Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
"Spitzenkandidaten" in the 2014 European Parliament Election: Does Campaign Personalization Increase the Propensity to Turn Out?

The 2014 European Parliament (EP) elections are considered a turning point in the history of the European Union. For the first time is there a direct link between the vote in these elections and the nomination of the President of the European Commission. Consequently, the major political groups each nominated a lead candidate, or “Spitzenkandidat”, for the post. We postulate that these developments towards personalization increased the visibility and the mobilization potential of the EP election campaign, hence calling for a gradual revision of the classical second order election model customarily used to analyse these elections. Based on 28 nationally representative post-electoral survey data collected EU wide by the 2014 European Election Study in co-operation with the European Parliament, we analyse whether and how the presence of the lead candidates influenced the individual propensity to participate in these elections. We show that recognition of the candidates leads to a higher propensity to turn out, even when controlling for a host of other individual-level factors explaining turnout and the context factors known to facilitate participation. Furthermore their campaign efforts (both online and offline) also had an impact on the propensity to turn out both directly and by reinforcing the effect of recognition.
Blood Flow in the Dental Pulp of the Dog.∗

Summary Pulpal blood flow to the canine teeth of young dogs was studied using the isotope fractionation technique, which involves determining the fractional distribution of the cardiac output to the teeth. Cardiac outputs were determined from isotope dilution curves. Xylocaine and xylocaine with varying amounts of epinephrine (5-20 μg) were infiltrated separately at the apex of a canine tooth. The contralateral tooth in the same arch served as the control. The average flow in the control teeth was 0.98 cc min-g of pulp tissue. Flow in teeth which had xylocaine alone infiltrated at the apex showed no significant difference from the controls. However, flow in those canine teeth which had 5-20 μg of epinephrine infiltrated decreased an average of about 30%. This change in flow was significantly correlated to the dose of epinephrine injected.
Development and Characterization of Uterine Glandular Epithelium Specific Androgen Receptor Knockout Mouse Model1

ABSTRACT While estrogen action is the major driver of uterine development, androgens acting via the androgen receptor (AR) may also promote uterine growth as suggested by uterine phenotypes in global AR knockout (ARKO) female mice. Because AR is expressed in uterine endometrial glands, we generated (Cre/loxP) uterine gland epithelium-specific ARKO (ugeARKO) to determine the role of endometrial gland-specific androgen actions. However, AR in uterine gland epithelium may not be required for normal uterine development and function because ugeARKO females had normal uterine development and fertility. To determine if exogenous androgens acting via AR can fully support uterine growth in the absence of estrogens, the ARKO and ugeARKO females were ovariectomized and treated with supraphysiological doses of testosterone or dihydrotestosterone (nonaromatizable androgen). Both dihydrotestosterone and testosterone supported full uterine regrowth in wild-type females while ARKO females had no regrowth (comparable to ovariectomized only). These findings suggest that androgens acting via AR can promote full uterine regrowth in the absence of estrogens. The ugeARKO had 50% regrowth when compared to intact uterine glands, and histomorphologically, both the endometrial and myometrial areas were significantly (P < 0.05) reduced, suggesting glandular epithelial AR located in the endometrium may indirectly modify myometrial development. Additionally, to confirm Cre function in endometrial glands, we generated uge-specific PTEN knockout mouse model. The ugePTEN knockout females developed severe endometrial hyperplasia and therefore present a novel model for future research.
Rationality and Decision-making in Australian Federal Government

The predominant view is that decision-making in Australian government is based on politics rather than rationality. This paper argues that while decisionmaking continues to exemplify incremental analysis, it does not for the most part exemplify incremental politics, that is, acts of negotiation, compromise and bargaining or 'partisan mutual adjustment'. This is the case for three reasons: decision-making conforms to models of rationality; the technical nature of most policy issues is amendable to rationality; and relationships between departments have grown more consensual since the 1970s.
Lung morphology assessment with balanced steady-state free precession MR imaging compared with CT.

PURPOSE To evaluate the utility of 1.5-T noncontrast magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the lung parenchyma and to compare it with computed tomography (CT) in the assessment of interstitial lung disease and other morphologic lung abnormalities. MATERIALS AND METHODS Institutional review board approval was obtained for retrospective image analysis. A total of 236 patients who underwent MR imaging and CT as part of their assessment for suspected pulmonary hypertension were included in this study. Lung MR imaging was performed with a 1.5-T system as a stack of axial two-dimensional balanced steady-state free precession (bSSFP) acquisitions. Two radiologists independently evaluated CT and MR images for various morphologic abnormalities, such as pulmonary fibrosis, pleural and mediastinal disease, solid lesions, bronchial disease, and emphysema. Κ statistics were used to measure interobserver agreement. RESULTS Sensitivity and specificity of MR imaging in the identification of pulmonary fibrosis (n = 46) were 89% (95% confidence interval: 77%, 96%) and 91% (95% confidence interval: 76%, 98%), respectively, when compared with CT. In comparison to CT, MR imaging depicted 75% of ground-glass opacities. Nine of the 12 noncalcified nodules were identified on MR images. Lung nodules (75%, κ = 0.71) and effusions (100%, κ = 0.89) were also well visualized on MR images. MR imaging was however less effective in depicting emphysema (16%, κ = 0.60) and minor fibrosis (67%, κ = 0.79). CONCLUSION This study shows bSSFP MR imaging is inferior to CT in imaging parenchymal lung disease; however, this study does demonstrate for the first time a potential role for the bSSFP sequence as an alternative radiation-free noncontrast imaging modality for use in patients with pulmonary fibrosis.
Comparison of the DCF and HPR Measures of the Yield on Common Shares

Perhaps the most important capital-market statistic, certainly a most difficult one to measure, is the yield at which a share of common stock is selling. Gordon and Shapiro [7] and Gordon [6] laid the foundation for the DCF (discounted cash flow) method of measuring share yield. Use of the HPR (holding period return) method was encouraged through the development of the capital asset pricing model (CAPM) by Sharpe [16], Lintner [9, 10] and Mossin [15]. Both methods have often been used to obtain alternative estimates of
The long- and short-run financial impacts of cross listing on Australian firms

This paper investigates the short-run and long-run performance of Australian cross-listed firms relative to their industry rivals. The role of share trading liquidity and firm visibility in explaining abnormal returns is also investigated. In the short run, an abnormal return of 1.91% for cross-listed firms is found at announcement, while no significant abnormal returns is found for rivals on the event day. For the long-run analysis, only rival firms (especially for rivals of the non-market leaders) experience significant abnormal returns, which are negative. Cross listing into NEW ZEALAND and other countries induces a more negative impact on rivals than the UK. Lastly, liquidity is found to be a determinant of the short- and long-run abnormal returns.
Substitution of Structures, Equipment and Labor in Canadian Production

THE PURPOSE OF THIS PAPER is to present maximum-likelihood estimates for systems of factor demand functions for each of tenl major industries in Canada, and to test formally whether factor demiands are responsive to changes in the service prices of factors of production. The factors of production are defined to be Structures, Equipment, and Labor and the estimation is based upon annual data for the period 1946-1969. The industries correspond to the industrial divisions in the 1960 Standard Industrial Classification and comprise Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Trapping, Mining, Manufacturing, Constructioll, Transportation Communication and Utilities, Trade, Finance, and Services. It is important that economists have knowledge of the structure of the produLction sector since this structure determines in a significant way the effects throughout the economy of changes in policy and other parameters. An example of this dependence is provided by the effect of a change in the tariff structure uponl resource allocation and the distributioll of nationial iIncomlle. As anotlher example we note that the effect upon the employment of labor of a change in the taxation of capital earninigs depends upon the ability of producers to suLbstitute olle factor for another. Furthermore, if changes in the taxation laws differelntiate between Structures and Equipment then an analysis of the effects of such taxation changes must be based uponl appropriately disaggregated production functions if the differential effects are to be satisfactorily identified. Leontief [11] initiated studies on the structuLre of production based upon the idea of fixed coefficients of production. Since our primary interest is in the possibility of factor substitution we postulate a production function due to Diewert [5] which permits factor substitution but which reduces to the Leontief production function as a special case. We formally test whether the Leontief production function involving fixed coefficients is a valid representation of the technology or whether factor substitution is possible. In addition, we present point estimates of the Hicks-Allen elasticities of substitution between the various factors as measures of the degree of substitution. The present study differs from previous Canadian studies of productionl and factor demand functions in three respects. First, the present study is extensive in scope in that it involves all the major industrial divisions whereas pCevious
Emotional connections to books and technological innovations: an e-book perspective

E-book devices are a technological innovation that has been mass marketed to consumers as a revolution in the way that books will be read and stored. This paper extends previous research on technology adoption behaviour of individuals by focusing on the role of emotional connections people have towards e-books. A number of technology adoption models can explain the adoption of e-book devices such as the technology acceptance model, theory of planned action, theory of reasoned action and social cognitive theory. Due to the increased importance of social learning on a person’s behaviour, social cognitive theory is identified in this paper as being the most appropriate theoretical lens to understand the emotional connections a person has towards e-books. The findings from this paper may help to fill the gaps in academic discussion about what theory best explains a person’s behavioural intention towards technological innovations and the impact of marketing on this behaviour. In addition, the paper has a number of managerial implications including identifying the importance of an emotional connection to a technological innovation that influences the adoption process. The emphasis on emotional connection as mediating the way a person receives information about e-book devices may help to influence future marketing efforts of new technologies.
CO2 Multipliers in Multi-region Input-Output Models

In order to achieve equitable reduction targets, international trade has to be taken into account when assessing nations' responsibility for abating climate change. Especially for open economies such as Denmark, greenhouse gases embodied in internationally traded commodities can have a considerable influence on the national 'greenhouse gas responsibility'. We set up a five-region input-output model including Denmark, Germany, Sweden and Norway in order to calculate CO2 multipliers and trade balances. We investigate multidirectional feedback between these countries, and hence the error inherent in a single-region input-output model. We also examine the effect of aggregation on the model results. In the case of Denmark, an 11 Mt CO2 trade surplus resulting from a single-region model turns into balance when multidirectional trade is considered. Moreover, aggregated models are likely to result in significant errors. Therefore, both the type and the degree of aggregation used for modelling CO2 responsibilities could have a major bearing in international negotiations.
The role of quality management in manufacturing strategy: Experiences from the Australian wine industry

There has been little empirical research that examines the position and role of quality management in strategic manufacturing decision-making. The Australian wine industry was chosen for this research because it has a major focus on quality in process and product. The research found that quality assurance and control rank as the second most important area of manufacturing process decision-making, after plant and equipment. It also found that quality is the most important competitive priority for wine producers, followed by product cost. Quality, plant and equipment and product cost were found to be strongly related and together formed the basis for domestic and international competition in this industry. An ANOVA was used to determine that there were no significant differences in the importance of quality for different organizational characteristics (p< 0.05) and a factor analysis determined that quality control and assurance are related to production planning and control in terms of their strategic posit.
Multivariate stochastic variance models

Changes in variance, or volatility, over time can be modelled using the approach based on autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity (ARCH). However, the generalizations to multivariate series can be difficult to estimate and interpret. Another approach is to model variance as an unobserved stochastic process. Although it is not easy to obtain the exact likelihood function for such stochastic variance models, they tie in closely with developments in finance theory and have certain statistical attractions. This article sets up a multivariate model, discusses its statistical treatment and shows how it can be modified to capture common movements in volatility in a very natural way. The model is then fitted to daily observations on exchange rates.
Internet Privacy and Security: An Examination of Online Retailer Disclosures

The Federal Trade Commission has declared the privacy and security of consumer information to be two major issues that stem from the rapid growth in e-commerce, particularly in terms of consumer-related commerce on the Internet. Although prior studies have assessed online retailer responses to privacy and security concerns with respect to retailers’ disclosure of their practices, these studies have been fairly general in their approaches and have not explored the potential for such disclosures to affect consumers. The authors examine online retailer disclosures of various privacy- and security-related practices for 17 product categories. They also compare the prevalence of disclosures to a subset of data from a consumer survey to evaluate potential relationships between online retailer practices and consumer perceptions of risk and purchase intentions across product categories.
Fatty infiltration of the liver: quantification with phase-contrast MR imaging at 1.5 T vs biopsy.

Quantification of hepatic fat content by application of MR phase-contrast imaging (Dixon method) at 1.5 T was compared with results of biopsy in 16 patients with a variety of liver abnormalities. Motion artifact was suppressed by employing six or eight averages of short TR in-phase (echo offset, 0 msec), out-of-phase (echo offset, 1.1 msec), and in-phase (echo offset, 2.2 msec) spin-echo pulse sequences. The 360 degree out-of-phase sequence was used to assess the impact of T2* decay on this method of estimating fat fraction. A standard two-echo long TR sequence also was obtained in all patients. Histologic preparations from the biopsy specimens were examined by a pathologist who had no knowledge of the MR results and were graded according to overall visual assessment as belonging to one of four categories of fat fraction. Results of the MR-calculated apparent fat fraction were compared directly with biopsy category and were also placed in MR fat fraction categories, allowing estimation of the statistical correlation between the biopsy and MR grading systems. Eight of eight patients with biopsy categories indicating a fat fraction of less than 0.25 were computed by MR to have a fat fraction of less than 0.1. Seven of eight patients with biopsy categories indicating a fat fraction of greater than 0.25 were computed by MR to have a fat fraction of at least 0.24. The MR-calculated apparent fat fraction category correlated significantly with the histologic biopsy category (r = .86, p less than .01). When compared with the in-phase image, decreased signal from liver was visually apparent on the 180 degree out-of-phase images in all cases in which the fat fraction was at least 0.24, but there was no indication of fatty liver on the standard T1- or T2-weighted images. Calculated T2 also showed no correlation with degree of fatty deposition. Correction for T2* decay by using the 360 degree out-of-phase acquisition in addition to the standard 0 degree and 180 degree out-of-phase images had little effect on fat fraction computation. Phase-contrast MR is a promising noninvasive method for quantitative assessment of fatty deposition in the liver.
Inputs to the ventrolateral bed nucleus of the stria terminalis

The ventrolateral bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BSTvl) receives direct input from two specific subpopulations of neurons in the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS). It is heavily innervated by aldosterone‐sensitive NTS neurons, which are selectively activated by sodium depletion, and by the A2 noradrenergic neurons, which are activated by visceral and immune‐ and stress‐related stimuli. Here, we used a retrograde neuronal tracer to identify other brain sites that innervate the BSTvl. Five general brain regions contained retrogradely labeled neurons: cerebral cortex (infralimbic and insular regions), rostral forebrain structures (subfornical organ, organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis, taenia tecta, nucleus accumbens, lateral septum, endopiriform nucleus, dorsal BST, substantia innominata, and, most prominently the amygdala—primarily its basomedial and central subnuclei), thalamus (central medial, intermediodorsal, reuniens, and, most prominently the paraventricular thalamic nucleus), hypothalamus (medial preoptic area, perifornical, arcuate, dorsomedial, parasubthalamic, and posterior hypothalamic nuclei), and brainstem (periaqueductal gray matter, dorsal and central superior raphe nuclei, parabrachial nucleus, pre‐locus coeruleus region, NTS, and A1 noradrenergic neurons in the caudal ventrolateral medulla). In the arcuate hypothalamic nucleus, some retrogradely labeled neurons contained either agouti‐related peptide or cocaine/amphetamine‐regulated transcript. Of the numerous retrogradely labeled neurons in the perifornical hypothalamic area, few contained melanin‐concentrating hormone or orexin. In the brainstem, many retrogradely labeled neurons were either serotoninergic or catecholaminergic. In summary, the BSTvl receives inputs from a variety of brain sites implicated in hunger, salt and water intake, stress, arousal, and reward. J. Comp. Neurol. 511:628–657, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A Comparison of 11 O'clock versus Oblique Femoral Tunnels in the Anterior Cruciate Ligament—Reconstructed Knee

Background Traditionally, a standard femoral tunnel for a single-bundle anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is positioned 6 to 7 mm anterior to the posterior wall at an 11 o'clock orientation in the femoral notch (right knee). However, some surgeons have advocated placing the femoral tunnel at a more oblique orientation at or near the femoral footprint of the ACL's posterolateral bundle (at approximately 9:30 to 10 o'clock in the notch) to provide the graft with a better mechanical advantage for controlling tibial rotation and eliminating the pivot shift. Hypothesis Moving the femoral tunnel from the standard location to an oblique position in the femoral notch will significantly reduce the magnitude of a simulated pivot shift. Study Design Controlled laboratory study. Methods Internal-external tibial rotation and anteroposterior (AP) displacement of the lateral tibial plateau were measured in 17 fresh-frozen cadaveric knees during a simulated pivot-shift event with a single-bundle ACL reconstruction placed in standard and oblique femoral tunnels. Baseline kinematic measurements were taken with the graft tensioned to restore intact AP knee laxity at 30° of flexion. The measurements were repeated as graft tension was decreased to produce approximately 2-mm incremental increases in laxity (up to +10 mm). Correlations between lateral tibial plateau displacement and tibial rotation during the pivot shift were determined for both tunnels. Results There were no significant differences in tibial rotations or tibial plateau displacements during the pivot shift between standard and oblique femoral tunnels when the graft was tensioned to restore intact knee laxity. The relationship between pivot-shift magnitude and AP laxity was highly linear for each knee specimen over the range of laxities tested; the mean slopes for anteromedial (AM) and posterolateral (PL) tunnels were not significantly different. There were near perfect linear correlations (mean r2 > .98) between lateral plateau displacement and tibial rotation for both femoral tunnel positions; the slope of the regression line was not significantly different between tunnels. Conclusion Moving the femoral tunnel from the standard location to a more oblique position in the notch did not significantly alter pivot-shift kinematics. Lateral plateau displacement was strongly correlated with tibial rotation, and either can be used to quantify the pivot shift. Clinical Relevance The rationale for placing the femoral tunnel at an oblique position in the notch to reduce the pivot shift is questioned.