Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Family labor supply, migration, and marriage: theory and econometric analysis

OF THE DISSERTATION Family Labor Supply, Migration, and Marriage: Theory and Econometric Analysis by Elena Stolpovsky Dissertation Director: Mark Killingsworth In this dissertation I examine family decision using theoretical and empirical analysis. I am interested in the different roles that the main decision makers in the family play in the common decision. The first chapter focuses on the family decision about the labor supply of the wife, the second, on family residential mobility and migration, and the second, on the determinants of marriage. The first chapter analyzes the labor supply of married and cohabiting women using the traditional (unitary) and the more recent collective models of household decision making. The unitary model assumes household-level utility function and budget constraint, while the collective model makes a less restrictive assumption that the household decisions are Pareto-optimal. I describe the structural model of collective household labor supply and consumption, based on the paper by Donni and Moreau (The Journal of Human Resources, 2007). This model assumes complete rigidity of the labor supply of married and cohabiting men: men’s hours of work are fixed, and depend not on their individual choices but on the presence of exogenous constraints in the labor market. The collective labor supply model incorporates the household consumption of a selected good, called the conditioning good, which is a measure of the distribution of the decision-making power
Enhancing Competitiveness Through Guests’ Experiences: A Typology of Customer Experiences in Upscale Hotels

ABSTRACT This study sought to develop a marketing model that can enhance the competitiveness of four- and five-star hotels in Kenya. The main factors generating guests’ expectations and delight were investigated after focusing on managers’ and customers’ opinions since these perspectives have generally been underexplored. The voices and viewpoints of these stakeholders were therefore incorporated and analyzed in determining an appropriate marketing model, which was based on the experiences of guests in hotels after examining what they considered important.
A Meta-Analysis of Marketing Communication Carryover Effects

To optimally set marketing communication (“marcom”) budgets, reliable estimates of short-term elasticities and carryover effects are required. Empirical generalizations from meta-analyses of prior field studies can help guide these decisions. However, the last such meta-analysis of marcom carryover effects was performed on Koyck model–based estimates collected before 1984 and was confined to mass media advertising. The authors update and extend extant empirical generalizations via two meta-analyses of carryover estimates compiled from studies encompassing personal selling, targeted advertising, and mass media advertising, using diverse model forms, until 2015. The first is focused on and utilizes 918 estimates of the carryover proportion of the total effect, termed long-term share of the total effect, and the second focuses on 863 derivable estimates of 90% implied duration intervals. The authors find the mean long-term shares of the total effect for personal selling (.687) and targeted advertising (.650) are distinctly larger than that for mass media advertising (.523) and the corresponding median 90% implied duration intervals are 12.6, 2, and 3.4 months, respectively. The authors conclude by discussing differences by model type and the implications for marcom budget-setting and analyses.
Interactions between arterial pressure and sodium excretion

Recent developments have led to renewed interest in the mechanisms that mediate the changes in sodium excretion in response to changes in arterial pressure, a phenomenon termed pressure-natriuresis. Pressure-natriuresis occurs in the absence of changes in filtered load and thus, the changes in sodium excretion are caused by changes in net tubular sodium reabsorption. Both proximal and distal nephron segments have been implicated as the sites of altered reabsorption. The specific mechanism responsible for pressure-natriuresis remains unresolved. One proposal suggests that changes in renal interstitial fluid pressure which may be due, in part, to a less efficient autoregulation of the renal medullary circulation than of the cortex, alter sodium reabsorption. Alternatively, recent studies indicate that increases in arterial pressure increase endothelial nitric oxide formation which inhibits sodium reabsorption via direct effects on the tubules as well as hemodynamically mediated effects.
Smoking in movies and smoking initiation in adolescents: systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Preventing young people from initiating smoking is a vital public health objective. There is strong evidence that exposure to smoking imagery in movies is associated with an increased risk of smoking uptake. However, the estimate of the magnitude of effect is not clear, as previous reviews have synthesized estimates of cross-sectional and longitudinal associations. Therefore, we have performed a systematic review to quantify cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between exposure to smoking in movies and initiating smoking in adolescents. METHODS Four electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO and International Bibliography of the Social Sciences, IBSS) and grey literature were searched from inception to May 2015 for comparative epidemiological studies (cross-sectional and cohort studies) that reported the relation between exposure to smoking in movies and smoking initiation in adolescence (10-19 years). Reference lists of studies and previous reviews were also screened. Two authors screened papers and extracted data independently. RESULTS Seventeen studies met our inclusion criteria. Random-effects meta-analysis of nine cross-sectional studies demonstrated higher exposure (typically highest versus lowest quantile) to smoking in movies was associated significantly with a doubling in risk of ever trying smoking [relative risk (RR) = 1.93, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.66-2.25]. In eight longitudinal studies (all deemed high quality), higher exposure to smoking in movies was associated significantly with a 46% increased risk of initiating smoking (RR = 1.46; 95% CI = 1.23-1.73). These pooled estimates were significantly different from each other (P = 0.02). Moderate levels of heterogeneity were seen in the meta-analyses. CONCLUSIONS The cross-sectional association between young people reporting having seen smoking imagery in films and smoking status is greater than the prospective association. Both associations are substantial, but it is not clear whether or not they are causal.
The Antimicrobial Agent Fusidic Acid Inhibits Organic Anion Transporting Polypeptide–Mediated Hepatic Clearance and May Potentiate Statin-Induced Myopathy

Chronic treatment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains with the bacteriostatic agent fusidic acid (FA) is frequently associated with myopathy including rhabdomyolysis upon coadministration with statins. Because adverse effects with statins are usually the result of drug–drug interactions, we evaluated the inhibitory effects of FA against human CYP3A4 and clinically relevant drug transporters such as organic anion transporting polypeptides OATP1B1 and OATP1B3, multidrug resistant protein 1, and breast cancer resistance protein, which are involved in the oral absorption and/or systemic clearance of statins including atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, and simvastatin. FA was a weak reversible (IC50 = 295 ± 1.0 μM) and time-dependent (KI = 216 ± 41 μM and kinact = 0.0179 ± 0.001 min−1) inhibitor of CYP3A4-catalyzed midazolam-1′-hydroxylase activity in human liver microsomes. FA demonstrated inhibition of multidrug resistant protein 1–mediated digoxin transport with an IC50 value of 157 ± 1.0 μM and was devoid of breast cancer resistance protein inhibition (IC50 > 500 μM). In contrast, FA showed potent inhibition of OATP1B1- and OATP1B3-specific rosuvastatin transport with IC50 values of 1.59 μM and 2.47 μM, respectively. Furthermore, coadministration of oral rosuvastatin and FA to rats led to an approximately 19.3-fold and 24.6-fold increase in the rosuvastatin maximum plasma concentration and area under the plasma concentration–time curve, respectively, which could be potentially mediated through inhibitory effects of FA on rat Oatp1a4 (IC50 = 2.26 μM) and Oatp1b2 (IC50 = 4.38 μM) transporters, which are responsible for rosuvastatin uptake in rat liver. The potent inhibition of human OATP1B1/OATP1B3 by FA could attenuate hepatic uptake of statins, resulting in increased blood and tissue concentrations, potentially manifesting in musculoskeletal toxicity.
CEO Equity Incentives and the Remediation of Material Weaknesses in Internal Control

This study examines how CEO equity incentives affect the remediation of material weaknesses (MWs) in internal control disclosed pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX). We find that the sensitivity of CEO equity portfolios to stock price (CEO price sensitivity, or delta) has a positive impact on firm promptness in remedying MWs, whereas the sensitivity of CEO equity portfolios to stock return volatility (CEO volatility sensitivity, or vega) has a negative impact on firm promptness in remedying MWs. In addition, we provide evidence that effective boards of directors mitigate the undesirable, negative effect of CEO volatility sensitivity on remediation of MWs. Our results shed light on the effects of equity compensation structures on internal control quality in the more transparent, post-SOX environment.
Economics of tobacco control in Pakistan: estimating elasticities of cigarette demand

Background Despite ongoing global efforts for tobacco control, low-income countries with struggling economies have challenges to effectively implement tobacco policies and programs. Due to the complexity of the tobacco control issue and lack of comprehensive policies, tobacco use is increasing in Pakistan. Objective The aim of this study was to assess the effect of taxes on tobacco demand in Pakistan. Methods Various surveillance indicators of tobacco use were assessed from 2001 to 2009. Price elasticities of cigarette demand in Pakistan were investigated. Results During 2003–2009, annual per capita cigarette consumption increased by 30%. Analysis of economic data indicated that a 10% increase in cigarette prices would lead to 4.8% decrease in cigarette consumption while controlling for per capita income in the short term. The long-term price elasticities of cigarette demand were estimated at −1.17. The estimations provided support for myopic addiction model for cigarette consumption in Pakistan. Conclusions Increasing tobacco taxes would have a significant impact on tobacco consumption in Pakistan. Cigarette consumption could decrease by 11.7% in the long term if there was a 10% increase in its price. The results of this study should benefit policymakers as it provides information on the characteristics of the cigarette consumption and cigarette demand function that may help in planning tobacco control strategies in low-income and middle-income countries.
Functioning of a metabolic flux sensor in Escherichia coli

Regulation of metabolic operation in response to extracellular cues is crucial for cells’ survival. Next to the canonical nutrient sensors, which measure the concentration of nutrients, recently intracellular “metabolic flux” was proposed as a novel impetus for metabolic regulation. According to this concept, cells would have molecular systems (“flux sensors”) in place that regulate metabolism as a function of the actually occurring metabolic fluxes. Although this resembles an appealing concept, we have not had any experimental evidence for the existence of flux sensors and also we have not known how these flux sensors would work in detail. Here, we show experimental evidence that supports the hypothesis that Escherichia coli is indeed able to measure its glycolytic flux and uses this signal for metabolic regulation. Combining experiment and theory, we show how this flux-sensing function could emerge from an aggregate of several molecular mechanisms: First, the system of reactions of lower glycolysis and the feedforward activation of fructose-1,6-bisphosphate on pyruvate kinase translate flux information into the concentration of the metabolite fructose-1,6-bisphosphate. The interaction of this “flux-signaling metabolite” with the transcription factor Cra then leads to flux-dependent regulation. By responding to glycolytic flux, rather than to the concentration of individual carbon sources, the cell may minimize sensing and regulatory expenses.
Varieties of Capitalism (VoC) and Varieties of Distributions (VoD): How Welfare Regimes Affect the Pre- and Post-Transfer Shapes of Inequalities?

In comparative analysis, we know that shape of income distribution are variable and broadly related to typesf welfare capitalism. Here, we expand on the socio-economic regimes literature and show almost perfect similarity between varieties of capitalism (VoC) and varieties of distributions (VoD). Utilising a new tool for income analysis, the isograph, and when we consider three stages of distributions by country-period: “before” taxes and redistributions, “after” (equivalized disposable of incomes) and the shape of “effort” between, the empirical clustering of countries are strongly related to what is theoretically known of welfare capitalism. We extend this relation to over 30 countries (LIS datasets) and then compare transformations over time, and then to the 183 LIS datasets having pre and post transfer incomes. We specifically detect, in particular in the lower percentiles of Nordic countries, but in other countries too, an increasing problem of massive inequality “before”: a strong decline of market incomes at the bottom of the distribution is balanced by more generous transfers, but the risk is to generate poverty and dependence traps that contradicts the initial concept of the Social-Democratic welfare regime.
The readability of paediatric patient information materials: Are families satisfied with our handouts and brochures?

OBJECTIVES To determine the grade reading level of eight easily available patient handouts for parents of children with otitis media, to calculate the internal reliability and consistency of seven readability tests, and to explore the relationship between the grade reading level of a handout and parent satisfaction. METHODS Eight patient handouts developed for the parents of children with otitis media were collected, stripped of all formatting and analyzed using seven different readability formulas. Cronbach's alpha and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were calculated to determine the internal reliability and consistency of the seven formulas. Parents were surveyed on their satisfaction with three of the handouts, and their responses were compared with the handouts' reading grade levels using ANOVA. RESULTS Only four of the eight handouts had a mean grade 8 or less reading level. None of the handouts had a grade 5 or less reading level. Cronbach's alpha was calculated to be 0.990, single measures ICC 0.931 and average class ICC 0.990, indicating extremely high internal reliability/consistency among the different readability tests. One-way ANOVA showed no evidence of a significant difference in parental satisfaction with the three handouts tested, despite their different grade reading levels (grades 7, 10 and 14) (P=0.24). CONCLUSIONS While many readability formulas are available, the high internal reliability/consistency among them indicates that only one formula needs to be used to assess readability (eg, the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level formula). Because there was no difference in parental satisfaction among three patient handouts that had widely different grade reading levels, studies should explore whether writing patient information materials explicitly to achieve low grade reading level scores is a worthwhile strategy.
Beta‐Adrenergic Stimulation Decreases Glial and Increases Neural Contact with the Basal Lamina in Rat Neurointermediate Lobes Incubated in vitro

Physiological stimuli such as dehydration and lactation/suckling of the young have been found to induce reversible changes in the relationships of neural and glial elements with the basal lamina of the neurohypophysis. Such stimulation is associated with a decline in the extent of basal lamina occupied by glial processes and an increase in nerve terminals abutting the lamina. One possible mechanism playing a role in these changes is the activation of beta‐adrenergic receptors on the neurohypophysial glia (the pituicytes), since such cells in primary culture from adult rats undergo dramatic morphological transformation when stimulated with beta‐adrenergic agonists. We sought to determine if changes similar to those seen in vivo and predicted from the responses of cultured cells would occur with beta‐adrenergic stimulation of the isolated neurointermediate lobe in vitro. Neurointermediate lobes from adult male rats were incubated in artificial cerebrospinal fluid containing ascorbic acid alone (control) or in the same medium with either 10−8, 10−7 or 10−5 M isoproterenol for 15 min after a 30‐min period of preincubation in control medium. Quantitative ultrastructural analysis revealed significant decreases in pituicyte and, corresponding increases in neural, membrane abutting the basal lamina at the lower two drug concentrations. These results support the findings of other studies suggesting a beta‐adrenergic mediation of pituicyte morphology and a role for beta‐receptors in control of posterior pituitary function.
Does vitamin D modulate blood pressure?

Purpose of review Both vitamin D deficiency and hypertension are highly prevalent. It is unclear whether vitamin D modulates blood pressure and therefore whether vitamin D testing and therapy should become part of routine hypertension prevention and management. This article provides an overview of the data, with special emphasis on the work published in the last 2 years. Recent findings Several animal studies corroborate the strong effect of vitamin D on the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone axis. Small and large observational studies have found associations between vitamin D, increased blood pressure, and the risk of developing hypertension. In contrast, recent data from randomized trials are mixed. Two randomized trials with approximately 1 year of follow-up detected no association between vitamin D treatment and blood pressure, whereas another study of active vitamin D reported a 9-mmHg decrease in systolic blood pressure. Meta-analyses have linked vitamin D levels with blood pressure, but the effect of vitamin D administration on blood pressure remains controversial. Summary Vitamin D deficiency is asociated with high blood pressure in observational studies. This effect is thought to be partly mediated through regulation of the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone axis. However, randomized clinical trials and their meta-analyses have yielded inconclusive results. Large randomized trials focusing on patients with severe vitamin D deficiency and hypertension are needed before vitamin D can be recommended for the prevention or treatment of hypertension.
Stochastic Detector against linear deception attacks on remote state estimation

In this paper, an attack detection problem in cyber-physical systems is studied. In a scenario of remote state estimation, the measurement innovation sent by a sensor through a wireless communication channel may be modified by a malicious attacker deceptively. To avoid using an approximate minimum mean squared error (MMSE) estimator introduced by the traditional χ2 detector with a fixed threshold, and inspired by the ideas of event-based sensor schedules, we propose a stochastic detector with a random threshold for the remote estimator to determine whether to fuse the received data or not. The corresponding effect of the proposed detector on the estimation performance under linear deception attacks is analyzed explicitly. Simulations are provided to illustrate the developed results.
Evaluating a new mobility device: feedback from women with disabilities in India

Purpose: To gather the opinions of potential wheeled mobility device users at an early stage in the design process to ensure the development of technology which would meet their functional needs. Method: Eight women with bilateral lower extremity disabilities living in Gujarat state, India, participated in this study. The women were introduced to a working model of a new wheeled ground mobility device (GADI2) for a brief trial and participated in a feedback interview which solicited information on different aspects of the design, specifically the interface between the device and the user, the physical environment and the sociocultural environment. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected and analysed. Result: Although the overall response to the device was positive, there was a lack of consensus in some of the feedback gathered. There were varying opinions across the participants and recommendations were often in opposition to what would typically be recommended in a traditional rehabilitation setting. Conclusions: This study investigates and discusses the research findings from a rehabilitation perspective with a focus on the functional versus technical design aspects. The importance of involving potential consumers in the design of technology is highlighted. The small sample size and lack of consensus in some of the results indicates the need for further research and field testing of this new mobility device design.
SCR96, a small cysteine-rich secretory protein of Phytophthora cactorum, can trigger cell death in the Solanaceae and is important for pathogenicity and oxidative stress tolerance.

Peptides and small molecules produced by both the plant pathogen Phytophthora and host plants in the apoplastic space mediate the relationship between the interplaying organisms. Various Phytophthora apoplastic effectors, including small cysteine-rich (SCR) secretory proteins, have been identified, but their roles during interaction remain to be determined. Here, we identified an SCR effector encoded by scr96, one of three novel genes encoding SCR proteins in P. cactorum with similarity to the P. cactorum phytotoxic protein PcF. Together with the other two genes, scr96 was transcriptionally induced throughout the developmental and infection stages of the pathogen. These genes triggered plant cell death (PCD) in the Solanaceae, including Nicotiana benthamiana and tomato. The scr96 gene did not show single nucleotide polymorphisms in a collection of P. cactorum isolates from different countries and host plants, suggesting that its role is essential and non-redundant during infection. Homologues of SCR96 were identified only in oomycetes, but not in fungi and other organisms. A stable protoplast transformation protocol was adapted for P. cactorum using green fluorescent protein as a marker. The silencing of scr96 in P. cactorum caused gene-silenced transformants to lose their pathogenicity on host plants and these transformants were significantly more sensitive to oxidative stress. Transient expression of scr96 partially recovered the virulence of gene-silenced transformants on plants. Overall, our results indicate that the P. cactorum scr96 gene encodes an important virulence factor that not only causes PCD in host plants, but is also important for pathogenicity and oxidative stress tolerance.