Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
‘Risk’ and sexual coercion among gay and bisexual men in Aotearoa/New Zealand–key informant accounts

Research over the past decade on rape and sexual coercion among gay and bisexual men has shown that significant numbers of men report some form of unwanted or coerced sexual experience. Most studies have investigated the prevalence and impact of sexual assault, with little exploration of the nature and meanings of sexual coercion. This paper contributes to understandings of the latter, analysing the notion of ‘risk’ as it appeared in the talk of 23 key informants interviewed. These informants offered expert perspectives on the issue of sexual coercion and unwanted sex among gay and bisexual men, based on their professional and community experience. Thematic analysis led us to identify two predominant patterns of talk around risk: a focus on sociocultural contexts as risky for sexual coercion and a focus on certain types of individuals as vulnerable and ‘at risk’ of sexual coercion. Accounts of individual risk fit with currently dominant prevention models, which work to strengthen individuals' abilities to avoid or resist coercion. The accounts that emphasised context fit with recent theorising which suggests broader interventions are also necessary to prevent sexual coercion, ones that challenge normative constructions of sexuality and sexual practice.
Empirical Study on Information Asymmetry Based on Chinese Forward Exchange Rate Market

Many published studies have considered information asymmetry between domestic and foreign investors about local assets in the stock market,particularly in developed markets.The present study proposes a new perspective to address the issue in the case of China's forward exchange rate market.Following the framework of Clarida and Taylor (1997),the term structures of exchange rates in the domestic forward and the non-deliverable forward markets are constructed and then applied to predict future spot exchange rates based on a vector equilibrium correction model.By comparing the forecast accuracy on the basis of the root mean square error and the mean absolute error,it is shown that dynamic out-ofsample forecasts of the domestic forward market are superior to those of the non-deliverable forward market,suggesting that domestic investors are better informed than foreign investors.The result has several important policy implications,especially for exchange rate determination.
Restaurant Brand Pages on Facebook: Do Active Member Participation and Monetary Sales Promotions Matter?

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of members’ active participation in customer–brand relationships, considering brand trust and brand commitment in an online community context. It also investigates the moderating effect of monetary sales promotions in building and maintaining customer–brand relationships. Design/methodology/approach – This study is based on an online survey sent to Facebook users who have been engaging with restaurants’ brand pages on Facebook. The empirical data analysis was conducted using structural equation modeling. Findings – Results revealed that members who actively participated in activities on restaurant, Facebook fan pages were likely to feel that the brands were trustworthy and developed commitment toward the brands. The moderating effect of monetary sales promotions between active participation and brand trust was supported. In particular, active participation was more likely to generate brand trust for members who had less interest in monetary .
Reflections on TREC QA

The TREC (later TAC) Question Answering track reinvigorated the question answering research community, fostering extensive research on different question types and finding answers in different kinds of corpora. Parallel evaluations extended the research further to include a variety of languages and media types. In recent years, the TAC QA track evolved into the Knowledge Base Population (KBP) track, where the task is (essentially) factoid-question answering combined with entity resolution: answer strings must be resolved into the appropriate nodes of a pre-existing ontology. KBP is itself viewed as an initial test of capability for Machine Reading systems. In this talk I will reflect on what the lessons learned from the QA track suggest for creating a Machine Reading evaluation with the goal of creating a vibrant Machine Reading research community.
Transformational Leadership and Organizational Change: How do Leaders Approach Trauma-Informed Organizational Change…Twice?

There is increasing interest in the human services field in transformational leadership (Fisher, 2009; Gellis, 2001; Mary, 2005) and the association between this style of leadership and employee engagement, thus impacting the quality of services delivered (Everett & Sitterding, 2011; Mary, 2005). The Sanctuary Model®, a trauma-informed organizational intervention, promotes many elements of the transformational style of leadership, especially the elements of inspiration, optimism, encouragement, honesty, motivation, respect, team-orientation, effective communications, empowerment, reliability, trustworthiness, and empathy (Bloom, 2005, 2011; Smith, 2011). This exploratory, qualitative study examines how social service agency leaders have used a transformational leadership approach to implement the model in two different organizations.
Information Protection and Business Process Reengineering

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Prenatal smoke exposure and mammographic density in mid-life

Tobacco smoke has both carcinogenic effects and anti-estrogenic properties and its inconsistent association with breast cancer risk in observational studies may be because of these competing effects across the lifecourse. We conducted a prospective study of prenatal smoke exposure, childhood household smoke exposure, and adult active smoke exposure and mammographic density, a strong intermediate marker of breast cancer risk, in an adult follow-up of existing US birth cohorts. Specifically, we followed up women who were born between 1959 and 1967 and whose mothers participated in either the Collaborative Perinatal Project (Boston and Providence sites) or the Childhood Health and Development Study in California. Of the 1134 women interviewed in adulthood (ranging in age from 39 to 49 years at interview), 79% had a screening mammogram. Cigarette smoking was reported by mothers at the time of their pregnancy; 40% of mothers smoked while pregnant. Women whose mothers smoked during pregnancy had a 3.1% (95% confidence interval (CI) = −6.0%, −0.2%) lower mammographic density than women whose mothers did not smoke during pregnancy. When we further accounted for adult body mass index and adult smoking status, the association remained (β = −2.7, 95% CI = −5.0, −0.3). When we examined patterns of smoking, prenatal smoke exposure without adult smoke exposure was associated with a 5.6% decrease in mammographic density (β = −5.6, 95% CI = −9.6, −1.6). Given the strength of mammographic density as an intermediate marker for breast cancer, the inverse associations between mammographic density and smoking patterns across the lifecourse may help explain the complex association between cigarette smoking and breast cancer risk.
Corporate tax rates and foreign direct investment in the United States

A significant research effort has been directed at establishing the determinants of foreign direct investment (FDI), with taxation policy identified as an important factor. However, the empirical literature has been limited in several respects, with most work focused exclusively on host country tax regimes. This paper seeks to extend the boundaries of FDI empirical inquiry by using a panel of nine investing tax exemption and tax credit countries over the period 1982–2000, constituting more than 85% of total US FDI inflows, and incorporating home country tax rates to analyse two as yet unanswered questions. First, are corporate income tax rates an important determinant of FDI in the US? Secondly, do investors from tax credit countries differ significantly in their tax response relative to those from tax exemption countries?
3′-O-(4-Benzoyl)benzoyladenosine 5′-Triphosphate Inhibits Activity of the Vacuolar (H+)-ATPase from Bovine Brain Clathrin-coated Vesicles by Modification of a Rapidly Exchangeable, Noncatalytic Nucleotide Binding Site on the B Subunit*

It was previously observed that the B subunit of the tonoplast V-ATPase is modified by the photoactivated nucleotide analog 3′-O-(4-benzoyl)benzoyladenosine 5′-triphosphate (BzATP) (Manolson, M. F., Rea, P. A., and Poole, R. J. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 12273-12279). We have further characterized the nucleotide binding sites on the V-ATPase and the interaction between BzATP and the B subunit. We observe that the V-ATPase isolated from bovine clathrin-coated vesicles possesses approximately 1 mol of endogenous, tightly bound ATP/mol of V-ATPase complex. BzATP is not a substrate for the V-ATPase, but does act as a noncovalent inhibitor in the absence of irradiation, changing the kinetic characteristics of ATP hydrolysis. Irradiation of the V-ATPase in the presence of [3H]BzATP results primarily in modification of the 58-kDa B subunit, with complete inhibition of V-ATPase activity occurring upon modification of one B subunit per V-ATPase complex. Inhibition occurs as the result of modification of a rapidly (t1/2 < 2 min) exchangeable site, and yet this site does not correspond to a catalytic site, as indicated by the effects of cysteine-modifying reagents which react with Cys254 located at the catalytic sites on the A subunit. Thus, the noncatalytic nucleotide binding site modified by BzATP appears to be rapidly exchangeable. The site of [3H]BzATP modification of the B subunit was localized to the region Ile164 to Gln171, which from the x-ray crystal structure of the homologous F-ATPase α subunit, is within 10 Å of the ribose ring of ATP bound to the noncatalytic nucleotide binding site. Thus, despite the absence of a glycine-rich loop region in the B subunit, these data are consistent with a similar overall folding pattern for the V-ATPase B subunit and the F-ATPase α subunit.
On the Efficient Provision of Public Goods by Means of Lotteries

We provide a solution to the free-rider problem in the provision of a public good. To this end we define a biased indirect contribution game which provides the efficient amount of the public good in non-cooperative Nash equilibrium. No confiscatory taxes or other means of coercion are used. We rather extend the model of Morgan (2000), who used fair raffles as voluntary contribution schemes, to unfair or biased raffles, which we show to be equivalent to fair raffles whose tickets are sold to consumers at different individual prices. We give a detailed account of the solution for the case of two different consumers and discuss its implications for the general case of many consumers.
Implications of total quality management in federal services: the US experience

Examines the renewed interest in implementation of total quality management (TQM) in federal government services. In particular analyses the concept of customer service in the Federal Government and how it is perceived. Details three common misunderstandings which drive the development and propagation of myths about TQM in federal service operations. Concludes by outlining the basic requirements for implementing TQM and some advances already made, including how work by a National Performance Review Team has led to the formation of a partnership between the US Department of Agriculture’s agencies and customers to improve service quality.
Carotid Artery Stenting–Induced Hemodynamic Instability

Purpose To present a systematic review and meta-analysis investigating the incidence of carotid artery stenting (CAS)–induced hemodynamic instability (HI) and to explore differences in periprocedural risk among patients with and without CAS-associated HI. Methods Multiple electronic health databases were searched for all articles published between January 2000 and December 2011 describing CAS-associated hemodynamic instability. Twenty-seven studies with a total of 4204 patients were analyzed, placing emphasis on the HI incidence and its correlation with postprocedure morbidity and mortality. A meta-regression analysis was conducted to investigate the role of potential meaningful modifiers upon HI. Results The meta-analysis for overall HI rate showed a pooled proportion of 39.4%. The pooled estimate for hypotension was 12.1%, 12.2% for bradycardia, and 12.5% for both hypotension and bradycardia. Persistent HI was found to occur in a pooled rate of 19.2%. No statistically significant differences were found between patients with and without HI after CAS with respect to death, stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA), or major adverse events. The meta-regression analysis revealed statistically significant associations of mean age with HI, of ≤10-mm distance between the carotid bifurcation and the site of minimum lumen diameter with bradycardia, and of prior ipsilateral CEA with persistent HI. Conclusion CAS-induced HI occurs in a considerable percentage of patients without increasing the perioperative risk. However, applying the appropriate prophylactic measures and strictly monitoring blood pressure and heart rate during the procedure and immediately after should be encouraged for early recognition and correction of these hemodynamic disturbances.
The interaction between explicit contracting and economic conditions in labour markets.

The study of labour markets is often limited to labour market institutions themselves and the link to other areas in economics, in particular product markets, is scarce. The purpose of this thesis is to shed light on the interaction between economic conditions and explicit contracting in labour markets. Chapters One and Two investigate how wages change in the face of changes in product market competition and propose a hypothesis for recent increases in wage inequality. In Chapter One I explain why firms competing in an oligopolistic market alter how much they are willing to pay to attract good workers and how wage inequality within industries (and observed skill groups) may arise from these changes in product market competition. I then look at the actual impact of product market competition using a panel of individuals for the U.K. and concentration measures and two natural experiments as measures of competition. The results point to the fact that increased competition raises the returns to skills and hence wage inequality. Chapter Two takes investigates the impact of product market competition on performance related pay. I analyse compensation equations of US managers and obtain that increased competition implies increased steepness of the performance pay relationship that raises the variance of wages. Chapter Three assesses whether there is a systematic relationship between the type of contract held and an aspect of workers welfare. I analyse whether the large difference between the work accident rates of fixed-term and permanent contract workers in Spain is not just the result of a compositional effect but that a pure contractual effect exists. The results indicate there is a pure contractual effect that increases the individual accident probability by 5 percentage points. Finally Chapter Four is an analysis of the relative impact of household income and unemployment benefit on unemployment duration, with a particular focus on female behaviour.
In Vitro Osteogenic Response of Rat Bone Marrow Cells to bFGF and BMP-2 Treatments

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) are actively pursued for stimulation of bone formation. To assess their promise for systemic therapy of osteoporosis, we ascertained the effects of bFGF and BMP-2 on bone marrow cells in vitro. Bone marrow cells were obtained from young (8 weeks) and adult (32 weeks) rats by femoral aspiration and were exposed to osteogenic medium (ie, basal medium with 10 mM β-glycerolphosphate and 100 nM dexamethasone) containing the growth factors. The cell viability in osteogenic medium was reduced after 3 weeks but not if the concentration of β-glycerolphosphate/dexamethasone was reduced to 3 mM/30 nM. Unlike BMP-2, bFGF at 2-50 ng/mL was capable of enhancing long-term cell viability. Continuous treatment of bone marrow cells for 3 weeks resulted in dose-dependent stimulation of mineralization by BMP-2, but not by bFGF, whose activity was optimal at 2-10 ng/mL. To explore the effect of short-term exposure, bone marrow cells were treated with growth factors for 1 week and subsequent mineralization was investigated. BMP-2 exposure increased the extent of mineralization, but bFGF was not effective after the short exposure. We concluded bFGF was more potent (ie, required lower concentration) for stimulating osteogenic parameters, but BMP-2 effects were lasting on the bone marrow cells.
Severe forms of schistosomiasis mansoni: epidemiologic and economic impact in Brazil, 2010.

BACKGROUND Schistosoma mansoni infection is generally asymptomatic at the initial stage. However, patients left untreated can develop severe, potentially fatal clinical disease. In Brazil, S. mansoni transmission occurs in 19 states and, despite the contribution of infection to the cycle of poverty and disease, the economic impact of severe cases is unclear. Our objectives were to estimate the epidemiological burden and the costs of severe stages of S. mansoni in Brazil in 2010. METHODS We conducted an epidemiologic descriptive study and a partial economic evaluation of cost-of-illness. The study population was identified from records of notifications, hospitalizations and deaths related to S. mansoni in the respective information systems. RESULTS The mortality rate for S. mansoni was 0.3 deaths per 100 000 population, which represented 1.1% of the deaths in Brazil from infectious diseases listed in Chapter I of the International Statistical Classification of Disease and Related Health Problems, 10(th) revision (ICD 10), and almost 9.0% of deaths from infection diseases in the state of Pernambuco. We calculated 6419 potential years of life lost (PYLL) to S. mansoni. The costs estimated within the public health sector totaled R$889 049.58 (US$495 016.47) and the costs of productivity losses reached R$ 35 725 332.72 (US$ 19 891 590.86) in terms of salaries lost as a result of premature death or absence from work. The cost-of-illness related to S. mansoni in Brazil was R$ 36 614 382.30 (US$ 20 386 627.12). CONCLUSION The severe cases of S. mansoni disease still occurring in Brazil have an important epidemiologic and economic impact, representing a significant loss for society. The development of severe cases of a neglected parasitic disease that is preventable and responsive to primary healthcare intervention should be considered an expression of inequity. Our findings provide important evidence to support the strengthening of public health measures and investment to reduce poverty-related diseases in Brazil today.
HIV-specific immunity following immunization with HIV synthetic envelope peptides in asymptomatic HIV-infected patients.

OBJECTIVE A phase I trial was conducted to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of an HIV synthetic peptide vaccine in HIV-seropositive individuals. The immunogens used in this study were PCLUS 3-18MN and PCLUS 6.1-18MN envelope peptides. METHODS Eight HIV-infected patients received six subcutaneous injections of 160 microg PCLUS 3-18MN in Montanide ISA 51 and were followed longitudinally for a year after the first immunization. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were tested for peptide-specific T helper and cytotoxic T cell (CTL) responses, HIV-1MN neutralizing antibodies and antibodies against HIV PCLUS 3 and P18 MN peptides. RESULTS PCLUS 3-1 8MN-specific T helper responses were significantly increased at 36 weeks (P < 0.05, after adjustment for multiple comparisons) following initial immunization with PCLUS 3-18MN. A P18MN-specific CTL response, not present prior to vaccination, was observed after immunization in one patient. Serum HIV-1 MN-neutralizing antibody titers increased in each of the three patients who had low titers prior to immunization. Plasma HIV RNA levels and CD4 cell counts did not change appreciably during the study period. CONCLUSIONS This trial demonstrates that both peptides can be safely administered to HIV-infected individuals and that PCLUS 3-18MN induces increases in HIV peptide-specific immune responses.
Biofeedback treatment of constipation: a comparison of two methods.

OBJECTIVES Our purpose in this study was to determine whether, with balloon feedback treatment, one can obtain results similar to those achieved with electromyographic (EMG) feedback treatment, in patients with a functional outlet obstruction (spastic pelvic floor syndrome). METHODS In a randomized controlled study, 11 patients received EMG biofeedback and nine patients received balloon feedback. Treatment outcome was assessed by standard EMG during straining, constipation score, and a standard diary with details about complaints. RESULTS Using change scores (posttreatment score minus pretreatment score), we found significantly greater positive changes for EMG feedback at posttreatment and at follow-up. When criteria for good clinical outcome were used, eight of 11 patients treated with EMG feedback appeared to be improved, against two of nine patients treated with balloon feedback. Type of feedback was the only difference between the groups. CONCLUSIONS Alteration of the EMG pattern leads to lessening of complaints, which means that pelvic floor contraction during straining indeed is the cause of the constipation. The results suggest that EMG feedback is more effective than balloon feedback in treating spastic pelvic floor syndrome.
Modeling vacation destination decisions: a behavioral approach.

The purpose of this study is to develop a multiple criteria decision-making instrument to model vacation destination-choice decisions of individuals based on the factors deemed to be important for vacation destination choice decisions. The study emphasizes the importance of individual differences in making vacation destination choice decisions. Although this research effort is explanatory in nature, the results reveal that application of behavioral decision theory is possible in modeling individualsAE vacation destination decisions.