Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Legitimacy, positioning and paradigm : behind the Northern Territory's whole of government approach to suicide prevention

The whole of government approach rose to popularity as a means to facilitate coordination and a holistic approach to policy problems that span bureaucratic boundaries. The bulk of the literature considers the approach in terms of these aspirations. In contrast, this research did not assume the reasons why a whole of government approach was adopted but rather openly explored the purposes it actually served and studied how it operated. It presents a single case study of the whole of government approach for suicide prevention in the Australian jurisdiction of the Northern Territory (NT). The case study draws on qualitative data including observation of an interdepartmental committee over more than three years as well as semi-structured interviews with participants and document review. Data were analysed using an inductive exploratory approach. Examination of how the committee operated revealed that despite its multi-departmental membership, the bulk of the committee’s work was carried out by the lead agency and, particularly, by one individual. Furthermore, the committee was charged with broad responsibilities but its actual prime concerns were to develop and attempt to report on an action plan. There was no funding available for the action plan’s development and it documented largely unaltered activities from the member agencies that had a bearing on suicide prevention. Decisions relating to the allocation of suicide prevention funding were outside the committee’s sphere of influence. There was a disjuncture between this operation of the committee and the formal representation of the process suggesting that the committee was largely symbolic; it was intended to communicate beliefs, feeling and values. The detection of the symbolic dimension of both the committee and the action plan is a key finding of this research and breaks from the largely instrumentalist whole of government literature which assumes the approach is intended to achieve specific ends. The symbols were used to represent a legitimate approach to suicide prevention; one that was aligned with both the institutional norm and national policy. Additionally, it was hoped that the symbols would help to position suicide onto the NT political agenda and promote the paradigm of joint responsibility for suicide prevention. Whole of government symbols being used for such purposes supports the belief that the approach has become institutionalised and is used for non-technical reasons.
Gas exchange and cardiovascular kinetics with different exercise protocols in heart transplant recipients.

Metabolic and cardiovascular adjustments to various submaximal exercises were evaluated in 82 heart transplant recipients (HTR) and in 35 control subjects (C). HTR were tested 21.5 +/- 25.3 (SD) mo (range 1.0-137.1 mo) posttransplantation. Three protocols were used: protocol A consisted of 5 min of rectangular 50-W load repeated twice, 5 min apart [5 min rest, 5 min 50 W (Ex 1), 5 min recovery, 5 min 50 W (Ex 2)]; protocol B consisted of 5 min of rectangular load at 25, 50, or 75 W; protocol C consisted of 15 min of rectangular load at 25 W. Breath-by-breath pulmonary ventilation (VE), O2 uptake (VO2), and CO2 output (VCO2) were determined. During protocol A, beat-by-beat cardiac output (Q) was estimated by impedance cardiography. The half times (t1/2) of the on- and off-kinetics of the variables were calculated. In all protocols, t1/2 values for VO2 on-, VE on-, and VCO2 on-kinetics were higher (i.e., the kinetics were slower) in HTR than in C, independently of workload and of the time post-transplantation. Also, t1/2 Q on- was higher in HTR than in C. In protocol A, no significant difference of t1/2 VO2 on- was observed in HTR between Ex 1 (48 +/- 9 s) and Ex 2 (46 +/- 8 s), whereas t1/2 Q on- was higher during Ex 1 (55 +/- 24 s) than during Ex 2 (47 +/- 15 s). In all protocols and for all variables, the t1/2 off-values were higher in HTR than in C, In protocol C, no differences of steady-state VE, VO2, and VCO2 were observed in both groups between 5, 10, and 15 min of exercise. We conclude that 1) in HTR, a "priming" exercise, while effective in speeding up the adjustment of convective O2 flow to muscle fibers during a second on-transition, did not affect the VO2 on-kinetics, suggesting that the slower VO2 on- in HTR was attributable to peripheral (muscular) factors; 2) the dissociation between Q on- and VO2 on-kinetics in HTR indicates that an inertia of muscle metabolic machinery is the main factor dictating the VO2 on-kinetics; and 3) the VO2 off-kinetics was slower in HTR than in C, indicating a greater alactic O2 deficit in HTR and, therefore, a sluggish muscle VO2 adjustment.
The Validity of Nutrition Screening Initiative DETERMINE Checklist Responses in Older Georgians

The Nutrition Screening Initiative DETERMINE Checklist (NSI) is used throughout the United States to assess nutrition risk of those requesting the services of the Older Americans Act Nutrition Program (OAANP). This study examined the ability of the NSI to evaluate nutrition risk by comparing the responses between NSI and matched comparable survey questions using the self-administered mail survey data that were collected among 924 new OAANP applicants in Georgia (mean age 75.0 ± 9.2 years, 68.8% women, 26.1% Black). Ninety-four percent of our sample provided at least one discordant response (i.e., disagreement between responses to the NSI and matched questions). Questions regarding food intake most frequently yielded discordant responses. Black participants were more likely to provide discordant responses for the meal frequency question. Food insecure individuals were less likely to provide discordant responses for food intake questions. Those who lived alone were less likely to provide discordant responses for the dairy intake question. Some NSI items may have limited ability to reliably assess nutritional risk of older adults. Further efforts are warranted to improve nutritional assessment tools for use in vulnerable older adults.
Macroeconomic Policy and Elections in OECD Democracies

The purpose of this paper is to test for evidence of opportunistic "political business cycles" in a large sample of 18 OECD economies. Our results can be summarized as follows: 1) We find very little evidence of pre-electoral effects of economic outcomes, in particular, on GDP growth and unemployment; 2) We see some evidence of "political monetary cycles. " that is, expansionary monetary policy in election years; 3) We also observe indications of "political budget cycles," or "loose" fiscal policy prior to elections; 4) Inflation exhibits a postelectoral jump, which could be explained by either the preelectoral "loose" monetary and fiscal policies and/or by an opportunistic timing of increases in publicly controlled prices, or indirect taxes.
Multivariate analysis for clinical prognostic factors in 163 patients with soft tissue sarcoma

Clinical and histologic findings in 163 patients with localized soft tissue sarcoma (STS) in the extremities and trunk were reviewed. There were 91 male patients and 72 female patients ranging in age from 2 to 84 years (median, 46 years). The histologic status of the tumors was as follows: low grade, 29 cases; intermediate grade, 52 cases; and high grade, 82 cases. The primary tumors were treated by intralesional excision (two cases), marginal (88), wide local (52), or amputation (21). Subsequent adjuvant therapy was given to 61 patients; 17 had radiotherapy (RT), 27 had chemotherapy (CH), and 17 had combined RT and CH. The overall survival (P < 0.1) and disease‐free survival (P < 0.001) were better in the group that received multimodal treatment (radical surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy with or without radiotherapy) than in the group treated only by surgery. This suggests the favorable role of adjuvant therapy. The univariate and the Cox multivariate analysis for prognosis revealed that sex, tumor‐related symptoms, tumor size, tumor depth, and histologic grade were the significant factors. Among the treatment schemes, adjuvant chemotherapy was the only one that affected survival, especially for the intermediate‐grade tumors. Initial surgical treatment (marginal versus wide local excision) significantly contributed to the local control of the primary tumors.
Reducing Global Neonatal Mortality Is Possible

Background: The global neonatal mortality of 28/1,000 live births is unacceptably high. Furthermore, the huge difference in mortality between high- and low-income countries and regions is presently one of the most burning human rights issues. The decline in neonatal mortality has been slow and is a main reason the Millennium Development Goal 4 does not seem to have been reached. Objectives: Several countries have shown it is possible to reduce neonatal mortality quickly and dramatically without much cost. Methods: It is important to learn from the successful countries and focus on the 3–4 major causes of neonatal death: asphyxia, infection, low birth weight/prematurity and congenital malformations. Results: A reasonable short-term goal is to reduce global neonatal mortality to 15/1,000 which can be achieved without introduction of high technology medicine. A further reduction of mortality to 5/1,000 should be the next global goal. Reaching this would reduce the present 3.8 million annual deaths by 3 million. In order to do this, regionalization of health care should be implemented. Maternal health should be the focus, with free antenatal care and centralized deliveries with health personnel attending the birth. Education of girls is perhaps the best way to prevent perinatal and neonatal deaths. Ten simple recommendations are given to reduce neonatal mortality. One of these is that each newborn baby in the world should have free access to essential drugs. Conclusions: It is possible to reduce newborn mortality in all countries and regions. Most important to achieve these goals is, however, political will.
Bayesian Methods in Family Business Research

Bayesian methods constitute an alternative to null hypothesis significance testing (NHST). This article briefly reviews the concept of Bayesian methods, describes their differences from NHST, and discusses the potential of Bayesian methods to advance family business research and practice. We argue that Bayesian methods are well suited to account for the significant heterogeneity that exists in the population of family firms. The article closes with a short guide to using Bayesian methods and reporting their results in the context of research on family businesses. The article's focus is on regression models.
Effectiveness of Closing Call Auctions: Evidence from the Taiwan Stock Exchange

To reduce market volatility observed at the close of trading and to enhance the fairness of the closing price, the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TSE) changed the way it executed its closing transactions by instituting a five-minute closing call auction. This paper examines the effectiveness of this new mechanism for the TSE. The empirical results show that the closing call has effectively reduced market volatility at closing and enhanced market efficiency by reducing noise in stock closing prices. However, market liquidity has declined, primarily due to the actions of individual investors. Because the limit order book is fully opaque for the five-minute call period, investors may close their position earlier than the closing period to avoid additional risk. This implies that, to maximize the benefits of the closing call, the TSE should provide the transparency of the limit order book for the closing call period.
Automated regional analysis of B-mode ultrasound images of skeletal muscle movement

To understand the functional significance of skeletal muscle anatomy, a method of quantifying local shape changes in different tissue structures during dynamic tasks is required. Taking advantage of the good spatial and temporal resolution of B-mode ultrasound imaging, we describe a method of automatically segmenting images into fascicle and aponeurosis regions and tracking movement of features, independently, in localized portions of each tissue. Ultrasound images (25 Hz) of the medial gastrocnemius muscle were collected from eight participants during ankle joint rotation (2° and 20°), isometric contractions (1, 5, and 50 Nm), and deep knee bends. A Kanade-Lucas-Tomasi feature tracker was used to identify and track any distinctive and persistent features within the image sequences. A velocity field representation of local movement was then found and subdivided between fascicle and aponeurosis regions using segmentations from a multiresolution active shape model (ASM). Movement in each region was quantified by interpolating the effect of the fields on a set of probes. ASM segmentation results were compared with hand-labeled data, while aponeurosis and fascicle movement were compared with results from a previously documented cross-correlation approach. ASM provided good image segmentations (<1 mm average error), with fully automatic initialization possible in sequences from seven participants. Feature tracking provided similar length change results to the cross-correlation approach for small movements, while outperforming it in larger movements. The proposed method provides the potential to distinguish between active and passive changes in muscle shape and model strain distributions during different movements/conditions and quantify nonhomogeneous strain along aponeuroses.
Toward a Mandatory Work Policy for Men

Lawrence Mead addresses the problem of nonwork among low-income men, particularly low-income black men, and its implications for families and children. The poor work effort, he says, appears to be caused partly by falling wages and other opportunity constraints but principally by an oppositional culture and a breakdown of work discipline. Mead argues that if government policies are to increase work among poor men, they must not merely improve wages and skills but enforce work in available jobs. Using the same "help with hassle" approach that welfare reform has used successfully to increase work among poor mothers, policymakers should adapt the child support enforcement and criminal justice systems so that both actively help their clients find employment and then back up that help with a requirement that they work. Men with unpaid child support judgments and parolees leaving prison would be told to get a job or pay up, as they are now. But if they did not, they would be remanded to a required work program where their efforts to work would be closely supervised. They would have to participate and get a private job and have their subsequent employment verified. Failing that, they would be assigned to work crews, where again compliance would be verified. Men who failed to participate and work steadily would—unless there were good cause—be sent back to the child support or parole authorities to be imprisoned. But men who complied would be freed from the work program after a year or two. They would then revert to the looser supervision practiced by the regular child support and parole systems. If their employment record deteriorated, they could again be remanded to the work program. Mead estimates that such a program would involve as many as 1.5 million men who are already in the child support and criminal justice systems and would cost $2.4 billion to $4.8 billion a year. It is premature, says Mead, for such a program to be mandated nationwide. Rather, the best role for national policy at this point is to establish and evaluate promising model programs to see which work best.
An Integrated Model of Employees’ Behavioral Intention Toward Innovative Information and Communication Technologies in Travel Agencies

This study proposes a comprehensive model that incorporates attitudinal variables in the technology acceptance model, motivational variables in the innovation diffusion theory, and the social variable in the theory of planned behavior to investigate the attitude, behavioral intentions, and usage of information and communication technologies (ICT) by employees in Hong Kong travel agencies. It complements trends in current research on technology adoption in the tourism industry. A survey was conducted with 190 employees from travel agencies, and structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data. Our results show that the integrated model of ICT adoption is adequate to predict employees’ adoption behavior. Furthermore, the perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, trialability, and observability of new ICT are the major factors stimulating employees’ attitude toward it. Based on our findings, both theoretical and practical suggestions for stimulating employees’ adoption of ICT are proposed.
The Real Impact of Improved Access to Finance: Evidence from Mexico

type="main"> This paper provides new evidence on the impact of access to finance on poverty. It highlights an important channel through which access affects poverty—the labor market. The paper exploits the opening of Banco Azteca in Mexico, a unique “natural experiment” in which over 800 bank branches opened almost simultaneously in preexisting Elektra stores. Importantly, the bank has focused on previously underserved low-income clients. Our key finding is a sizeable effect of access to finance on labor market activity and income levels, especially among low-income individuals and those located in areas with lower preexisting bank penetration.
American Options in the Heston Model with Stochastic Interest Rate and Its Generalizations

Abstract We consider the Heston model with the stochastic interest rate of Cox–Ingersoll–Ross (CIR) type and more general models with stochastic volatility and interest rates depending on two CIR-factors; the price, volatility and interest rate may correlate. Time-derivative and infinitesimal generator of the process for factors that determine the dynamics of the interest rate and/or volatility are discretized. The result is a sequence of embedded perpetual options arising in the time discretization of a Markov-modulated Lévy model. Options in this sequence are solved using an iteration method based on the Wiener–Hopf factorization. Typical shapes of the early exercise boundary are shown, and good agreement of option prices with prices calculated with the Longstaff–Schwartz method and Medvedev–Scaillet asymptotic method is demonstrated.
The impact of energy performance on single-family home selling prices in Sweden

The EU Energy Performance Certificates provide new information and measure energy performance more exactly than many earlier (proxy) variables. This is one of the first studies to test the effect of this information, and the first one using Swedish data. The purpose of the paper is to test whether energy performance affects single-family house sales prices, and whether such impact is heterogeneous over house size, age and distance from city center. The paper also examines whether recommendations for supposedly cost-effective energy efficiency measures, by intervention category (construction, installation or operation/control technical measures), are perceived as untapped potential affecting sales prices. Energy performance measurement and dummy variables for three categories of improvement recommendations were included as explanatory variables in a hedonic regression analysis using transaction data and Energy Performance Certificates data for 1073 observations. The results indicate that better energy performance has a positive impact on sales price. Energy efficiency recommendations seem to have an impact on sales price; home buyers seem to require a larger “discount” for more complex types of measures. The results may imply that energy efficiency in buildings will become more important in the future, which may strengthen house owners’/sellers’ incentives to improve energy efficiency.
Web data as academic and business quality estimates: A comparison of three data sources

Earlier studies found that web hyperlink data contain various types of information, ranging from academic to political, that can be used to analyze a variety of social phenomena. Specifically, the numbers of inlinks to academic websites are associated with academic performance, while the counts of inlinks to company websites correlate with business variables. However, the scarcity of sources from which to collect inlink data in recent years has required us to seek new data sources. The recent demise of the inlink search function of Yahoo! made this need more pressing. Different alternative variables or data sources have been proposed. This study compared three types of web data to determine which are better as academic and business quality estimates, and what are the relationships among the three data sources. The study found that Alexa inlink and Google URL citation data can replace Yahoo! inlink data and that the former is better than the latter. Alexa is even better than Yahoo! , which has been the main data source in recent years. The unique nature of Alexa data could explain its relative advantages over other data sources. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Sensitivity Enhancement for Low-Coherence Interferometry

In this letter, a sensitivity improvement for systems combining low-coherence interferometry (LCI) and microwave photonics (MWP) is demonstrated. This improvement is due to the introduction of a different modulation format and an exhaustive control of the optical source profile compared with previous MWP-LCI schemes. Our proposal allows to retrieve the visibility of low-coherence interferograms through the analysis of the interference pattern using a dispersive element. We demonstrate that the use of a phase modulator offers better stability and lower insertion loss since a bias point configuration is not needed compared with the intensity modulators typically used in these schemes. The process for controlling the optical source profile permits a comparison between uniform and Gaussian profiles. In this way, the limiting effects of the sidelobes over the achieved sensitivity level are analyzed. The proposed MWP-LCI structure is experimentally demonstrated through the characterization of the electrical transfer function. In this case, a maximum sensitivity of 65 dB is achieved in our MWP-LCI structure showing a 30-dB improvement compared with current proposals.
The impact of the financial crisis on insider trading profitability in Belgium

The 2007 global financial crisis led to a chaotic financial environment characterized by highly uncertain and volatile stock markets. This created additional uncertainty about the fundamental value of shares and potentially increased the benefit of inside information. In this paper, we use event study methodology to examine whether Belgian corporate insiders were able to benefit from these turbulent market conditions. Given the large weight of financial institutions, the Belgian stock market was especially vulnerable to the financial crisis and provides an interesting environment to test this hypothesis. Our results show that, while insiders are generally able to earn abnormal returns, these returns are significantly higher during the years of the financial crisis.
Does Competition Kill Corruption?

Corrupt agents (officials or gangsters) exact money from firms. Corruption affects the number of firms in a free‐entry equilibrium. The degree of deep competition in the economy increases with lower overhead costs relative to profits and with a tendency toward similar cost structures. Increases in competition may not lower corruption. The model explains why a rational corrupt agent may extinguish the source of his bribe income by causing a firm to exit. Assessing the welfare effect of corruption is complicated by the fact that exit caused by corruption does not necessarily reduce social welfare.