Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The impact of household income on child labour in urban Turkey

Abstract The aim of this study is to investigate the determinants of child labour in urban Turkey with a special reference to low household income or poverty as one of its root causes. Studies done elsewhere have produced mixed results which necessitate the relationship to be studied at country-level. The data from urban Turkey indicate that children from poorer families stand at a higher risk of employment. This finding is confirmed using various measures of household material well-being. Simulation results have further pointed out that current interventions are not likely to produce a sizeable impact on the child labour problem.
The On-Farm Costs of Reducing Groundwater Pollution

Agricultural chemicals ate a source of groundwater pollution in some areas. Regulatory options to reduce such nonpoint pollution imply costs to producers. By integrating plant simulation, hydrologic, and economic models of farm-level processes, this study evaluates on-farna costs of strategies to reduce nitrate groundwater pollution. The empirical focus is on intensively managed, irrigated farms in the Columbia Basin of Oregon. Results suggest that changes in timing and application rates of nitrogen and water reduce nitrate pollution with little loss in profits. Once such practices are adopted, further reductions in nitrates can be achieved only at increasing costs to producers.
META-GOVERNANCE: VALUES, NORMS AND PRINCIPLES, AND THE MAKING OF HARD CHOICES

Meta-governance – or governance of governance – is a concept that raises questions regarding how values, norms and principles underpin governance systems and governing approaches. Values, norms and principles pertain both to substantive governance issues, for instance, related to sustainable resource use, and to governance system issues in themselves, for instance, regarding their institutional design. This article deals primarily with the latter. Thus the interactive perspective serves as basis for developing a coherent set of meta-governance principles. We argue that an explicit, deliberated and decided upon set of meta-governance principles as an integral part of governance can help in making hard substantive governance choices easier. Interactive learning plays a key role in governance processes when public and private governing actors have to make such hard choices. In the article, examples from natural resource governance will serve as illustrations for the more conceptual argumentation and reasoning.
‘Type’ in morphology and phylogeny

Comparative morphologists, developmental biologists, as well as paleontologists, recognize the existence of ‘types,’ or ‘Baupläne,’ in nature, marked out by a certain ‘sameness’ of structure that prevails through all variation in shape and function. The ‘sameness’ that marks out ‘types’ is one of structural correspondence (topology and connectivity), which is believed to be causally rooted in ontogeny (developmental constraints). In an evolutionary context, the structural relations that mark out ‘types’ are explained as relations of homology. The use of concepts such as ‘type’ or ‘Bauplan’ has been criticized from a ‘populational thinking’ point of view as being incompatible with current evolutionary theory. The present article explores the contrasting viewpoints, and concludes that current evolutionary theory can accommodate the concept of a ‘type’ in the sense of a ‘homeostatic property cluster natural kind. ’ The ‘homeostatic property cluster natural kind’ is a nonessentialistic concept that allows the kind to be historically delimited. J. Morphol. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A Non-cooperative Bargaining Model with Strategically Timed Offers

Abstract Rubinstein′s alternating-offers bargaining model is enriched by allowing players to choose when and whether or not to make an offer. Time is continuous and players make offers whenever they wish. It is assumed that upon making an offer, players must wait a fixed amount of time before making another. It is shown that if players can react arbitrarily quickly to their opponent′s offers, then all subgame perfect equilibrium outcomes are Rubinstein-like, in particular, efficient. However, if it takes time to react, then some delay can be supported. This potential delay becomes arbitrarily large as reaction times increase. Journal of Economic Literature Classification numbers: C78, C72.
Circuit Breakers and Market Runs

This paper analyzes whether the application of a “circuit breaker” to a financial market (i.e. a mechanism that interrupts trading for a predetermined period when the price moves beyond a predetermined level) reaches its intended goals of increased market stability and overall welfare. Our framework of analysis is a model in which investors can trade at several dates and might face a liquidity shock forcing them to sell immediately when the shock occurs. This setting potentially induces a “market run” where investors commonly sell merely out of fear other investors are selling and not because they have current liquidity needs. We show that the introduction of a sufficiently tightly-set circuit breaker within this setting successfully prevents this market run from occurring. Even more so, it could induce the socially optimal state (in which trading only takes place when it is motivated by liquidity needs) to arise. However, this desirable equilibrium can only be reached under particular economic conditions. When these conditions are not met, installing a circuit breaker might even lower social welfare as compared to a setting without a circuit breaker as it impedes socially desirable trades and stimulates socially undesirable trades.
Migraine and weather: A prospective diary-based analysis

Aims: Weather is mentioned as a trigger factor by migraine patients most frequently. We examined the impact of meteorological factors and the impact of their day-to-day change on the risk of occurrence and persistence of headache and migraine and the correlation of subjective weather perception with objective weather data. Methods: We performed a prospective, diary-based cohort study in 238 patients suffering from migraine with or without aura. Patients had to live within 25 km of the Vienna meteorological station and were required to keep a diary for 90 days. We analysed 11 meteorological parameters and 17 synoptic weather situations. For evaluating the hazard of occurrence and persistence of migraine and headache, we performed a univariate and a stepwise multivariate Cox regression analysis. We calculated correlations between subjective weather perception and meteorological data. Results: In the uni- and multivariate analysis, a ridge of high pressure increased the risk of headache occurrence, lower mean daily wind speed increased the risk of migraine occurrence and a day-to-day change of daily sunshine duration increased the risk of migraine occurrence. A day-to-day change of the daily minimum temperature decreased the risk of migraine persistence. After correction for multiple testing, none of these findings remained statistically significant. Subjective weather perceptions did not correlate with the occurrence or persistence of migraine or headache. Subjective perception of cold and too-cold weather and of too-warm weather correlated with daily minimum, mean and maximum temperature. Conclusion: The influence of weather factors on migraine and headache is small and questionable.
A Conceptual Model of Service Quality

A model of service quality is developed which includes three groups of service quality components: physical and procedural, behavioural, and judgemental. Classification schemes for service operations based on their relative degrees of labour intensity, process and product customisation, and contact and interaction between the customer and the service organisation are reviewed and synthesised. The application of the service quality model to different classes of service organisations are discussed.
Is It Really Just a Social Construction?: The Contribution of the Physical Environment to Sense of Place

Although sense of place definitions nominally include the physical environment, much research has emphasized the social construction of sense of place and neglect the potentially important contributions of the physical environment to place meanings and attachment. This article presents research that tests several models that integrate (1) characteristics of the environment, (2) human uses of the environment, (3) constructed meanings, and (4) place attachment and satisfaction. The research utilized a mail survey of 1,000 property owners in a lake-rich region (the Northern Highlands Lake District of Northern Wisconsin). Structural equation modeling revealed that the best fit model integrating environmental variables with sense of place was a meaning-mediated model that considered certain landscape attributes (i.e., level of shoreline development) as predictive of certain meanings related to attachment and satisfaction. This research demonstrates that landscape attributes matter a great deal to constructed meanings; these constructions are not exclusively social.
Nonprofit watchdogs: Do they serve the average donor?

Nonprofit watchdog organizations—organizations devoted to rating the accountability and transparency of nonprofits—claim to serve donors who are selecting which nonprofits to support. However, using three waves of the Harris Interactive Donor Pulse, we found that the overwhelming majority of donors (77.6 percent) do not consult these online intermediaries when making donations. Those who do are likely to fall into one of two groups: donors who give large sums of money or donors who are engaged in advocacy. We conclude with conceptual and practical implications.
Estimation of appropriate transmission rate via a IEEE 802.11 wireless LAN based on WebQoE

This paper discusses the most appropriate transmission rate of IEEE 802.11 wireless LAN based on QoE for Web services. Since some QoS parameters have trade-off relationship between each other for the transmission rate, it is difficult to decide the appropriate value of the rate. Thus the authors clarify the relationship between QoE and QoS for Web services by the linear multiple regression analysis. They then adapt measured values of the packet loss rate and those of RTT as QoS parameters for the relationship, and estimate the transmission rate which maximizes the QoE. The authors targeted two actual Web services; shop service and map service; they performed experiments. Their experimental results show that the highest satisfaction can be given when the transmission rate are 9.125 Mb/s and 24.472 Mb/s for the shopping service and the map service, respectively.
Autologous fibrin tissue adhesive biodegration and systemic effects

A series of experiments was conducted to investigate the rate of Autologous Fibrin Tissue Adhesive (AFTA) degradation by the fibrinolysis inhibitor, epsilon amino caproic acid (EACA). The duration of AFTA clots in vitro, subcutaneous, and in the middle ear was prolonged for a time interval that was proportional to the concentration of EACA in Component II of the adhesive. No toxic reactions were observed in the middle or inner ear. Systemic pathology (thrombosis or emboli) could not be related to the presence of EACA applied in the middle ear or directly into the blood stream at concentrations (mg/kg body weight) up to 1,500 times that expected to occur during surgery on humans.
CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell-dependent and -independent host defense mechanisms can operate to control and resolve primary and secondary Francisella tularensis LVS infection in mice

Immunity to experimental infection with the facultative intracellular bacterium Francisella tularensis is generally considered an example of T-cell-mediated, macrophage-expressed immunity. However, the results of the present study indicate that T-cell-independent mechanisms are also important in anti-Francisella defense. They show that mice selectively depleted of CD4+, CD8+, or both T-cell populations by treatment with T-cell subset-specific monoclonal antibodies remained capable of controlling and partly resolving a primary sublethal Francisella infection. Similarly, it was found that Francisella-immune mice depleted of either or both subsets of T cells retain a high degree of acquired immunity to reinfection. Together, these findings imply that resistance to primary and secondary tularemia can be mediated by cells other than CD4+ and CD8+ T cells.
General condition of hikikomori (prolonged social withdrawal) in Japan: Psychiatric diagnosis and outcome in mental health welfare centres

Background: The issue of hikikomori (prolonged social withdrawal) among Japanese youth has attracted attention from international experts. In previous research, the unique cultural and social factors of Japanese society have been the focus; however, in order to resolve the problem of hikikomori, individual mental health problems must be included. Aim: We examined the psychiatric background of individuals with hikikomori. Methods: We recruited 337 individuals with hikikomori; 183 subjects who utilized the centres were designated as the help-seeking group. We examined the multi-axial psychiatric diagnosis based on the DSM-IV-TR, treatment policies and treatment outcomes. We also examined 154 subjects who did not utilize the centers (non-help-seeking group). Results: Most of the subjects in the utilization group were classified into one of the diagnostic categories. Forty-nine (33.3%) subjects were diagnosed with schizophrenia, mood disorders or anxiety disorders, and this group needed pharmacotherapy. Other subjects were diagnosed with personality disorders or pervasive developmental disorders, and they mainly needed psycho-social support. The Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scores of the non-help-seeking group were significantly lower than the GAF scores of those who used treatments. Conclusion: Most hikikomori cases can be diagnosed using current diagnostic criteria. Individuals with hikikomori are much worse if they do not seek help.
Unusual Prenatal Genomic Results Provide Proof-of-Principle of the Liquid Biopsy for Cancer Screening.

A best-selling book, entitled, “What to Expect When You're Expecting,” has provided reassuring information to several generations of pregnant women (1). Filled with advice on topics such as nutrition and morning sickness, it lacks a chapter on being diagnosed with cancer during pregnancy. Why would it even have such a chapter? Pregnant women represent the epitome of good health and the promise of new life. No one expects to be diagnosed with cancer while pregnant. Yet, as Dharajiya and colleagues demonstrate in this issue of Clinical Chemistry (2), incidental detection of maternal neoplasia is possible while performing prenatal whole genome DNA sequencing to screen for fetal chromosomal aneuploidies. Not only is it possible, it is not uncommon. It is also creating new ethical and clinical dilemmas. These investigators described 55 maternal plasma samples sequenced over a 3-year period in a large-scale clinical laboratory that had altered genome profiles and were suspicious for maternal neoplasm. Of these, 43 of 55 (78.1%) had certain clinical follow-up information available. Forty of 43 had confirmed maternal neoplasms; half were due to uterine leiomyomas and half were due to a variety of malignant tumors. Of these, 7 of 20 were already diagnosed, but 13 women who were expecting information about their fetus instead received the worrisome news that their plasma DNA profile put them at risk for cancer. Starting in 2011, analysis of circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in the blood of pregnant women began to be offered clinically as a prenatal screen for trisomies 13, 18, and 21 (3). Owing to its superior sensitivity and positive predictive values compared to serum biochemistry and ultrasound markers, the cfDNA test became rapidly incorporated into prenatal clinical care. By 2013, however, reports began to appear that described examples of false-positive test results (4). Experts questioned the methodologies used …
Disclosure and the Cost of Capital: Evidence from the Market's Reaction to Firm Voluntary Adoption of IAS

Using a unique international setting where the effects of disclosure on firm value can be measured in a constant regulatory environment and in isolation of other confounding factors, this paper shows that firms can increase their value through their choice of accounting standards. Specifically, we document strong positive abnormal returns at the announcement of voluntary adoption of International Accounting Standards (IAS / IFRS) by a sample of international firms and an economically significant reduction in long-run returns, consistent with a reduction in the cost of capital. Consistent with these results we also document evidence of an upgrade in analyst recommendations after the IAS / IFRS adoption announcement and a reduction in the implied cost of capital. Finally, we find strong evidence that the documented abnormal returns are consistent with signaling and bonding benefits stemming from the reduction in asymmetric information. Our results highlight the importance of increased disclosure on minority shareholder protection and on corporate governance in general. Copyright (c) 2009 The Authors Journal compilation (c) 2009 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
The Impact of Sentiment on Price Discovery

We study how investor sentiment affects the speed with which prices reflect information. Price discovery is more timely for firms with greater sensitivity to sentiment, as measured by a sentiment beta. Our research improves our understanding of the price formation process when sentiment is not assumed to be constant. Our research design is novel as it considers a sentiment beta as well as economy-wide sentiment. This provides more comprehensive evidence on the impact of differing types of sentiment on the price formation process.
Opportunities and Challenges of EU Accession: Industrial Relations in Romania

This study examines the outcomes of EU accession for industrial relations institutions and workers' rights in Eastern Europe, using Romania as an example. It focuses on EU influence on labour law, the development of the social partners and collective bargaining as well as the impact of foreign direct investment and migration. EU enlargement resulted in both opportunities (improvement of statutory rights for workers) and challenges (labour shortages and difficulties in implementing labour law). Comparisons between the new member states suggest that the effects of the EU accession process vary across countries, depending on national macro-economic strategies and the strength of trade unions.
Combined effects of chronic hepatitis virus infections and substance-use habits on chronic liver diseases in Taiwanese aborigines.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Chronic liver disease (CLD) is a major cause of death in Taiwanese aborigines. The roles of substance-use habits and hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections in the development of CLD are not well understood in this indigenous population. METHODS A hospital-based, case-control study of 79 consecutive CLD patients and 107 non-CLD controls was performed. Serostatus of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibodies against hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) were determined in all subjects. Each subject completed an epidemiologic questionnaire about the risk factors of CLD. RESULTS Atayal ethnicity, alcohol drinking, cigarette smoking, betel quid chewing, seropositivity of HBsAg and anti-HCV antibodies were associated with a significantly elevated CLD risk. In the combinatory analyses of HBsAg serostatus and substance-use habits, HBsAg-positive substance users had the highest CLD risk, followed by HBsAg-positive non-users, HBsAg-negative users, and HBsAg-negative non-users. Similarly, anti-HCV-positive alcohol drinkers and betel quid chewers had greater CLD risks than other groups. The multivariate-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for males, Atayal ethnicity and seropositivity of HBsAg and anti-HCV were significantly elevated. There was a biologic gradient in the risk of developing CLD associated with the number of substance-use habits. The multivariate-adjusted ORs were 4.7 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3-16.8) and 7.9 (95% CI, 2.1-30.4) for subjects with 1-2 and 3 habits, respectively, compared to subjects with no habit. CONCLUSION Our data suggest that chronic HBV and HCV infections, alcohol drinking, cigarette smoking, and betel quid chewing play important roles in the development of CLD in Taiwanese aborigines.
Functional analysis using chlortetracycline fluorescence and in vitro fertilization of frozen-thawed ejaculated boar spermatozoa incubated in a protein-free chemically defined medium.

Cumulus-enclosed pig oocytes were matured in vitro, freed from cumulus cells, and inseminated with frozen-thawed ejaculated spermatozoa in a chemically defined protein-free medium containing 37.0 mmol NaHCO3 l-1 and 5 mmol caffeine l-1. When the medium was supplemented with 1 mg polyvinylalcohol (PVA) ml-1, more penetrated oocytes were observed 14 h after insemination with 7-12 x 10(6) cells ml-1 than with 4-5 x 10(6) cells ml-1 and the incidence of polyspermy reflected the sperm concentration used. Varying the NaHCO3 concentration but maintaining the sperm concentration at 8 x 10(6) cells ml-1 resulted in significantly more oocytes being penetrated in media containing 45.83-50.25 than 37.0-41.42 mmol NaHCO3 l-1; there were no significant differences in the incidence of either male pronuclear formation or polyspermy. In medium containing 45.83 mmol NaHCO3 l-1, the inclusion of PVA at 0-5 mg ml-1 had no effect on proportions of penetrated oocytes, male pronuclear formation or polyspermy. However, when spermatozoa from three different boars were evaluated, the penetration and male pronuclear formation rates were highly variable, unlike the incidence of polyspermy. Penetration of cumulus-free oocytes was first detected at 6 h. When spermatozoa were incubated for 6 h in the absence of oocytes, motility, but not vitality, decreased whether or not PVA was included in the medium. Chlortetracycline (CTC) fluorescence analysis of the capacitation state indicated a rapid decline in the proportion of live uncapacitated, acrosome-intact cells and a rapid rise in the proportion of live capacitated, acrosome-reacted cells during the first hour. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Monetary Cycles, Financial Cycles and the Business Cycle

One of the most robust stylized facts in macroeconomics is the forecasting power of the term spread for future real activity. The economic rationale for this forecasting power usually appeals to expectations of future interest rates, which affect the slope of the term structure. In this paper, we propose a possible causal mechanism for the forecasting power of the term spread, deriving from the balance sheet management of financial intermediaries. When monetary tightening is associated with a flattening of the term spread, it reduces net interest margin, which in turn makes lending less profitable, leading to a contraction in the supply of credit. We provide empirical support for this hypothesis, thereby linking monetary cycles, financial cycles, and the business cycle.