guidelines are updated and revised on a regular basis to reflect recent advances in our understanding of the pathophysiology of and treatments available for COPD. Nevertheless, primary‐care physicians have reported a lack of awareness of the fundamental concepts underpinning the optimal treatment and management of COPD presented in the guidelines. Thus, the objective of this article is to summarise key physiologic, diagnostic and management concepts provided in the most recent update of the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) guidelines, which were published in November 2006.
Backbenchers learn to fight back: European integration and parliamentary government

Supporters of parliaments are bound to feel dejected by academic interpretations of the impact of European integration on parliamentary government in the domestic arena in Europe. According to the so-called 'standard version' of the 'democratic deficit', the development of the European Union (EU) has led to an erosion of parliamentary control over executive office-holders. At the national level, so the argument goes, legislatures have lost both constitutionally and politically. Constitutionally, a wide array of policy competencies has shifted to the European level, and the allocation and delegation of executive, legislative and judicial powers at that European level are decided by a collective agreement between the national governments. Moreover, these agreements are usually presented as a 'take-it-or-leave-it' package to national parliaments, where the only options for domestic legislatures are to accept the constitutional bargains without amendment or to reject the packages and plunge the EU into constitutional crisis. Constitutional bargains between member state governments have only twice been rejected by national parliaments. In 1954, the French National Assembly failed to ratify the plan for a European Defence Community, and in January 1986 the Danish Folketinget rejected the Single European Act (SEA), only for the will of the parliamentary majority to be overturned by a consultative referendum held in February that year.
Does the Visual Display of Probability Change Hypothetical Stock Selection

Prospect theory assumes people are more averse to losses than to gains and indicates the way a question is framed makes a difference in the outcome. However, almost no research has been conducted on the framing effects of prospect theory survey questions, and very little qualitative data have been collected with regard to why people make the decisions they do. This research utilizes primary data collected from 200 residents within five census tracts in southwest Lubbock, Texas. Answers to hypothetical investment scenarios were analyzed to determine if responses change based on how a question is framed. Investment preferences change to the stock with the greatest probability of a gain when probability information is displayed visually. Most investors in this sample indicated the potential gain associated with the investment scenarios was their primary decision making rationale. Investors may be willing to take more financial risks when probability information is displayed visually and when the potential losses are relatively small.
At First Glance, Transparency Enhances Assimilation

We investigated the role of transparency, perceptual grouping, and presentation time on perceived lightness. Both transparency and perceptual grouping have been found to result in assimilation effects, but only for ambiguous stimulus displays and with specific attentional instructions. By varying the presentation times of displays with two partly overlapping transparent E-shaped objects, we measured assimilation in unambiguous stimulus displays and without specific attentional instructions. The task was to judge which of two simultaneously presented E-shaped objects was darker. With unrestrained presentation times, if a transparency interpretation was possible, assimilation was not found. Inhibiting a transparency interpretation by occluding the local junctions between the two E-shaped objects, did lead to assimilation. With short presentation times, if a transparency interpretation was possible, assimilation was now also found. Thus, we conclude that, although transparency appears to enhance assimilation, with unambiguous stimulus displays and without specific attentional instructions, perceptual grouping is more important for assimilation to occur.
The Consequences of Implementing a Child Care Voucher: Evidence from Australia, the Netherlands and USA

In the Netherlands, the USA and Australia public funding has promoted parental choice by introducing a voucher for child care, where parents are free to choose the provider. The policy experiments in these three countries and the outcomes provide useful information about the consequences of introducing a voucher in the child care market. We show the voucher system can be effective in increasing demand, but there can be uneven supply responses. The structure of the voucher income scheme and quality controls affect the nature of the supply response. We argue that voucher schemes must take into account the complex nature of the child care market and the substitutability between free public care, private market care and unpaid household care. To secure quality and access, government must also play a coordinating role that vouchers alone can not supply.