Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
OPTIMAL ORDERING IN A DUAL‐SUPPLIER SYSTEM WITH DEMAND FORECAST UPDATES

We study how an updated demand forecast affects a manufacturer's choice in ordering raw materials. With demand forecast updates, we develop a model where raw materials are ordered from two suppliers—one fast but expensive and the other cheap but slow—and further provide an explicit solution to the resulting dynamic optimization problem. Under some mild conditions, we demonstrate that the cost function is convex and twice‐differentiable with respect to order quantity. With this model, we are able to evaluate the benefit of demand information updating which leads to the identification of directions for further improvement. We further demonstrate that the model applies to multiple‐period problems provided that some demand regularity conditions are satisfied. Data collected from a manufacturer support the structure and conclusion of the model. Although the model is described in the context of in‐bound logistics, it can be applied to production and out‐bound logistics decisions as well.
DO AGRICULTURAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS PRODUCE COMMUNITY LEADERS? A CASE STUDY OF THE IMPACT OF AN AGRICULTURAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM ON PARTICIPANTS' COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Agricultural leadership program efficacy has been determined by a number of studies; however, most have not reported on the impacts that participants have had on actual community leadership. The study determined the extent to which participants in a two-year agricultural leadership program became community leaders and contributed to rural community development processes (RCD). Participants in the study were graduates of the program from 1982 to 2001 (N=290). Surveys administered to the population and face-to-face interviews with eight purposefully selected subjects were used to collect data. In spite of the survey findings of selfreported changes in knowledge and behavior, qualitative findings revealed that participants were aware of the importance of RCD, but they were not serving in leadership positions and were taking a minimal role to improve their communities. Recommendations include incorporating a practicum into the program that teaches needs assessment, project development, and change agent skills so that participants have the knowledge and skills to serve as effective community leaders.
Nutrition and Growth in Rural Ethiopia

This paper analyses the role that health and nutrition play in a household’s ability to generate future consumption. Using the Ethiopian rural household survey (ERHS), we apply IV methods to estimate a growth regression model of conditional convergence and household asset levels. We expand the traditional definition of human capital to include health and nutritional assets, as measured by household BMI. The potential endogeneity of household BMI is addressed using two different sets of instruments. First, lagged endogenous variables, and second, household self-reported information on the incidence of the severe drought that affected Ethiopia in 1984/85. We take particular care in the diagnosis of the instrumental variables, and where appropriate, use IV estimators and inference tests robust to the presence of ‘weak IVs’. Our investigation indicates that poor household health and nutrition have a strong detrimental effect on subsequent consumption growth. Further, we find this nutritional burden is overwhelmingly borne by the poorest households.
Terror without Deterrence

Nuclear deterrence may be a useful political strategy, but it may not provide an effective empirical description of the behavior of nations faced with the prospect of major war. This evaluation is based on two tests. Empirical analysis of extreme crises since 1945 fails to detect substantial changes in interaction between nuclear and non-nuclear nations. Further, there is no evidence that nuclear weapons have added stability to the relation between the three nuclear giants. The terror created by nuclear devastation cannot, in sum, be directly linked to the preservation of peace.
Analysis of institutional adaptability to redress electricity infrastructure vulnerability due to climate change

This non-technical summary presents the findings and recommendations from the project called ‘Analysis of institutional adaptability to redress electricity infrastructure vulnerability due to climate change’. The objectives of the project are to examine the adaptive capacity of existing institutional arrangements in the National Electricity Market (NEM) to existing and predicted climate change conditions. Specifically the project: identifies climate change adaptation issues in the NEM; analyses climate change impacts on reliability in the NEM under alternative climate change scenarios to 2030, particularly what adaptation strategies the power generation and supply network infrastructure will need; and assesses the robustness of the institutional arrangements that supports effective adaptation. The project finds that four factors are hindering or required for adaptation to climate change: fragmentation of the NEM, both politically and economically; accelerated deterioration of the transmission and distribution infrastructure due to climate change requiring the deployment of technology to defer investment in transmission and distribution; lacking mechanisms to develop a diversified portfolio of generation technology and energy sources to reduce supply risk; and failure to model and treat the NEM as a national node based entity rather than state based. The project’s findings are primarily to address climate change issues but if these four factors are addressed, the resilience of the NEM is improved to handle other adverse contingences. For instance, the two factors driving the largest increases in electricity prices are investment in transmission and distribution and fossil fuel prices. Peak demand drives the investment in transmission and distribution but peak demand is only for a relatively short period. Exacerbating this effect is increasing underutilisation of transmission and distribution driven by both solar photo voltaic (PV) uptake and climate change. Using demand side management (DSM) to shift demand to outside peak periods provides one method to defer investment in transmission and distribution. Recommendation 2 addresses investment deferment. The commodity boom has increased both price and price volatility of fossil fuels where the lack of diversity in generation makes electricity prices very sensitive to fossil fuel prices and disruptions in supply. A diversified portfolio of generation would ameliorate the price sensitivity and supply disruptions. Furthermore, long term electricity price rises are likely to ensue as the fossil fuels become depleted. A diversified portfolio of generation would also ready the NEM for this contingency. Recommendation 3 addresses diversified portfolios. This project makes four inter-related recommendations to address the four factors listed above. Chapter 10 discusses the justification for these recommendations in more detail.
Difference in the Nature of Dizziness Between Vestibular Neuritis and Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss With Vertigo

Objective The objective of this study was to examine whether any clinical difference existed with respect to the characteristics of dizziness in vestibular neuritis (VN) and sudden sensorineural hearing loss with vertigo (SHLV). Study Design Retrospective review. Setting Tertiary referral center. Patients Included in this study were 22 SHLV patients and 32 VN patients who had been confirmed of unilateral caloric weakness. Sudden sensorineural hearing loss accompanied sudden attack of rotatory vertigo. Main Outcome Measures Clinical features such as comorbidity, duration of vertigo, duration of spontaneous nystagmus, and others were compared between the 2 groups. Medical records related to the vestibular function test were also reviewed. Results When comparing comorbid diseases and symptoms, there was no significant difference between the 2 groups. There were also no differences in the duration of spontaneous nystagmus and vertigo symptoms. However, the proportion of patients with abnormal vestibular evoked myogenic potential response was significantly smaller in the VN group compared with the SHLV group. Conclusion Patients with SHLV are much more likely to have saccule/inferior vestibular nerve involvement than patients with VN.
Competitive Markets without Commitment

In the presence of a time-inconsistency problem with agency contracts, we show that competitive markets can implement allocations that Pareto-dominate those achieved by a benevolent government, and they induce more effort. We analyze a model with moral hazard and a two-sided lack of commitment. After agents have chosen their work, firms can modify contracts and agents can switch firms. If the ex post market outcome satisfies a weak notion of competitiveness and sufficiently separates individuals, it is Pareto superior to a government’s allocation with a complete breakdown of incentives. Moreover, competitive markets without commitment implement more effort in equilibrium under general conditions.
The effect of papaverine on morphologic differentiation, proliferation and invasive potential of human prostatic cancer LNCaP cells

Background: Intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (AMP) level changes are thought to play an important role in inhibiting cell proliferation and inducing differentiation in several types of cells. It has been reported that cyclic AMP analogs induce terminal differentiation in human prostate cancer cells. Consequently, phosphodiesterase inhibitors may be useful in delineating the role of cyclic AMP in the differentiation of these cells. Therefore, the effect of phosphodiesterase inhibitors on morphologic differentiation, proliferation and invasive potential of human prostate cancer cells was investigated.
Country-specific institutional effects on ownership: concentration and performance of continental European firms

This paper examines the effect of country-specific institutional constructs on the relationship between ownership concentration and performance for firms in the eight Continental European countries of Austria, Belgium, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Portugal. Using data from publicly-traded firms owned by other companies (i.e., blocks), measures of the quality of investor and creditor protection and the effectiveness of legal institutions are applied. Employing a hierarchical moderated multiple regression analysis, differential validity is established for the relationship between ownership concentration and performance as measured by return on shareholders’ funds. This differential effect comes from creditor protection regimes and is consistent with a relational corporate governance model based on debt finance and concentrated ownership.
Popular Political Support in Urban China

Has the current political system in the People's Republic of China lost its legitimacy in the eyes of the Chinese public? On the basis of three carefully drawn surveys of Beijing residents between 1995 and 1999, the author finds that diffuse support for the current political system-based on attitudes toward institutions and values-remains strong, at least among city-dwellers, though it is gradually declining. Specific support for current political authorities, as measured by evaluations of their performance in major policy domains, is much weaker, with many citizens evaluating the authorities' performance as mediocre. In analyzing the longitudinal data presented here, the author finds that the same set of key sociodemographic attributes and sociopolitical orientations variably influence citizens' attitudes toward the political system and their evaluations of leaders' performance. Further, the study shows that citizens' attitudes toward the system, on the one hand, and their evaluation of incumbents' performance on the other, have different impacts on forms of political participation, such as voting and contacting authorities.
Community‐acquired, methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolated from children with community‐onset pneumonia in China

Community‐acquired, methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA‐MRSA) has been associated with morbidity and mortality in various countries. In this study, we characterized the molecular and clinical features of pediatric CA‐MRSA pneumonia in China. Between June 2006 and February 2008, 55 previously healthy children confined in eight hospitals countrywide were found to be afflicted with CA‐MRSA pneumonia. A total of 55 strains collected from these children were analyzed by multilocus sequence typing (MLST), Staphylococcus cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) typing, and spa typing. The Panton–Valentine leukocidin (PVL) gene was also detected. Overall, nine STs were obtained, with ST59 (40.4%) established to be the most prevalent type. We first registered the new ST1409 from a child with necrotizing pneumonia. SCCmecIVa was the most predominant type, followed by SCCmec type V. Twelve spa types were identified, of which one new spa type, t5348, was first detected and registered. One typical livestock‐associated spa type, t034, was found in a 4‐month‐old girl living in the countryside. We also found that 40% of those isolates were PVL‐positive. In addition, the median age of the children in this study was 10 months. A total of 69% (38/55) of the children with community‐acquired pneumonia (CAP) had preceding influenza or influenza‐like illness, and three ST910‐MRSA‐IV strains (PVL gene‐positive) were associated with severe necrosis. The results indicated that the recent CA‐MRSA found in Chinese children with CAP was largely associated with the spread of the ST59‐MRSA‐IV clone, and most of the PVL‐positive strains in this study did not cause necrotic cases. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2010; 45:387–394. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Developing a Comprehensive Curriculum Framework for Teacher Preparation in Expanded School Mental Health

Concerns about the legitimacy, purposes, capability, and effectiveness of Pre-KindergartenGrade 12 public schools in the United States are expressed in virtually every sector of society. Although most of the reservations relate to academic achievement, there is increasing awareness of serious and pervasive problems related to student mental health. In response, initiatives to integrate mental health and education systems have been developed which include an expansion of the role of classroom teachers in augmenting mental health services along the continuum from prevention to focused intervention. After establishing a rationale for broadening teacher capacity, data on the mental health needs and characteristics of children and young people are provided, followed by a description of the (currently inadequate) school services required to support all students. Limitations in preparation of teachers to address current student needs are highlighted. We then propose an integrated, comprehensive mental health competencies curriculum framework, consisting of 34 specific dispositions (beliefs, values, and attitudes) and six domains of mental health knowledge and skills that we recommend for inclusion in pre-service and in-service professional preparation programs for all teachers in both general and special education. Finally, conclusions and suggestions for future directions are discussed.
The Welfare Effects of Restrictions on U.S. Trade

RECENT ECONOMIC AND POLICY DEVELOPMENTS in the areas of stabilization, allocation, and distribution' help explain the current political mood in some parts of the United States in favor of greater protectionism. In the area of macroeconomic stabilization, anti-inflationary policies in 1968-71 led to an undesirably high rate of unemployment. For a number of reasons, these had only limited success in reducing the rate of inflation at the hoped-for speed; the result was the price controls imposed on August 15, 1971. The inflation, an increasingly overvalued dollar, and business cycle developments here and abroad placed pressure on both our
Gender issues and educational development : an overview from Asia

"The papers prepared for the Mount Holyoke Conference present a refreshing advance in approaches to women and education. Most of them examine the historical context of modern educational development. Some highlight the impact of colonial rule and the encounter with western cultures and knowledge systems, while a few go back to an earlier past to search for religious, cultural or other influences that determined the perception of gender roles by the dominant section of their societies which eventually flowed into the modern systems of education. "
Treatment of the common cold with echinacea: a structured review.

BACKGROUND Echinacea is a herbal preparation that is frequently used to treat the common cold. Spending on echinacea in the United States has risen to >300 million dollars annually. METHODS A total of 322 articles related to echinacea and colds, including 9 placebo-controlled clinical trials, were identified using the Medline and PubMed databases. Eleven features of experimental design that affect the accuracy of the measurement of features of interest, the probability of a chance relationship, bias, and blinding were used to evaluate the 9 placebo-controlled studies. The criteria were validated case definition, quantifiable hypothesis, sample-size calculation, randomized assignment, double blinding, proof of blinding, measurement of compliance, measurement of drop-out rate, analysis by intention to treat, description of the methods of analysis, and measurement of probability. Equal weight was given to each criterion, since failure to meet any one of them could potentially invalidate the findings of a clinical trial. RESULTS Of the 9 studies, 2 met all 11 criteria. The results of both studies were judged to be negative by the people who performed the studies. Of the remaining 7 studies, 6 were judged to have positive results, and 1 was judged to have negative results. The criterion most commonly not met was proof of blinding. CONCLUSIONS This structured review suggests that the possible therapeutic effectiveness of echinacea in the treatment of colds has not been established.
JOB PLACEMENT AND JOB SHIFT ACROSS EMPLOYMENT SECTORS IN CHINA: THE EFFECTS OF EDUCATION, FAMILY BACKGROUND, AND GENDER

Title of Document: JOB PLACEMENT AND JOB SHIFT ACROSS EMPLOYMENT SECTORS IN CHINA: THE EFFECTS OF EDUCATION, FAMILY BACKGROUND, AND GENDER Lijuan Wu, Doctor of Philosophy, 2006 Directed By: Professor Sonalde Desai Department of Sociology This dissertation investigates the impact of the market-oriented economic reform in China on one aspect of the labor market outcomes—individuals’ access to different employment sectors, that is, the state and collective sector, the private sector, and the sector of family contract farming. Using the first wave (1989) and the fourth wave (1997) of the CHNS data, this study examines the effects of education, family background, and gender on the job placement among the employment sectors for young workers (age 17 to 24) and the job shifts across the employment sectors for older workers (age 25 to 44). The change of these effects on young workers’ job placement from 1989 to 1997 is also examined. It is found that education is important in determining young workers’ employment sectors and older workers’ destination of employment sector if they change jobs, and the better-educated workers are more likely to work in the state and collective sector. The social capital effect of family background overwhelms the practice of risk diversification and young workers are more likely to work in the employment sector in which they have some family connections. While young women have some advantage in entering the private sector than young men, older married women are disadvantaged in transferring to the private sector than older married men and women farmers are less likely to leave the family farm than male farmers. The findings suggest that the access to different employment sectors is not equally distributed among Chinese workers. The hierarchy of employment sectors is reproduced through the procedure that assorts individual workers to different employment sectors. In addition to achieved characteristics such as human capital, ascribed characteristics such as family background and gender are important factors in understanding the procedure of social stratification in the reform-era. JOB PLACEMENT AND JOB SHIFT ACROSS EMPLOYMENT SECTORS IN CHINA: THE EFFECTS OF EDUCATION, FAMILY BACKGROUND, AND GENDER
Timeliness of Analysts’ Forecasts: The Information Content of Delayed Forecasts

The average number of security analysts following a firm has increased dramatically over the last decade. Prior research has documented that information asymmetry between managers and investors is negatively associated with the number of analysts following a firm (for example, Brennan and Subrahmanyam, 1995, and Easley, O'Hara, and Paperman, 1998). When a large number of analysts release forecasts for a single firm, the question arises as to what is the marginal informativeness of the forecast released by the nth follower analyst? In this paper, we classify analysts as leaders and followers based on the relative timeliness of their earnings forecasts. We then compare leaders and followers among analysts on various performance attributes linked to analyst compensation, such as price impact, accuracy, boldness, and dimensionality. The objective of this analysis is to shed some light on what role leaders and followers among analysts play in the capital market.
Determination of the modulus of elasticity of the human cornea.

PURPOSE To determine the material behavior of the human cornea in the form of simple relationships between the modulus of elasticity and intraocular pressure (IOP) and to establish the effect of age on the material behavior. METHODS Human corneal specimens with age between 50 and 95 years were tested under inflation conditions to determine their behavior. The corneas were subjected to two extreme load rates to represent dynamic and static loading conditions. The pressure-deformation results were analyzed using shell theory to derive the relationship between the modulus of elasticity and IOP. RESULTS The corneas demonstrated a nonlinear hyperelastic behavior pattern with an initial low stiffness stage and a final high stiffness stage. Despite the nonlinearity of the pressure deformation results, the relationship between the modulus of elasticity and the applied pressure was almost linear. A considerable increase was noted in the values of the modulus of elasticity associated with both age and load rate. General equations were derived to calculate the values of the secant and tangent moduli of elasticity in terms of IOP for any age greater than 50 years, and these equations are presented in a simple form suitable for use in numerical simulations. CONCLUSIONS Adequate representation of corneal material behavior is essential for the accurate predictive modeling of corneal biomechanics. The material models developed in this work could be implemented in numerical simulations of refractive surgery procedures, corneal shape changes due to contact lens wear, and other applications.
The challenge of combining FDI and regional development in Indonesia

Abstract Indonesia has been severely hurt by the recent economic crisis, which has been accompanied by social tensions. For a sustainable long-term recovery, it is essential that Indonesia attracts FDI inflows, and manages to achieve a reasonably equal spatial development. FDI is important since other capital funds are scarce and an equal spatial development is important to avoid social tensions. However, there is a possible contradiction between FDI and even regional development since FDI tends to locate in clusters. This article discusses FDI and an even spatial development in Indonesia, and offers some policy suggestions for a sustainable long-term recovery.