Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prison, Race and Space: The Impact of Incarceration on Career Trajectories and Labor Market Outcomes

JOHNSON, KECIA RENEE. Prison, Race and Space: The Impact of Incarceration on Career Trajectories and Labor Market Outcomes. (Under the Direction of Donald Tomaskovic-Devey.) There are a number of reasons to expect that incarceration will have long-term, negative consequences for economic/labor market success, and that the consequences may be especially acute for minority ex-offenders. This study replicates and extends Bruce Western’s research on the impact of incarceration for wage mobility. I integrate Western’s life course approach to examining the impact of incarceration with a discussion of stratification processes that produce inequality in employment and earnings outcomes. I hypothesize that incarceration results in career earnings penalties over and above those associated with foregone human capital accumulation. I suspect that incarceration contributes to a decline in earnings for minority ex-offenders. At the individual level, I replicate Western’s research by estimating fixed-effects models to examine wages across the career trajectories of white, Latino and African American men from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth for 1979-1998. When estimating these models, I test whether human capital accumulation that occurs inside or outside the labor market mediates the incarceration-earnings relationship. Furthermore, I examine how local labor market characteristics influence ex-offender career trajectories. I propose that prison records, race/ethnicity and spatial characteristics such as, violent crime rates, unemployment rates, minority concentration, and residential segregation influence the job prospects of workers within metropolitan areas. At the spatial level, I estimate random effects models to examine how local labor market characteristics shape the earnings trajectories of white, Latino and African American male ex-offenders. The individual level results supported the hypotheses that incarceration has a negative effect on earnings and that ex-offenders have lower earnings trajectories than non-offenders. This study did not replicate Western’s finding that the earnings penalty experienced by those who had been incarcerated varies by race/ethnicity. The spatial analysis results suggest that the prison effect on wages is not influenced by the spatial characteristics associated with the local labor market. However, the results indicate that the spatial characteristics of the labor market influence race/ethnicity wage disparities across the career. This study makes a contribution to the existing literature on the consequences of incarceration by linking attributes of ex-offenders, emergent career dynamics and local labor market prospects within a stratification framework. PRISON, RACE AND SPACE: THE IMPACT OF INCARCERATION ON CAREER TRAJECTORIES AND LABOR MARKET OUTCOMES by Kecia Renee Johnson A dissertation submitted to the Graduate Faculty of North Carolina State University in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy
Financial performance towards value of firms in basic and chemicals industry

This research aims to empirically prove the significant influences of financial performance towards value of firm. This research chose the population in basic and chemicals industry during the period of 2009-2014. Through purposive sampling and panel data, this research had 60 observations which was obtained through each firm. This research adopted quantitative research with random effect model, which used some analysis methods of descriptive analysis, classical assumption, multiple regression analysis and hypotheses testing. The result was concluded that firm size, earnings growth, current ratio, DER and ROA had partial significant influences towards PBV. Simultaneously, those five independent variables provided 66.594% influences while the rest 33.406% was influenced by other factors. Moreover, firm size was chosen as the most significant factor which influences price to book value.
Hippocampal sclerosis in refractory temporal lobe epilepsy is associated with gluten sensitivity

Background: Previous studies have associated coeliac disease (CD) and gluten sensitivity (defined as the presence of anti-gliadin antibodies and positive immunogenetics) with cerebellar degeneration and epilepsy with occipital calcifications. Hippocampal sclerosis (HS) in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is a potentially progressive disorder with unknown aetiology; however, autoimmunity has been implicated as one of the possible mechanisms leading to HS. The purpose of this study is to analyze CD-associated antibodies and gluten sensitivity in a well-characterised group of patients with refractory focal epilepsy. Methods: We measured anti-gliadin, anti-tissue-transglutaminase and anti-endomysium antibodies, and coeliac-type human leukocyte antigen (DQ2 and DQ8), in 48 consecutive patients with therapy-resistant, localisation-related epilepsy. The patients were categorised into the following three groups on the basis of ictal electro–clinical characteristics and the findings of high resolution MRI: TLE with HS (n = 16), TLE without HS (n = 16) and extratemporal epilepsy (n = 16). Patients with suspected CD or gluten sensitivity underwent duodenal biopsies. Results: Seven patients in total were gluten sensitive; all of these patients fell in the TLE with HS group. On the other hand, none of the TLE without HS patients or those with extratemporal epilepsy were gluten sensitive (p<0.0002). The results of duodenal biopsies showed that three of the seven gluten-sensitive patients had histological evidence of CD and four had inflammatory changes consistent with early CD without villous atrophy. Four of the patients with gluten sensitivity had evidence of dual pathology (HS+another brain lesion), whereas none of the remaining patients did (p<0.0002). Conclusions: The present study demonstrates a previously unrecognised link between gluten sensitivity and TLE with HS. This association was very robust in this well-characterised group of patients; thus gluten sensitivity should be added to the list of potential mechanisms leading to intractable epilepsy and HS.
Amygdala and anterior cingulate resting-state functional connectivity in borderline personality disorder patients with a history of interpersonal trauma

Background Studies in borderline personality disorder (BPD) have consistently revealed abnormalities in fronto-limbic brain regions during emotional, somatosensory and cognitive challenges. Here we investigated changes in resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) of three fronto-limbic core regions of specific importance to BPD. Method Functional magnetic resonance imaging data were acquired in 20 unmedicated female BPD patients and 17 healthy controls (HC, matched for age, sex and education) during rest. The amygdala, and the dorsal and ventral anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) were defined as seeds to investigate RSFC patterns of a medial temporal lobe network, the salience network and default mode network. The Dissociation Experience Scale (DES), a measure of trait dissociation, was additionally used as a predictor of RSFC with these seed regions. Results Compared with HC, BPD patients showed a trend towards increased RSFC between the amygdala and the insula, orbitofrontal cortex and putamen. Compared with controls, patients furthermore exhibited diminished negative RSFC between the dorsal ACC and posterior cingulate cortex, a core region of the default mode network, and regions of the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex. Last, increased negative RSFC between the ventral ACC and medial occipital regions was observed in BPD patients. DES scores were correlated with amygdala connectivity with the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and fusiform gyrus. Conclusions Our findings suggest alterations in resting-state networks associated with processing of negative emotions, encoding of salient events, and self-referential processing in individuals with BPD compared with HC. These results shed more light on the role of abnormal brain connectivity in BPD.
Collateral crises and unemployment

ABSTRACT Inspired by the sudden devaluation of ‘safe’ assets at the dawn of crisis, I build a model that features collateralisation in the financial market, and search frictions between employers and workers in the labour market. The model identifies a collateral quality threshold, below which banks switch from unconditional lending to lending contingent on receiving good collateral. The switch explains why a small shock in the collateralised market may lead to sharp losses in job vacancies, such as that seen in the 2008 Great Recession. A trade-off is identified between the proximity and severity of a collateral crisis. Policymakers may manipulate the trade-off, but they cannot eliminate it.
Low Income Mothers’ Critique of Services: A Participatory Study on What Could be Changed

Low Income Mothers’ Critique of Services: A Participatory Study on What Could be Changed By Lisbeth Nielsen This thesis examined low income mothers’ views of the community organizations, policies and programs that are put in place to provide support for them. It argued that low income mothers are able to voice their own suggestions for changes within services. In this participatory research, focus groups were conducted at a local family centre to explore the women’s views of which aspects of these services work and which do not. For the services that were not working for these women, we discussed what changes could be made. Three themes were chosen: i) the judgement and mistreatment these women face from others; ii) the women’s agency; iii) the structural problems with organization and policy that limit these women’s access to resources. The results demonstrate the need for changes to be made to policies and services that support low income people and for the voices of these people to be taken into account when decisions that impact them are made. September 2, 2014 Acknowledgements Thank you to the women who participated in this study. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to hear your stories and share your voice in this thesis. Your ideas and suggestions for change are inspiring to me, and I truly believe that people like you will help create the change we wish to see. This research would not have taken place without the help of the staff at the family centre. Working with the family centre has allowed me to see firsthand how a supportive community organization can positively impact the lives of women and their families. It has been a great experience to work with my thesis committee. Val, I have been very fortunate to have you as my supervisor. From the beginning of my graduate experience, you have shared your knowledge and insights, which have been inspiring to me and this work. Sue, you have also supported me from the beginning, and I appreciate all of the help you provided throughout this process. I would also like to thank my external reader, Felicia, for the valuable feedback she provided. Lastly, I would like to thank SSRHC for funding this research.
Physical Growth and Development of the Malnourished Child: Contributions from 50 years of Research at INCAP

This paper reviews the main findings and policy implications of 50 years (1949–1999) of research conducted by INCAP on growth and development. Topical areas reviewed include a) maternal size and birthweight and the causes of intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), b) patterns and causes of postnatal growth retardation, c) the relative importance of genetics and the environment in explaining differences in growth among populations, d) the implications of being small, for both children and adults, e) bone growth and maturation and dental development, f) menarche, and g) methodological contributions such as anthropometric reference data, quality control of data collection, development of risk indicators and use of anthropometry in nutrition surveillance systems. Key contributions to knowledge by INCAP include a) characterization of growth failure and maturational delays as mainly occurring during the intrauterine period and the first 3 years of life b) clarification of the role of small maternal size and of inadequate dietary intakes during pregnancy as major causes of intrauterine growth failure, c) evidence that diarrheal diseases and poor dietary intakes are the principal causes of growth failure in early childhood, d) demonstration that environmental factors related to poverty, and not genetic or racial ancestry, account for most of the differences in growth between populations, e) evidence that growth failure predicts functional impairment in the child as well as in the adult and f) demonstration that nutrition interventions are effective in preventing growth failure and its consequences, if targeted to needy women and young children. INCAP's work has contributed knowledge that has informed and improved policies and programs aimed at overcoming maternal and child undernutrition and promoting optimal growth and development.
The Expanding Role of the Pediatrician in Improving Child Health in the 21st Century

Children in the United States increasingly are at risk for health problems that are precipitated or exacerbated by social, community, and environmental factors. Currently, pediatricians are unable to sufficiently address these health conditions without expanding their roles beyond that of providing health care to individual patients. Thus, to improve child health, physicians must work within their communities to identify the needs of the population they serve and take appropriate action to influence the private and public policies that address these needs. Healthy People 2010 establishes a well-supported framework that confronts the social and community factors that affect children's health and serves as a resource for community-minded pediatricians. In addition to Healthy People 2010, other successful initiatives have been created by pediatricians, and they must be expanded if the pediatric community is to alleviate the social, community, and environmental factors that negatively affect child health.
Magnetic Fields and Mammary Cancer in Rodents: A Critical Review and Evaluation of Published Literature

Abstract Boorman, G.A. , McCormick, D.L. , Ward, J.M. , Haseman, J.K. and Sills, R.C. Magnetic Fields and Mammary Cancer in Rodents: A Critical Review and Evaluation of Published Literature. Epidemiological data suggesting a possible increase in breast cancer risk in male electricians have raised concerns about the relationship between exposure to power-frequency magnetic fields and breast cancer. In this paper, we review the results of animal studies that are relevant to identifying possible increases in breast cancer risk resulting from exposure to 50 or 60 Hz magnetic fields. Three large-scale chronic bioassays of carcinogenesis in rats or mice exposed to magnetic fields for 2 years demonstrated no increases in the incidence of mammary cancer; it is generally accepted that power-frequency magnetic fields have little or no activity as a complete carcinogen in the rodent mammary gland. Findings from one laboratory, though inconsistent, suggest that magnetic fields may stimulate mammary neoplasia in rats treated with a chemical carcinogen. However, studies conducted in two other laboratories failed to confirm these findings; rats exposed to magnetic fields demonstrated patterns of tumor incidence, multiplicity, size and latency that were generally similar to those in sham-exposed controls. Where differences were seen, the groups exposed to magnetic fields generally had fewer mammary tumors than did sham-exposed controls. On this basis, evaluations of the activity of 50 or 60 Hz magnetic fields in models of multistage mammary cancer in rodents have generally been negative; positive findings have been reported from only one laboratory. The totality of rodent data does not support the hypothesis that power-frequency magnetic-field exposure enhances mammary cancer in rodents, nor does it provide experimental support for possible epidemiological associations between magnetic-field exposure and increased breast cancer risk.
Business retention and expansion and business clusters – A comprehensive approach to community development

Abstract This article explores trends in business retention and expansion (BRE) and business clusters over the last two decades (1994–2014). Using national surveys of local governments, this article finds that BRE has evolved from a focus on strengthening branch plants and their competitive links to parent firms to a broader emphasis on building local business cluster networks. BRE strategies have diffused across the nation, but business clusters are more common in metro core cities. Municipalities that have written economic development plans and use local funding are more likely to use BRE. This article finds cluster strategies are embedded in a broader set of community economic development strategies that strengthen quality of life and the foundation for community wellbeing. Unlike Michael Porter’s emphasis on business clusters and competitiveness alone, this article finds economic developers recognize the need to focus not only on business clusters and competitiveness, but also on local services.
DNA Ploidy and S-phase Fraction as Predictive Factors of Response and Outcome Following Neoadjuvant Methotrexate, Vinblastine, Epirubicin and Cisplatin (M-VEC) Chemotherapy for Invasive Bladder Cancer

Objective : To investigate the value of DNA ploidy and S-phase fraction (SPF) as factors that could predict response and outcome of invasive transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder to neoadjuvant methotrexate, vinblastine, epirubicin and cisplatin (MVEC) chemotherapy. Materials and Methods : Twenty-four patients with localized invasive TCC of the bladder (stages T3 to T4a, NoMo) were treated with neoadjuvant MVEC chemotherapy. DNA flow cytometry was performed in paraffin-embedded tissue obtained by transurethral resection before chemotherapy. Radical cystectomy specimens were utilized for complete pathologic staging. The tumors were subdivided into high- and low-SPF tumors according to their SPF value. DNA ploidy status was evaluated into two groups (diploidy and nondiploidy). Results : DNA ploidy was not correlated to the response to chemotherapy ( p = 0.67), and overall or disease-free survival ( p = 0.27 and p = 0.69, respectively). Major response (pathologic complete response and partial response) was more often found in the high SPF group than among tumors with low SPF ( p = 0.02). High SPF tumors were significantly associated with increased overall and disease-free survival ( p = 0.0056 and p = 0.0059, respectively). Conclusion : A high SPF, but not DNA ploidy, may be helpful to identify patient likely to respond and survive longer following neoadjuvant MVEC chemotherapy in the treatment of invasive bladder cancer.
Gamma radiation effects in Er-doped silica fibers

The radiation behavior of a commercially available Er-doped fiber is evaluated under varying gamma dose rates with in-situ spectral loss measurements. Complementary post-irradiation photoluminescence measurements allow us to better understand the radiation effects. Our results suggest that the microscopic environment of the Er/sup 3+/ ions is not much affected by the gamma irradiation, unlike the host matrix. We discuss the impact for potential applications of these commercially available fibers in radiation environments.
Integrative veterinary medical education and consensus guidelines for an integrative veterinary medicine curriculum within veterinary colleges

Integrative veterinary medicine (IVM) describes the combination of complementary and alternative therapies with conventional care and is guided by the best available evidence. Veterinarians frequently encounter questions about complementary and alternative veterinary medicine (CAVM) in practice, and the general public has demonstrated increased interest in these areas for both human and animal health. Consequently, veterinary students should receive adequate exposure to the principles, theories, and current knowledge supporting or refuting such techniques. A proposed curriculum guideline would broadly introduce students to the objective evaluation of new veterinary treatments while increasing their preparation for responding to questions about IVM in clinical practice. Such a course should be evidence-based, unbiased, and unaffiliated with any particular CAVM advocacy or training group. All IVM courses require routine updating as new information becomes available. Controversies regarding IVM and CAVM must be addressed within the course and throughout the entire curriculum. Instructional honesty regarding the uncertainties in this emerging field is critical. Increased training of future veterinary professionals in IVM may produce an openness to new ideas that characterizes the scientific method and a willingness to pursue and incorporate evidence-based medicine in clinical practice with all therapies, including those presently regarded as integrative, complementary, or alternative.
Utility of desmoglein ELISA in the clinical correlation and disease monitoring of pemphigus vulgaris

Background Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is a relatively common autoimmune blistering disease in India. Recently, enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test against desmoglein1 (Dsg 1) and desmoglein3 (Dsg 3) has been developed, which is found to be highly sensitive and specific.
Legislative Cycles in a Semipresidential System

The Political Legislation Cycle theory predicts a peak of legislative production in the pre-electoral period, when the legislator focuses on voters’ welfare to be reelected. This paper tests the theory on the French semipresidential system, characterized by direct election of both the executive and the legislature. We use a dataset that encompasses all the approved voted legis-lation in France from 1959 to 2012 at a monthly rate, and find a dual cycle of the production of laws, connected to both the presidential and the legislative elections.
Statehood Experience, Legal Traditions, and Climate Change Policies

This paper investigates how the implementation of modern climate change policies is related to former colonies' length of state history and their legal heritage. We argue that countries with longer statehood experience around the time of colonization were better equipped to implement the legal philosophies transplanted by their colonial powers. Therefore, the implications of receiving British common law versus French civil law should be particularly important in countries with a greater accumulated history of statehood. Using a cross section of up to 78 former colonies, our results provide support for this hypothesis. In particular, our estimates demonstrate that common law countries have weaker modern climate change policies than civil law countries and the difference is in ated by a longer statehood experience, measured by the length of state history from 1-1800 AD. Legal origin has no e ect in areas which, by the time of colonization, had no statehood experience.