Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Welfare Effects of Private Sector Participation in Guinea's Urban Water Supply

In 1989 the government of Guinea enacted far-reaching reform of its water sector, which had been dominated by a poorly run public agency. The government signed a lease contract for operations and maintenance with a private operator, making a separate public enterprise responsible for ownership of assets and investment. Although based on a successful model that had operated in Cote d'Ivoire for nearly 30 years, the reform had many highly innovative features. It is being transplanted to several other developing countries, so the authors evaluate its successes and failures in the early years of reform. They present standard performance measures and results from a cost-benefit analysis to assess reform's net effect on various stakeholders in the sector. They conclude that, compared with what might have been expected under continued public ownership, reform benefited consumers, the government, and, to a lesser extent, the foreign owners or the private operator. Most sector performance indicators improved, but some problems remain. The three most troublesome areas are water that is unaccounted for (there are many illegal connections and the quality of infrastructure is poor), poor collection rates, and high prices. The weak institutional environment makes it difficult to improve collection rates, but the government could take some steps to correct the problem. To begin with, it could pay its own bills on time. Also, the legislature could authorize the collection of unpaid bills from private individuals.
Underpricing of New Issues and the Choice of Auditor as a Signal of Investment Banker Reputation

A theoretical model that explicitly incorporates the relation between investment banker and auditor is developed to provide a framework for testing the effect of auditor selection in the initial market for unseasoned equity issues. The theoretical model generates a number of testable propositions. Consistent with stylized facts, the theory suggests that high reputation investment bankers will more frequently use high reputation auditors, and that both investment banker and auditor reputation help to reduce underpricing. As either reputational variable increases, the model predicts that the impact of the other variable will diminish. The empirical results confirm this more complex relation. The structure of the model documented in this research may explain the difficulties of previous studies in identifying an empirical relation between auditor reputation and underpricing. ANUMBER of recent studies have addressed various aspects associated with the pricing of new issues (see Smith [1986] for a survey). Underpricing, or a negative difference between a new issue's offering price and the first bid, has also been studied. For example, Miller and Reilly [1987] find an average underpricing of about ten percent. The current study focuses on the interaction between the investment banker and the selection of an auditor in relation to the underpricing phenomenon. A theoretical model is derived in the context of the asymmetric information environment described by Rock [1986] and Beatty and Ritter [19861. The model is developed from the perspective of a profit-maximizing investment banker where the reputation of the auditor has divergent effects on uncertainty of information. The model generates unique propositions concerning the interaction of investment banker and auditor repuThis research was funded in part by the Herrick Foundation Fund. Data were provided by the Jesse H. Jones Data Base. We are grateful to Shanta Hegde, Gene Imhoff, Tom Lys, Jay Ritter, Brett Trueman, and workshop participants at the University of Notre Dame for helpful comments. We are also indebted to Bill Kinney and two anonymous reviewers, whose comments have greatly improved the paper. Ronald J. Balvers is Assistant Professor, Bill McDonald is Associate Professor, and Robert E. Miller is Assistant Professor, all at University of Notre
Modelling the Equity Risk Premium in the Long Term: A UK and US Update

The main thrust of this paper is to develop a novel approach to modelling the ex ante or expected equity risk premium from share price and dividend information. The starting point involves modelling the stochastic nature of the dividend series and using this to derive the corresponding functional form of the share price. Using the (estimated) parameters of the dividend equations in conjunction with the share price equations we are able to solve implicitly for the expected risk premium. We then go on to model the ex ante risk premium as a mean reverting Ornstein-Uhlenbeck process with a time dependent mean. Our results show clearly that the ex ante equity risk premium is mean reverting towards a long term mean. We also investigate whether the ex post risk premium reverts to the ex ante risk premium by using a naive model (viz. ex post risk premium is equal to the ex ante risk premium plus a forecast error) and a more general specification based on an Ornstein-Uhlenbeck process. Our results suggest that this more general specification offers superior explanatory and forecasting power when compared to the naive model, and is a potentially valuable procedure for purposes such as security analysis and utility regulation where estimates of the ex ante risk premium are a crucial component of estimating expected rates of return.
Thyroid antibodies: A study of first degree relatives

A study has been made of the presence of thyroid antibodies in the relatives of a random sample of elderly subjects, not selected on the basis of a thyroid disorder. The presence of antibodies was tested by the tanned red cell technique. The results suggest that the ability to form antibodies is under polygenic control and is of moderate heritability (upper limit approximately 53 %).
Psychological comorbidity in medical rehabilitation – the need for education

Purpose. Prevalence of comorbid mental disorders in rehabilitation patients is high. In spite of the bio-psycho-social approach in rehabilitation, recognition and treatment rates of comorbid mental disorders during rehabilitation are low. The purpose of the study was to raise specific information about current clinical practice concerning comorbid mental disorders and training needs of rehabilitation personnel. Method. 435 questionnaires were sent out to medical personnel in 54 rehabilitation hospitals in south-west Germany. Results. Psychologists in rehabilitation spend most of their time on counselling (45%) and group interventions (29%). Physicians and psychologists both feel highly responsible for recognizing mental disorders and motivating patients to seek aftercare. Screeners are rarely used by psychologists and physicians. Seventy-six percent of the participants would take part in specific training sessions. High training needs were stated for affective, anxiety and somatoform disorders. A specific training session for mental health in rehabilitation should last at least half a day and cover affective, anxiety and somatoform disorders. Conclusions. Taking these results into account, it is possible to put together a training program in diagnostics of comorbid mental disorders, which fits the needs of the professionals.
Default Risk of CMBS Loans: What Explains the Regional Variations?

We find substantial regional variations in CMBS loan default rates based on a 10-year history of nearly 38,000 CMBS loans. We seek to explain those variations with well documented risk factors such as negative equity, insolvency, property type, originator and state foreclosure law, as well as some newly introduced factors such as local unemployment rate, loan covenant (lock out) and natural disaster (Katrina). Many of the aforementioned factors are significant for CMBS loan default risk and they help explain part of the regional variations in CMBS loan default rate. We also find a significant negative relationship between local residential real estate appreciation and CMBS loan default – those regions with higher house price appreciation rates have lower default risk in CMBS loans. Moreover, differences in MSA-level residential real estate appreciation rate add explanatory power of the regional variations in CMBS loan risk, even though they do not fully explain the regional risk. Our findings have important implications for the CMBS investment community.
Correlation and Discrepancies Between Obesity by Body Mass Index and Body Fat in Patients With Coronary Heart Disease

BACKGROUND: Despite its many shortcomings, body mass index (BMI) is the most widely used screening tool for obesity, in part, because of its practicality. Other more physiologic measurements of obesity are based on body fat (BF). However, the correlation between BMI and BF has not been well-characterized, especially in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). METHODS: We retrospectively studied 581 patients with CHD following major CHD events, who were divided according to BMI (calculated as weight divided by height squared), based on the World Health Organization standard cutoff points (underweight [<18.5 kg/m2], normal [≥18.5 and <25 kg/m2], overweight [≥25 and <30 kg/m2], and obese [≥30 kg/m2]). Second, the population was divided according to BF, on the basis of the age- and gender-adjusted Gallagher BF classification into underweight, normal, overweight, and obese categories. RESULTS: Body mass index and percent BF correlated significantly (r = 0.60; P < .0001) and classified patients in the same category in about 59% of patients. In approximately 27% of the sample, BMI underestimated BF, while in about 14% of cases BMI overestimated BF. The relationship between BMI and BF was influenced by age, gender, and BMI itself. CONCLUSIONS: Even though a correlation exists between BMI and BF, they frequently classify individuals differently in a population of CHD patients. When defining overweight/obesity, care must be taken when using a crude screening tool such as BMI. While it is not expected for all clinicians to add BF assessments within routine patient assessments, the results of this study may be helpful to guide clinicians and researchers who are considering different aspects of body composition.
Lessons learned after more than 250 periacetabular osteotomies

The Bernese periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) has become the procedure of choice in many centers for the treatment of young patients with symptomatic hip dysplasia in the absence of severe secondary arthrosis. This article concerns our institution's "learning curve" with this procedure and focuses on patient selection, exposure, technical aspects of performing the bone cuts, mobilizing the fragment, and obtaining proper correction.
Impact of Export Destinations on Firm Performance

This paper evaluates the role of export destinations on productivity, employment, and wages of Turkish firms by comparing the performance of firms that export to low-income destinations and high-income destinations with firms that do not export. A combination of propensity score matching and difference-in-differences methods are employed on a rich set of firm observables, including sector, region, employment, total factor productivity (TFP), capital intensity, wages, support from government, ownership, and the research and development intensity of firms. Four sets of findings emerge from the analysis: i) Export entry has a positive causal effect on firm TFP and employment and this effect is strengthened as a firm continues to export. ii) In contrast, export entry has a moderate wage effect that emerges only with a lag. iii) Unlike exporting to high-income destinations, exporting to low-income destinations does not result in significantly higher firm TFP and wages. iv) The employment effect of exporting to low-income destinations is comparable to that of exporting to high-income destinations.
A gamma autoregressive video model on ATM networks

Several works have concluded that the number of cells per frame of variable bit-rate (VBR) video teleconference follows a gamma distribution. But few video models meet this characteristics. We propose a novel video model, called first-order autoregressive (AR) gamma sequence, in which random variables are marginally distributed as gamma variables. We give the definition of a GAR model and a simple realization method of GAR(1). Parameter estimation methods are studied, too. Simulation results show that our model can meet the characteristics of VBR video better than existing models.
Liver cirrhosis and thyroid function: Friend or foe?

Introduction: The liver plays a central role in thyroid hormone metabolism, transport, and clearance. A normal function of both the thyroid gland and the liver is therefore necessary to maintain normal thyroid hormone levels and action. Data regarding thyroid function in patients with liver cirrhosis are scarce and variable. The most consistent finding is a decreased free triiodothyronine (fT3) level, which correlates with the severity of liver disease and has been proposed as a prognostic factor for liver-related complications. Aim of the study: To evaluate thyroid hormone values in patients with stable liver cirrhosis and to compare them with healthy controls without liver disease. We also assessed the prevalence of thyroid autoimmunity and whether liver function tests correlated with thyroid function. Material and methods: We performed a prospective case–control study in an endocrinological setting. Twenty-nine patients with stable cirrhosis (20 males and 9 females, mean age 60.97 ± 7.17 years) were included in the case group and 50 healthy subjects (22 males and 28 females, mean age 61.70 ± 13.00 years) in the control group. We excluded patients with confounding factors known to influence thyroid function. Levels of serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), fT3, free thyroxine (fT4) and anti-TPO-antibodies (TPO-Ab) were measured. These thyroid hormone values were compared in both groups. Biochemical indices of liver function (aspartate aminotransferase [AST], alanine aminotransferase [ALT], alkaline phosphatase [AP], gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase [GGT], INR, total bilirubin, and albumin levels) were correlated with thyroid function tests. Results: fT3 en fT4 levels were significantly lower in patients with cirrhosis than in healthy subjects (p = 0.001 and 0.002, respectively). TSH levels were not statistically significantly different in the two groups. The level of TPO-Ab was not increased in patients with cirrhosis compared to healthy controls. fT3 correlated negatively with the Child–Pugh score. Discussion: These results indicate that, compared to healthy controls, patients with cirrhosis have decreased fT3 and fT4 levels and comparable TSH levels and may be consistent with findings of limited acquired central hypothyroidism as observed in the non-thyroidal illness syndrome (NTIS). fT3 levels correlated negatively with Child–Pugh score, a measure of severity of liver dysfunction. We did not find an increased prevalence of thyroid autoimmunity in these patients.
Preliminary evaluation of an illustrated scale for rating dental attractiveness.

A standardized rating scale of dental attractiveness could be used to assist the determination of treatment priority, as a tool in patient counselling when assisting subjects to gain a realistic impression of their relative dental attractiveness, and to generate reproducible measures in various areas of orthodontic research. The development of a simple 10 point rating scale (SCAN) illustrated by representative dental photographs across the range of values, is described. High inter-judge correlations were found for othodontists, parents and children using the scale. Children who underrated their own dental attractiveness also had a low mean score for their general self-esteem.
Agreement between Polar and SRM mobile ergometer systems during laboratory-based high-intensity, intermittent cycling activity

Abstract The purpose of this study was to assess the agreement between two mobile cycle ergometer systems for recording high-intensity, intermittent power output. Twelve trained male cyclists (age 31.4 ± 9.8 years) performed a single 3 min intermittent cycle test consisting of 12 all-out efforts, separated by periods of passive recovery ranging from 5 to 15 s. Power output was recorded using a Polar S710 heart rate monitor and power sensor kit and an SRM Powercrank system for each test. The SRM used torque and angular velocity to calculate power, while the S710 used chain speed and vibration to calculate power. Significant differences (P < 0.05) in power were found at 8 of the 12 efforts. A significant difference (P = 0.001) was also found when power was averaged over all 12 intervals. Mean power was 556 ± 102 W and 446 ± 61 W for the SRM and S710 respectively. The S710 underestimated power by an average of 23% with random errors of */÷ 24% when compared with the SRM. Random errors ranged from 36% to 141% with a median of 51%. The results indicate there was little agreement between the two systems and that the Polar S710 did not provide a valid measure of power during intermittent cycling activity when compared with the SRM. Power recorded by the S710 system was influenced greatly by chain vibration and sampling rates.
Dose Response of Attenuated Bordetella pertussis BPZE1-Induced Protection in Mice

ABSTRACT Despite the availability of efficacious vaccines, the incidence of whooping cough is still high in many countries and is even increasing in countries with high vaccine coverage. Most severe and life-threatening pertussis cases occur in infants who are too young to be sufficiently protected by current vaccine regimens. As a potential solution to this problem, we have developed an attenuated live Bordetella pertussis vaccine strain, named BPZE1. Here, we show that after a single administration, BPZE1 induces dose-dependent protection against challenge with virulent B. pertussis in low-dose and in high-dose intranasal mouse lung colonization models. In addition, we observed BPZE1 dose-dependent antibody titers to B. pertussis antigens, as well as cell-mediated immunity, evidenced by the amounts of gamma interferon (IFN-γ) released from spleen cells upon stimulation with B. pertussis antigens. These two parameters may perhaps be used as readouts in clinical trials in humans that are currently being planned.
DETERMINING THE MEDIATING EFFECT OF JOB SATISFACTION ON TURNOVER INTENTION: A STUDY IN THE HAZELNUT INDUSTRY OF GIRESUN

The purpose of this study is to examine turnover intention by examining the role of job satisfaction which may play when evaluating the relationship of human resources management practices with turnover intention. In the literature, similar variables are studied; however hazelnut industry has’t been studied yet. Giresun is one of the cities that placed in the Blacksea Region of Turkey. Giresun’s hazelnut quality is the highest quality hazelnuts in the world (FTG). Because of that reason, hazelnut industry is vital for Giresun’s economy. This study was conducted on 364 employees who work in hazelnut industry in Giresun, Turkey. According to results, human resources management practices and job satisfaction were essential predictors of employees’ turnover intention. Besides, job satisfaction has a partial mediating effect in enhancing the relationship between human resources management practices and employees’ turnover intention. According to this result, the managements of companies in hazelnut industry shouldn’t only focus on the human resources management practices to influence employees’ turnover intention, but also the strategies on how job satisfaction regarding the human resources management practices should be increased appropriately.
Lidar measurement of snow depth: a review

Abstract Laser altimetry (lidar) is a remote-sensing technology that holds tremendous promise for mapping snow depth in snow hydrology and avalanche applications. Recently lidar has seen a dramatic widening of applications in the natural sciences, resulting in technological improvements and an increase in the availability of both airborne and ground-based sensors. Modern sensors allow mapping of vegetation heights and snow or ground surface elevations below forest canopies. Typical vertical accuracies for airborne datasets are decimeter-scale with order 1 m point spacings. Ground-based systems typically provide millimeter-scale range accuracy and sub-meter point spacing over 1 m to several kilometers. Many system parameters, such as scan angle, pulse rate and shot geometry relative to terrain gradients, require specification to achieve specific point coverage densities in forested and/or complex terrain. Additionally, snow has a significant volumetric scattering component, requiring different considerations for error estimation than for other Earth surface materials. We use published estimates of light penetration depth by wavelength to estimate radiative transfer error contributions. This paper presents a review of lidar mapping procedures and error sources, potential errors unique to snow surface remote sensing in the near-infrared and visible wavelengths, and recommendations for projects using lidar for snow-depth mapping.
Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 3 Is a Physiological Regulator of Adipocyte Insulin Signaling*

Many proinflammatory cytokines and hormones have been demonstrated to be involved in insulin resistance. However, the molecular mechanisms whereby these cytokines and hormones inhibit insulin signaling are not completely understood. We observed that several cytokines and hormones that induce insulin resistance also stimulate SOCS3 expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and that SOCS3 mRNA is increased in adipose tissue of obese/diabetic mice. We then hypothesized that SOCS3 may mediate cytokine- and hormone-induced insulin resistance. By using SOCS3-deficient adipocytes differentiated from mouse embryonic fibroblasts, we found that SOCS3 deficiency increases insulin-stimulated IRS1 and IRS2 phosphorylation, IRS-associated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity, and insulin-stimulated glucose uptake. Moreover, lack of SOCS3 substantially limits the inhibitory effects of tumor necrosis factor-α to suppress IRS1 and IRS2 tyrosine phosphorylation, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity, and glucose uptake in adipocytes. The ameliorated insulin signaling in SOCS3-deficient adipocytes is mainly due to the suppression of tumor necrosis factor-α-induced IRS1 and IRS2 protein degradation. Therefore, our data suggest that endogenous SOCS3 expression is a key determinant of basal insulin signaling and is an important molecular mediator of cytokine-induced insulin resistance in adipocytes. We conclude that SOCS3 plays an important role in mediating insulin resistance and may be an excellent target for therapeutic intervention in insulin resistance and type II diabetes.