Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Uncertainty, Participation and Alienation: Lessons for Workplace Restructuring

In the past decade or so, workplace organisation and restructuring processes, have been subjected to the most intense scrutiny. Driven by rapidly intensifying competitive pressures, work organisations sought increased flexibility, especially from labour, as they struggled to maintain market shares in an economic environment increasingly characterised by excess in labour supply. Pressures for change were probably most evident in the public sector where economic and ideological forces combined to limit the growth of government services and increase their exposure to competitive forces.
Association between mu opioid receptor gene polymorphisms and Chinese heroin addicts

Mu opioid receptor (MOR) has been shown to be associated with alcoholism and opioid dependence. The present study examined the involvement of a polymorphism in A118G in exon 1 and C1031G in intron 2 of the MOR gene in 200 Chinese heroin-dependent and 97 control subjects. Results showed a significant association for both A118G and C1031G polymorphisms and opioid dependence. The G allele is more common in the heroin-dependent group (39.5% and 30.8% for A118G and C1031G polymorphisms, respectively) when compared to the controls (29.4% and 21.1% for A118G and C1031G polymorphisms, respectively). This study suggests that the variant G allele of both A118G and C1031G polymorphisms may contribute to the vulnerability to heroin dependence.
Profiling Preference for Employment in Family-Owned Firms

This article summarizes findings from an exploratory investigation of factors related to preference for employment in family-owned firms. The sample for the study consists of undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in business management classes. Discriminant analysis was used to identify life history and job characteristic variables that distinguish between groups of individuals who expressed a high and low preference for working in a family-owned firm. Additional findings from the study are summarized, and implications for the management of family firms are discussed.
Valuation for the Strategic Management of Research and Development Projects: The Deferral Option

Abstract: The most widely used financial technique for evaluating projects is discounted cash flow; however, discounted cash flow analysis fails to consider flexibility. Real options analysis offers an alternative technique that provides value for the managerial flexibility that is inherent in most R&D projects. This article investigates the deferral option using computer simulation. There are five variables that determine the value of the deferral option, and simulations analyze these variables over a wide range of conditions. Sensitivity analysis on the five variables is performed and the results are discussed.
A case of mistaken identity

The UK government has embarked on the world's most ambitious national identity project. During its 3‐year progress towards Royal Assent the scheme has variously been proclaimed as a key solution to identity theft, illegal immigration, administrative inefficiency, benefit fraud, VAT fraud, illegal working, terrorism, healthcare tourism, national security, telecommunications fraud and organized crime. Can it actually work? Simon Davies has his doubts.
Pricing and Hedging using Hedge Monte-Carlo Method

In this master’s thesis The Hedge Monte-Carlo method (HMC) is evaluated. The HMC method is used to price financial derivatives and at the same time obtain optimal hedge portfolios. The optimal hedge is of great importance as it enables risk management in option trading. The advantage of this method is also that different types of options with features like path-dependent and early exercise can be priced. The evaluation is based on the quality of the price and hedge estimates of European options. To further evaluate the performance of the method the price process of the underlying asset followed initially a Geometric Brownian Motion process (GBM) and then the Normal Inverse Gaussian process (NIG). Several different scenarios are considered in the evaluation of retrieving good prices and hedges, i.e. different times to maturity, initial stock prices and variances. Results shows that the method is very promising when considering the quality of the price and as for the quality of the hedge good levels are obtained for GBM when the option is in the money. A desirable feature as the probability of exercise of an in the money option is very high. For options where the underlying asset follows NIG acceptable levels on the hedging errors were difficult to obtain. As the performance of the method is measured on both good prices and good hedges, the NIG process isn’t as suitable as the GBM process when the HMC method i used.
After‐Hours Stock Prices and Post‐Crash Hangovers

After-hours pricing in foreign equity markets of multiple-listed U.S. securities appeared to be efficient in predicting New York prices in the weeks immediately following the October 1987 crash, but relatively uninformative in succeeding months. By contrast, daily changes in New York prices appear to be efficiently incorporated in after-hours trading on both the Tokyo and London exchanges throughout the sample period. This paper suggests that the asymmetry and temporal variations in cross-market correlations are consistent with rational investor behavior in equity markets with nonzero transaction costs and time-varying share price volatility. Copyright 1991 by American Finance Association.
Late Sovereignty in Post-Integration Europe: Continuity and Change in a Constitutive Concept

This paper examines the state of sovereignty in post-integration Europe. Drawing on linguistic approaches to law and IR, it interrogates Neil Walker’s conception of ‘late sovereignty’, in terms of how it manages the problem of continuity and change in concepts in transition as well as the constitutive and regulative rules of late sovereignty games. The transition from what the paper calls ‘high sovereignty’ to ‘late sovereignty’ entails a broadening of the range of actors who play late sovereignty games to include non-sovereign state entities such as the EU, a redefinition of the ‘particularising’ element of ultimate authority from territory to function, and an evolution of the criteria for what constitutes a ‘good’ sovereignty claim as stipulated by the regulative rules of late sovereignty games. It concludes by assessing the relevance of late sovereignty for the trilateral relationship between the non-continental territories of EU Member States, the Member states themselves and the EU.
The Under-Reporting of Transfers in Household Surveys: Its Nature and Consequences

High rates of understatement are found for many government transfer programs and in many datasets. This understatement has major implications for our understanding of economic well-being and the effects of transfer programs. We provide estimates of the extent of under-reporting for ten transfer programs in five major nationally representative surveys by comparing reported weighted totals for these programs with totals obtained from government agencies. We also examine imputation procedures and rates. We find increasing under-reporting and imputation over time and sharp differences across programs and surveys. We explore reasons for under-reporting and how under-reporting biases existing studies and suggest corrections.
Cyclin D3 Mediates Synthesis of a Hyaluronan Matrix That Is Adhesive for Monocytes in Mesangial Cells Stimulated to Divide in Hyperglycemic Medium*

Serum-starved, growth-arrested, near confluent rat mesangial cell cultures were stimulated to divide in medium with low (5.6 mm) or high (25.6 mm) glucose. In high glucose cultures Western blots showed large increases in cyclin D3 and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBPα) at 48–72 h, concurrent with the production of a monocyte-adhesive hyaluronan matrix, whereas low glucose and mannitol osmotic control cultures did not. Cyclin D3 small interfering RNA inhibited both the synthesis of this matrix and the up-regulation of C/EBPα in cultures exposed to high glucose, indicating that cyclin D3 is a key mediator in regulating responses of dividing mesangial cells to hyperglycemia. A complex with cyclin D3, cyclin-dependent kinase 4, and C/EBPα was observed at 48–72 h in the hyperglycemic cultures, and cyclin D3 and C/EBPα were spatially co-localized in coalesced perinuclear honeycomb-like structures with embedded hyaluronan. Furthermore, microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3, a marker for autophagy, colocalizes with these structures. These results suggest that cyclin D3 is a central coordinator that controls the organization of a complex set of proteins that regulate autophagy, formation of the monocyte-adhesive hyaluronan matrix, and C/EBPα-mediated lipogenesis. Abnormal deposits of hyaluronan, cyclin D3, and C/EBPα were present in glomeruli of kidney sections from hyperglycemic rats 4 weeks after streptozotocin treatment, indicating that similar processes likely occur in vivo. Mesangial cell cultures treated with poly(I:C) or tunicamycin in normal glucose media synthesized monocyte-adhesive hyaluronan matrices but with concurrent down-regulation of cyclin D3. This indicates that the cyclin D3 mechanism is induced by hyperglycemia and is distinct from those involved in these cell stress responses.
Control of a cascade boost converter with a single active switch

The development of new technologies is requiring wider conversion ratios. A possible solution to this problem is to use n-stages connected in cascade; however, the major drawback is that a more complex control circuitry is required. An alternative solution is to use a cascade boost converter with a single switch. A controller is developed using average current-mode control. It is shown that the transfer function of the first inductor current/duty ratio is a minimum phase transfer function; thus, this current is selected for feedback purposes. For the inner loop, a current gain and a high gain compensator are selected. For the output loop, a conventional PI-controller is used which provides good regulation characteristics. Experimental results are given for a 100 W switching regulator with step changes between full and 40% of load.
Psychometric properties of the EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire in inpatient cancer rehabilitation in Germany

Objective: Recent years have shown an increase in the use of questionnaires measuring health-related quality of life to verify the quality of treatment in the field of oncology. An often used cancer-specific questionnaire is the “Quality of Life Core Questionnaire of the European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer” (EORTC QLQ-C30). The purpose of this study is to analyze the psychometric properties of the EORTC QLQ-C30 (version 1) in order to determine the feasibility and appropriateness for its use in inpatient cancer rehabilitation in Germany with heterogeneous diagnoses. Methods: The questionnaire was administrated to a sample of 972 cancer patients at the beginning of treatment and to 892 patients after treatment. Besides descriptive analysis, the statistical analyses include confirmatory analysis and the multitrait/multimethod approach to test the questionnaire's postulated scale structure (factorial validity) and its reliability (internal consistencies). The analysis also includes a comparison of responsiveness indices (effect size, reliable change index) to test the sensitivity of the instrument. Results: The EORTC QLQ-C30 showed satisfactory levels of reliability and sensitivity, but the postulated scale structure could not be confirmed. The results illustrate that the varimax-rotated solution of a principal component analysis does not confirm the scale structure postulated by the authors. Correspondingly, the selected fit indices within the scope of the confirmatory factor analysis do not show satisfactory results either. Significance of results: We therefore consider version 1 of the EORTC QLQ-C30 to be only limitedly useful for the routine assessment of changes in the quality of life of cancer patients in inpatient rehabilitation in Germany, especially because of the instrument's length and possible redundancies. For this reason, a scoring procedure limited to a subset of items is suggested, revealing satisfactory to good psychometric indices. However, further psychometric tests are necessary, especially with regard to validity and sensitivity.
Not All Peace Years Are Created Equal: Trade, Imposed Settlements, and Recurrent Conflict

The peace through trade hypothesis receives extensive support from a large empirical literature. However, extant research does not isolate whether this relationship holds for states that have fought in the past, or whether its influence following armed disputes is dependent upon the ways in which states settle their conflicts. Additionally, although recent research finds that imposed settlements are more pacifying than other forms of political settlement, these studies tend not to isolate factors associated with variation in the stability of imposed settlements. In this article, we examine how settlements condition the influence of trade on conflict recurrence, both to overcome a limitation in extant studies of trade and conflict, which tend to ignore the way states settle prior disputes, and to further an understanding of how post-conflict state interaction varies by (and within) settlement type. Looking at dyadic trade and recurrent conflict from 1885 to 2000, we find that imposed settlements foster a pacifying effect of trade, while negotiated settlements and failures to reach settlement lead to relationships in which trade has crosscutting effects on the stability of peace, resulting in an overall null effect of trade on conflict recurrence.
Projections from the amygdala to basoventral and mediodorsal prefrontal regions in the rhesus monkey

The sources of ipsilateral projections from the amygdala to basoventral and mediodorsal prefrontal cortices were studied with retrograde tracers (horseradish peroxidase or fluorescent dyes) in 13 rhesus monkeys. The basoventral regions injected with tracers included the orbital periallocortex and proisocortex, orbital areas 13,11, and 12, lateral area 12, and ventral area 46. The mediodorsal regions included portions of medial areas 25, 32, 14, and dorsal area 8. The above sites represent areas within two architectonic series of cortices referred to as basoventral mediodorsal on the basis of their anatomic location. Each series consists of areas that show a gradual increase in the number of layers and their delineation in a direction from the caudal orbital and medial limbic cortices, which have an incipient laminar organization, towards the eulaminated periarcuate cortices (Barbas and Pandya, J. Comp. Neurol. 286:353‐375, '89).
Is There Gender Bias Among Voters ? Evidence from the Chilean Congressional Elections

I exploit the unique institution of gender-segregated voting booths in Chile, allowingthe use of actual voting data, instead of self-reported surveys, to test for genderbias among voters. Overall I find evidence of a small but significant negative genderbias: women overall are less likely than men to vote for female candidates. The effect ismainly driven by center-right voters. Selection, candidates’ quality and districts’ characteristicsdo not explain away the results. This evidence does not question whetherfemale leaders have an effect on economic outcomes, but rather the mechanism throughwhich this effect takes place.
Commissioning the DARHT-II scaled accelerator downstream transport

The DARHT-II accelerator will produce a 2-kA, 17-MeV beam in a 1600-ns pulse when completed mid-2007. After exiting the accelerator, the pulse is sliced into four short pulses by a kicker and quadrupole septum and then transported for several meters to a tantalum target for conversion to X-rays for radiography. We describe tests of the kicker, septum, transport, and multi-pulse converter target using a short accelerator assembled from the first available refurbished cells. This scaled accelerator was operated at ~8 MeV and ~1 kA, providing a beam with approximately the same v/gamma as the final 18-MeV, 2-kA beam, and therefore the same beam dynamics in the downstream transport. The results of beam measurements made during the commissioning of this scaled accelerator downstream transport are described.
A comparative evaluation of software for the analysis of liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry data from isotope coded affinity tag experiments

The options available for processing quantitative data from isotope coded affinity tag (ICAT) experiments have mostly been confined to software specific to the instrument of acquisition. However, recent developments with data format conversion have subsequently increased such processing opportunities. In the present study, data sets from ICAT experiments, analysed with liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), using an Applied Biosystems QSTAR® Pulsar quadrupole‐TOF mass spectrometer, were processed in triplicate using separate mass spectrometry software packages. The programs Pro ICAT, Spectrum Mill and SEQUEST with XPRESS were employed. Attention was paid towards the extent of common identification and agreement of quantitative results, with additional interest in the flexibility and productivity of these programs. The comparisons were made with data from the analysis of a specifically prepared test mixture, nine proteins at a range of relative concentration ratios from 0.1 to 10 (light to heavy labelled forms), as a known control, and data selected from an ICAT study involving the measurement of cytokine induced protein expression in human lymphoblasts, as an applied example. Dissimilarities were detected in peptide identification that reflected how the associated scoring parameters favoured information from the MS/MS data sets. Accordingly, there were differences in the numbers of peptides and protein identifications, although from these it was apparent that both confirmatory and complementary information was present. In the quantitative results from the three programs, no statistically significant differences were observed.
Improving Appointment Adherence among Young Adults with HIV in Peru with an mHealth Intervention: a Feasibility Study

Abstract Background Mobile Health (mHealth) interventions, including short message services (SMS) reminders and motivational messages, are associated with improved HIV appointment adherence, though feasibility is context-dependent. We assessed the feasibility of an mHealth intervention to improve appointment adherence among young adults with HIV in Lima, Peru. Methods Between November 2016 and April 2017, we implemented a one-way mHealth pilot intervention in an outpatient hospital without electronic medical records. We enrolled young adults (age 18–29) entering HIV care in a 3-component intervention: (i) reminder SMS prior to scheduled appointments (provider, laboratory, pharmacy); (ii) motivational SMS after each visit; and (iii) phone call following a missed visit. Feasibility evaluation included enrollment acceptance, visit tracking (information captured in the study database within 3 days of attendance), and proportion of intervention delivery (threshold >90%). We performed a qualitative assessment to identify implementation challenges reviewing staff field notes and meeting minutes. Results We enrolled 80/94 (85.1%) eligible participants. The median age was 25 years and 83% were male. The median time of follow-up after enrollment was 115 [interquartile range (IQR): 84–141] days, and participants had a median of 10 (IQR: 8–14) visits during the study period. Among 850 total participant visits, study personnel tracked 751 (88.4%); most (80.8%) untracked visits were pharmacy pickups. Of all tracked visits, most (78.7%) were scheduled appointments and 160 (21.3%) were unscheduled walk-ins. Intervention delivery reached 556/591 (94.1%) for reminder SMS; 733/751 (97.6%) for motivational messages, and 169/170 (99.4%) phone calls for missed visits, 127 (75.1%) of which were answered. Qualitative assessment revealed 2 major themes: real-time appointment tracking in a paper-based system consumed most staff time and resources, and meticulous in-person coordination between the implementation and hospital staff was essential for tracking. Conclusion An mHealth intervention to improve appointment adherence among young adults with HIV in Peru appears feasible with dedicated staff and a reliable appointment tracking system. Digitalized appointment systems may be needed to address challenges for scale-up. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.
A conceptual framework for the application of gamification strategies in higher education

This study aims to develop a conceptual framework for gamification that can be used in university classrooms. To this end, an exploratory research was conducted about the concept of gamification, its main elements and the advantages and disadvantages of using it, focusing on the university environment. From this research, an early version of the conceptual framework for gamification of classrooms was developed. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with teachers from different areas of research related to digital media and education, in order to obtain comments and suggestions that could be used for the development of a framework adjusted to the needs of students and professors. From the feedback received, it was possible to modify and add new concepts to the framework developed initially, making it more suited to the university environment. It is expected in future work the development of a digital application that could support the conceptual framework developed.
A Longitudinal Investigation of Maternal Influences on the Development of Child Hostile Attributions and Aggression

Aggression in children is associated with an enhanced tendency to attribute hostile intentions to others. However, limited information is available regarding the factors that contribute to the development of such hostile attribution tendencies. We examined factors that contribute to individual differences in child hostile attributions and aggression, focusing on potential pathways from maternal hostile attributions via negative parenting behavior. We conducted a longitudinal study of 98 mothers and children (47 male, 51 female), recruited from groups experiencing high and low levels of psychosocial adversity. Maternal hostile attributions, observed parenting, and child behaviour were assessed at 18 months and 5 years child age, and child hostile attributions were also examined at 5 years. Independent assessments of maternal and child processes were utilized where possible. Analyses provided support for a direct influence of maternal hostile attributions on the development of child hostile attributions and aggressive behaviour. Maternal hostile attributions were also associated with negative parenting behaviour, which in turn influenced child adjustment. Even taking account of possible parenting influences and preexisting child difficulties, hostile attributions in the mother showed a direct link with child aggression at 5 years. Maternal hostile attributions were themselves related to psychosocial adversity. We conclude that maternal hostile attributions are prevalent in high-risk samples and are related to less optimal parenting behaviour, child hostile attributions, and child aggression. Targeting hostile maternal cognitions may be a useful adjunct to parenting programs.