Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Preferences in Context

Political economists have increasingly looked to understand social welfare policy as a product of individual-level demand for social spending. This work hypothesizes that individuals with riskier jobs demand more social spending and that large welfare states emerge where there are more of such individuals. In this article we build on the “policy feedback” literature to argue that existing welfare institutions condition how individual-level factors affect social policy preferences. Specifically, we argue that institutions directly altering the risk of unemployment (employment protection legislation) and those that delink benefits from the labor market create a more uniform system of social risk that reduces the importance of individual-level risk in shaping policy preferences. We test these propositions using multilevel analysis of 19 advanced industrial countries in 2006. We find that individual risk matters for social policy preferences only where employment protection is low and welfare benefits are dependent on employment.
Differential actions of peripheral corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), urocortin II, and urocortin III on gastric emptying and colonic transit in mice: role of CRF receptor subtypes 1 and 2.

Peripheral CRF inhibits gastric emptying and stimulates colonic motor function in rats. We investigated the role of CRF(1) and CRF(2) receptors in i.p. CRF-induced alterations of gut transit in conscious mice using selective CRF(1) and CRF(2) ligands injected i.p. Gastric emptying 2 h after ingestion of a solid chow meal and colonic transit (time to expel a bead inserted into the distal colon) were determined simultaneously. Rat/human (r/h)CRF, which has CRF(1) > CRF(2) binding affinity, decreased distal colonic transit time at lower doses (6-12 microg/kg) than those inhibiting gastric emptying (20-60 microg/kg). Ovine CRF, a preferential CRF(1) receptor agonist (6-60 microg/kg), reduced significantly the colonic transit time without altering gastric emptying, whereas the selective CRF(2) receptor agonists mouse urocortin II (20-60 microg/kg) and urocortin III (120 microg/kg) inhibited significantly gastric emptying without modifying colonic transit. The CRF(1)/CRF(2) receptor antagonist, astressin (30-120 microg/kg), dose dependently prevented r/hCRF (20 microg/kg)-induced inhibition of gastric emptying and reduction of colonic transit time. The selective CRF(1) receptor antagonists, NBI-27914 (C(18)H(20)Cl(4)N(4)C(7)H(8)O(3)S) and CP-154,526 (butyl-[2,5-dimethyl-7-(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)-7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4-yl]ethylamine) (5-30 mg/kg), dose dependently blocked r/hCRF action on the colon without influencing the gastric response, whereas the CRF(2) receptor antagonist, antisauvagine-30 (30-100 microg/kg), dose dependently abolished r/hCRF-induced delayed gastric emptying and had no effect on colonic response. These data show that i.p. r/hCRF-induced opposite actions on upper and lower gut transit in conscious mice are mediated by different CRF receptor subtypes: the activation of CRF(1) receptors stimulates colonic propulsive activity, whereas activation of CRF(2) receptors inhibits gastric emptying.
Anorexia: Anormal Phobia of Normal Weight

Abstract Anorexia nervosa is a disorder of feeding behavior associated with distortion of body image, mood disturbance and a wide variety of hormonal and metabolic abnormalities. It is supposed that the disease could be the consequence of a combination of cultural-social, psychological and biological factors. Our study confirmed that anorexia mentalis is a serious, life threatening disorder which in our country appears earlier than it was expected and that is strongly related to environmental factors (family, school, fashion, society). We showed that specific personality traits are characteristic for both, young patients and mothers. Sublimation of emotional stress by exceptional performances, accompanied by food restrictive consumption together with hypersensitivity, oppositional behavior and aggression are specific for this disorder. High levels of self-imposed standards increase the risk for psychological distress, especially for eating disorder symptomatology. Both genders could be involved as patients. Boys must be especially followed for possible psychiatric manifestation. We confirmed that the biofeedback as additional therapeutic modality is very useful.
SORTING OUT SOCIAL SECURITY REPLACEMENT RATES

For anyone interested in retirement income policy, the most basic question is how much are people receiving today from Social Security, the backbone of the nation's retirement income system. The traditional measure of generosity is the replacement rate — namely, the ratio of benefits relative to pre-retirement earnings. The Social Security administration provides two sets of replacement rates. The first set is "policy model" estimates for hypothetical individuals. The second set is actual replacement rates for new beneficiaries. The two approaches happen to produce the same number for the median earner. However, this result is strictly a coincidence as the two methods involve different measures of pre-retirement earnings, different employment patterns, and different retirement ages. This brief explains these differences.
Exploring the Concept of Governability

Abstract In this paper a start is made in developing a conceptual model for the governability of a particular societal system based upon the (inter)active perspective on governance. Governability is seen as consisting of three main components, a system-to-be-governed (SG), a governance system (GS), and the interactions between these two (GI). The basis for conceptualizing the GS is the primary processes in which societal sectors specialize. These processes show characteristics by which they can be analyzed, such as their diversity, dynamics and complexity. The GS can be operationalized according to aspects of governance activities: elements, modes and orders of governance, and in the three major societal governance institutions: state, market, civil society and increasingly hybrid forms among them. The article also discusses the GI where one input is from the SG to the GS, defined as participatory interactions, and another from the GS to the SG which is seen as policy and management driven forms of interactions. Together these major governability components form a conceptual basis to analyze and eventually assess the governability of a particular societal sector, such as a fishery, a coastal zone or in fact any societal sector.
Does Euro or Dollar Pegging Impact the Real Exchange Rate? The Case of Oil and Commodity Currencies

The aim of this paper is to investigate the equilibrium exchange rates for commodity and oil currencies as well as the discrepancies of their observed exchange rates to these equilibriums. To this end, first, we estimate a long-term relationship between the real effective exchange rate and economic fundamentals, including the commodity terms of trade. The estimation relies on panel cointegration techniques and covers annual data from 1980 to 2007. Our results show that real exchange rates co-move with commodity prices in the long run and respond to oil price somewhat less than to commodity prices. Second, we assess the degree of misalignment of these currencies, as the gap between their observed exchange rate and the estimated equilibrium exchange rate. We show that these misalignments are not significantly related to the exchange rate regimes adopted by the countries, either pegged or floating. However, for pegged currencies, the size of misalignments significantly depends on the anchor currency, either the euro or the dollar. A comparison of misalignments of pegged commodity and oil currencies across different periods confirms these results: during periods of dollar (euro) overvaluation, currencies pegged to the dollar (euro) tend to be overvalued; the reverse being true when the dollar (euro) is undervalued. Consequently, pegged currencies are often driven away from their equilibria by wild fluctuations in the key currencies, on which they are anchored.
Whistle-Blowing in Public Sector Organizations: Evidence From Pakistan

The purpose of this study is to investigate the contributory factors that affect the whistle-blowing process in public sector organizations of Pakistan. Previous studies reveal that a perception of apathy and likely retaliation by the management, peers, and employees at large creates a culture within organizations that negatively affects whistle-blowing. Data were collected from 1,762 employees working in various public sector organizations of Pakistan through a questionnaire. Frequency tables were used to analyze the data. Results suggest that in Pakistan a number of factors, such as culture and organizational retaliation, affect the whistle-blowing process. It also highlights that some unique culturally induced factors contribute toward the employees’ perception and practice of whistle-blowing in their organizations. Results are explained in light of Hofstede’s cultural indices, which indicate that whistle-blowing is culture bound.
On the Adequacy of Monetary Arrangements in

We examine the economic rationale for monetary union(s) in Sub-Saharian Africa through the use of cluster analysis on a sample of 17 countries. The variables used stem from the theory of optimum currency areas and from the fear-of-floating literature. It is found that the existing CFA franc zone cannot be viewed as an optimum currency area: CEMAC and UEMOA countries do not belong to the same clusters, and a “core” of the UEMOA can be defined on economic grounds. The results support the inclusion of the Gambia, Ghana and Sierra Leone in an extended UEMOA arrangement, or the creation of a separate monetary union with the “core” of the UEMOA and the Gambia, rather than the creation of a monetary union around Nigeria. Finally, the creation of the West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ) around Nigeria is not supported by the data.
Population Diversity of Listeria monocytogenes LO28: Phenotypic and Genotypic Characterization of Variants Resistant to High Hydrostatic Pressure

ABSTRACT A comparative phenotype analysis of 24 Listeria monocytogenes LO28 stress-resistant variants obtained after high-pressure treatment was performed to assess their robustness and growth performance under a range of food-relevant conditions. In addition, genetic analysis was conducted to characterize the promoter regions and open reading frames of the class I and III transcriptional repressors CtsR and HrcA, which control production of specific sets of stress proteins. Analysis of stress survival capacity, motility, biofilm formation, and growth under various conditions showed all variants to be more resistant to pressure and heat than the wild type; however, differences among variants were observed in acid resistance, growth rate, motility, and biofilm-forming capacity. Genetic analysis revealed no variation in the genetic make-up of hrcA and its upstream region, but two variants had deletions in the upstream region of ctsR and seven variants had mutations in the ctsR gene itself. The results of the characterization were cluster analyzed to obtain insight into the diversity of variants. Ten unique variants and three clusters with specific features could be identified: one cluster consisting of seven variants having a mutation in the CtsR regulator gene, one cluster containing two variants with an aerobic biofilm formation capacity similar to that of the wild type, and a cluster composed of five immotile variants. The large population diversity of L. monocytogenes stress-resistant variants signifies the organism's genetic flexibility, which in turn may contribute to the survival and persistence of this human pathogen in food-processing environments.
Cross-Sectional Determinants of Post-IPO Stock Performance: Evidence from China

This paper examines the cross-sectional determinants of post-IPO long-term stock returns in China. We document that the aftermarket P/E ratio has the most robust negative association with post-IPO stock returns. The negative relation indicates that the market corrects the aftermarket overvaluation of IPO firms in the long run. Underwriter reputation has a positive effect on post-IPO stock returns, while board size has a negative impact, consistent with the views that reputable underwriters mitigate the information asymmetry in IPO pricing and over-sized boards reduce the effectiveness of corporate governance. However, we find little evidence indicating that the equity ownership structure is significantly associated with post-IPO stock returns.
CEO-TMT interaction: do tenure and age affect ambidexterity dynamism?

The aim of this study is to clarify the influence of the CEO, the top management team and their interactions on the dynamism of organisational ambidexterity. We argue that ambidexterity is a dynamic capability that enables firms to become aligned with their environment. We examine this phenomenon in the context of the current economic crisis, with particular reference to SMEs. We propose tenure and age as characteristics of business elites that help to explain ambidexterity dynamism. In SMEs, the tenure and age of CEOs and interactions with top management team characteristics play a decisive role in the decision-making process, and therefore, in how the company adapts its orientation to ambidexterity. Through the study of 91 SMEs, we show that the characteristics of the CEO combined with the traits of the TMT are relevant for understanding ambidexterity dynamism.
Prohibiting public drinking in an urban area: Determining the impacts on police, the community and marginalised groups

With public drinking laws proliferating across urban areas over the past 15 years, this project evaluated the implementation of these laws, their effectiveness, and their impact on a range of target groups including police, residents, traders, local health and welfare workers, and potentially marginalised groups. Overview Public drinking laws have proliferated across urban areas over the past 15 years; however, there have been very few evaluations of their impacts and effectiveness. The purpose of this project was to evaluate public drinking laws across three diverse inner-urban local government areas (LGAs) of Melbourne: the Cities of Yarra, Darebin and Maribyrnong. The objectives of this project were to evaluate the implementation of public drinking laws, the effectiveness of these laws and the impact of these laws on a range of target groups including police, residents, traders, local health and welfare workers, and potentially marginalised groups. The evaluation produced equivocal findings in relation to whether public drinking laws reduced congregations of drinkers (with differing findings across municipalities) and there was no evidence that these laws reduced alcohol-related crime or harm. However, public drinking laws do make residents feel safer and improve the amenity of an area from the perspective of residents and traders. The evaluation found that public drinking laws often result in negative impacts to marginalised individuals and this requires more consideration in the implementation and enforcement of these laws. It is important that public drinking laws are carefully considered, implemented and enforced (with local council officers and police liaising collaboratively to respond to the needs of the individual community) and are coupled with community-specific social inclusion strategies.
Using GIS analysis to assess urban green space in terms of accessibility: case study in Kutahya

It should be possible, for a city, to achieve a healthy environment, an active green space, and an urban distribution of the size of a systematic planning of functional and aesthetic qualities, and it will be possible with the development of an urban design concept. The adequacy of the standard value of green space is usually specified in the relevant legislation, and the current per capita of the city is identified by comparing it to the amount of green space. In this study, the distribution and amount of green space in Kutahya is examined as well as the distribution of green areas on a neighbourhood scale. Size and per capita rates are evaluated. Even distribution of the distance and accessibility of green areas throughout the city are closely related to the provision of recreational needs. Different sizes of green area, recreational activities, and accessibility standards vary depending on the city unit they serve. According to the digitization of parks composed of polygons in the ArcGIS attribute table for calculation, parks in the study area consist of 167 different parcels, 48 of which (28%) are 1500 m2 or less in area. Most small parklands were 306 m2; the largest urban park is at the southern entrance of the city, with an area of 109.214 m2. Parks in the study area cover a total area of 614.272 m2. Functionally linked, an integrated system of green spaces will allow the city to develop this natural potential in a sustainable way.
Impact of Microscopic Extranodal Tumor Deposits on the Outcome of Patients With Rectal Cancer

AbstractPURPOSE: Microscopic mesorectal soft tissue extranodal deposits discontinuous with the primary tumor are identified in many rectal adenocarcinomas. Current guidelines consider them to be involved lymph nodes. We studied the impact of these deposits on the outcome of patients with rectal cancer. METHODS: This was a retrospective study, in which histology slides were reviewed from 55 patients whose resection specimens for rectal cancer were staged as Dukes C or Dukes B with extranodal deposits. Twenty-nine patients had extranodal deposits (19 males), and 26 control patients had lymph node involvement only (14 males). Patient outcome was analyzed in terms of local and systemic control and survival. RESULTS: Distant metastases were diagnosed earlier in patients with extranodal deposits (mean, 14 months) compared with controls (mean, 37 months; P = 0.001). On follow-up, 31.03 percent (9/29) from the extranodal deposit group developed liver metastases compared with 11.5 percent (3/26) of the control group (P = 0.08). Local recurrence was seen in 17.2 percent of patients from the extranodal deposit group and 3.8 percent of the control group (P = not significant). Cancer-related mortality was higher in the extranodal deposit group (16 vs. 7 patients; P = 0.09). The three-year actuarial survival was 48.27 percent in patients with extranodal deposits and 65.38 percent in those without. A significant association was noted between the number of extranodal deposits and intramural vascular invasion (P = 0.017), extramural vascular invasion (P = 0.039), perineural invasion (P = 0.039), and lymph node involvement (P = 0.008). CONCLUSION: These data suggest that extranodal deposit is a distinct form of metastatic disease in patients with rectal cancer. The association with vascular invasion and earlier development of metastases probably infers that a significant proportion of extranodal deposits may represent blood-borne spread. These tumor foci should be considered as indicators of poor prognosis.
Towards a sustainable FDI policy for power sector development

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and its infrastructure development potential has been the focus of management scholars for long. Indian power sector, marked by years of under-investment and ever increasing demands can also leapfrog by infusion of FDI. India has the potential to attract far more FDI in the power sector as compared to less than 4% of the nation’s total FDI that it attracts at present. The root of the problem is as much a question of inadequate reforms as it is of insufficient investment inflow. Therefore, we have undertaken this study that attempts to examine the determinants of FDI in order to enable Indian power sector to attract more FDI and to benefit from these capital inflows.
Fiscal Decentralization and Poverty Reduction: Citizens View

This study intends to corroborate the positive theoretical relationship between fiscal decentralization and poverty reduction (Crook and Manor, 1998; Moore and Putzel, 1999; World Bank, 2001) base on non-monetary measurement. A qualitative research method was applied for the study. Focus group discussions was conducted using one-hundred and thirty (130) stakeholders in the community divided into five (5) area councils. The study revealed participants clear understanding of poverty. There was however, a limited support from the findings on the theoretical construct on the positive relation between fiscal decentralization and poverty reduction using non-monetary measurement. It was therefore recommended authorities must tackle both economic and social dimensions in any policy definition in order to achieve success at poverty reduction.
Progress and limitations in the psychological study of craniofacial anomalies.

The term "craniofacial anomalies" (CFAs) refers to a diverse group of congenital disorders including complex syndromes marked by multiple sutural fusions (e.g., Crouzan's, Treacher Collins, and Aperts syndromes), simple craniosynostoses involving single fusions (e.g., sagittal synostosis), hemifacial microsomia, clefts of the lip and/or palate, and isolated "birth marks" on the face and neck, such as benign vascular nevi (i.e., port-wine stains). Most children with these disorders experience one or more associated complications including feeding and growth difficulties, oral-dental problems, chronic ear infections, speech and language impairments, and multiple structural and cosmetic surgeries for both visible disfigurement and "invisible" dysmorphologies (e.g., cleft palate). Any or all of these factors may produce significant stress and conflict for the child and family. Various psychological risk factors have been identified that may compromise the child's psychological adjustment, such as parental guilt or overprotectiveness, stigmatizing social responses to speech impairment or facial disfigurement, and certain neuropsychological limitations (see Barden, 1990; Richman & Eliason, 1993, for reviews of this literature). Although the majority of children with CFA appear to show normal psychosocial development (Speltz, Galbreath,
Dynamic capabilities in new product development: the case of Asus in motherboard production

This empirical research applies the dynamic capability perspective to the field of new product development. Our major focus is in the time-to-market competition of motherboard production in the information technology hardware industry. Product developments of motherboards follow standards of CPUs and chipsets. The dominant architecture of motherboards has been set by Intel and elaborated by Asus. This research studies how processes, positions, and paths of Asus improve its new product development performance. The result shows that sustainable competitive advantages of Asus stem from high-performance routines both inside and outside the firm. The process of integration and coordination, the process of learning, practicing and accumulation of core competence, and the process of reconfiguration and transformation work jointly to shape the best practices in its industry. Positions of technological teamwork and supply chain clustering consolidate its competitive advantages. Learning from original equipment manufacturer operations and collaboration with key suppliers increase technological opportunities and mark the road ahead.