Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Regulating non‐government schools: Explaining success and failure

The challenge faced by governments in the regulation of powerful private actors has allegedly intensified in recent years. This study explores the means at the disposal of governments, and their effectiveness, with respect to the regulation of private actors that demonstrate considerable independence and political efficacy. It is argued that a modified ‘Contextual Interaction Theory’ (CIT), which focuses on the interaction between generic policy instruments (carrots, sticks, and sermons) and target group attributes (motivation, information, and power), and is augmented by a consideration of a separate institutional dimension, offers a useful analytical framework for understanding both the challenge faced by governments and the options for dealing with it. This framework is applied to a study of the introduction of ‘new accountability’ to Australian and Israeli non-government schools. The use of the standard CIT lenses helps explain Australian success and Israeli government failure in the introduction of new accountability. Australian success is attributable to a judicious mix of ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ instruments that favorably impacted target group information and motivation. In Israel, in contrast, policy instrument mixes failed to alter the main target group's oppositional stance. Institutional engineering, however, could provide a promising way for Israeli policymakers to enhance policy instrument effectiveness, by influencing target group power and motivation.
Firms’ inventiveness and localized vertical R&D spillovers

It is well known that knowledge spillovers exist and that they generate externalities for firms undertaking R&D. Nevertheless, it still remains difficult to predict which local industrial structure may best favor the diffusion of knowledge externalities and finally innovation. In order to further investigate these issues, this paper studies vertical R&D spillovers in addition to the usual localization and urbanization externalities. The underlying hypothesis is that a firm should benefit from knowledge externalities if it is located in a geographical area close to R&D intensive users and producers identified by input/output relationships. Since urbanization as vertical economies are generated by inter-industry links, the issue is then to investigate if urbanization and user-supplier externalities are of a same nature, and thus substitutes or of a different nature and thus may play a complementary role in the firms? innovation process. JEL Codes: L1, O3, R1, R3
Duration of Rhinovirus Shedding in the Upper Respiratory Tract in the First Year of Life

BACKGROUND: Current molecular diagnostic methods have detected rhinovirus RNA in a high proportion of asymptomatic infants and children, raising the question of the clinical significance of these findings. This study investigates the prevalence of prolonged rhinovirus RNA presence in the upper respiratory tract of infants during the first year of life. METHODS: In a longitudinal study, infants were followed from birth up to 12 months. Nasopharyngeal specimens were collected monthly (months 1–6 and month 9) and during an upper respiratory infection. Rhinoviruses were detected by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Presence of repeated rhinovirus RNA was evaluated by nucleotide sequence analysis. RESULTS: A total of 2153 specimens from 362 infants were studied; 341 distinct rhinovirus infections in 216 infants were identified. Follow-up specimens were available within 30 days for 179 infections, creating the sample set to assess prolonged rhinovirus presence. Of the 179 infections, 46 involved the detection of the same rhinovirus strain in repeated specimens, including 8 events of prolonged presence of the same strain (detected in specimens collected >30 days apart), representing 4.5% of the evaluable rhinovirus infections. There were 26 events in which a rhinovirus strain was replaced by a different strain within a 30-day interval, representing 14.5% of the 179 infections. CONCLUSIONS: Although rhinovirus infections are common in healthy infants, prolonged presence of rhinovirus RNA in the respiratory tract after an upper respiratory infection was uncommon (<5%). Detection of rhinovirus RNA in an infant most likely represents an infection within a 30-day period.
Study on 3′-UTR length polymorphism in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of uremia patient

Abstract Objective: The objective of this study was to measure the 3′-untranslated region (3′-UTR) polymorphism lengths in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from uremia patients. Method: We sequenced the alternative polyadenylation sites in the 3′-UTR of PBMCs from 10 uremic patients and 10 healthy people to detect different gene expression levels between uremia patients and healthy controls. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was used as validation. Result: Compared with the healthy control group, 691 genes in uremic patients had significantly different 3′-UTR lengths. Of these genes, 475 genes showed shortened 3′-UTRs, and the 3′-UTRs of 216 genes were lengthened. The verification results matched the original sequencing results. Conclusion: There were significant differences in 3′-UTR lengths between uremic patients and healthy controls, and analysis of the differential genes may contribute to the understanding of uremia pathogenesis.
A continuous time Bayesian network classifier for intraday FX prediction

Abstract Prediction of foreign exchange (FX) rates is addressed as a binary classification problem in which a continuous time Bayesian network classifier (CTBNC) is developed and used to solve it. An exact algorithm for inference on CTBNC is introduced. The performance of an instance of these classifiers is analysed and compared to that of dynamic Bayesian network by using real tick by tick FX rates. Performance analysis and comparison, based on different metrics such as accuracy, precision, recall and Brier score, evince a predictive power of these models for FX rates at high frequencies. The achieved results also show that the proposed CTBNC is more effective and more efficient than dynamic Bayesian network classifier. In particular, it allows to perform high frequency prediction of FX rates in cases where dynamic Bayesian networks-based models are computationally intractable.
Developmental Trajectories of Marijuana Use from Adolescence to Adulthood: Personality and Social Role Outcomes

Longitudinal trajectories of marijuana use from adolescence into adulthood were examined for adverse life-course outcomes among African-Americans and Puerto Ricans. Data for marijuana use were analyzed at four points in time and on participants' personality attributes, work functioning, and partner relations in adulthood using growth mixture modeling. Each of the three marijuana-use trajectory groups (maturing-out, late-onset, and chronic marijuana-users) had greater adverse life-course outcomes than a nonuse or low-use trajectory group. The chronic marijuana-use trajectory group was highly associated with criminal behavior and partners' marijuana use in adulthood. Treatment programs for marijuana use should also directly address common adverse life-course outcomes users may already be experiencing.
Currency Competition, Network Externalities and Switching Costs: Towards an Alternative View of Optimum Currency Areas

Existing models of currency competition and monetary union ignore network effects and switching costs. This paper develops a simple model that incorporates these features and shows how it can be used to shed light on observed monetary experience and current issues in international monetary relations. It explains why agents will often be reluctant to switch currencies, highlights the role of expectations, and sheds light on the nature of currency competition and the effect of legal restrictions. Copyright 1993 by Royal Economic Society.
The Value Relevance of Non-Financial Performance Indicators: New Cues from the European Fashion Industry

Intangible assets and related performance measures assume increasing importance in valuation processes. Value relevance studies testify to their importance through an analysis of market stock prices. We aim to examine the value relevance of non-financial indicators in European fashion companies. The indicator selected is the "change in mono-brand stores". Applying the models proposed by current literature, we have refuted the value relevance hypothesis. However, refining both the "operationalization" of the concepts and the related result analysis procedure, the value relevance is confirmed. In this way, we contribute to increasing the generalizability of this research trend and to fuel the debate concerning the standardization process of this information. In particular, following in the footsteps of the Gartner/EBRC project, supported by AICPA (Gartner-EBRC, 2010), our results can help the national and international standard setters to pinpoint the indicators that really matter for the fashion industry and standardize their communication.
International Outsourcing and the Productivity of Low-Skilled Labor in the EU

This article presents first insights into the role of international outsourcing on the productivity of low-skilled workers in EU manufacturing. Whereas in the short run international outsourcing exhibits a negative marginal effect on real value added per low-skilled worker, the long-run parameter estimates reveal a positive impact. This may be explained by imperfections in European labor and goods markets, which prohibit an immediate adjustment in the factor employment and the output structure. The change in the outsourcing intensity since 1993 alone acounts for a long-run increase of about 6.0% in the real value added per low-skilled worker. (JEL C33, F14, F15) Copyright 2006, Oxford University Press.
Corporate management at top level of governments: the Canadian case

To coordinate action, reduce bureaucratic in-fighting and favour the efficient implementation of the governmental agenda, governments are tending to use more collaborative and holistic tools. In Canada, within the federal and provincial governments, relatively integrated corporate management tools have been established for senior civil servants and their work. On the basis of interviews and discussions, this article presents the three types of tools used (a senior personnel secretariat reporting to the head of government, an integrated organizational system and the development of a community culture), which provide: a framework for the development, orientation, integration and support for the most senior managers; strategic, coordination and learning meetings for the entire group; and individualized HRM tools. Despite obstacles to it, and its risks, all of those surveyed conclude that this model is considered, in the Canadian context, both effective and satisfactory.
Optimizing a novel method for low intensity ultrasound in chondrogenesis induction

Background: Hyaline cartilage tissue of joints is susceptible to injuries due to avascularity. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are used for cartilage tissue engineering. Among MSCs, adipose stem cells (ASCs) are attractive because of accessibility, their large number, and rapid growth. Common in vitro protocols successfully induce chondrogenic differentiation by expression of multiple cartilage-specific molecules. However, transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) promotes chondrogenesis to terminal stages. Despite much attention being given to the influences of biochemical factors on chondrogenesis of MSCs, few studies have examined the chondrogenic effect of mechanical factors such as ultrasound as a feasible tool. Materials and Methods: In this study, we focused on inducing chondrogenesis in the early stages of differentiation by using low-intensity ultrasound (LIUS). Four groups of ASC pellets (control, ultrasound, TGFβ, and ultrasound/TGF) were cultured under chondrogenic (10 ng/ml of TGFβ3) and ultrasound conditions (200 mW/cm 2 , 10 min/day). After 2 weeks, differentiation was evaluated by histology, quantitative gene expression analysis, and immunohistochemistry. Results: Our data demonstrated that ultrasound differentiated pellets showed increased expression of early chondrogenesis marker, Col2A, than those in TGFβ groups (P < 0.001), and Col2B and Col10 expression were more prominent in TGFβ groups. Immunostaining of sections showed Col2 fibrils around lacuna in LIUS and TGFβ treated groups. Conclusion: Using LIUS resulted in early chondrogenesis in comparison with terminally differentiated chondrocytes by TGFβ. Therefore, LIUS might provide an applicable, safe, efficient, and cheap tool for chondrogenic differentiation of ASCs in cartilage tissue engineering.
Predictability of Survival Models for Waiting List and Transplant Patients: Calculating LYFT

‘Life years from transplant’ (LYFT) is the extra years of life that a candidate can expect to achieve with a kidney transplant as compared to never receiving a kidney transplant at all. The LYFT component survival models (patient lifetimes with and without transplant, and graft lifetime) are comparable to or better predictors of long‐term survival than are other predictive equations currently in use for organ allocation. Furthermore, these models are progressively more successful at predicting which of two patients will live longer as their medical characteristics (and thus predicted lifetimes) diverge. The C‐statistics and the correlations for the three LYFT component equations have been validated using independent, nonoverlapping split‐half random samples. Allocation policies based on these survival models could lead to substantial increases in the number of life years gained from the current donor pool.
Exploring the Dynamics of Global Liquidity

This paper explores the concept of global liquidity, its measurement and macro-financial importance. We construct two sets of indicators for global liquidity: a quantity series distinguishing between core and noncore liabilities of financial intermediatires and a corresponding price series. Using price and quantity indicators simultaneously, it is possible to distinguish between shocks to the supply and demand for global liquidity, and isolate their impact on the economy. Our results confirm that global liquidity conditions matter for economic and financial stability, and points to indicators whose regular monitoring could be valuable to policymakers.
Flexibility of zeolitic imidazolate framework structures studied by neutron total scattering and the reverse Monte Carlo method

The zeolitic imidazolate framework ZIF-4 undergoes an amorphization transition at about 600 K, and then transforms at about 700 K to ZIF-zni, the densest of the crystalline ZIFs. This series of long-range structural rearrangements must give a corresponding series of changes in the local structure, but these have not previously been directly investigated. Through analysis of neutron total diffraction data by reverse Monte Carlo modelling, we assess the changes in flexibility across this series, identifying the key modes of flexibility within ZIF-4 and the amorphous phase. We show that the ZnN4 tetrahedra remain relatively rigid, albeit less so than SiO4 tetrahedra in silicates. However, the extra degrees of freedom afforded by the imidazolate ligand, compared to silicate networks, vary substantially between phases, with a twisting motion out of the plane of the ligand being particularly important in the amorphous phase. Our results further demonstrate the feasibility of reverse Monte Carlo simulations for studying intermolecular interactions in solids, even in cases, such as the ZIFs, where the pair distribution function is dominated by intramolecular peaks.
Common cause effects in portfolio loss estimation

In the present article, a methodology for the consideration of common cause effects in portfolio analysis is shown. A hierarchical approach is proposed which is especially useful for the modelling of large portfolios. It allows evaluating the performance of each single asset in the portfolio conditionally independent. In many cases, the performance of assets can be described using two states, namely failure and survival. For such assets, the analysis can be performed almost independent of the size of the portfolio by using a binomial model. A special focus is set on the different sources of common cause effects and their influence on the loss distribution in portfolios is shown and analysed. The results indicate a distinct influence of such effects especially in portfolios where the consequences are described by a nonlinear function. Common cause effects do not only arise from common load situation in the same geographical regions but also from common models used for the design of infrastructure facilities. In a general sense, dependencies in a portfolio can be considered as representing the system characteristics of the portfolio loss exceedance function. The identification of the main indicators influencing the loss exceedance curve for portfolios can help to optimise decisions for loss reduction, to understand system mechanisms and to identify and implement effective risk reducing measures. The present article aims to model, assess and discuss the effects influencing the loss exceedance function for a portfolio of assets with dependencies. A hierarchical approach is presented which facilitates the consideration and determination of the dependency structure in portfolios. The different effects on the portfolio loss exceedance function are investigated and discussed and illustrative examples are given.
The chemokine receptor CX3CR1 mediates homing of MHC class II-positive cells to the normal mouse corneal epithelium.

PURPOSE Recent investigations have revealed that populations of macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs) are present in the stroma and epithelium of the cornea, although the precise phenotype and distribution are still controversial. CX(3)CR1, the sole receptor for the chemokine fractalkine, is expressed by these monocyte-derived cells. Transgenic CX(3)CR1(GFP) mice, in which either one (heterozygous) or both (homozygous) copies of the CX(3)CR1 gene were replaced by enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP), were used to characterize monocyte-derived cells in the mouse cornea and to determine whether the expression of this receptor influences the recruitment of these cells into the normal cornea. METHODS Wholemount corneas were immunostained with anti-leukocyte antibodies to the phenotypic markers major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II, CD169, CD68, CD11b, and CD45 and analyzed by epifluorescence and confocal microscopy. The density of intraepithelial MHC class II(+) cells was quantified in wild-type, CX(3)CR1(+/GFP) heterozygous, CX(3)CR1(GFP/GFP) homozygous, and CX(3)CR1-knockout mice. RESULTS There was a significant reduction in the number of MHC class II(+) cells (putative DCs) in the corneal epithelium of CX(3)CR1-deficient mice (P < 0.009) compared with wild-type mice, and the few cells that were present did not possess classic dendriform morphology. No GFP(+) MHC class II(-) cells were noted in the epithelium. Dual immunostaining of corneas in both heterozygous and homozygous (CX(3)CR1-deficient) mice revealed GFP(+) cells with a more pleomorphic morphology throughout the entire corneal stroma that were CD11b(+) CD169(+), and had variable degrees of expression of CD68 andMHC class II. The immunophenotype and morphology of these intrastromal cells is strongly indicative of a macrophage phenotype. CONCLUSIONS This study has identified a role for CX(3)CR1 in the normal recruitment of MHC class II(+) putative DCs into the corneal epithelium and establishes a model for investigating monocyte-derived cells and fractalkine/CX(3)CR1 interactions during corneal disease.
MONETARY POLICY AND THE VELOCITY OF MONEY IN GREECE: A COlNTEGRATION APPROACH

Long run real money demand and velocity function for the narrow monetary aggregate M1 are tested by means of the cointegration approach developed by Johansen and Juselius (1990). The results support the existence of a systematic relationship between M1-velocity, the rate of interest and the exchange rate. An interesting aspect of the trivariate error correction vector autoregressive analysis is the evidence of bidirectional causality between the exchange rate and velocity. Furthermore, changes in the rate of interest provide information that helps predict future movements of M1-velocity. Finally, the results derived from Engle and Granger (1987) two-step procedure suggest that M1-velocity is subject to control through policy-induced interest rate and exchange rate movements, thus justifying the adoption of M1 as a useful monetary target.
Real-Time Distribution Grid State Estimation with Limited Sensors and Load Forecasting

High penetration levels of distributed generation (DG) and electric vehicles (EVs) diversify power flow and bring uncertainty to distribution networks, making planning and control more involved for distribution system operators (DSOs). The increased risk of constraint violation triggers the need to augment forecasts with real- time state estimation. This is economically and technically challenging since it requires investing in a large number of sensors and these have to communicate with often older and slower supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems. We address distribution grid state estimation via combining only a limited set of sensors with load forecast information. It revisits open problems in a recent paper that proposes a Bayesian estimation scheme. We derive the estimator for balanced power networks via rigorous modeling. An off-line analysis of load aggregation, forecast accuracy and number of sensors provides concrete engineering trade-offs to determine the optimal number of sensors for a desired accuracy. This estimation procedure can be used in real time as an observer for control problems or off-line for planning purposes to asses the effect of DG or EVs on specific network components.
Exploring variation in teenage mothers' and fathers' educational attainment.

CONTEXT A substantial body of research has compared educational outcomes of teenage parents with those of their childless peers, but less attention has gone to variations among teenage parents. Additionally, gender differences in teenage parents' educational outcomes have rarely been studied. METHODS Characteristics associated with high school graduation by age 26 were assessed among 317 teenage mothers and fathers who participated in the 1988-2000 National Education Longitudinal Study. Logistic regression models included socioeconomic and educational characteristics, gender, parenting responsibilities and resources, and gender interactions. RESULTS Married or cohabiting teenage parents living with no or one parent had 73% lower odds of graduation than single respondents living with two parents. Gender moderated the relationships between two parenting responsibilities and the likelihood of graduation: Fathers working at least half-time were less likely than nonworking fathers to graduate (odds ratio, 0.2), and fathers who were primary caregivers had substantially elevated odds of graduating (7.4), but no similar relationships were seen among mothers. Sixty-one percent of fathers who worked but were not primary caregivers were predicted to graduate by age 26, compared with 97% of those who were nonworking primary caregivers. CONCLUSIONS Traditional parenting norms, according to which mothers are primary caregivers and fathers are breadwinners, do not appear to be associated with improved odds of graduating. Policies and interventions aimed at helping teenage parents graduate may be most effective if they target both genders, but some are likely to be more beneficial for one gender than the other.