Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Blacks, Whites, or Grays?: Conditional Transfers and Gender Equality in Latin America

Can poverty and gender relations be disentangled? Conditional cash transfer (CCT) programs have spread throughout Latin America and beyond based on the claim that they are an effective social policy tool to combat poverty. While changing gender relations is not among CCTs’ explicit objectives, gender relations are nonetheless shaped by these policies. Unfortunately, the debate concerning how CCTs shape gender relations has treated gender inequality as a one-dimensional matter. In this paper, we seek to overcome this limitation by offering a multidimensional analysis of programs in Chile, Costa Rica, and El Salvador. On the basis of empirical evidence provided, we argue that patriarchal materialism is still at the core of Latin America’s new social policies. At the same time, we recognize the potential for CCTs to transform gender relations should mechanisms allowing childcare facilities and encouraging male participation in domestic labor become an integral part of these programs.
Phase 2 study of two sequential three‐drug combinations containing bortezomib, cyclophosphamide and dexamethasone, followed by bortezomib, thalidomide and dexamethasone as frontline therapy for multiple myeloma

Novel sequential combination therapy for induction may improve the quality of response and therefore prolong survival in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM) patients. We report results from a phase 2 study of two sequential three‐drug combinations. Forty‐four previously untreated, symptomatic MM patients received: bortezomib 1·3 mg/m2 (days 1, 4, 8, 11), cyclophosphamide 300 mg/m2 (days 1, 8), plus dexamethasone 40 mg (day of and day after bortezomib) for three 21‐day cycles, followed by bortezomib 1·0 mg/m2, dexamethasone 40 mg and thalidomide 100 mg daily for three cycles. Overall response rate for 42 evaluable patients was 95%, including 19% stringent complete response (sCR), 26% CR, and 57%≥ very good partial response. Twenty‐two patients have undergone stem‐cell transplantation. After a median follow‐up of 20·9 months, five patients have died; none was induction therapy‐related. Median event‐free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) have not been reached; estimated 1‐year EFS and OS rates were 81% and 91% respectively. Both three‐drug combinations were well tolerated; 82% of patients completed all six cycles. Toxicities were predictable and manageable; the most‐commonly reported grade 3/4 toxicity was neuropathy (11%). This novel sequential three‐drug combination therapy is effective and well‐tolerated in previously untreated MM patients.
Who Participates? Determinants of Political Action in Mexico

Abstract This article seeks to determine the main predictors of political participation in a newly democratic regime: Mexico. Compared to other nations, Mexico fills a moderate position in terms of the volume of political participation. Following the literature on participation, this study develops a set of participant modes—voting, communal activity, petitioning, direct action, and political organization membership—and then seeks to determine the socioeconomic, demographic, attitudinal, and social capital factors that best explain participation. Distinct resource inequalities limit the participation of the less educated, the poor, women, and workers, although peasant participation is robust. The strongest determinant of political participation of all kinds is involvement in social capital–generating activities: belonging to nonpolitical organizations and engaging in charitable work, activities typically dominated by the middle class. Building social capital is essential to promoting robust rates of political participation in Mexico.
Prevalence of obesity among schoolchildren in Iran

The prevalence of overweight and obesity among schoolchildren aged 6.5–11.5 years in Shiraz (southern Iran) are presented in this paper. The body mass index (BMI) percentiles of these children are compared with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reference data and with the Iranian standard. The data are based on a random multistage sample survey of 2397 healthy school attenders (1268 boys, 1129 girls) living in Shiraz, whose heights and weights were measured in the 2002–2003 academic year. Joint height and weight measurements were obtained for 2195 schoolchildren (91.6%), consisting of 1138 boys (89.7%) and 1057 girls (93.6%). A total of 77 boys (6.8%) and 40 girls (3.8%) were overweight, and the difference between them was significant (P = 0.001). However, obesity was significantly less prevalent in boys (3.3%) than in girls (6.1%) (P = 0.001). Our children’s median BMI lie almost on the 38th centile of the CDC reference data, whereas that of their counterparts born more than 10 years ago lay on the 20th centile of their American counterparts, showing the development of children’s obesity in a period of less than 15 years in Iran. A positive secular trend in BMI has been seen during the past decade in Iran, suggesting policymakers and health professionals should pay special attention to children’s health.
Key Events in Student Leaders' Lives and Lessons Learned from Them

This descriptive study used an interview protocol developed by the Center for Creative Leadership with 50 college student leaders to determine what key developmental events young college leaders experience and the leadership lessons learned from these events. Students discussed 180 events and 734 lessons learned from them. Most events defined by students were challenging assignments, although events dealing with other people, coursework, and formal leadership programs were also mentioned. Top lessons included communication, self-identity, leadership identity, and developing leadership task and management skills. While many lessons could be learned in a variety of different ways, a number of challenging assignments stood out as important for learning certain lessons. DOI:10.12806/V13/I2/R1 Journal of Leadership Education Spring 2014 2 Findings suggest that faculty and administrators involved with student leaders can help the students take a proactive approach to developing themselves as leaders by targeting important events and important lessons to learn.
Trust Versus Opportunism: Striking the Balance in Executive Search

This article exemplifies the principal-agent problem by reference to executive search consultancy The client company (principal) hires an executive search consultancy (agent) to recruit on its behalf Inherent in the relationship is the possibility of opportunistic behaviour: The effort expended by the agent on behalf of the principal cannot be monitored and the principal cannot judge whether sufficient effort has been expended. To overcome this, incentive systems based on outputs rather than behaviour would have been advocated. In the service sector; however, there is the added problem that often output itself’ is difficult to define and monitor: By taking a non-standard view this article considers the incentive systems that have evolved in executive search.
A panel data heterogeneous Bayesian estimation of environmental Kuznets curves for CO2 emissions

This article investigates the Environmental Kuznets Curves (EKC) for CO2 emissions in a panel of 109 countries during the period 1959 to 2001. The length of the series makes the application of a heterogeneous estimator suitable from an econometric point of view. The results, based on the hierarchical Bayes estimator, show that different EKC dynamics are associated with the different sub-samples of countries considered. On average, more industrialized countries show evidence of EKC in quadratic specifications, which nevertheless are probably evolving into an N-shape based on their cubic specification. Nevertheless, it is worth noting that the EU, and not the Umbrella Group led by US, has been driving currently observed EKC-like shapes. The latter is associated to monotonic income–CO2 dynamics. The EU shows a clear EKC shape. Evidence for less-developed countries consistently shows that CO2 emissions rise positively with income, though there are some signs of an EKC. Analyses of future performance, nevertheless, favour quadratic specifications, thus supporting EKC evidence for wealthier countries and non-EKC shapes for industrializing regions.
Revisiting the Question - Does Corporate Headquarters Location Matter for Stock Returns?

We show that the ordinary least squares applied to right-hand-side variables consisting of averages of neighbouring observations such as stock returns representing a portfolio of firms in the same location or industry result in biased and inconsistent estimates. A maximum likelihood estimation procedure that will produce consistent estimates for this type of model is set forth. In addition, we show how to correctly interpret the maximum likelihood parameter estimates.
Management of the Extubation Problem in the Premature Child

Long-term endotracheal intubation is a widely established means of giving ventilatory support in the newborn period. Though such long-term intubation is well tolerated by the premature infant, laryngeal complications do occur and extubation may be impossible even though the initial disease process for which the intubation was performed has resolved. In such a situation, careful endoscopic evaluation of the upper respiratory tract is advocated to identify the site of the problem. If subglottic edema or mucosal ulceration in the subglottic area is the site of the damage and if, during endoscopic evaluation immediately following removal of the endotracheal tube, the subglottic area starts to narrow because of edema formation or edema fluid filling up compressed granulation tissue, then a split of the cricoid in the midline anteriorly, leaving the endotracheal tube in as a stent, appears to be a preferable alternative to performing a tracheotomy. Of 12 consecutive patients, 9 have been successfully extubated.
Maternal BMI and HDL as predictors of pregnancy outcome in women with type 1 diabetes

Abstract Objective: Diabetes in pregnancy is associated with increased risks of maternal as well as foetal complications. Methods: Retrospective data on 96 women and their 96 newborns were anonymously statistically analysed to assess pregnancies of type 1 diabetes (T1D) women managed in our hospital in past nine years. The outcomes of the neonates were divided into three categories according to the clinical status, presence of congenital abnormalities and infant’s treatment. Results: We found out that the outcome of newborn infants associated with maternal HbA1c before gestation as well as during the whole course of pregnancy (p < 0.02 for all). Surprisingly, neonatal outcome was strongly associated with the maternal BMI (p < 0.05). In our model, a lowering of BMI by one grade led to an 18% increase in the chance that the newborn will have no health problems. We did not observe an important worsening of chronic diabetic complications in mothers; however, regarding maternal clinical status, we found that preeclampsia occurrence was strongly and independently connected to HDL level (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Our data demonstrate that lower pregestational BMI could substantially improve T1D mothers' pregnancy outcome. Lower HDL levels in T1D mothers during pregnancy correlate with higher risk of preeclampsia development.
Genetic factors in evolution of sleep length – a longitudinal twin study in Finnish adults

Genetic factors affect many aspects of sleep, such as sleep length. We investigated the contribution of genetic factors to stability and change of sleep length among adults over a 15‐year period. In this representative follow‐up study we used the Finnish Twin Cohort as the study population. Questionnaire surveys were performed in 1975 (response rate 89%, 11 041 twin pairs; age ≥18 years), 1981 (84%, 9323; ≥24 years) and 1990 (77%, 4507; 33–60 years). Sleep was categorized as short (<7 h), average or long (>8 h). Pairwise similarity in monozygotic and dizygotic pairs was examined at each survey by age group and sex. Quantitative genetic modelling was used to estimate cross‐sectional and longitudinal genetic effects. The proportion of variance in sleep length at one point in time that was accounted for by genetic effects was very stable over the study period, being 0.31 in 1975, 0.32 in 1981 and 0.30 in 1990. Longitudinal genetic modelling indicated that the correlations of genetic effects between the three measurement points were high: 0.85 between 1975 and 1981; 0.93 between 1981 and 1990; and 0.76 between 1975 and 1990. Despite a high contribution of environmental effects, their correlations over time were modest: 0.31 between 1975 and 1981; 0.33 between 1981 and 1990; and 0.18 between 1975 and 1990. In conclusion, genetic factors have a modest but stable effect on the evolution of sleep length over a long time span in adults. Multiple measures are a more robust basis for genetic analyses than a single cross‐sectional measure.
FfVel 1 and FfLae 1 , components of a velvet-like complex in Fusarium fujikuroi , affect differentiation , secondary metabolism and virulencemmi

Philipp Wiemann,1,2 Daren W. Brown,3 Karin Kleigrewe,2 Jin Woo Bok,4 Nancy P. Keller,4,5 Hans-Ulrich Humpf2 and Bettina Tudzynski1* Institut für Botanik, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Schlossgarten 3, D-48149 Münster, Germany. Institut für Lebensmittelchemie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Corrensstraße 45, D-48149 Münster, Germany. Bacterial Foodborne Pathogens and Mycology Research, USDA/ARS, 1815 N University St, Peoria, IL 61604, USA. Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology and Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin, 1550 Linden Dr, Madison, WI 53706-1521, USA.
‘Profligacy in the encouragement of thrift’: Savings banks in Ireland, 1817–1914

This paper studies institutional changes in Irish savings banks and their functionality from 1817 to 1914. These changes saw market incumbents, trustee savings banks, suffering from a loss of confidence and displaced by a functionally equivalent but institutionally distinct competitor, the Post Office Savings Bank. The paper finds that, despite significant institutional change, savings banks of all types were consistently loss-making. This suggests that Irish savings banks were subsidised. In addition, despite contemporary accusations of credit shortages, Irish savings banks, due to legal restrictions, did not engage in any private sector lending, thus arguably crowding out private investment.
The spin-along approach: ambidextrous corporate venturing management

The spin-along approach is a combination of internal and external corporate venturing elements and its goal is to support corporations' innovative performance. We argue that corporations can successfully implement spin-along approaches in their organisation by means of ambidextrous corporate venturing. The results from four case studies reveal that corporations must apply complementary ambidexterity's antecedents to use spin-along as a deliberate exploring and exploiting tool to achieve higher innovative performance. Managing spin-alongs requires a coordinating and moderating management layer between the parent firm and the spin-alongs; this layer requires entrepreneurial as well as ambidextrous skills. Propositions are developed on the basis of the case study results, and are illustrated in a conceptual framework.
Invasive Pneumococcal Disease Among Children With and Without Sickle Cell Disease in the United States, 1998 to 2009

Background: Children with sickle cell disease (SCD) are at increased risk of illness and death from invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD). The introduction in 2000 of the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine and penicillin prophylaxis for children with SCD has greatly reduced the incidence of IPD in this population. However, a recent report suggested an increase in cases of IPD in children with SCD. Methods: Using data from Active Bacterial Core surveillance, we analyzed trends in hospitalizations, mortality and serotype among children with SCD compared with other children. We used neonatal screening data to estimate SCD population denominators for each Active Bacterial Core surveillance site. Results: From 1998 to 2009, 3069 cases of IPD occurred among African-American children less than 18 years of age in the Active Bacterial Core surveillance catchment area. Of these, 127 (4.1%) had SCD identified by medical chart review and 185 (6.0%) had 1 or more IPD risk factors, excluding SCD. Rates of IPD among children with SCD declined by 53% (1118 vs. 530 per 100,000) whereas the overall rates among African-American children declined by 74% (54 to 14 per 100,000). For all time periods, children with SCD and IPD were more likely to be hospitalized (84%–92% vs. 31%–56%) and more likely to die (6%–17% vs. 1%–2%) than children with no risk factors. Conclusions: Although the rate of IPD in children with SCD has dropped dramatically since 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine introduction, the rate of IPD in children with SCD remains higher than that of the general population of African-American children, pointing to the need for more effective prevention efforts to prevent IPD in children with SCD.
A Sensory Origin for Color-Word Stroop Effects in Aging: A Meta-Analysis

ABSTRACT An increase in Stroop effects with age is often interpreted as reflecting reductions in selective attention, or alternatively, cognitive slowing with age. In a cross-lab and a cross-sectional analysis, we linked sensory losses to Stroop declines. Specifically, we found that the latency difference, or dimensional imbalance, between reading and naming the font color of color-neutral words increased with age. A cross-sectional analysis revealed that this dimensional imbalance can both mediate the effects of age on Stroop effects, and contribute to Stroop after controlling for age effects. We conclude that age-related changes in color perception contribute to and may mediate age-related changes in Stroop.
Long-Term Cell Monitoring of Kidney Recipients After an Antilymphocyte Globulin Induction With and Without Steroids

Background. Because of several side effects, the corticosteroid usage has been minimized in kidney transplantation. The increased acute rejection episodes associated with their withdrawal may counterbalance with induction treatment using polyclonal antilymphocyte globulin (ALG). The effects of ALG on blood cell phenotype have already been the subject of several reports. However, to date, no data are available concerning the comparison of blood phenotype when ALG is given with or without steroids and no gene profiling study has been performed. Methods. We report here on a longitudinal blood cell analysis of a selected cohort of kidney recipients enrolled in a randomized study of steroid avoidance or withdrawal (during 6 months) during ALG induction. Results. In the two groups, ALG quickly and massively depleted all the T cells and natural killer cells, but not B cells. Interestingly, the lymphopenia-driven homeostatic proliferation of CD4+ and CD8+T cells strongly differed with persistent low CD4+ (including CD25hiCD4+) T-cell counts. Effector memory CD8+T cells reappeared rapidly. ALG induced apoptosis-associated molecules and increased myeloid cell genes. However, few genes were found differentially expressed with a low fold ratio between the two groups during and at distance of corticotherapy. Conclusion. Thus initial steroid avoidance or withdrawal associated with ALG induction has a weak influence on phenotype and transcriptional pattern of blood leukocytes. In contrast, ALG therapy induces an early and strong depletion of all T-cell subsets with contrasted long-lasting homeostatic regulation.
Distributions of vascular volume and compliance in the lung.

The ether- and dye-dilution methods were used to estimate the arterial, capillary, and venous volumes and compliances in isolated dog lung lobes. In the range of arterial pressure from approximately 7 to 14.5 Torr and venous pressure of 1.4 to 10.8 Torr, the total lobar blood volume ranged from approximately 2 to approximately 2.6 ml/kg body wt. About 19% of the lobar vascular volume was in the arteries, approximately 59% was in the capillaries, and approximately 22% was in the veins. The lobar vascular compliance was approximately 0.065 ml.Torr-1.kg body wt-1 with an arterial-capillary-venous distribution of approximately 30:49:21. These results suggest that the largest fractions of the intralobar blood volume and compliance are in the capillary bed. The segmental compliances along with outflow occlusion data were used to place lower and upper bounds on the arterial, capillary, and venous resistances. These bounds were 13.6 and 61.4% of the total vascular resistance for the arteries, 0 and 59.4% for the capillaries, and 5.5 and 64.9% for the veins, respectively. These bounds are rather broad, but they help to put the information content of the occlusion data under the conditions of these experiments into perspective.
How Taxpayers Perceive the Efficiency of Jordanian Tax Systems According to the Keynesian Perspective of Tax Efficiency

This study investigates taxpayers’ perception to the Jordanian tax system efficiency according to the perspective of Keynes. Its main purpose is to determine whether taxpayers perceive the Jordanian tax system as efficient, enough to influence taxpayers’ patterns of behavior, or inefficient and just used to collect revenue by the government. A self‐administered questionnaire is used to collect the primary data of the study, in order to measure the economical and socio‐cultural efficiency of the system. A convenience sample consisting of 175 respondents was selected to survey how taxpayers perceive the Jordanian tax system efficiency. The t‐test is used as a decision criterion for the acceptance or rejection of the hypotheses. Correlation analysis is also used to support the findings of the study. The study finds that taxpayers perceive the Jordanian tax system as efficient, and they perceive that the tax system is intentionally used to influence their behavior.
Training and development practices of large Philippines companies

This study aims to determine the current training and development experiences and the emerging best practices of large corporations in the manufacturing and non-manufacturing sectors in the Philippines. The findings reveal that the most frequently cited importance of training is that it helps improve job performance. Companies implement technical training slightly more than behavioral training. The most often used training method is the lecture, combined with the usage of new technologies such as the CD-ROM, the Internet, and the company intranet/portal. Adequate resources like budget and expertise are provided for the delivery of training and development programmes. The implementation of extensive continuing training and development programmes, not only for the improvement of technical competence, but for the development of cultural behavior and values congruent with that of the company's core values and philosophy, is one of their emerging best practices that stimulate innovation.