Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Five Years Later: A Re-Assessment of Oregon's Vote by Mail Electoral Process

I 1981, the Oregon State Legislature approved a test of all-mail elections in certain local contests, and, by 1987, a majority of counties began conducting all-mail elections for local races or ballot measures, primarily because of reduced costs. The circumstances of Senator Bob Packwood’s resignation, effective October 1, 1995, led to a primary and general election for his replacement. The “special” nature of both this primary in December 1995 and the general election in January 1996 allowed the secretary of state to adopt an all-mail format for these two elections. These were the first federal elections in the nation to be conducted entirely by mail. From the onset of the campaign for this special election, vote by mail was controversial, increasingly so as the parties became concerned with the possibility of a particular advantage that might accrue to one party or another. The state Republican Party leaders initially supported vote by mail, as they believed that vote by mail would merely institutionalize the Republicans’ previous efforts to get absentee ballots to elderly Republican voters. However, Republican activists began to express doubts about this electoral method when a Democrat senator was elected to replace Packwood in this 1996 election. Similarly, Democrats initially feared that vote by mail would be similar to absentee voting, which tends to facilitate the participation of likely Republican voters. (See Jeffe and Jeffe 1990; Hamilton 1988; Karp and Banducci 2001; Mutch 1992; Oliver 1996; Patterson and Caldeira 1988; Rosenfeld 1995). However, others have argued that the expected rise in voter turnout would help the Democrats (Burnham 1982; Piven and Cloward 1988; Radcliff 1994).
The economic costs of transition to democracy in the Maghrib: Quantitative results for Algeria and Tunisia

This article shows that abandoning the current political system in Algeria and Tunisia is likely to be economically costly. These costs are estimated in terms of output per worker – a customary measure of labour productivity. The results – using an endogenous growth model – indicate that Algeria would have lost more than 20 per cent of its labour productivity during the Boumediènne–Benjedid period had it had the same level of democracy as the United States. Tunisia would have lost more than 15 per cent during the Ben Ali period. One possible explanation for this is that, as the two countries move from highly repressive regimes into more tolerant political systems, they begin to lose their political strength for adopting developmental strategies that would otherwise face little, if any, resistance under authoritarianism. The main policy implication is that for democratisation to be successful its disruptive effects must be part of all political liberalisation equations.
Quantitative evaluation of microscopic injury with diffusion tensor imaging in a rat model of diffuse axonal injury

Diffuse axonal injury (DAI) is the predominant effect of severe traumatic brain injury and contributes significantly to neurological deficits. However, it is difficult to diagnose or characterize non‐invasively with conventional imaging. Our study provides significant validation of a visual and statistical diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) technique as compared with pathological and electron microscopic study in a rat DAI model at multiple predilection sites and time points following trauma. Two DTI parameters, fractional anisotropy (FA) and axial diffusivity (AD), were significantly reduced from 12 h to 5 days post‐trauma, corresponding to pathological axonal injury. At 7 days post‐trauma, FA remained decreased, whereas AD pseudo‐normalized and radial diffusivity increased. The temporal alterations in DTI parameters were observed in multiple predilection sites, and the extent of the changes in these parameters correlated significantly with the severity of histologically visualized axonal injury, as assessed by integrated optical density of immunochemically stained injured axons with quantitative stereology. Although anatomical T2‐weighted magnetic resonance images showed no abnormal signals in microscopic lesions, we detected and characterized axonal injury directly by DTI at each time point. These results demonstrate that DTI has significant potential as a non‐invasive tool with which to quantitatively diagnose and evaluate microstructural injury in the experimental and clinical assessment of DAI. This method can assist in accurate evaluation of the extent of axonal injury, detection of severe predilection foci, determination of approximate time of injury, and monitoring of the pathogenic condition at the early post‐injury stage.
Comparing the Post–Earnings Announcement Drift for Surprises Calculated from Analyst and Time Series Forecasts

Post-earnings announcement drift is the tendency for a stock's cumulative abnormal returns to drift in the direction of an earnings surprise for several weeks following an earnings announcement. We show that the drift is significantly larger when defining the earnings surprise using analysts' forecasts and actual earnings from I/B/E/S than when using a time series model based on Compustat earnings data. Neither Compustat's policy of restating earnings nor the inclusion of "special items" in reported earnings contribute significantly to the disparity in drift magnitudes. Rather, our results suggest that this disparity is attributable to differences between analyst forecasts and those of time-series models-or at least to factors correlated with these differences. Further, we document that analyst forecasts lead to return patterns around future earnings announcements that differ from those observed when using time-series models, suggesting that the two types of surprises may capture somewhat different forms of mispricing. Copyright 2006 The Institute of Professional Accounting, University of Chicago.
MEASUREMENT OF MULTIPLE SITES IN SERVICE FIRMS WITH DATA ENVELOPMENT ANALYSIS

Data envelopment analysis (dea) has become an increasingly popular method to measure performance for service firms with multiple sites. DEA is superior to many traditional methods for firms that have multiple goals. The promise of DEA is that the complex, multi‐objective problem of performance measurement can be reduced to a single number. Unfortunately, the practice of DEA often belies the promise. Misconceptions concerning the purpose and implementation of DEA can cause DEA applications to be less than successful. Here, the technique is explained, and a guide to the implementation of DEA is proposed, utilizing DEA studies of retail bank branches.
Presence of the propeptide on recombinant lysosomal dipeptidase controls both activation and dimerization

Abstract Lysosomal dipeptidase catalyzes the hydrolysis of dipeptides with unsubstituted terminals. It is a homodimer and binds zinc. Dimerization is an important issue in understanding the enzyme's function. In this study, we investigated the influence of the propeptide on the folding and dimerization of recombinant lysosomal dipeptidase. For this purpose, we separately cloned and overexpressed the mature protein and the proenzyme. The overexpressed proteins were localized exclusively to insoluble inclusion bodies. Refolding of the urea-solubilized inclusion bodies showed that only dipeptidase lacking the propeptide was dimeric. The soluble renatured proenzyme was a monomer, although circular dichroism and fluorescence spectra of the proenzyme indicated the formation of secondary and tertiary structure. The propeptide thus controls dimerization, as well as activation, of lysosomal dipeptidase.
The Cost of Living with the RPI: Substitution Bias in the UK Retail Prices Index

This paper uses revealed preference restrictions and nonparametric statistical methods to bound the true cost-of-living index which corresponds most closely to the UK Retail Prices Index (RPI). This is used to assess the RPI formula for substitution bias. We show that neither the direction nor the existence of bias in the RPI formula can be established on a priori theoretical grounds. However, we find empirical evidence of a variable, but generally positive bias in the rate of inflation recorded by the RPI formula.
The Costs of Exchange

When individuals choose - to obtain a good, to pursue a goal - the relevant prices facing them are the full opportunity costs of their choices. These opportunity costs incorporate not only the money price of the good but also the transaction costs of obtaining the good. Across individuals and groups, the full opportunity costs associated with attaining a good or goal may differ considerably even when the observed money prices do not. Better measures of these full costs can allow improved models of behavior. We define the cost of exchange Cijkm as the opportunity cost in total resources— money, time, and goods—for an individual with characteristics i to obtain a good j using a given form of exchange k in institutional setting m. To measure a specific cost of exchange empirically, we 1) specify a particular transaction in detail, 2) select individuals with designated characteristics, in a designated market and institutional setting, and 3) interview them concerning the full time and money costs they have actually incurred to carry out the transaction. The illustrative data presented here show great variation across groups and countries in the costs of exchange, far more than the variation that is typically observed in money prices. Such variation is likely to affect what is produced and what exchanges take place in the market, which organizations and specialties survive, and even which rules of the game persist.
Services FDI and Manufacturing Productivity Growth: There is a Link

This paper examines the effects of FDI in services on productivity growth of manufacturing plants in Chile between 1992 and 2004. We estimate an extended production function where plant output growth depends on input growth and a measure of services FDI. The novelty of our approach is the use of plant-level services usage measures as weights for services FDI. We find a positive effect of services FDI on productivity growth. Our evidence is robust to different productivity measures and tests and not driven by any specific industry. We find no evidence of different effects across small and large plants.
FARM HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTION IN THE PRESENCE OF RESTRICTIONS ON DEBT: THEORY AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS

In this paper a two period life cycle model of the farm household is constructed allowing for production and restrictions on debt in which the consumption and production decisions of the farm household are simultaneous. It is shown that the farm household's production responses to exogenous changes may be qualitatively different to that predicted by the profit‐maximising model when all markets are perfect. In particular, when the household is debt constrained, ‘perverse’ output effects are possible with output increasing in response to output price decreases. Further, for such households, compensation payments will have production effects. Finally, the financial situation of the farm has an impact on production for debt constrained farms.
An analysis of managerial competency needs in the tourism sector: the case of Turkey

One of the ways of improving organizational performance is to focus on individual performance and to analyze the knowledge and skills needs for effective job performance. Relevant literature suggests that needs should be studied as gaps in competencies. This study reports findings from data relating to the perceptions of middle‐level managers about the importance and current state of managerial competencies in the tourism sector. Data was collected through a questionnaire survey conducted in the hospitality facilities in Antalya, the so‐called capital city of tourism on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey. Respondents were asked about the importance and also present level of managerial competencies (technical and generic) required for effective job performance. Gaps were measured by subtracting the importance value ascribed to the competency from the value ascribed to the present competency level. The objective of this replication exercise was to adhere as closely as possible to the methodology and instruments used by Agut and Grau to facilitate direct comparison.
Improving Privacy through Exposure Awareness and Reactive Mechanisms

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ Abstract As people share increasing amounts of information with their online social networks, managing which information should be sent to whom is cumbersome. As opposed to having people prespecify access control ‘policies’ we advocate that system designers should consider two important aspects: 1) systems should provide ‘exposure awareness’ to users so that they are aware of real access patterns to their data, and 2) reactive mechanisms that can dynamically adjust the sharing of information based on a person’s exposure. We summarize our research in the area and outline research challenges that lie ahead.
Maximum power point tracker for a photovoltaic system

The need for renewable energy sources is on the rise because of the acute energy crisis in the world today. The main hindrance for the penetration and reach of solar PV system is its low efficiency and high capital cost. The output characteristics of photovoltaic arrays are nonlinear and change with the cell's temperature and solar radiation. Maximum power point tracking (MPPT) methods are used to maximize the PV array output power by tracking continuously the maximum power point. Among all MPPT methods, Perturb and Observe is the most commonly used for its simplicity and ease of implementation. A photovoltaic system has been modeled and analyzed using Matlab/Simulink software. The simulation was compared with and without MPPT. The results validate that MPPT significantly increased the efficiency and performance of the photovoltaic system compared to the system without MPPT.
A theory of preemptive takeover bidding

This article develops a model of the takeover bidding process. The model can be described as a form of auction in which a bidder can acquire costly information after the bidding has begun. Implications concerning the interrelationships between bidders' and targets' profits, bidders' initial offers, single and multiple bidder contests, and the effects of takeover legislation are developed. Additionally, the model provides a rationale for bidders to make high premium ("preemptive") initial bids, rather than making low initial bids and raising them if there is competition.
Investigating the Relationhip between Employee Satisfaction and Guest Satisfaction

A study of six metropolitan, full-service hotels (involving 600 guests and 240 employees) found a statistical connection between employee satisfaction and guest satisfaction. Regarding employees' satisfaction, the data indicated that monetary factors can be dissatisfiers. The surest way to build employee satisfaction is to let employees know that their efforts are appreciated; that they can participate in decision making; and that they observe all employees working enthusiastically together to provide excellent service. Guests responded favorably to personable staff members who are quick and competent. Cleanliness of the room ranked high, while guests reported being most dissatisfied with the hotels' food quality and value.
A Study on Soccer Robot Path Planning with Fuzzy Artificial Potential Field

Robocup of medium model group robot soccer match is taken as the study background, aimed at requirement of real-time, safety and target reaching in matches, path planning with the fuzzy artificial potential field method has been advanced in this paper. Focused on the existing problems of the conventional artificial potential field method, velocity vector has been introduced, modified potential field force function and the potential field force angle, integrated with the fuzzy control method, timely readjusted potential field force modulus of repulsion to overcome its drawbacks. The effectiveness of the method was approved on the MATLAB platform and the experimental result manifested that the method can improve the quality of path planning for matches.
Labor Allocation in China: Implicit Taxation of the Heterogeneous Non-State Sector

Using China's Annual Survey of Industrial Production, we estimate the marginal revenue product of labor (MRPL) for all state-owned and above-scale non-state manufacturing firms for 2001--2004 and 2004--2007. We find that labor productivity varies systematically within industries by ownership type and that non-state firms face implicit labor taxation relative to state-owned enterprises (SOEs). We also find that, in keeping with ongoing reforms of the state sector, ownership differentials fall over time, with gaps between non-state enterprises and SOEs falling by about half over time. Within the non-state sector, enterprises registered as legal persons have higher MRPL, on average, than do firms registered as collective or private enterprises. Disaggregating this group using information on equity shares reveals that firms registered as legal persons and majority owned by legal persons have the highest MRPL relative to SOEs. Indeed, these enterprises show significantly higher MRPL than those firms directly controlled by the state. Legal-person firms with majority state ownership have MRPL differentials similar to those for legal-person firms with majority private or majority collective ownership. This evidence is consistent with continuing, albeit diminishing, implicit labor subsidies for directly SOEs but not for firms whose shares are owned by the state, even if those shares are registered to legal persons. (JEL codes: L16, O53, P23, P31) Copyright The Author 2012. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Ifo Institute, Munich. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com, Oxford University Press.
The use of shock wave lithotripsy for renal calculi

Purpose of review Shock wave lithotripsy has been considered a mainstay of therapy for renal calculi for the last 20 years. Shock wave lithotripsy is noninvasive and requires the least anesthesia of the treatment modalities for treatment of renal calculi and therein lies its popularity. In the last decade, however, there have been changes in thinking regarding methods of patient selection for shock wave lithotripsy, changes in the technique of the existing shock wave lithotriptors and new technologies designed to increase the efficacy of shock wave lithotriptors. Recent findings New studies have shown that shock wave lithotripsy may be less effective than other modalities for treating lower pole stones. Other existing technologies, such as computerized tomography, are being used to more effectively select patients for shock wave lithotripsy. Ongoing studies are evaluating changing the shock wave rate to increase stone fragmentation. In addition, efforts are being made to improve lithotripsy by designing more effective lithotriptors. Summary Shock wave lithotripsy has become a widely used modality for treating renal calculi due to its noninvasive nature and ease of application. Although success rates are reasonable, there is room for improvement. With appropriate patient selection, significant improvements in stone-free rates may be achieved. It is anticipated that, with further research, improvements in lithotriptor design will result in higher treatment success rates with reduced renal trauma and improved patient comfort.
Hartley, cosine and sine fractional transforms over Finite Fields

We introduce finite field versions of fractional Hartley, sine and cosine types 1 and 4 transforms using a matrix function approach. The proposed definitions employ a finite field extension of matrix functions, which does not require the construction of an eigenvector set of the corresponding transform. We also present a relationship between the Fourier and the Hartley fractional matrices and make a preliminary discussion concerning application scenarios for the developed theory.
Quasiperiodic nanohole array plasmonic sensors on optical fibers

Surface plasmon resonance has found plenty of sensing applications on various platforms from label-free biosensing to surface-enhanced spectroscopies. Quasiperiodic nanohole arrays with patterns such as the Penrose tiling have been demonstrated with surface plasmon resonance enhanced optical transmission. Here we transfer quasiperiodic nanohole arrays onto optical fibers and measure their optical performance in refractive index sensing. These quasiperiodic arrays show multiple and narrow resonances related to their geometric features. These resonances are high sensitive to the dielectric changes on the probe surface due to our high quality fabrication. The sensitivity of quasiperiodic nanohole arrays is comparable to that of periodic nanohole arrays and reaches the theoretical sensitivity limit as predicted by our universal sensitivity analysis. This result verifies our sensitivity theory on propagating surface plasmon resonance in a wider range beyond periodic nanostructure arrays. Our study demonstrates the quasiperiodic nanohole array based optical fiber is a high-performance plasmonic sensor.
Patient Home Visits: Measuring Outcomes of a Community Model for Palliative Care Education.

BACKGROUND Health care professionals may have limited exposure to home-based care. There is no published literature that has described the experiences and satisfaction of participation in patient home visits (PHV). OBJECTIVE The objective of this article is to describe the characteristics of PHV, our approach, and evaluation by participants over a nine-year period. METHODS We conducted a review of surveys completed by participants in PHV from 2005-2013. All participants anonymously completed the evaluation questionnaires at the end of PHVs. Different PHV assessment forms were used for the 2005-2010 and 2011-2013 time periods. RESULTS A total of 34 PHVs were conducted with 106 patients and approximately 750 participants with a mean of 3 patients and 22 participants per PHV between 2005 and 2013. For 18 PHVs there are 317 surveys completed with 353 participants, making it a 90% response rate. Responding participants were physicians 125/543 (23%) and other professionals 418/543 (77%). In both time periods of 2005-2010 and 2011-2013 a survey with a 1 (completely agree) to 5 (completely disagree) scale was used. Agreeing that PHV was an effective teaching tool during 2005-2010 were 335/341 (98%); during 2011-2013, 191/202 (95%) agreed that PHV provided increased understanding and sharing of best practices in palliative care. CONCLUSIONS PHV was perceived by participants as an effective way of providing interactive community education. A broad range of themes were addressed, and the participants reported high levels of learning in all domains of palliative care. There were no cases of patient or relative expression of distress as a result of PHV.