Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Globalization, Chinese Imports, and Skill Premia in a Small Open Economy

This paper studies the effect of increased competition from low wage countries on the earnings gap between skilled and unskilled workers by using matched worker-firm micro data covering the total population of workers in private manufacturing firms in Sweden, 1996-2007. Treating Chinese accession into WTO as an exogenous shock to domestic competition, the paper shows that higher Chinese import penetration increases the wage gap between low educated and college educated workers, translating into a rise in wage inequality. Estimations show that the skill wage gap has increased due to a significant increase in the premium for college educated workers. This effect remains even after taking a time trend in the return to college education into account. The effect on high-skilled workers in response to an average of 2.9 percentage point increase in Chinese import penetration is 2.7 percent higher wages. Since real skilled wages have risen about 27 percent in this period, suggesting that rising competition from low-wage countries has contributed to around 10 percent of the increase in skilled wages. Skilled workers appear to be complementary to the goods imported from low-wage countries, and therefore command a higher wage with rising imports from China. Firms may even upgrade their production technologies in response to rising competition from China, which should further increase the demand for and wages of these workers. One of the reasons why wages for non-college workers are not significantly affected by changes in Chinese imports could be due to the institutional setting in Sweden where contracts negotiated with labor unions impose lower limits on wages. The results of the paper differ from previous work by both utilizing a detailed matched employer-employee database and by finding a robust and significant positive effect on the return to college education even after controlling for a time trend in return to education.
Mutagen sensitivity of human lymphoblastoid cells with a BRCA1 mutation in comparison to ataxia telangiectasia heterozygote cells

Our previous results indicated a close relationship between the presence of a BRCA1 mutation in lymphocytes and hypersensitivity for the induction of micronuclei by gamma irradiation and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Comparative investigations with the comet assay (single-cell gel electrophoresis) suggested a normal rate of damage removal and pointed to a disturbed fidelity of DNA repair as a direct or indirect consequence of a BRCA1 mutation. We now wanted to see whether similar results could be obtained with lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) and whether such permanent cells are suitable as a model for the investigation of mechanisms involved in mutagen sensitivity. Our results show that LCLs with a BRCA1 mutation are also hypersensitive to the chromosome-damaging effects of gamma irradiation or H2O2, as revealed by the micronucleus test. Interestingly, LCLs heterozygous for an ataxia telangiectasia (AT) mutation have similar characteristics as BRCA1 cells with respect to the induction and repair of DNA damage induced by either gamma irradiation or H2O2. However, caffeine enhanced the induction of micronuclei by gamma irradiation only in normal and heterozygous AT cells but not in BRCA1 cells, thus indicating a difference in the pathways leading to mutagen sensitivity in cells with a BRCA1 or an AT mutation. Our results suggest that caffeine could be useful in discriminating AT heterozygotes from carriers of a BRCA1 mutation, as well as BRCA1 mutation carriers from normal individuals.
Ethical Reasoning in Business‐to‐Business Negotiations: Evidence from Relationships in the Chemical Industry in Germany

This article explores managers’ ethical reasoning for behaviors in price negotiations using evidence from 15 in‐depth interviews conducted with sales and purchasing representatives in the chemical industry in Germany. Applying transaction cost economics, we find that negotiators in commoditized market‐like exchanges either refer to deontological norms such as not to lie, or they neglect a role for ethics, arguing that distributive negotiation is per se opportunistic. In contrast, exchanges of products with higher asset specificity lead to stronger informational integration which is supported with teleological justifications. Some negotiators use teleological justification to build business on trust rather than on economic safeguards as their firm norms would require. For negotiators, our results suggest considering institutional context and adjusting ethical reasoning to the negotiation situation. Firms need to recognize and find ways to address the potential conflicts of their internal norms with their frontline managers’ attempts to act in the firms’ best economic and ethical interests.
Visceral Obesity, Not Elevated BMI, Is Strongly Associated With Incisional Hernia After Colorectal Surgery

BACKGROUND: High BMI is often used as a proxy for obesity and has been considered a risk factor for the development of an incisional hernia after abdominal surgery. However, BMI does not accurately reflect fat distribution. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this work was to investigate the relationship among different obesity measurements and the risk of incisional hernia. DESIGN: This was a retrospective cohort study. SETTINGS: The study included a single academic institution in New York from 2003 to 2010. PATIENTS: The study consists of 193 patients who underwent colorectal cancer resection. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Preoperative CT scans were used to measure visceral fat volume, subcutaneous fat volume, total fat volume, and waist circumference. A diagnosis of incisional hernia was made either through physical examination in medical chart documentation or CT scan. RESULTS: Forty-one patients (21.2%) developed an incisional hernia. The median time to hernia was 12.4 months. After adjusting for patient and surgical characteristics using Cox regression analysis, visceral obesity (HR 2.04, 95% CI 1.07–3.91) and history of an inguinal hernia (HR 2.40, 95% CI 1.09–5.25) were significant risk factors for incisional hernia. Laparoscopic resection using a transverse extraction site led to a >75% reduction in the risk of incisional hernia (HR 0.23, 95% CI 0.07–0.76). BMI > 30 kg/m2 was not significantly associated with incisional hernia development. LIMITATIONS: Limitations include the retrospective design without standardized follow-up to detect hernias and the small sample size attributed to inadequate or unavailable CT scans. CONCLUSIONS: Visceral obesity, history of inguinal hernia, and location of specimen extraction site are significantly associated with the development of an incisional hernia, whereas BMI is poorly associated with hernia development. These findings suggest that a lateral transverse location is the incision site of choice and that new strategies, such as prophylactic mesh placement, should be considered in viscerally obese patients.
Levels of spirituality and treatment outcome: a preliminary examination.

OBJECTIVE The primary aim of this study was to examine whether admission differences in levels of spirituality predisposed alcohol-dependent individuals to favorable or unfavorable outcomes following admission to facilities that differed in the degree to which spirituality was emphasized. It was hypothesized that individuals whose admission level of spirituality was congruent with the treatment program's orientation and who as such were considered optimally placed (i.e., "matched") for treatment would evince better in-treatment outcomes. METHOD Four hundred and five participants completed measures of spirituality and psychosocial well-being at intake and at end of treatment. RESULTS In examining the entire sample, no matching effects were observed on discharge status, abstinence efficacy, or desire to drink. When analyses were restricted to those cases scoring in the upper or lower quartiles in spirituality, we observed a paradoxical effect, as individuals recording lower levels of spirituality at the less spiritual program evinced significantly poorer outcomes (i.e., less abstinence efficacy, greater desire to drink). CONCLUSIONS These findings hint at the importance of spirituality in the environment of care, indicating that individuals low in spirituality were at risk for poorer outcomes, but exposure to a program that emphasized spirituality lowered that risk.
Prolonged and inducible transgene expression in the liver using gutless adenovirus: a potential therapy for liver cancer.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Gene therapy of liver diseases would benefit from systems allowing prolonged, regulable, and tissue-specific transgene expression. We attempted to produce a vector fulfilling these requirements. METHODS We generated gutless adenoviral vectors containing a mifepristone (RU486)-inducible system for controlled and liver-specific expression of human interleukin-12 (hIL-12) (GL-Ad/RUhIL-12) and mouse IL-12 (mIL-12) (GL-Ad/RUmIL-12). The properties of these vectors were tested both in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS Infection of cells with GL-Ad/RUhIL-12 resulted in high level of hIL-12 expression in the presence of RU486 only in hepatocytic cells. In animals injected with GL-Ad/RUhIL-12, the administration of RU486 induced a transient rise of serum hIL-12 that peaked at 10 hours and completely disappeared by 72 hours. The peak value of hIL-12 was dependent on the doses of the vector and the inducer. High and sustained serum levels of hIL-12 could be attained by continuing administration of RU486 every 12 or 24 hours. Repetitive induction of hIL-12 could be obtained over, at least, a period of 48 weeks after a single injection of GL-Ad/RUhIL-12. Although the vector was detected in many tissues after systemic injection, transcription of the transgene was only found in the liver. Treatment of liver metastases with 5 x 10(8) infectious units of GL-Ad/RUmIL-12 plus RU846 resulted in complete tumor regression in all animals. CONCLUSION Gutless adenoviral vectors allow liver-specific and regulable transgene expression for prolonged periods of time. These vectors are promising tools for gene therapy of liver cancer and could also be useful for other forms of hepatic disease.
Efficacy, safety and mechanism of action of modified-release prednisone in rheumatoid arthritis

Glucocorticoids (GCs) provide a powerful and widely used anti-inflammatory and disease-modifying therapy for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, concerns about adverse effects are driving efforts to find ‘safer’ GC or GC analogues. One novel approach has been to change the timing of GC delivery, targeting the early hours of the morning to suppress the observed circadian peak in interleukin-6 (IL-6). The CAPRA-1 study has shown that this produces a clinically useful beneficial improvement in morning stiffness and mechanistic studies have shown that this correlates with a strong suppression of the IL-6 early morning peak. With no obvious additional adverse reactions, this improvement in the therapeutic ratio offers additional treatment options in RA, and perhaps in other inflammatory diseases that show circadian variation in symptoms.
Cervical Cancer Screening Practice and Knowledge Among Hispanic Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers of Michigan

Background: High incidence of cervical cancer among Hispanics and low utilization of cervical screening among farmworkers led us to examine Pap test use and knowledge among Hispanic farmworkers in Michigan. Methods: Patients and potential patients of Northwest Michigan Health Services, Inc were surveyed in 2 communities (A and B) about their screening knowledge, attitudes, and practice. Results: In all, 324 farmworkers participated, including 184 seasonal and 125 migrant farmworkers. Among the entire study population, 87.7% women reported receiving a Pap test recently, with no difference between migrant and seasonal farmworkers (88.0% and 87.4%, respectively, P = .088). More women from community B reported a recent Pap (93%) compared with those from community A (83%, P = .01). Only 35% of the participants had knowledge of any cervical cancer risk factors. Discussion: Migrant farmworkers may not experience more difficulty in accessing Pap tests than seasonal farmworkers in Michigan. Knowledge about cervical cancer risk factors is low and needs to be addressed in future educational interventions.
Associations Between Parenting Styles and Perceived Child Effortful Control Within Chinese Families in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Taiwan

The current study examined the associations between parentally perceived child effortful control (EC) and the parenting styles of 122 Chinese mothers (36 first-generation Chinese immigrants in the United Kingdom, 40 first-generation Chinese immigrants in the United States, and 46 Taiwanese mothers) of 5- to 7-year-old (M age = 5.82 years, SD = .805; 68 boys and 54 girls) children. The findings showed significant cultural group differences in mothers’ reported authoritarian parenting style. Significant associations also emerged between mothers’ reports of their children’s EC and some parenting dimensions, although there were no cultural group differences in perceived child EC. Different patterns of associations between perceived child EC and parenting styles in these three groups also demonstrated heterogeneity within the Chinese population, and highlighted the need to consider differences between original and receiving societies when seeking to understand parenting and child development in different immigrant groups.
Role of extracorporeal shock wave therapy in management of Peyronie's disease: A preliminary report

Introduction: Peyronie's Disease (PD) is a disease causing psycho social trauma to the patient. Multiple treatment options are available with variable results. Extra Corporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT) is a new insight into the non invasive modality of management. It focuses on the mechanism of inducing angiogenesis in the penile cavernous tissue. Materials and Methods: The aim of the study is to determine the role of ESWT in the management of PD. The objectives include demonstrating the improvement in mean International Index of Erectile Function Score (IIEFS), improvement in pain score by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), change in cavernosal artery flow on colour penile Doppler, reduction in plaque size, and improvement in penile curvature degree after the therapy. 30 patients, between 25-65 years, who were non responders to conservative line of management, were treated with ESWT. The results were evaluated at baseline and 18-24 weeks after the therapy. Results: ESWT significantly improves the cavernosal artery velocity, thereby supporting the theory of angiogenesis. ESWT improves all the domains of IIEF including Erectile Function, Sexual Desire, Sexual Satisfaction, Orgasm and Overall Satisfaction. There is a significant improvement in the pain and penile curvature, and reduction in the plaque size. No adverse effects have been recorded. Conclusion: ESWT offers a safe, minimally invasive, OPD based option to the management of the patients of PD in the stable phase of the disease. Patients who do not respond to the conservative line of management can be really benefited by ESWT.
Biological and genetic factors influencing plasma factor VIII levels in a healthy family population: results from the Stanislas cohort

The mechanisms underlying the variability of factor VIII (FVIII) levels are still poorly understood. The only receptor of FVIII identified so far is the lipoprotein receptor‐related protein (LRP), which is thought to be involved in FVIII degradation. We aimed to characterize biological and genetic factors related to FVIII variability, focusing on coding polymorphisms of the LRP gene and polymorphisms potentially detected by molecular screening of the LRP‐binding domains of the FVIII gene. Plasma FVIII coagulant activity (FVIII:C) and von Willebrand factor (VWF:Ag) antigen levels were measured in a sample of 100 healthy nuclear families (200 parents and 224 offspring). The ABO blood group and the three coding polymorphisms of the LRP gene (A217V, D2080N and C766T) were genotyped. Lipids and anthropometric factors poorly contributed to the variability of FVIII:C (<5%). A strong effect of ABO blood groups on FVIII:C levels was observed that remained significant after adjustment for VWF:Ag levels (P = 0·02). These two factors explained more than 50% of FVIII:C variability. After adjustment for VWF:Ag and ABO blood groups, a residual resemblance for FVIII:C persisted between biological relatives (ρ = 0·13 ± 0·06 between parents and offspring, ρ = 0·24 ± 0·09 between siblings) compatible with an additional genetic influence. The N allele of the LRP/D2080N polymorphism was associated with decreased levels of FVIII:C (90·4 ± 8·7 vs. 102·2 ± 3·5 IU/dl, P = 0·03) and VWF:Ag levels (109·1 ± 11·2 vs. 125·4 ± 4·4 IU/dl, P = 0·02). No polymorphism was detected in the LRP‐binding domains of the FVIII gene. This study reinforces the hypothesis of a genetic influence of FVIII levels beyond the influence of VWF:Ag and ABO blood groups. The D2080N polymorphism of the LRP gene weakly contributed to the variability of FVIII:C levels in this healthy population.
Spread of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a Large Tertiary NICU: Network Analysis

OBJECTIVE: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization in NICUs increases the risk of nosocomial infection. Network analysis provides tools to examine the interactions among patients and staff members that put patients at risk of colonization. METHODS: Data from MRSA surveillance cultures were combined with patient room locations, nursing assignments, and sibship information to create patient- and unit-based networks. Multivariate models were constructed to quantify the risk of incident MRSA colonization as a function of exposure to MRSA-colonized infants in these networks. RESULTS: A MRSA-negative infant in the NICU simultaneously with a MRSA-positive infant had higher odds of becoming colonized when the colonized infant was a sibling, compared with an unrelated patient (odds ratio: 8.8 [95% confidence interval [CI]: 5.3–14.8]). Although knowing that a patient was MRSA-positive and was placed on contact precautions reduced the overall odds of another patient becoming colonized by 35% (95% CI: 20%–47%), having a nurse in common with that patient still increased the odds of colonization by 43% (95% CI: 14%–80%). Normalized group degree centrality, a unitwide network measure of connectedness between colonized and uncolonized patients, was a significant predictor of incident MRSA cases (odds ratio: 18.1 [95% CI: 3.6–90.0]). CONCLUSIONS: Despite current infection-control strategies, patients remain at significant risk of MRSA colonization from MRSA-positive siblings and from other patients with whom they share nursing care. Strategies that minimize the frequency of staff members caring for both colonized and uncolonized infants may be beneficial in reducing the spread of MRSA colonization.
From Trolley to Autonomous Vehicle: Perceptions of Responsibility and Moral Norms in Traffic Accidents with Self-Driving Cars

Autonomous vehicles represent a new class of transportation that may be qualitatively different from existing cars. Two online experiments assessed lay perceptions of moral norms and responsibility for traffic accidents involving autonomous vehicles. In Experiment 1, 120 US adults read a narrative describing a traffic incident between a pedestrian and a motorist. In different experimental conditions, the pedestrian, the motorist, or both parties were at fault. Participants assigned less responsibility to a self-driving car that was at fault than to a human driver who was at fault. Participants confronted with a self-driving car at fault allocated greater responsibility to the manufacturer and the government than participants who were confronted with a human driver at fault did. In Experiment 2, 120 US adults read a narrative describing a moral dilemma in which a human driver or a self-driving car must decide between either allowing five pedestrians to die or taking action to hit a single pedestrian in order to save the five. The “utilitarian” decision to hit the single pedestrian was considered the moral norm for both a self-driving and a human-driven car. Moreover, participants assigned the obligation of setting moral norms for self-driving cars to ethics researchers and to car manufacturers. This research reveals patterns of public perception of autonomous cars and may aid lawmakers and car manufacturers in designing such cars.
Proofs for Cyber-Physical Systems ?

Cyber-physical systems (CPS) combine cyber aspects such as communication and computer control with physical aspects such as movement in space, which arise frequently in many safety-critical application domains, including aviation, automotive, railway, and robotics. But how can we ensure that these systems are guaranteed to meet their design goals, e.g., that an aircraft will not crash into another one? This paper highlights some of the most fascinating aspects of cyberphysical systems and their dynamical systems models, such as hybrid systems that combine discrete transitions and continuous evolution along differential equations. Because of the impact that they can have on the real world, CPSs deserve proof as safety evidence. Multi-dynamical systems understand complex systems as a combination of multiple elementary dynamical aspects, which makes them natural mathematical models for CPS, since they tame their complexity by compositionality. The family of differential dynamic logics achieves this compositionality by providing compositional logics, programming languages, and reasoning principles for CPS. Differential dynamic logics, as implemented in the theorem prover KeYmaera X, have been instrumental in verifying many applications, including the Airborne Collision Avoidance System ACAS X, the European Train Control System ETCS, automotive systems, mobile robot navigation, and a surgical robot system for skullbase surgery. This combination of strong theoretical foundations with practical theorem proving challenges and relevant applications makes Logic for CPS an ideal area for compelling and rewarding research. Logical Foundations of Cyber-Physical Systems Can we trust a computer to control physical processes? That depends on how it has been programmed and what will happen if it malfunctions. When a lot is at stake, computers need to be guaranteed to interact correctly with the physical world. So, we need ways of analyzing, designing, and guaranteeing the behavior of such systems. Providing these ways is an intellectual grand challenge with substantial scientific, economical, societal, and educational impact. Its solution is the key to enabling computer assistance that we can bet our lives on. This paper focuses on illustrating important principles of cyber-physical systems here. Technical surveys can be found in the literature, e.g., [2, 7, 8, 12, 20, 32, 41, 42]. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under NSF CAREER Award CNS-1054246. c © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2016 N. Olivetti and A. Tiwari (Eds.): IJCAR 2016, LNAI 9706, pp. 15–21, 2016. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-40229-1 3