Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
MODELING BROMIDE EFFECTS ON THE SPECIATION OF TRIHALOMETHANES FORMATION IN CHLORINATED DRINKING WATER

Speciation behavior of trihalomethanes formation in chlorinated waters due to the effects of bromide is mathematically modeled by a three-tier scheme. Equations for the mole fractions of the mono-, di-, and trihalo-intermediates at each tier level in terms of the initial bromide to chlorine molar ratio are derived and verified by comparison with results of other theoretical studies based on an assumption of constant bromination to chlorination reaction reactivity ratio. It is identified that the usage of applied chlorine concentration or available chlorine concentration for calculation of the relative initial bromide to chlorine concentration would yield different reactivity ratio and should be used consistently. The model equations are also tested by laboratory experiments done with source water at a local plant. It is found that equations with an overall bromination to chlorination rate constant ratio of 18.66 can capture the THM speciation behavior of all four tested incubation periods well.
To Expense or not to Expense Employee Stock Options: The Market Reaction

During 2002 and 2003, 140 publicly traded U.S. firms announced their intention to recognize an accounting expense when stock options are granted to employees. Many similar firms elected not to expense options. We study the stock marketâ€™s reaction. There is no evidence whatsoever that expensing options reduces the stock price. To the contrary, around announcement dates, we find significant price increases for firms electing to expense options and significant price declines for industry/size/performance-matched firms that did not announce expensing at the same moment. The average relative change in market values is 3.65% during a six-day window around the announcement. The magnitude of the marketâ€™s reaction to expensing depends on agency costs, the magnitude of option expenses, and financial reporting costs. The marketâ€™s reaction does not seem to be affected by contracting costs (e.g., induced by debt covenants), growth opportunities, or potential political repercussions. Moreover, the decision to expense and the magnitude of the marketâ€™s reaction are not signals of future operating performance. The market seems to react favorably to transparent reporting while it penalizes firms that give the appearance of having something to hide.
Cephalexin therapy for infectious syphilis.

Cephalexin, an orally administered cephalosporin antibiotic, was used for the treatment of infectious syphilis in regimens of 15 and 30 gm. The former dose was inadequate whereas the latter schedule gave results comparable to those obtained with presently recommended doses of either erythromycin or tetracycline, which can be used as alternate antibiotics to parenterally administered penicillin. Whenever possible, penicillin therapy must remain the treatment of choice for all stages of syphilis.
Comparative glycomics of connective tissue glycosaminoglycans

Homeostasis of connective joint tissues depends on the maintenance of an extracellular matrix, consisting of an integrated assembly of collagens, glycoproteins, proteoglycans, and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). Isomeric chondroitin sulfate (CS) glycoforms differing in position and degree of sulfation and uronic acid epimerization play specific and distinct functional roles during development and disease onset. This work profiles the CS epitopes expressed by different joint tissues as a function of age and osteoarthritis. GAGs were extracted from joint tissues (cartilage, tendon, ligment, muscle, and synovium) and partially depolymerized using chondroitinase enzymes. The oligosaccharide products were differentially stable isotope labeled by reductive amination using 2‐anthranilic acid‐d0 or ‐d4 and subjected to amide‐hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) online LC‐MS/MS. The analysis presented herein enables simultaneous profiling of the expression of nonreducing end, linker region, and Δ‐unsaturated interior oligosaccharide domains of the CS chains among the different joint tissues. The results provide important new information on the changes to the expression of CS GAG chains during disease and development.
Does financial development ‘lead' economic growth? A vector auto-regression appraisal

Using a Vector Autoregression (VAR) approach, several hypotheses are re-examined suggested by the literature concerning the relationship between financial development and economic growth, investment and productivity. The models use quarterly time-series data from ten OECD countries and China. Innovation accounting or variance decomposition and impulse response function analysis is applied to examine interrelationships between variables in the VAR system and, therefore, differs from the more usual Granger causality approach. In particular, it examines the relationship between financial development proxied by total credit. At best, weak support is found for the hypothesis that financial development ‘leads' economic growth.
Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) antagonist [D-Phe12,Nle21,38,C alpha MeLeu37]CRF attenuates the acute actions of the highly potent cannabinoid receptor agonist HU-210 on defensive-withdrawal behavior in rats.

The present study evaluated the modulatory role of central corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) systems in the mediation of the effects of acute exposure to the brain cannabinoid receptor agonist HU-210 [3-(1,1-dimethylheptyl)-(-)-11-hydroxy-delta 8-tetrahydrocannabinol] on defensive withdrawal behavior in male rats. The apparatus used for the defensive withdrawal test consisted of a small chamber, set on one side of a one-square meter open field. The actions of the potent CRF antagonist [D-Phe12,Nle21,38,C alpha MeLeu37]CRF (D-Phe CRF12-41) were examined on defensive behavior under both novel and familiar conditions. The acute i.c. v. administration of D-Phe CRF12-41 (0.2-5 micrograms/injection) antagonized the defensive behavior response to stressing conditions such as novelty or swim stress in field-habituated animals. The acute i.p. administration of HU-210 (4, 20 and 100 micrograms/kg) produced a clear dose-dependent stress-like effects in field-habituated animals, as reflected in the HU-210-induced increase in both the emergence latency and the mean time spent in the small chamber. The i.c. v. administration of 5 micrograms of D-Phe CRF12-41, 5 min before the administration of the cannabinoid prevented the stressing actions of HU-210 (20 micrograms/kg, but not 100 micrograms/kg). Acute administration of HU-210 also induced a dose-dependent increase in plasma corticosterone levels which was not antagonized by pretreatment with 5 micrograms of D-Phe CRF12-41. The present study suggests a role of central CRF systems in the mediation of the anxiogenic effects of brain cannabinoid receptor agonists. This finding is consistent with a direct hypothalamic effect of cannabinoids on the activation of the pituitary-adrenal axis.
The Effect of Remifentanil on the Incidence of Agitation on Emergence from Sevoflurane Anaesthesia in Children Undergoing Adenotonsillectomy

The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of remifentanil on the incidence of emergence agitation in preschool-aged children undergoing adenotonsillectomy with sevoflurane anaesthesia. Sixty children, aged three to seven years, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I or II, were randomised into either group S (sevoflurane alone, n=30) or group R (sevoflurane plus remifentanil, n=30). Anaesthesia was induced with an intravenous bolus injection of fentanyl 3 μg/kg and propofol 2.5 mg/kg. Endotracheal intubation was facilitated by vecuronium 0.1 mg/kg. All patients were ventilated with 50% nitrous oxide and 1.5 to 2.5% sevoflurane in oxygen. End-tidal CO2 was maintained at 35∓4 mmHg. Group S received no other medication while group R received remifentanil 1 μg/kg/minute intraoperatively. Mean blood pressure, heart rate, pulse oximetry, eye-opening time and extubation time were recorded in the operating room. In recovery, emergence agitation was assessed using the Pediatric Anesthesia Emergence Delirium scale with a score ≥10 taken as indicating agitation. Emergence agitation occurred in 20 of the 30 patients in group S and seven of the 30 patients in group R (P <0.01). In preschool-aged children undergoing adenotonsillectomy with sevoflurane general anaesthesia, after propofol and fentanyl induction, intraoperative remifentanil decreased the incidence of emergence agitation.
Education in Rural Tibet: Development, Problems and Adaptations

Education is a strategic component for accelerating Tibet's development. Yet attendance rates still lag behind the rest of China. Data gathered in villages of two counties is used to examine how home, school and community factors affect school participation. It is argued that despite the abolition of school fees and the provision of boarding schools in China for graduates of primary schools in Tibet, the dropout rates in rural Tibet remain high largely due to the need for household labour, the low quality of education provided and the inability of schools to provide villagers with competitive jobs after graduation.
E-Cadherin and β-catenin Reduction Influence Invasion but not Proliferation and Survival in Canine Malignant Mammary Tumors

E-Cadherin and β-catenin are known for their role in tumor invasion, but both proteins also exert an influence on tumor proliferation. This study, performed on canine mammary tumors, aimed to analyze the influence of E-cadherin (E-cad) and β-catenin (β-cat), immunohistochemically assessed singly and in combination (E-cad/β-cat), on survival and their relationship with several proliferation indices (AgNOR index, MIB1 index, mitotic index). Immunohistochemistry was carried out on 60 formalin-fixed, paraffin wax-embedded specimens of canine mammary malignancies. The labeling was defined as preserved when prevalent on cell membranes of more than 75% of cells and reduced in other forms of expression (i.e., membranous less than 75%, cytoplasmic, and negative). E-cad, β-cat, and E-cad/β-cat were preserved respectively in 22, 12, and 11 out of 60 cases. Immunohistochemical expression of the two proteins in the same tumors was significantly correlated (P = 0.0001; R = 0.57). Survival analysis revealed no difference in outcome comparing the preserved versus reduced cases (E-cad, P = 0.31; β-cat, P = 0.29; E-cad/β-cat P = 0.36). Grouping cases for histologic invasiveness, the expression of E-cad or β-cat and E-cad/β-cat showed a progressive reduction that paralleled an increase in invasiveness from noninfiltrating to stage-II tumors (E-cad, P < 0.001; β-cat, P < 0.05; E-cad/β-cat, P < 0.05). No significant difference was obtained comparing mitotic index, MIB 1 index, and AgNOR index by analysis of variance between the cases grouped for preserved or reduced E-cad, β-cat, and E-cad/β-cat variables. In conclusion, reduced expression of E-cad, β-cat, or E-cad/β-cat was significantly associated with the progression from noninfiltrating to highly infiltrating tumors but not with proliferation or survival.
Is it profitable to represent the country? Evidence on the sport-related income of funded top-level athletes in Germany

Several countries have introduced support mechanisms for top-level athletes who represent their nation in international competitions such as the Olympics. Many of these athletes receive funding as they do not generate sufficient income through their sport. Previous research has focused on self-sufficient athletes in professional sports demonstrating a research gap regarding the income of funded athletes. The purpose of the study is to analyse the determinants of the sport-related income of funded athletes. An empirical evaluation is undertaken using data from a nationwide survey of national top-level athletes in Germany who are supported by the German Sports Aid Foundation (n = 1133). The results show that being an Olympic champion, European champion, age, age-squared, squad level, being disabled, and the media exposure of the sport have a significant impact on the sport-related income of funded athletes. The sport-related income also differs significantly among sports.
Bioethics and professionalism in popular television medical dramas

Television medical dramas sometimes depict medical professionalism and bioethical issues, but their nature and extent are unclear. The authors systematically analysed the bioethical and professionalism content of one season each of Grey's Anatomy and House M.D., two of the most popular current television medical dramas. The results indicate that these programmes are rife with powerful portrayals of bioethical issues and egregious deviations from the norms of professionalism and contain exemplary depictions of professionalism to a much lesser degree.
Georgia's war on crime: creating security in a post-revolutionary context

Since the Rose Revolution of 2003, the Georgian Government has made criminal justice reform a cornerstone of its political agenda. A big part of this was the fight against organised crime. This article looks at the use of anti-mafia policies and police reform to create domestic security in the post-revolutionary period. This article provides an account of collusion between the state and organised crime actors known as thieves-in-law prior to the revolution and levels of victimisation and insecurity amongst ordinary Georgians in this context. This article then details the anti-mafia policy and the criminological situation in Georgia since the Rose Revolution. It argues that Georgia has witnessed a huge crime decline and increases in security. In conclusion, this article suggests that the Georgian Government now ‘governs through crime’ and that this model might emerge in other countries of the post-Soviet region.
Voluntary IFRS disclosures: evidence from the transition from UK GAAP to IFRSs

Purpose - The purpose of this study is to investigate how the provision of voluntary International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) disclosures in the pre-adoption period has affected the IFRS transition process of UK listed firms. The study also seeks to identify the motivation of firms with financing needs to provide voluntary IFRS disclosures and determines whether the provision of voluntary IFRS disclosures in the pre-adoption period leads to more value relevant numbers. Design/methodology/approach - The study utilises logistic and linear regressions to test the hypothetical relations set up in the study. The categorisation of firms into voluntary and non-voluntary IFRS disclosers is based on the (non-mandatory) provision of material IFRS information prior to adoption about the upcoming adoption of IFRSs in 2005. Company categorization is particularly based on the construction of an index similar to the disclosure index formulated by the Center for International Financial Analysis and Research. Findings - With regard to IFRS transition, firms that provided voluntary IFRS disclosures prior to adoption display a greater positive change in equity and earnings. Non-voluntary IFRS disclosers exhibit a greater positive change in leverage and a decrease in liquidity. Voluntary IFRS disclosers exhibit higher equity and debt financing needs and tend to be audited by a big auditor and be cross-listed. Research limitations/implications - The study implies that the need to obtain financing on better terms would motivate managers to provide voluntary (IFRS) disclosures to show that they are familiar with the upcoming regulatory change and ready to implement it when it becomes effective. The provision of voluntary IFRS disclosures leads to more value relevant accounting measures, suggesting that less information asymmetry would lead to the disclosure of informative and higher quality accounting information assisting investors in making informed judgements. Originality/value - Knowing about different firms' transition experience would assist accounting standard setters in issuing explanatory IFRS guidance in order to lead to an efficient transition to IFRSs for countries that intend to adopt IFRSs or perform an accounting change. The examination of IFRS transition for firms that have experienced the change is important and would provide insight to firms considering this option. The findings further assist accounting academics and students, accountants and investors in their effort to study the motivation for providing voluntary disclosures as well as the magnitude and materiality of IFRS transition on companies' financial accounts.
Catching up in Europe: Finland's Convergence with Sweden and the EU15

Abstract Finland is an obvious case of economic convergence in the 20th century. Is this due to the fact that the Finnish industrialisation phase started late compared with Sweden and the EU15 average? In this article the Finnish post-World War II catch up process is traced by analysing the major – i.e., primary, secondary and tertiary-industries. First we explore whether the Finnish catch up can be explained only by late industrialisation. Then we delineate the phases of structural change, and finally, we show how primary, secondary and tertiary production and labour productivity growth have contributed to aggregate development and catch-up. Our analysis brings new results on timing and locating convergence. Secondary production had its biggest impact on Finnish GDP growth later than in Sweden. However, it was not solely the advantages of secondary production growth that caused Finland's catch-up. The labour productivity growth contribution from services was essential for Finland's catch up especially in 1965–80.
House Prices, Money, Credit and the Macroeconomy

This paper assesses the links between money, credit, house prices, and economic activity in industrialized countries over the last three decades. The analysis is based on a fixed-effects panel vector autoregression, estimated using quarterly data for 17 industrialized countries spanning the period 1970-2006. The main results of the analysis are the following. (i) There is evidence of a significant multidirectional link between house prices, monetary variables, and the macroeconomy. (ii) The link between house prices and monetary variables is found to be stronger over a more recent sub-sample from 1985 to 2006. (iii) The effects of shocks to money and credit are found to be stronger when house prices are booming.
The Foreign Staple Trade of China in the Pre-Modern Era

studies of the trade of pre-modern China have focused on domestic trade.1 By comparison, foreign trade, especially the staple trade (the purchase and sale of goods in bulk), which had an equally long history, has been neglected.2 The reasons for the neglect vary, from lack of data to theoretical bias derived from the seeming incompatibility of sustained foreign trade with the lack of specialization and underdeveloped commercialization and, ultimately, capitalism in China. Immanuel Wallerstein, for example, assumes that in pre-modern times
Economic growth and inequality patterns in the presence of costly technology adoption and uncertainty

We develop a stochastic endogenous growth model to explain the diversity in growth and inequality patterns and the non-convergence of incomes in transitional economies where an underdeveloped financial sector imposes an implicit, fixed cost on the diversification of idiosyncratic risk. In the model endogenous growth occurs through physical and human capital deepening, with the latter being the more dominant element. We interpret the fixed cost as 'learning by doing' cost for entrepreneurs who undertake risk in the absence of well developed financial markets and institutions that help diversify such risk. As such, this cost may be interpreted as the implicit returns foregone due to the lack of diversification opportunities that would otherwise have been available, had such institutions been present. The analytical and numerical results of the model suggest three growth outcomes depending on the productivity differences between the projects and the fixed cost associated with the more productive project. We label these outcomes as poverty trap, dual economy and balanced growth. Further analysis of these three outcomes highlights the existence of a diversity within diversity. Specifically, within the 'poverty trap' and 'dual economy' scenarios growth and inequality patterns differ, depending on the initial conditions. This additional diversity allows the model to capture a richer range of outcomes that are consistent with the empirical experience of several transitional economies.
Does the Impact of Institutional Quality on Economic Growth Depend on Initial Income Level?

The aim of this paper is to determine the most adequate institutional variables to introduce into a growth model, depending on the income levels of countries. The results show that, for rich countries, the rule of law is fundamental while, for poor countries, it is control of corruption. This has important implications for any agenda of institutional reform in either type of country.
Oral feeding in premature infants: advantage of a self‐paced milk flow

An earlier study demonstrated that oral feeding of premature infants (<30 wk gestation) was enhanced when milk was delivered through a self‐paced flow system. The aims of this study were to identify the principle(s) by which this occurred and to develop a practical method to implement the self‐paced system in neonatal nurseries. Feeding performance, measured by overall transfer, duration of oral feedings, efficiency, and percentage of successful feedings, was assessed at three time periods, when infants were taking 1‐2, 3‐5, and 6‐8 oral feedings/day. At each time period, infants were fed, sequentially and in a random order, with a self‐paced system, a standard bottle, and a test bottle, the shape of which allowed the elimination of the internal hydrostatic pressure. In a second study, infants were similarly fed with the self‐paced system and a vacuum‐free bottle which eliminated both hydrostatic pressure and vacuum within the bottle. The duration of oral feedings, efficiency, and percentage of successful feedings were improved with the self‐paced system as compared to the standard and test bottles. The results were similar in the comparison between the self‐paced system and the vacuum‐free bottle.
Predation through Regulation: The Wage and Profit Effects of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency

regulation-the isolated, partial equilibrium effects of regulation on single firms or individuals. Examples of the direct effects of environmental and safety regulations include increased safety of products and workplaces, decreased emissions of pollutants, and increased manufacturing costs. While direct effects dominate popular perceptions of regulation, the often pronounced heterogeneity among firms gives rise to additional, general equilibrium effects that we will call "indirect effects"-the competitive advantages that arise from the asymmetrical distributions of regulatory effect among different groups of firms and workers. For example, if the cost burden of certain regulations falls heavily on one group of firms and lightly on a second group, then an indirect effect of these regulations is to provide cost advantage to the second group of firms. It is extremely important to recognize that, for many firms and workers, the indirect