Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Health Insurance Reform Debate

This article provides an overview of the U.S. health care reform debate and legislation, with a focus on health insurance. Following a synopsis of the main problems that confront U.S. health care and insurance, it outlines the health care reform bills in the U.S. House and Senate as of early December 2009, including the key provisions for expanding and regulating health insurance, and projections of the proposals' costs, funding, and impact on the number of people with insurance. The article then discusses (1) the potential effects of the mandate that individuals have health insurance in conjunction with proposed premium subsidies and health insurance underwriting and rating restrictions, (2) the proposed creation of a public health insurance plan and/or nonprofit cooperatives, and (3) provisions that would modify permissible grounds for health policy rescission and repeal the limited antitrust exemption for health and medical liability insurance. It concludes by contrasting the reform bills with market-oriented proposals and with brief perspective on future developments.
Human rights and impact assessment: clarifying the connections in practice

Historically, impact assessment practice has not explicitly considered human rights. That human rights are relevant to business has been confirmed through the United Nations Human Rights Council's endorsement of the ‘Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights’. Special Representative to the Secretary-General on business and human rights, Professor John Ruggie, advocated awareness of ‘rights-holders’ and ‘duty-bearers’ and a shift from third parties “naming and shaming” companies as a way of addressing human rights harms to companies also “knowing and showing” how they are taking responsibility for their human rights impacts and managing their human rights risks. Consideration of human rights should therefore be central to impact assessment for private sector projects, especially those affecting livelihoods, environment, health, safety and security, land and property, culture and gender dynamics. We provide an introduction to the business and human rights debate, discuss the relevance of human rights to the field of impact assessment, and examine a range of challenges associated with integrating the fields of human rights and social impact assessment.
A soluble bone morphogenetic protein type IA receptor increases bone mass and bone strength

Diseases such as osteoporosis are associated with reduced bone mass. Therapies to prevent bone loss exist, but there are few that stimulate bone formation and restore bone mass. Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are members of the TGFβ superfamily, which act as pleiotropic regulators of skeletal organogenesis and bone homeostasis. Ablation of the BMPR1A receptor in osteoblasts increases bone mass, suggesting that inhibition of BMPR1A signaling may have therapeutic benefit. The aim of this study was to determine the skeletal effects of systemic administration of a soluble BMPR1A fusion protein (mBMPR1A–mFc) in vivo. mBMPR1A–mFc was shown to bind BMP2/4 specifically and with high affinity and prevent downstream signaling. mBMPR1A–mFc treatment of immature and mature mice increased bone mineral density, cortical thickness, trabecular bone volume, thickness and number, and decreased trabecular separation. The increase in bone mass was due to an early increase in osteoblast number and bone formation rate, mediated by a suppression of Dickkopf-1 expression. This was followed by a decrease in osteoclast number and eroded surface, which was associated with a decrease in receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) production, an increase in osteoprotegerin expression, and a decrease in serum tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP5b) concentration. mBMPR1A treatment also increased bone mass and strength in mice with bone loss due to estrogen deficiency. In conclusion, mBMPR1A–mFc stimulates osteoblastic bone formation and decreases bone resorption, which leads to an increase in bone mass, and offers a promising unique alternative for the treatment of bone-related disorders.
Late diagnosis of HIV in Europe: definitional and public health challenges

Abstract With universal access to antiretroviral therapy (ART), people can access effective treatment but are only able to benefit from these advances if they are aware of their status and are effectively accessing testing services. Although it was anticipated in the mid-1990s that the availability of ART would lead to earlier testing, this trend has not been observed in practice, with stagnant or even increasing rates of late diagnosis in Europe. Ahead of a gathering of key European stakeholders in Brussels in November 2007, we reviewed definitions of late diagnosis and approaches to surveillance of late HIV diagnosis in Europe. We found that there is no common or consistent reporting of late diagnosis across Europe and that the multiplicity of definitions for late diagnosis is likely proving a hindrance to providing information on the magnitude of the problem, determining trends, and informing understanding of reasons for changes in trends. We also show that existing evidence points to high rates of late diagnosis across Europe – between 15 and 38% of all HIV cases – and concur that trends that are increasing or at best stagnant. We identify risk factors that are associated with individuals being more likely to present late and we explore the reasons for late presentation. We reflect on the need to review surveillance and testing policies, notably in relation for population groups that are heavily represented in late presenters and make recommendations for a coherent, cross-European approach to surveillance and monitoring in order to support improvements in service provision and, ultimately, public health.
Using Option Prices to Infer Overpayments and Synergies in M&A Transactions

In this paper, we use call option prices to identify synergies and news from merger and acquisition (M&A) transaction announcements. We find that M&A announcements result in large and approximately equal gains to the bidder and the target on average, with the combined gains being large enough to justify the premium paid to target shareholders. On average, M&A announcements release good news about targets, but bad news about bidders. This suggests that market prices understate true synergy gains, and helps reconcile the generally negative market-based evidence on value-creation in takeovers with their continued prominence in everyday business strategy.
Clinical and radiographic assessment of maxillary canine eruption status in a group of 11- to 14-year-old Irish children.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of potentially ectopic maxillary canines and associated dental features in a group of 11- to 14-year-old children. PARTICIPANTS Examination took place of a normal dlistribution of Irish schoolchildren age between I11 and 14 years in order to record the number of subjects with indications for radiographic investigation of . potentially ectopic maxillary canines. METHODS Those subjects identified subsequently underwent radiographic examination and the number of subjects with potentially ectopic maxillary canines was established. Correlations within the latter sub-sample with anomalous or missing laterals, type of occlusion and female:male ratio were investigated. RESULTS A total of 480 children were screened. Of the children aged 11 to 14 years, 32 (6.6%) had clinical indications for radiographic examination of potentially ectopic maxillary canines according to the criteria that had been set out. There were 11 maxillary canines, in 10 subjects, that had an unfavourable position for eruption and were considered to be potentially ectopic, and so 1.1% of the maxillary canines reviewed in this study showed a potential ectopic eruption position. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of potentially ectopic maxillary canines and associated dental features in an Irish population was found to be similar to those in other countries, and the practice of careful supervision and early diagnosis of any eruption disturbances of the permanent maxillary canines continues to be considered important due to the risks associated with their eruption.
Compensation Consultants and Executive Pay: Evidence from the United States and the United Kingdom

Executive Overview Executive compensation consultants are investigated using data from the United States and the United Kingdom. The study yields a number of findings. First, CEO pay is generally greater in firms that use compensation consultants, consistent with a rent-extraction theory of executive pay. Second, the amount of equity used in the CEO compensation package, such as stock options, is greater in firms that use consultants. This is consistent with alignment of manager and shareholder interests. Third, there is little evidence that using consultants with potential conflicts of interest, such as supplying other business to client firms, leads to greater CEO pay or the adverse design of pay contracts. Copyright by the Academy of Management.
What Do You Expect From a Doctor? Six Habits for Healthier Patient Encounters

Expectations lie at the heart of America’s health care crisis. Although doctors cannot control for the unrealistic demands of a consumer-centric society, we might ask what we would want in a physician. Someone who listens longer and lets us express ourselves in our own words? Someone who cares about the outcome—our personal outcome—and not just the “clinical course”? Most patients do not demand perfection. Not cure. Not even relief, no matter what the TV commercials promise or how badly they wish them to be true. What we all desire is a plan that connects us to another human being—our doctor—which is a kind of relief all its own. The author identifies 6 simple habits that will lead to healthier, happier encounters with patients and their illness.
Contracts and Capacity Investment in Supply Chains

Suppliers are often reluctant to invest in capacity if they believe that they will be unable to recover their investment costs in subsequent transactions with buyers. In theory, a number of different contracts can solve this issue and induce first-best investment levels by the supplier. In this study, we investigate the performance of these contracts in a two-tier supply chain. We develop an experimental design where retailers and suppliers bargain over contract terms—and have the ability to make multiple back-and-forth offers—while also providing feedback on the offers they receive. One key result from our study is that an option contract and a service-level agreement are best at increasing first-best investment levels and overall supply chain profits. However, these same contracts also generate the largest inequity in expected profits between the two parties. We find that both of these results are driven by the bargaining tendencies of retailers and suppliers, which we refer to as “superficial fairness.
Longitudinal test of ePortfolio continuous use: an empirical study on the change of students’ beliefs

The electronic portfolio (ePortfolio) is learner-centred, and its effectiveness depends on the learners’ long-term use. Thus, it is proper to conduct the study from the learners’ perspectives. Currently, most research on the use of the ePortfolio is in the form of cross-sectional studies, and it is difficult to find the reasons for the changes in students’ beliefs with regard to the long-term use of the ePortfolio. Based on the longitudinal test, this study explained the students’ continuous use of ePortfolio and the changes in their beliefs. With 122 samplers in the adoption–continuous stage (t 1–t 2) and 117 samplers in the continuous stage (t 2–t 3), this study demonstrates that in continuous use stage (t 2–t 3), perceived ease of use still influences the users’ perceived usefulness (PU) and attitude towards the ePortfolio. Attribution significantly moderates the users’ beliefs from the adoption stage (t 1) to the continuous use stage (t 2). However, the moderating effect of attribution in the continuous use stage (t 2–t 3) is insignificant; satisfaction and attribution are the key factors driving the users’ continuous intention towards the ePortfolio rather than PU and attitude. Meanwhile, satisfaction and attribution will change because of the users’ expectation disconfirmation, and it will influence the users to continue using ePortfolio.
Sox8 Is a Specific Marker for Muscle Satellite Cells and Inhibits Myogenesis*

Sox8 belongs to a family of transcription regulators characterized by a unique DNA-binding domain known as the high mobility group box. Many Sox proteins play fundamental roles in vertebrate development and differentiation processes. Expression of Sox8 is strong during embryonic muscle development and gradually declines postnatally. In this study, we report that in adult skeletal muscle Sox8 is confined to satellite cells. Down-regulation during myogenic differentiation was also detected in cell culture systems and occurred in parallel with down-regulation of the related Sox9. Overexpression of Sox8 or Sox9 on the other hand disrupted myoblasts in their ability to form myotubes. Concomitantly, expression of MyoD and myogenin decreased and basal as well as MyoD-induced activities of the myogenin promoter were strongly reduced in a Sox8-dependent manner. Our data suggest that Sox8 acts as a specific negative regulator of skeletal muscle differentiation, possibly by interfering with the function of myogenic basic helix-loop-helix proteins.
International food prices, agricultural transformation, and food security in Central Asia

This study addresses the impact of global food prices on domestic food prices, the short-term policy responses taken by national governments, and major constraints on long-term food security in Central Asia. A surge in domestic food-price inflation in Central Asian countries was almost perfectly simultaneous with the spike in international food prices. Food-price inflation was spurred in part by adverse weather conditions in 2007, and exacerbated by the decision of the government of Kazakhstan to temporarily impose export tariffs and suspend wheat exports. The transformation of the region's agriculture since 1991 has changed the structure of agricultural production and led to reallocation of more land to food crops, improving food security in the region, and mitigating the negative consequences of rising international food prices. The article argues that the further improvement of food security in the region requires concerted efforts from governments to remove constraints on agricultural productivity.
BEST MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING PRACTICE AND FIRM SUCCESS: EVIDENCE FROM FOOD BUSINESSES IN THAILAND

This study aims to investigate the influences of best management accounting practice on food businesses in Thailand. The best management accounting practice consists of cost calculation efficiency, cost allocation effectiveness, budgeting preparation quality, performance evaluation transparency, and information presentation accuracy. It is hypothesized to become an independent variable of the study. Underlying the instrument for data collection, the accounting manager of each firm is the key informant. The regression analysis is employed to examine all hypotheses. Here, 130 food businesses in Thailand were chosen as the sample of the study. The results indicate that some dimensions of best management accounting practice, namely, cost allocation effectiveness, budgeting preparation quality, performance evaluation transparency, and information presentation accuracy have a significant positive effect on planning efficiency, decision making quality, control effectiveness, and operational achievement. Moreover, decisions making quality and operational achievement have a significant positive effect on firm success. Surprisingly, accounting system effectiveness does not moderate the relationships among accounting well-roundedness, competitive turbulence, cost calculation efficiency, cost allocation effectiveness, budgeting preparation quality, performance evaluation transparency, and information presentation accuracy. Potential discussion with the research results is effectively implemented in the study. Theoretical and managerial contributions are explicitly provided. The conclusion suggestions and directions for future research are also presented.
High Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori in the Alaska Native Population and Association with Low Serum Ferritin Levels in Young Adults

ABSTRACT Iron deficiency anemia is a common public health problem in the Alaska Native population. Yet, a clear etiology has eluded researchers for decades. Previous studies suggested a link betweenHelicobacter pylori infection, gastrointestinal blood loss due to hemorrhagic gastritis, and generalized iron deficiency anemia in adult Alaska Natives. Therefore, we examined the association between the prevalence of H. pylori-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) and serum ferritin levels, a marker of iron deficiency. A random sample of 2,080 serum samples from Alaska Native residents drawn between 1980 and 1986 from residents in 13 regions was selected, and the samples were stratified by age, sex, and region. Overall, 75% were positive for H. pylori-specific IgG. The rate of H. pylori seropositivity increased with age; by age 14 years, 78% of the residents were positive. There were no gender differences inH. pylori seropositivity. However, marked regional differences were observed. Serum ferritin levels of <12 ng/ml were found most commonly among persons <20 years of age and among women of childbearing age. A significant association between low serum ferritin levels and prevalence of H. pylori-specific IgG was found, particularly for people aged less than 20 years. H. pylorimay be a factor contributing to the iron deficiency anemia in the Alaska Native population.
Labour Relations and Asset Returns

This paper proposes a dynamic GE model with standard business cycle properties that also achieves a satisfactory replication of the major financial stylized facts. We ride on two major ideas. First, we show that operating leverage, originating in the priority status of wage claims given the observed business cycle characteristics of the latter, magnifies the risk properties of the residual payments to firm owners and justifies a substantial risk premium. Further we build on the observation that the low frequency variations in income shares constitute a significant source of risk, one that is unlikely to be insurable. When we price this risk in an incomplete market framework, we obtain a GE model with return volatilities close to observations and a sizable equity premium. This is accomplished in a world of low risk aversion and standard utility function but with agent heterogeneity. Workers with restricted access to financial markets are insured by firms and the consumption and preferences of firm owners solely determine the pricing kernel. Copyright 2002, Wiley-Blackwell.
Real and accrual earnings management and IPO failure risk

This paper analyses the relationship between real and accrual earnings management activities and IPO failure risk. While the association between accrual earnings management and IPO failure has been researched in a limited setting, to date, there has been no work that analyses the impact of real activities-based manipulation on the probability of IPO failure. Based on a sample of 570 UK IPO firms that went public over the period 1998–2008, we find evidence that IPO firms manipulate earnings upward utilising real and accrual earnings management during the IPO year. We also find that IPO firms with high levels of real and/or accrual earnings management during the IPO year have a higher probability of IPO failure and lower survival rates in subsequent periods. In addition, we find that IPO firms experience a higher probability of IPO failure and lower survival rates in the post-IPO period when greater real earnings management takes place during the IPO as compared to accrual earnings management. While our work contributes to the growing literature on real and accrual earnings management around IPOs, the majority of our failed IPO events are from the Alternative Investment Market and occur during the financial crisis. Future research, therefore, should consider whether these results are generalisable to more developed firms and less turbulent economic environments.
Is There a Gold Social Seal? The Financial Effects of Additions to and Deletions from Social Stock Indices

This study investigates the financial effects of additions to and deletions from the most well-known social stock index: the MSCI KLD 400. Our study makes use of the unique setting that index reconstitution provides and allows us to bypass possible issues of endogeneity that commonly plague empirical studies of the link between corporate social and financial performance. By examining not only short-term returns but also trading activity, earnings per share, and long-term performance of stocks that are involved in these events, we bring forward evidence of a ‘social index effect’ where unethical transgressions are penalized more heavily than responsibility is rewarded. We find that the addition of a stock to the index does not lead to material changes in its market price, whereas deletions are accompanied by negative cumulative abnormal returns. Trading volumes for deleted stocks are significantly increased on the event date, while the operational performances of the respective firms deteriorate after their deletion from the social index.
Clustering of multiple healthy lifestyles among older Korean adults living in the community

Aim: Despite the predictive value of combined healthy lifestyles in maintaining physical and cognitive functioning in late life, little is known about the clustering patterns of healthy lifestyle behaviors in older people. The aim of the present study was to examine the prevalence, clustering and population characteristics of adherence to multiple health behaviors in community‐dwelling older Korean adults.
Plasma sheet pressure evolution related to substorms

[1] We have investigated the inner equatorial plasma sheet plasma pressure evolution associated with substorm onsets using the five THEMIS spacecraft data during the 2008 tail season. The central plasma sheet thermal pressure is estimated from the thermal and magnetic pressure based on one dimensional pressure balance. The results show that for a majority of substorm cases, the plasma pressure enhances after onset earthward of ∼12 RE radial distance. On the other hand, the plasma pressure beyond ∼16 RE shows a remarkable decrease near onset. During the recovery phase, the pressure gradually returns to its original level. These results indicate that during the substorm expansion phase, the current wedge usually expands to the region tailward of ∼16 RE with the inner edge earthward of this radial distance. The pressure increase earthward of ∼12 RE could be associated with an increase of cross-tail current, though this is not necessarily so due to the nontail-like magnetic field geometry after dipolarization. For a minority of cases, the pressure fluctuates without net change or reduces at ∼11 RE. During these events, the ground magnetic perturbations and the estimated center of the westward electrojet extend further equatorward than for the pressure increase cases. There is also evidence that aurora breakup occurs further equatorward when there is a pressure reduction, indicating a more earthward penetration of the plasma sheet. During these cases, the current wedge represented by pressure reduction is clearly observed earthward to ∼11 RE. The relationship between the auroral break up arc, which is believed to map to ∼10 RE, and may be associated with a precursor pressure enhancement, and the inner plasma sheet pressure and current evolution near onset warrants more careful analysis.