Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Unhealthy Parenting and Potential Mediators As Contributing Factors To Future Intimate Violence

Efforts to understand and prevent intimate violence have often focused on the intergenerational transmission of intimate violence. Although witnessing and/or experiencing abuse in the family of origin is well supported in the literature as a key component of the intergenerational transmission of intimate violence, there has been less attention to other family-of-origin factors that contribute to or mediate and/or moderate future intimate violence. Particularly, a focus on the effect of parenting on future intimate violence is needed beyond the effect of modeling abusive behavior. In this article, corporal punishment and poor parenting are reviewed as familyof-origin factors related to future intimate violence. In addition, attachment theory, interpersonal skills, and emotional and behavioral regulation and/or conduct disorder are reviewed as variables that may result and mediate the relationship between family-of-origin factors and future intimate violence. Implications for preventing intimate violence by intervening in thefamily of origin are also identified.
Agency and Brokerage of Real Assets in Competitive Equilibrium

Brokerage contracts for many categories of real assets are characterized by a common, constant commission rate payable upon sale, exclusive agency, and contractual asking prices. For a large market in steady state, these conventional contracts produce in equilibrium no agency problem between a broker and his clients. Each broker spends the same time or effort selling each client's asset as the broker would spend on his own assets. As in standard agency problems, extra effort by a broker generates first-order stochastically dominant distributions of bids by potential buyers. Unlike standard agency problems, each broker can allocate his time or effort between selling the assets of his multiple clients and searching for new clients in competition with other brokers. Because brokers' time spent searching for new sellers is dissipative, entry by brokers is excessive in equilibrium. Article published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Financial Studies in its journal, The Review of Financial Studies.
Netrin-1 simultaneously suppresses corneal inflammation and neovascularization.

PURPOSE To investigate the effect of netrin-1 on alkali burn-induced corneal inflammation and neovascularization. METHODS The expression of netrin-1 and its receptors UNC5A, UNC5B, UNC5C, UNC5D, adenosine 2b receptor (A2BAR), deleted in colorectal cancer (DCC), and neogenin in normal and alkali-burned rat cornea were determined by RT-PCR and/or Western blot analysis, or immunostaining. Topical netrin-1 protein was applied to treat rat corneal alkali-burn injury for 14 consecutive days, started right after the injury or 10 days postinjury. Corneal inflammation and neovascularization were observed under slit lamp microscope. The apoptosis of corneal cells was determined by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick end labeling assay. Corneal inflammatory cell infiltration was evaluated by immunostaining of anti-PMN and anti-ED1 antibodies. The expression of epidermal growth factor (EGF), vascular epidermal growth factor (VEGF), and pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) in rat cornea was determined by Western blot analysis. RESULTS Netrin-1 and its receptor UNC5B were expressed in normal rat corneal epithelium and stromal cells, and their expression decreased after corneal alkali burn. Exogenous netrin-1 administered on rat ocular surfaces resolved alkali burn-induced corneal inflammation, and also suppressed corneal neovascularization. Furthermore, netrin-1 could reverse neovascularization in alkali-burned cornea. The authors found that netrin-1 executed the functions through various mechanisms, including upregulating EGF expression, accelerating epithelial wound healing, inhibiting neutrophil and macrophage infiltration, reducing corneal cell apoptosis, and restoring the equilibrium of VEGF and PEDF in the wounded cornea. CONCLUSIONS Netrin-1 could dampen inflammation, inhibit, and reverse neovascularization in alkali-burned cornea.
Floating Rate Notes and Immunization

Recent developments in the literature on bond portfolio management have identified conditions under which uncertainty of the investment return attributable to interest rate changes is eliminated. Such a strategy, called immunization, is achieved when the duration of the bond or portfolio of bonds is equal to the investor's holding period. Duration is defined as a weighted average time to maturity and was originally developed by Macaulay [13]. The condition under which immunization is obtained by setting duration equal to holding period was derived by Redington [14] and Fisher and Weil [10] and further developed by Bierwag and Kaufman [4], Bierwag [2], and Khang [12]. Bierwag [3] has provided a concise summary of the theory of immunization, and Bierwag and Khang [7] show that immunization is equivalent to selecting a strategy in which the worst possible return is maximized, i.e., a minimax strategy. Bierwag [1] examines immunization under multiple shocks to the term structure and Bierwag, Kaufman, and Toevs [6] extend the concept to a general equilibrium, two-state Arrow-Debreu world.
Varieties of migrant care work: Comparing patterns of migrant labour in social care

Throughout Europe migrant workers are increasingly employed to provide elderly care services. This article presents a comparative analysis of the role of migrant workers in elderly care in Italy, the Netherlands and England. It incorporates both private and agency-based employment. Based on the analysis of survey data and expert interviews it is found that in all cases migrant workers work longer hours and do more night shifts than their native peers. Between-country differences in the importance of migrant workers in social care can be explained primarily by differences in social care policies and care regimes, while the impact of immigration policies is more ambiguous. It is argued that a familialistic care regime induces a ‘migrant in the family’ model of care, while a liberal care regime leads to a ‘migrant in the market’ model of employment and a social democratic care regime creates no particular demand for migrant workers.
A One-Factor Volatility Smile Model with Closed-Form Solutions for European Options

The common practice of using different volatilities for options of different strikes in the Black-Scholes (1973) model imposes inconsistent assumptions on underlying securities. The phenomenon is referred to as the volatility smile. This paper addresses this problem by replacing the Brownian motion or, alternatively, the Geometric Brownian motion in the Black-Scholes model with a two-piece quadratic or linear function of the Brownian motion. By selecting appropriate parameters of this function we obtain a wide range of shapes of implied volatility curves with respect to option strikes. The model has closed-form solutions for European options, which enables fast calibration of the model to market option prices. The model can also be efficiently implemented in discrete time for pricing complex options.
Reforming of Public Services Management Case Study: Licensing Service in Yogyakarta, Indonesia

This study aims to analyze the management of licensing service reform in Yogyakarta, Indonesia and the factor that inhibitant the reforming process. Mixed method approach in sought to determine the management of public service reform in the licensing service. Data collection was conducted through a study of literature, review previous research, in-depth interviews and focus group discussion which refers to the thirteen indicators in the chain of service licensing procedures, the power of innovation, decentralization of services, an understanding of the policies, work service flexibility, communication, customer research, the pressure from above, the issue of cooperation, commitment, culture, and understanding of bureaucratic reform. This study enrich previous research about license service which using SERVQUAL and Important Performance Analysis conducted by Rahayu, Fitriati, and Kurniawan (2012). Previous research finds a low assessment of the licensing services. Licensing service provider is less responsive to public expectations. Further, this study finds that there is a demand for growing public expectations dynamically along with the high quality of services provided. Recommendations for subsequent research are the importance of public service reform management an ongoing basis, in accordance with local knowledge and the development of society is always dynamic.
Low-frequency bifurcation behaviors of PFC converter

Low-frequency bifurcation behavior of the average-current controlled power-factor-correction (PFC) boost converter are investigated in this paper. It has been pointed out that the discontinuous-conduction mode (DCM) can occur in the PFC boost converter, especially, in the light load condition. Therefore, the DCM model is employed to analyze the PFC converter to cover the possible DCM operation. In this way, the bifurcation diagram is derived, which makes the route from period-double bifurcation to chaos clear. The bifurcation behaviors derived from the simulation are verified by experimental results using commercial ICs as the average-current controller. The bifurcation diagrams versus the load resistance and the output capacitance also indicate the stable operation boundary of the converter.
Associations Between Serum Vitamin D and Adverse Pathology in Men Undergoing Radical Prostatectomy.

PURPOSE Lower serum vitamin D levels have been associated with an increased risk of aggressive prostate cancer. Among men with localized prostate cancer, especially with low- or intermediate-risk disease, vitamin D may serve as an important biomarker of disease aggression. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between adverse pathology at the time of radical prostatectomy and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH D) levels. METHODS This cross-sectional study was carried out from 2009 to 2014, nested within a large epidemiologic study of 1,760 healthy controls and men undergoing prostate cancer screening. In total, 190 men underwent radical prostatectomy in the cohort. Adverse pathology was defined as the presence of primary Gleason 4 or any Gleason 5 disease, or extraprostatic extension. Descriptive and multivariate analyses were performed to assess the relationship between 25-OH D and adverse pathology at the time of prostatectomy. RESULTS Eighty-seven men (45.8%) in this cohort demonstrated adverse pathology at radical prostatectomy. The median age in the cohort was 64.0 years (interquartile range, 59.0 to 67.0). On univariate analysis, men with adverse pathology at radical prostatectomy demonstrated lower median serum 25-OH D (22.7 v 27.0 ng/mL, P = .007) compared with their counterparts. On multivariate analysis, controlling for age, serum prostate specific antigen, and abnormal digital rectal examination, serum 25-OH D less than 30 ng/mL was associated with increased odds of adverse pathology (odds ratio, 2.64; 95% CI, 1.25 to 5.59; P = .01). CONCLUSION Insufficiency/deficiency of serum 25-OH D is associated with increased odds of adverse pathology in men with localized disease undergoing radical prostatectomy. Serum 25-OH D may serve as a useful biomarker in prostate cancer aggressiveness, which deserves continued study.
Comparison among soil additives for enhancing Pteris vittata L.: Phytoremediation of As-contaminated soil

Abstract Pot experiments were conducted to assess the effects of monoammonium phosphate (NH4H2PO4) and citric acid (CA) on the arsenic uptake of Chinese brake fern (Pteris vittata L. in two typical arsenic-contaminated soils i.e. fluvo-aquic and brown) from Jiyuan (JY) City and Baoding (BD) City in Northern China. NH4H2PO4 improved the biomass of P. vittata, whereas CA exerted no significant influence. NH4H2PO4 and CA both increased the arsenic uptake of P. vittata by 6.08 and 2.72 times, respectively, in fluvo-aquic soil and 4.20 and 2.52 times, respectively, in brown soil. Moreover, CA, but not NH4H2PO4, promoted the transfer of arsenic from the root to the frond. NH4H2PO4 and CA increased Olsen's arsenic contents in the soils and promoted the transformation of residual arsenic and crystalline Fe/Al oxide-bound arsenic to nonspecifically and specifically sorbed arsenic. This study proved that P. vittata can be used in Northern China. Applying NH4H2PO4 and CA can enhance the effectiveness of P. vittata in the phytoremediation of arsenic-contaminated soils.
Job Stress Sources Among Doctors and Nurses Working in Emergency Departments in Public Hospitals

Background: Work stress is prevalent problem among healthcare workers particularly those working in the emergency departments as they deal with large number of patients with variety conditions and work over load. The study aimed to explore the sources of job stress and to know the general level of job stress in emergency departments and to investigate the relation between demographic factors and job stress sources. Materials and methods: Descriptive study was used for conducting the study. Questionnaires distributed to 140 health workers in emergency departments and response rate was 93.5%. SPSS was used to analysis the data. Results: The overall level of stress among doctors was quite high. The result revealed that the most common causes of job stress for Libyan health workers were the insufficient technical facilities available at hospitals to meet the patient needs followed by violence from patients and their relatives during the work, then lack of opportunity for training and education at the hospitals. On the other hand, healthcare workers were satisfied with working hours fit with their personal life and the adequacy of salaries compared to effort and work responsibilities. The result showed that there was statistically significant level between job stress sources and all demographics variables. Conclusions: The level of stress was high. In order to reduce job stress, it was recommended that working conditions should be promoted; improved training programs to deal with stressful conditions and protected health workers from patients’ abuse.
Correction factors for A1SL ionization chamber dosimetry in TomoTherapy: machine-specific, plan-class, and clinical fields.

PURPOSE Recently, an international working group on nonstandard fields presented a new formalism for ionization chamber reference dosimetry of small and nonstandard fields [Alfonso et al., Med. Phys. 35, 5179-5186 (2008)] which has been adopted by AAPM TG-148. This work presents an experimental determination of the correction factors for reference dosimetry with an Exradin A1SL thimble ionization chamber in a TomoTherapy unit, focusing on: (i) machine-specific reference field, (ii) plan-class-specific reference field, and (iii) two clinical treatments. METHODS Ionization chamber measurements were performed in the TomoTherapy unit for intermediate (machine-specific and plan-class-specific) calibration fields, based on the reference conditions defined by AAPM TG-148, and two clinical treatments (lung and head-and-neck). Alanine reference dosimetry was employed to determine absorbed dose to water at the point of interest for the fields under investigation. The corresponding chamber correction factors were calculated from alanine to ionization chamber measurements ratios. RESULTS Two different methods of determining the beam quality correction factor k(Q,Q(0) ) for the A1SL ionization chamber in this TomoTherapy unit, where reference conditions for conventional beam quality determination cannot be met, result in consistent values. The observed values of overall correction factors obtained for intermediate and clinical fields are consistently around 0.98 with a typical expanded relative uncertainty of 2% (k = 2), which when considered make such correction factors compatible with unity. However, all of them are systematically lower than unity, which is shown to be significant when a hypothesis test assuming a t-student distribution is performed (p=1.8×10(-2)). Correction factors k(Q(clin),Q(pcsr) ) (f(clin),f(pcsr) ) and k(Q(clin),Q(msr) ) (f(clin),f(msr) ), which are needed for the computation of field factors for relative dosimetry of clinical beams, have been found to be very close to unity for two clinical treatments. CONCLUSIONS The results indicate that the helical field deliveries in this study (including two clinical fields) do not introduce changes on the ion chamber correction factors for dosimetry. For those two specific clinical cases, ratios of chamber readings accurately represent field output factors. The values observed here for intermediate calibration fields are in agreement with previously published data based on alanine dosimetry but differ from values recently reported obtained via radiochromic dosimetry.
Unitarism and employer resistance to trade unionism

Active employer resistance to trade union recognition is often explained through the rubric of the unitary ideology. Yet, little attention has been devoted to an examination of unitarism as an explanatory construct for active employer hostility. This paper contributes to current knowledge and understanding on contemporary ideological opposition to unions, by placing unitarism under analytical scrutiny. Using empirical data from the Republic of Ireland, the paper applies a conceptual framework to a sample of non-union employers who actively resisted unionisation. The paper concludes by examining the ideological commitments uncovered and relevant implications.
Essays on Empirical Macroeconomics

This dissertation consists of two chapters which study questions at the intersection of macroeconomics, trade, and finance. The first chapter investigates the role of trade for the geographic spread of the 2007-09 recession within the U.S. The second chapter, co-authored with Mauricio Larrain, studies the role of financial market reforms for changes in aggregate productivity, using the example of Eastern European countries in the late 1990s and early 2000s.In the first chapter, I use the large spatial variation in consumer demand shocks at the onset of the Great Recession to study the mechanisms behind the ensuing geographic spread of the crisis. While the initial increase in unemployment was concentrated in areas with housing busts, subsequently unemployment slowly spread across space. By 2009, it was above pre-crisis levels in almost all U.S. counties. I show that trade was an important driver of this geographic spread of the crisis. To identify the trade channel empirically, I make use of heterogeneity in the direction of trade flows across industries in the same state: Industries that sold relatively more to states with housing boom-bust cycles grew by more before the crisis and declined faster from 2007-09. These results cannot be explained by a collapse in credit supply. I then link the reduced form empirical evidence to a formal model of contagion through trade. In a quantitative exercise, the model delivers a cross-sectional effect of similar magnitude as the one found empirically and reveals that the trade channel can explain roughly a third of the overall spread.The second chapter analyzes the microeconomic channels by which financial sector reforms affect aggregate productivity. We use a large firm-level dataset to study the episode of financial market liberalization in 10 Eastern European countries starting in the late 1990s. We exploit cross-sectoral differences in external financial dependence and find that financial reform increases productivity disproportionately in industries heavily dependent on external finance. We show that this productivity increase is driven entirely by improvements in the within-industry allocation of resources across firms, as opposed to within-firm productivity improvements. According to our results, reform allows financially-constrained firms to take on new debt, increase market share, and produce closer to optimal level. A back-of-the-envelope calculation suggests that financial reform increases aggregate manufacturing productivity by 17%. Our results highlight financial markets' key role in improving the within-industry allocation of capital.
Control of serum phosphate by oral lanthanum carbonate in patients undergoing haemodialysis and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis in a short-term, placebo-controlled study.

BACKGROUND Hyperphosphataemia in dialysis patients is associated with significant morbidity. We assessed the ability of lanthanum carbonate to control phosphate levels in patients undergoing haemodialysis or continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) in a short-term, placebo-controlled study. METHODS This was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study consisting of three phases: a 2 week washout period; a 4 week, open-label, dose-titration phase; and a 4 week, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase. After washout, patients (n = 59) received lanthanum (375 mg/day), titrated up to a maintenance dose (maximum: 2250 mg) that achieved control of serum phosphate levels between 1.3 and 1.8 mmol/l (4.03-5.58 mg/dl). After titration, patients were randomized to receive their maintenance dose of lanthanum (n = 17) or placebo (n = 19) for 4 weeks. Control of serum phosphate was the primary efficacy assessment. Levels of calcium, parathyroid hormone, calcium x phosphate product and lanthanum as well as adverse events were evaluated. RESULTS By the end of titration, 70% of patients had serum phosphate levels < or =1.8 mmol/l. Lanthanum carbonate continued to control serum phosphate levels in the double-blind phase. At the end of the study, 64.7% of lanthanum carbonate-treated patients were controlled compared with 21.4% in the placebo group. Results in patients receiving CAPD were similar to those seen in the group as a whole. Mean parathyroid hormone levels (P = 0.41) and calcium x phosphate product (P<0.001) were both higher in the placebo than the lanthanum carbonate group. CONCLUSIONS Lanthanum carbonate is an effective phosphate binder able to control serum phosphate and calcium x phosphate product.
Low Complexity Joint Estimation of Location and Path-Loss Exponent

Localization of wireless devices via the received signal strength (RSS) has become very popular in recent years owing to its economical and uncomplicated implementation. The performance of RSS based location systems is highly dependent on the knowledge of the propagation channel. An unrealistic assumption in many current studies is the possession of the exact knowledge of the path-loss exponent (PLE). This letter deals with the estimation of location coordinates in unknown path-loss model. First, the non-linear path-loss equations are linearized and the solution is obtained using linear least square (LLS) solution. Second, in order to underline the effects of inaccurate PLE assumption in noisy channels on location coordinates, error analysis is done when incorrect PLE is assumed, hence a closed form expression is derived for mean square error (MSE) and bias. Next, we transform the LLS problem into a single variable minimization problem to estimate jointly the location and PLE. Simulation results show that incorrect PLE assumption has superlative impact on MSE and bias of location estimates. Further simulation shows that the proposed technique exhibits acceptable performance while estimating the PLE however the estimates are biased. In order to achieve higher accuracy, the obtained estimates are used as an initial estimate to our previously proposed iterative algorithm [1]. The resultant MSE is then compared with the Cramer-Rao bound and the improved convergence is demonstrated.