Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT AND THE INTERPRETATION OF STRATEGIC ISSUES: A NOTE ON CEOS' INTERPRETATIONS OF FOREIGN INVESTMENT

This paper explores the relationship between organizational context and the interpretation of strategic issues by examining the hypothesis that CEOs' interpretations of foreign investment in the USA are influenced by the organizational context in which they are embedded. Three aspects of organizational context ‐ the global business experience of the firm; the firm's level of organizational inertia (as represented by firm age and size); and the resources available for responding ‐ are examined as predictors of CEOs' perceptions of foreign investment as a threat or an opportunity. Analysis of data from 320 organizations, controlled by industry, shows that global business experience, firm size, and perceived capability are significant predictors of the perception of threat and opportunity. the discussion addresses the implications of these findings for future research on issue interpretation and organizational context.
The lifetime distribution of the incremental societal costs of autism.

OBJECTIVE To describe the age-specific and lifetime incremental societal costs of autism in the United States. DESIGN Estimates of use and costs of direct medical and nonmedical care were obtained from a literature review and database analysis. A human capital approach was used to estimate lost productivity. These costs were projected across the life span, and discounted incremental age-specific costs were computed. SETTING United States. PARTICIPANTS Hypothetical incident autism cohort born in 2000 and diagnosed in 2003. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Discounted per capita incremental societal costs. RESULTS The lifetime per capita incremental societal cost of autism is $3.2 million. Lost productivity and adult care are the largest components of costs. The distribution of costs over the life span varies by cost category. CONCLUSIONS Although autism is typically thought of as a disorder of childhood, its costs can be felt well into adulthood. The substantial costs resulting from adult care and lost productivity of both individuals with autism and their parents have important implications for those aging members of the baby boom generation approaching retirement, including large financial burdens affecting not only those families but also potentially society in general. These results may imply that physicians and other care professionals should consider recommending that parents of children with autism seek financial counseling to help plan for the transition into adulthood.
Weight Reduction Decreases Soluble Cellular Adhesion Molecules In Obese Women

1. Obesity is known to increase the risk for atherosclerotic diseases. Serum levels of cellular adhesion molecules are reported to be indices of atherosclerosis. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of weight reduction on soluble intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 (sICAM‐1) and soluble E‐selectin (sE‐selectin).
Early risk factors and adult person–environment relationships in affective disorder

Background. Lower cognitive ability, higher neuroticism and symptoms of anxiety and depression in childhood predict non-psychotic disorder in adulthood. This study examined whether these early risk factors act by modifying relationships with life events close to disease onset in adulthood. Methods. Childhood measures of neuroticism (N) (including maternal N), cognitive ability (CA) and symptoms of anxiety and depression were measured in a national British birth cohort of 5362 individuals born in the week 3–9 March, 1946. At ages 36 and 43 years, mental state examinations were carried out by trained interviewers, and subjects were asked about the occurrence of stressful life events in the previous year (SLE). Results. The effect of aggregated SLEs on mental health was greater in women, in individuals with higher childhood N and poorer childhood mental health. Higher maternal N was also associated with greater sensitivity to SLEs, independent of subject's N, suggesting possible familial transmission of vulnerability. In addition, higher childhood N predicted, independent of later mental health, greater likelihood of reported exposure to SLEs. In general, individuals with higher childhood CA also reported more SLEs. Conclusions. The results suggest that early risk factors for affective disorder exert effects by modifying person–environment relationships close to onset of adult symptoms. Sensitivity to life events may be transmitted from parents to offspring; psychopathological continuity over the life-span may be explained in part by continuity of altered stress sensitivity.
A Review of West Coast Gasoline Pricing and the Impact of Regulations

There have been numerous proposals for legislating restrictions on vertical supply relationships on the West Coast and elsewhere. However, there has not been a systematic examination of gasoline prices on the West Cost, relative to the rest of the country, to understand the size of possible pricing anomalies. We examine the differences in the price of gasoline on the West Coast and the Gulf Coast both at the rack (wholesale) and retail. We also examine structural factors that have kept average West Coast prices higher than elsewhere, such as the higher costs to produce CARB gasoline and higher opportunity costs to produce conventional gasoline, higher shipping costs, Unocal's patents on CARB gasoline blending, higher taxes, Oregon's ban on self-service gasoline, and higher land costs. While a number of these factors are difficult to quantify, they would appear to explain most or possibly all of the measured difference in average prices.
Planification sociale et modèles économétriques : quelques réflexions après la préparation du VIIIe Plan

[fre] Trois des six priorites du VIIIe Plan concernent les aspects sociaux du develop­pement : emploi, protection sociale (securite sociale, sante, retraites, politiques familiales, action sociale) et habitat. Des simulations realisees grâce au modele macroeconomique DMS ont facilite l'analyse des relations entre le developpement economique et la politique sociale. Elles ont montre comment des reduc­tions de duree du travail, des modifications dans les taux d'impot et de cotisation sociale, des investissements dans le logement pouvaient se traduire par une baisse du chomage. Cependant, les modeles macroeconomiques ne repondent pas aux principaux problemes que posent le developpement des services non marchands, la distribution des revenus, le marche du travail. Parmi les raisons pour lesquelles l'utilisation des modeles est decevante pour la politique sociale deux sont particulierement importantes : la valeur de la production de service non marchands est mesuree par les couts et leur utilite n'est pas prise en compte ; les modeles n'ont pas de donnees de repartition (distribution des revenus, structures de con­sommation, inegalites sur le marche du travail, etc.). [eng] Social planning and econometric models : some comments, following the preparation of the eight plan. Bernard Brunhes. Three of the six priorities of the VIIlth Plan concern social aspects of development : employment, social protection (social security, health, pensions, family policy, welfare) and housing. Simulations mode with DMS macroeconomic rnodel helped analyse relationships between economic development and social policy. They showed how working time reductions, changes in tax and social contribution rates, investments in housing, etc. could resuit in reducing unemployment. However macroeconomic models do not answer the main issues regarding the development of non market services, the distribution of income, the job market. Among the reasons why the use of models is disappointing for social policy two are of particular importance the output of non market services is measured by the input and their utility is not taken into account ; models usually lack distributive data (income distribution, patterns of consumption, inequalites on the job market, etc.).
Increased Risk of Cancer among Siblings of Long-term Childhood Cancer Survivors: A Report from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study

We determined risk of cancer among first-degree relatives of 5-year survivors of childhood leukemia, lymphoma, central nervous system tumors, sarcomas, Wilms' tumor, and neuroblastoma. Subjects were 13,703 participants in the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study. Family history was collected on 56,759 first-degree relatives using a self-reported questionnaire. Incidence was compared with age- and sex-specific rates using the U.S. Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results program. Siblings of the survivors had an increased risk of cancer [standardized incidence ratio (SIR), 1.5; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.35-1.7]. Risk was elevated for siblings of probands of leukemia (SIR, 1.3; 95% CI, 1.0-1.6), Hodgkin's disease (SIR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.2-1.9), non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (SIR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.3-2.5), Wilms' tumor (SIR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.2-3.2), soft tissue sarcoma (SIR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.0-2.2), and bone tumors (SIR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.2-2.2). Cancer risk was elevated in siblings (SIR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.5-3.7) and offspring (SIR, 15.0; 95% CI, 5.3-42.9) of probands with second malignant neoplasms (SMN) compared with relatives of probands without SMNs. Siblings of probands with leukemia, Hodgkin's disease, neuroblastoma, and Wilms' tumor had elevated risks for the same malignancies. Parents had no increased risk (fathers' SIR, 0.7; 95% CI, 0.7-0.8; mothers' SIR, 0.9; 95% CI, 0.9-1.0). Seventy percent of siblings' cancers developed in adulthood. These findings suggest that familial cancer syndromes may be revealed as this cohort and family members age and with accrual of more offspring and subjects with SMNs.
Fiscal Federalism, Fiscal Consolidations and Cuts in Central Government Grants: Evidence from an Event Study

In this paper we examine financial interactions between tiers of government. Whilst most existing empirical evidence has focused on the US, it is difficult to generalize conclusions obtained to countries where the position and remit of lower tiers of government is evolving or is less clear constitutionally. Applying event study methodology to a dataset covering 15 countries we examine the timing, extent and composition of fiscal changes around consolidation attempts and central government grant cuts. Highlighting the participation of central and sub-central tiers of government, our analysis also sheds light on key outcomes, including decentralized service provision and macroeconomic adjustment.
The Effect of Cultural and Political Factors on FDI

Foreign direct investment is a major form of international capital transfer and has increased substantially over the last decades as a consequence of rising global economic integration. It has even grown faster than world GDP and merchandise trade even despite of the large drop in world FDI flows at the turn of the millennium. The two-way flow between developed countries still accounts for the largest part of asset trade. Around 80% of total FDI flows are invested between developed countries. Furthermore, inward FDI stock of developing countries has decreased over the last eight years as a percentage of total inward FDI stock. If developing countries want to reverse this trend it is important for governments and companies of these developing countries to know which factors determine bilateral FDI stock. This paper has tried to contribute empirical findings and results to the question as to what way cultural and political factors influence asset trade and in particular FDI. Therefore, this paper investigated a set of bilateral US inward and outward FDI stock data for the time period 1985-2006 in a panel with 37 countries. Cultural differences proved to have a significant negative effect on bilateral FDI stock. Also, the results demonstrated a significant effect of the type of legal family in a country on FDI. However, the effect of belonging to same legal family is negative. The political situation in a country proved to be a significant determinant of bilateral FDI stock. Countries with a low political rank receive more FDI from the US.
Potentiation of Therapeutic Effects of Nicotinic Acid by Pyridoxine in Chronic Schizophrenics *

Des 1939, Cleckley, Sydenstricker et Geaslin ont signale que l'acide nicotinique rendait des services pour le traitement des malades relevant de la psychiatrie (9). En 1962 Hoffer et Osmond ont evalue l'effet de l'acide nicotinique dans les cas de schizophrenie; ils ont suppose qu'il enleve les radicaux methyle des metabolites amines, empechant ainsi la formation de produits methyles psychotogeniques (13). L'acide nicotinique n'est pas seulement fourni de l'exterieur, mais se forme dans le corps a partir de l'amino acide tryptophan. Le tryptophan est normalement metabolise soit en acide nicotinique par l'intermediaire de la kynurenine, soit en indoles. On a signale qu'il peut se produire chez les patients schizophreniques un blocage de l'intervention de la kynurenine conduisant a une formation excessive d'indoles et a une deficience d'acide nicotinique. Le phosphate pyridoxal est necessaire pour la conversion de la kynurenine en acide nicotinique.On a suppose, en se basant sur ces decouvertes, que l'admin.
Wavelet dimension reduction of AIRS infrared (IR) hyperspectral data

Recently developed hyperspectral sensors provide much richer information than comparable multispectral sensors. However traditional methods that have been designed for multispectral data are not easily adaptable to hyperspectral data. One way to approach this problem is to perform dimension reduction as pre-processing, i.e. to apply a transformation that brings data from a high order dimension to a low order dimension. Wavelet spectral analysis of hyperspectral images has been recently proposed as a method for dimension reduction and, when tested on the classification of AVIRIS data, has shown promising results over the traditional principal component analysis (PCA) technique. We propose to extend and apply the wavelet analysis reduction method to the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument data, designed to measure the Earth's atmospheric water vapor and temperature profiles on a global scale. With more than 2,000 channels, the AIRS infrared data represent a good candidate for dimension reduction, and especially wavelet reduction, due to its computational efficiency and the large data sizes involved.
Multipoint linkage disequilibrium mapping for complex diseases

Linkage disequilibrium (LD) or association studies using case‐parent trios have become a common approach to locate unobserved susceptibility genes underlying complex diseases. With the availability of ever more dense marker maps, how to utilize the information carried by multiple markers simultaneously remains challenging. Recently, Liang et al. ([2001a] Am. J. Hum. Genet. 68: 937–950) proposed a multipoint LD method to estimate the location of a susceptibility gene within a framework map along with its sampling uncertainty. Two important features of this method are that 1) it uses all trios whether parents are heterozygous for a given marker or not, and 2) it provides a single test statistic for the null hypothesis of no linkage or no LD to the region, avoiding the multiple testing problem encountered when performing individual transmission disequilibrium tests (TDT) for each marker individually. In this paper, we discuss how this method can be expanded to address important issues pertaining to complex diseases in a unified fashion. These issues include, among others, gene‐gene and gene‐environment interactions, genetic heterogeneity, phenotypic refinement, and paternal vs. maternal transmission. We applied this method to asthmatic case‐parent trios from the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Asthma (CSGA), and found that the previous evidence for linkage and LD in a 13.6 cM region of chromosome 11 can be attributed to maternal transmission, while there was no evidence of excess paternal transmission. Furthermore, such discrepancy in preferential transmission was most evident among probands with early onset age (6 years old or younger). Genet Epidemiol 25:285–292, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Multi-tier Data Synchronization Based on an Optimized Concurrent Linked-list

In this paper, we present a multi-tier data synchronization approach, MultitierPackedSync, based upon the packed object data model (PackedObject), introduced in the IBM J9 Virtual Machine as an experimental enhancement. The packed object data model organizes data in a multi-tier manner (like C structs) in which the object's data is nested in its enclosing PackedObject instead of being pointed to by an object reference as in the traditional Java object data model. We developed the MultitierPackedSync approach to multi-tier data synchronization based on a concurrent linked-list, which optimizes the state-of-the-art linked-list algorithm (lazy-list) and applies it to multi-tier PackedObject synchronization. This approach allows multiple threads to lock on a multi-tier PackedObject from different tiers and maintain consistency. We also implemented the Lazy_MultitierPackedSync technique based upon the lazy-list algorithm without our optimization to show the performance gain of MultitierPackedSync. Compared with our previous work (PackedSync), Lazy_MultitierPackedSync and the Java built-in synchronization in single-granularity locking, the performance of MultitierPackedSync is a significant improvement although it is relatively slower than the Java built-in synchronization in the fine-grained locking scenario when the number of threads grows. For multi-granularity locking, we compared MultitierPackedSync with the Lazy_MultitierPackedSync. The results show our optimized approach MultitierPackedSync improves the overall performance considerably.
Mitigating the risks of supply disruption under stochastic demand

This paper investigates the problem of sourcing decisions under stochastic demand considering quantity discounts and suppliers' failure risks. A Mixed Integer Non-Linear Programming (MINLP) model is developed considering different failure probability, capacity, price discounts, compensation potential, and transportation cost under a stochastic demand environment to determine the optimal suppliers' portfolio (i.e. the number of suppliers and order quantity allocation) for a single product in a single period. The model considers that each supplier has different failure probability, capacity, transportation cost, price discounts and compensations potential. The MINLP model is NP-hard in nature and difficult to solve with exact methods; therefore, a Real Coded Genetic Algorithm (RCGA) is employed here to solve it. Further, RCGA performance is benchmarked by comparing its results with the MINLP solver BONMIN (Basic Open-source Mixed Integer Non-Linear Programming). A numerical study is conducted to illustrate the proposed model, a genetic algorithm and BONMIN to find the solution. Finally, different managerial implications have been drawn based on sensitivity analysis.
Another Look at the Ifo Business Cycle Clock

Business tendency surveys are a popular instrument for business cycle analysis. The survey results are used to calculate leading business cycle indicators. For Germany the Ifo Institute publishes the Ifo business climate, which consists of the results of two questions: one question about the current situation of the respondents and a second question about their expectations for the coming months. The business climate combines the answers on both questions to a single indicator. This indicator is closely watched by the public. To visualize the interactions between the two components behind this indicator, the Ifo Institute developed a graphical representation called the Ifo business cycle clock. This article shows, with the help of circular-linear correlation analysis, that this illustration is indeed valuable. But it also shows that the clock times should be interpreted carefully.
An introduction to laplacian spectral distances and kernels: theory, computation, and applications

In geometry processing and shape analysis, several applications have been addressed through the properties of the spectral kernels and distances, such as commute-time, biharmonic, diffusion, and wave distances. Our survey is intended to provide a background on the properties, discretization, computation, and main applications of the Laplace-Beltrami operator, the associated differential equations (e.g., harmonic equation, Laplacian eigenproblem, diffusion and wave equations), Laplacian spectral kernels and distances (e.g., commute-time, biharmonic, wave, diffusion distances). While previous work has been focused mainly on specific applications of the aforementioned topics on surface meshes, we propose a general approach that allows us to review Laplacian kernels and distances on surfaces and volumes, and for any choice of the Laplacian weights. All the reviewed numerical schemes for the computation of the Laplacian spectral kernels and distances are discussed in terms of robustness, approximation accuracy, and computational cost, thus supporting the reader in the selection of the most appropriate method with respect to shape representation, computational resources, and target application.
A single regulatory gene is sufficient to alter Vibrio aestuarianus pathogenicity in oysters.

Oyster diseases caused by pathogenic vibrios pose a major challenge to the sustainability of oyster farming. In France, since 2012 a disease affecting specifically adult oysters has been associated with the presence of Vibrio aestuarianus. Here, by combining genome comparison, phylogenetic analyses and high-throughput infections of strains isolated before or during the recent outbreaks, we show that virulent strains cluster into two V. aestuarianus lineages independently of the sampling dates. The bacterial lethal dose was not different between strains isolated before or after 2012. Hence, the emergence of a new highly virulent clonal strain is unlikely. Each lineage comprises nearly identical strains, the majority of them being virulent, suggesting that within these phylogenetically coherent virulent lineages a few strains have lost their pathogenicity. Comparative genomics allowed the identification of a single frameshift in a non-virulent strain. This mutation affects the varS gene that codes for a signal transduction histidine-protein kinase. Genetic analyses confirmed that varS is necessary for infection of oysters and for a secreted metalloprotease expression. For the first time in a Vibrio species, we show here that VarS is a key factor of pathogenicity.
Contribution of Xpert® MTB/RIF to the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis among TB-exposed children in The Gambia.

SETTING Greater Banjul Area, The Gambia. OBJECTIVE To conduct a pragmatic evaluation of the Xpert(®) MTB/RIF assay in the diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) among child contacts. DESIGN In this prospective study, one induced sputum sample was obtained from TB contacts aged <15 years and tested using fluorescent microscopy, culture and Xpert. The diagnostic accuracy of the microbiological tests was evaluated against culture and 'all TB diagnosis and treatment' as separate reference standards. RESULTS Using culture as a reference standard, Xpert was positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis in 6/14 culture-positive and 6/473 culture-negative children, giving a sensitivity and specificity of respectively 42.9% (95%CI 17.7-71.1) and 98.7% (95%CI 97.2-99.5). With 'all TB diagnosis and treatment' as a composite reference standard, combined Xpert and culture tests were positive for M. tuberculosis in 20/62 children with TB disease (32.3%, 95%CI 20.9-45.3), which was comparable to the yield from microscopy, culture and Xpert combined (33.9%, 95%CI 22.3-47.0), but significantly higher than individual yields from each test. CONCLUSION The sensitivity of Xpert is low in actively traced child contacts, but a combination of Xpert and mycobacterial culture has incremental benefits for the bacteriological confirmation of TB disease.