Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The quality of attitudinal information regarding natural resource issues: The role of attitude‐strength, importance, and information

The decision‐making process in natural resource management has historically been guided by information from the biological and physical sciences. However, as the public becomes more knowledgeable about and active regarding natural resource issues, the integration of a multidisciplinary social science component into the natural resource decision‐making process becomes essential. One prominent method of social dimension inquiry is the assessment of public attitudes toward natural resource issues. A concern of natural resource managers and researchers, however, is the quality of the attitudinal information obtained. One way of assessing the quality of attitudinal information is to examine the predictive validity of attitudes, that is, their ability to predict behavior regarding natural resource issues. This study incorporates the strength of attitudes toward management strategies, the personal importance of a natural resource issue, and the availability of information about the issue into a model of the abil.
Comparison of older depressed hospitalized patients with and without heart failure/pulmonary disease

Test the hypothesis that depressed hospitalized patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) and/or chronic pulmonary disease (CPD) are no different from depressed patients with other medical disorders, and so can be treated similarly. Consenting patients aged 50 or over consecutively admitted to the medical services at Duke University Medical Center and three community hospitals were screened for depressive disorder using the Structured Clinical Interview for Depression (SCID-IV). Characteristics of patients reflecting vulnerability, stressors, and coping resources were assessed. CHF/CPD patients with major (n = 413) and minor (n = 587) depression were compared to depressed patients with other medical disorders (n = 63). Among those with major depression, patients with CHF/CPD differed from those with other medical disorders in having less severe depression and less severe cognitive impairment, but greater physical illness severity. Among those with minor depression, CHF/CPD patients tended to be older and, as with major depression, had less severe depression and more severe medical illness. These findings were largely confirmed when CHF and CPD patients were examined separately. Depressive disorders in CHF/CPD patients are similar to those in patients with other medical disorders. However, they may be associated with less severe depressive symptoms and more severe physical illness than depressed patients with other medical disorders. These findings help to identify the unique ways in which depressive disorder manifests itself in hospitalized patients with chronic heart and lung disease that may impact their management.
Striving for a Large Market: Evidence from a General Purpose Technology in Action

Several scholars have tried to focus on growth accounting of specific examples of General Purpose Technologies (GPTs). But, what are the factors that might make a General Purpose Technology succeed or fail once the invention has been "triggered"? This paper is a preliminary answer to this question and attempts to study GPTs from an ex-ante perspective trying to understand what is the behaviour and performance of the producer firms and what the factors are that can favour or hamper their diffusion in the application sectors. The paper follows a historical perspective on a control technology, introduced in the last few decades by a Silicon Valley start-up company.
Isolation of Labile Multi-protein Complexes by in vivo Controlled Cellular Cross-Linking and Immuno-magnetic Affinity Chromatography

The dynamic nature of cellular machineries is frequently built on transient and/or weak protein associations. These low affinity interactions preclude stringent methods for the isolation and identification of protein networks around a protein of interest. The use of chemical crosslinkers allows the selective stabilization of labile interactions, thus bypassing biochemical limitations for purification. Here we present a protocol amenable for cells in culture that uses a homobifunctional crosslinker with a spacer arm of 12 Å, dithiobis-(succinimidyl proprionate) (DSP). DSP is cleaved by reduction of a disulphide bond present in the molecule. Cross-linking combined with immunoaffinity chromatography of proteins of interest with magnetic beads allows the isolation of protein complexes that otherwise would not withstand purification. This protocol is compatible with regular western blot techniques and it can be scaled up for protein identification by mass spectrometry1. Stephanie A. Zlatic and Pearl V. Ryder contributed equally to this work.
An Empirical Comparison of Bankruptcy Models

Four types of bankruptcy prediction models based on financial statement ratios, cash flows, stock returns, and return standard deviations are compared. Based on a ample of bankruptcies from 1980 to 1991, results indicate that no existing model of bankruptcy adequately captures the data. During the last fiscal year preceding bankruptcy, none of the individual models may be excluded without a loss in explanatory power. If considered in isolation, the cash flow model discriminates most consistently two to three years before bankruptcy. By comparison, the ratio model is the best single model during the year immediately preceding bankruptcy. Quasi-jack-knifing procedures suggest that none of the models can reliably predict bankruptcy more than two years in advance. Copyright 1998 by MIT Press.
Iodine deficiency up‐regulates monocarboxylate transporter 8 expression of mouse thyroid gland

Background Iodine deficiency is a major factor affecting thyroid auto‐regulation, the quantity of iodine may greatly influence the synthesis of thyroid hormones (THs). It has long been believed that TH enters the cell through passive diffusion. Recent studies have suggested that several transporters could facilitate transportation of TH. The monocarboxylate transporter 8 (MCT8) was identified as a very active and specific TH transporter. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether iodine insufficient affected the expression of MCT8 in the thyroid gland. Methods Sixty BALB/c mice were randomly divided into two groups: control group was fed with standard feed (iodine concentration of 300 &mgr;g/kg); while low‐iodine (LI) group received iodine‐insufficient feed (iodine concentration of 20‐40 &mgr;g/kg). After 3 months, 10 mice of each group were sacrificed. The remaining 20 mice of each group were kept till 6 months. From the LI group, we randomly selected 15 mice and injected triiodothyronine (T3, 100 &mgr;g/kg body weight per day) intraperitoneally for 24, 48 or 72 hours (5 mice for each time‐point). Then, all the mice were sacrificed. Mouse serum thyroxine (T4), T3, and thyroid‐stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were determined by chemiluminescence immunoassay (CIA). The protein content or messenger RNA (mRNA) level of thyroid MCT8 was measured by Western blotting analysis or real time RT‐PCR respectively. MCT8 subcellular location in thyroid tissues was probed with immunohistochemistry (IHC) assay. Results We found that mouse serum T3 and T4 levels decreased and TSH level increased by the end of the third month. Consistent with these findings, there was significant goiter and hypothyroidism in the LI group. Meanwhile, the MCT8 mRNA increased to 1.36‐fold of the level in the control group at the 3rd month. At 6th month, the serum T4 level in LI mice remained at a lower level, and MCT8 mRNA expression continued rising to nearly 1.60‐fold compared with the control group. The protein content was also about 3 times higher than that in the control group. IHC results also revealed MCT8 was of higher expression and localized in the cytoplasm of thyroid follicular cells. After providing exogenous T3 to iodine deficient mice, the serum T3 and T4 gradually increased, whereas MCT8 mRNA and protein both started to decrease and returned to the same level as the control group. Conclusion There is a compensatory increase in thyroid MCT8 expression to enhance its capability to transport TH from thyroid to the blood circulation in iodine deficient mice.
Wage Drift and Bargaining: Evidence from Norway

Empirical equations, based on a theoretical bargaining model, are estimated on data for wage drift in six industries and in the aggregate manufacturing sector in Norway. It is shown that the central wage settlement has a strong impact on aggregate and relative wages in the short run, and that this effect is not offset by wage drift. Wage drift is also found to depend negatively on the size of inventories. This is interpreted as arising from the effect of the initial size of the inventories on the cost to the firm of an industrial conflict. Copyright 1989 by The London School of Economics and Political Science.
In-vitro comparison of the lengthening and biomechanical properties of three tendon lengthening techniques.

OBJECTIVES Clinically, the Z-plasty lengthening is the only method used in the upper extremity, whereas several different techniques such as the Vulpius and Baker are used in the lower extremity. In this study, the usage of the modified Vulpius and Baker tendon lengthening techniques in the upper extremity was investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS Vulpius and Baker techniques are modified by changing their application site in 90 sheep fore-limb deep flexor tendons using three randomly divided groups. Z-plasty, V-Y-plasty (Modified Vulpius) and U-T-plasty (Modified Baker) techniques were used in groups I to III, respectively. Their elongation and biomechanical properties were compared. RESULTS The Z-plasty technique provided significantly greater lengthening than the other two techniques, followed by the U-T-plasty technique. Failure load of the U-T-plasty technique was 60.7% higher than the Z-plasty technique and 45.4% higher than the V-Y-plasty technique. Repairs with the U-T-plasty and V-Y-plasty techniques were significantly stiffer than the repairs with the Z-plasty technique. CONCLUSION The U-T-plasty technique may be a good alternative to the Z-plasty technique because of its easy application and better biomechanical properties, especially in cases that need moderate-sized elongation and early mobilization. But the restorative properties of this technique need to be observed on an in-vivo model.
Skip-Sliding Window Codes

Constrained coding is used widely in digital communication and storage systems. In this paper, we study a generalized sliding window constraint called the skip-sliding window constraint. A skip-sliding window (SSW) code is defined in terms of the length <tex>$L$</tex> of a sliding window, skip length <tex>$J$</tex>, and cost constraint <tex>$E$</tex> in each sliding window. Each valid codeword of length <tex>$L+kJ$</tex> is determined by <tex>$k+1$</tex> windows of length <tex>$L$</tex> where window <tex>$i$</tex> starts at <tex>$(iJ+1)$</tex>th symbol for all non-negative integers <tex>$i$</tex> such that <tex>$i\leq k$</tex>; and the cost constraint <tex>$E$</tex> in each window must be satisfied. In this work, two methods are given to enumerate the size of SSW codes. Using the proposed enumeration methods, the noiseless capacity of binary SSW codes is determined and observations such as greater capacity than other classes of codes are made. Moreover, some noisy capacity bounds are given. SSW coding constraints arise in various applications including simultaneous energy and information transfer.
Modelling a national programme for the control of foodborne pathogens in livestock: the case of Salmonella Dublin in the Danish cattle industry

SUMMARY A ‘virtual hierarchy’ model is described for studying the spread of pathogens between herds of livestock. This novel approach to simulating disease has animals, herds, and geographic regions in a national livestock industry arranged as a hierarchy of objects in computer memory. Superimposed on all objects is an infection–recovery cycle, a control programme, and surveillance based on test results and animal movement. The model was applied to predicting progress in the control of Salmonella Dublin in the Danish dairy cattle industry over a 10-year period. More frequent testing of bulk tank milk for antibodies to S. Dublin was less effective than improved herd biosecurity. Restricting cattle movement between regions provided a strong benefit to those regions initially with a low prevalence of infection. Enhanced control within infected herds was of intermediate benefit. A combination of strategies was highly effective although cost and feasibility of this option needs further exploration.
Detection of measles virus RNA in whole blood stored on filter paper

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of dried blood spots stored on filter paper as a means to provide specimens for virologic surveillance for measles virus (MV) in situations when the reverse cold chain is not available. Two single‐step RT‐PCR assays were evaluated for sensitivity of detection of MV nucleoprotein gene RNA. The more sensitive assay was then used to assess the stability of MV RNA in dried whole blood stored on filter paper. MV RNA was found to be stable in dried blood spots for up to 2 months at room temperature or 1 month at 37°C. As few as 100 infected human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) per blood spot could be detected using a single‐step RT‐PCR reaction and ethidium bromide detection. MV RNA was also detected in dried blood spots obtained from rhesus macaques after challenge with wild‐type MV. In the rhesus samples, the single‐step RT‐PCR reaction could detect approximately 103 TCID50 per blood spot, while nested PCR detected 3 TCID50 per blood spot. The results of this laboratory‐based study suggest that the use of dried blood spots stored on filter has the potential to improve virologic surveillance for MV in some areas, and they emphasize the need for continued testing under field conditions. J. Med. Virol. 67:596–602, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Tied to the Mast? National Fiscal Rules in the European Union

"Numerical fiscal rules implemented at the national level in member countries of the European Union offer useful information on possible reasons for the growing reliance on such rules, and on their implication for fiscal policy. Our analysis of a survey-based dataset suggests that both the introduction of the EU fiscal framework and country-specific fiscal governance features played a role in triggering introduction of numerical fiscal rules, and that the impact of rules is statistically significant, robust, and quantitatively important. Outcomes and rules may be jointly determined by unobserved political factors, but the evidence suggests that causality runs from rules to fiscal behaviour, and that rules specifically designed to prevent conflicts with the stabilization function of fiscal policy are indeed associated with less pro-cyclical policies. " Copyright (c) CEPR, CES, MSH, 2008.
The Reversal of Large Stock-Price Decreases

Extremely large negative ten-day rates of return are followed on average by larger-than-expected positive rates of return over following days. This price adjustment lasts approximately two days and is observed in a sample of firms that is largely devoid of methodological problems that might explain the reversal phenomenon. While perhaps not representing abnormal profit opportunities, these reversals present a puzzle as to the length of the price adjustment period. Such a slow recovery is inconsistent with the notion that market prices quickly reflect relevant information. Copyright 1991 by American Finance Association.
Principals, agents, and the European Union's foreign economic policies

In the introduction to this collection on the principal–agent approach and the European Union's (EU) foreign economic policies we briefly present the EU's institutional structure for policy-making in trade, monetary, development and international competition and financial policy. We also offer some data on the extent of the EU's involvement in the international economy. Our discussion of the principal–agent approach and how it can be applied to an analysis of the EU's foreign economic policies forms the basis of the following contributions. It allows us to formulate three questions that are of particular interest for applications of the principal–agent approach to the EU. Finally, we summarize the various studies included in this collection.
Urban Commuters’ Mode-switching Behaviour in Taipai, with an Application of the Bounded Rationality Principle

This paper applies the bounded rationality rule to analyse commuters’ mode-switching behaviour from private transport (i.e. automobile and motorbike) to public transport (i.e. rail transit and bus transit) in the Taipei metropolitan area. A stated choice approach was used to collect the data and to investigate how different attributes, such as parking fees, travel time and cost, influence commuters’ mode-switching behaviour. A multinomial probit modelling framework was developed to capture the correlation effects when commuters switch from private to public modes. The estimation results indicate that the socioeconomic characteristics and trip characteristics significantly influence commuters’ mode-switching behaviour. Accounting for the structure of unobserved effects suggests that switching behaviour from private to public modes was significantly positively correlated. An elasticity analysis shows that private commuters were more likely to switch to MRT than to bus and that auto commuters are generally more likely to switch to public modes than are motorbike commuters.
Sustainability Marketing Strategy: An Analysis of Recent Literature

The present study reviews the extant literature available on the emerging area of Sustainability Marketing Strategy (SMS), which hopefully, will prove to be a springboard for the future research. Tracing the origin of the concept of SMS, a detailed discussion on historic developments in the field is taken up with the help of definitions and pictorial representation of various related concepts followed by a survey of wide range of available databases from 1996 to 2011. After a rigorous search of numerous journals, those research papers exploring the field adequately have been selected. The selected papers are then classified according to various criteria for the purpose of comprehensive review of literature. Finally, after analyzing current status of research in the field of SMS, a probable agenda for future research has been formulated, which may serve as a useful guideline for the future investigators, as significant contribution need to be made in the area of SMS.
Production and marketing problems of nineteenth-century UK watchmakers and the industry’s ultimate fate

This paper examines the decline of British watch manufacturing during the nineteenth century. It seeks to understand why the bulk of British manufacturers failed to adopt the new production technologies to ensure that they could compete competitively at home and abroad. It identifies a number of factors that together would seem pertinent, including: lack of understanding/appreciation of the industry life cycle; failure to protect the core business; myopia; reacting to change too late; practicing what were considered to be risk-aversive strategies in production by keeping to their traditional ways of manufacture; maintaining an inappropriate industrial structure; and demonstrating a lack of entrepreneurial innovation. It argues that if the bulk of the incumbents of the industry had recognized these inadequacies and taken appropriate action to counter them, it might at least have been able to compete on better terms with its international competitors.
Individualism/Collectivism and Attitudes towards Human Resource Systems: A Comparative Study of American, Irish, and Indian MBA Students

In this study, we collected data from 180 MBA students from the USA, Ireland and India on their individualism/collectivism (IC) orientations and their preferences for human resource management (HRM) practices. Contrary to expectations, the Indian sample tended to be more individualistic than the American or Irish sample. While there were no differences on the preferences for progressive HRM practices across sample, the Americans exhibited a greater preference for paternalistic practices than the Indians and the Irish. Further, the Americans also showed a greater preference for equality in rewards than the Irish and fairness in appraisals/rewards than the Indians. At the individual level, controlling for nationality, age and gender, higher individualism scores on the supremacy of individual goals and self-reliance dimensions were positively related to progressive HRM practices. Higher individualism on supremacy of individual goals was also positively related to procedural fairness in appraisals/rewards and.
Multiplex PCR for Rapid Detection of Staphylococcus aureus Isolates Suspected to Represent Community-Acquired Strains

ABSTRACT The continuous spread of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (caMRSA) and the introduction of these highly virulent isolates into hospitals represent increasing threats. The timely recognition of caMRSA strains is crucial for infection control purposes. Thus, we developed a PCR-based assay for the easy and rapid determination of those caMRSA clones that currently are the most prevalent in Germany and Central Europe. This assay was able to correctly identify the majority of the isolates as caMRSA of sequence type 80 (ST80), clonal complex 1 (USA400), and ST8 (USA300). In combination with spa typing-BURP (based upon repeat pattern) analysis and resistance typing, it provides a means for the extensive characterization of suspicious isolates. Thus, this assay represents a reliable tool for monitoring the emergence and spread of different caMRSA clones. The resulting information, in combination with careful interpretation of the epidemiological records, might help to prevent the further spread of those highly virulent caMRSA clones.
Vitamin E intake , a-tocopherol status , and pancreatic cancer in a cohort of male smokers 1 – 3

Background: Evidence indicates that vitamin E has anticarcinogenic properties for gastrointestinal cancers; however, few studies have examined this with respect to exocrine pancreatic cancer. Objective: The objective was to examine whether vitamin E intake and serum a-tocopherol concentrations were prospectively associated with exocrine pancreatic cancer. Design: We conducted a cohort analysis of prediagnostic vitamin E intake (4 tocopherols, 4 tocotrienols), serum a-tocopherol concentrations, and pancreatic cancer in the Alpha-Tocopherol, BetaCarotene Cancer Prevention (ATBC) Study of male Finnish smokers aged 50–69 y at baseline. During follow-up from 1985 to 2004 (maximum: 19.4; median: 16 y), 318 incident cases were diagnosed among cohort participants with complete serum samples (n 1⁄4 29,092); 306 cases had complete dietary data (n 1⁄4 27,111). Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for age, smoking history, history of diabetes mellitus, and/or serum cholesterol were used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs. Results: Higher a-tocopherol concentrations were associated with lower pancreatic cancer risk (highest compared with lowest quintile, HR: 0.52; 95% CI: 0.34, 0.80; P for trend 1⁄4 0.03; continuous HR: 0.91; 95% CI: 0.84, 0.99). Polyunsaturated fat, a putative prooxidant nutrient, modified the association such that the inverse a-tocopherol association was most pronounced in subjects with a high polyunsaturated fat intake, ie, . 9.9 g/d) highest compared with lowest quintile, HR: 0.38; 95% CI: 0.20, 0.70; P for trend 1⁄4 0.03; continuous HR: 0.86; 95% CI: 0.75, 0.97; P for interaction 1⁄4 0.05 and 0.02, respectively). No associations were observed for dietary tocopherols and tocotrienols. Conclusion: Our results support the hypothesis that higher a-tocopherol concentrations may play a protective role in pancreatic carcinogenesis in male smokers. Am J Clin Nutr 2009;0:1–8.