Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Employment, Pay and Discrimination in the Tourism Industry

Using a large administratively matched employer–employee data set, we analyse the gender wage gap in the Portuguese tourism labour market. As background, employment and pay in the tourism industry are thoroughly characterized. Using the Oaxaca–Blinder decomposition of the gender wage gap, we find that 45% of the gap is due to differences in attributes of male and female workers in tourism. Our estimate of the coefficient of discrimination in the tourism industry (8.4%) puts it well below the non-tourism average (15.8%). We argue that this is due to the fact that minimum wage legislation provides an effective protection to low-wage earners, which is especially important in low-wage industries such as tourism.
United States Patent 4,250,445

A temperature-compensated band-gap reference of the type employing two transistors operated at different current densities to develop a positive TC current. This current flows through a first resistor of nominal TC to develop a positive TC voltage which is connected in series with a negative TC voltage developed by the base-to-emitter voltage of a transistor, to produce a composite temperature compensated output voltage. The circuitry further includes a second resistor connected in series with the first resistor and having a positive TC to produce an additional compensating voltage having a temperature coefficient following a parabolic expression. This additional voltage, when connected with the other components of the output voltage, reduces the small residual inherent TC of the band-gap reference to provide a more stable reference source.
Expected Inflation, Interest Rates, and Stock Returns

This paper documents a long-lived asymmetrical relationship between interest rate changes and subsequent stock returns. Drops in interest rates are followed by twelve months of excess stock returns, while increases in interest rates have little effect. The results are robust to the choices of short-term interest rate and stock index. These findings cannot be explained by Geske and Roll's reversed causality argument; nor do they appear to result from periods of unusual interest rates or stock returns. Since interest rate changes are generally used as proxies for changes in expected inflation, the results provide new insights into previous research on inflation and stock returns, and there are important implications for the literature on time-varying risk premia. Copyright 1996 by MIT Press.
Relationship between drug abuse and intimate partner violence: a longitudinal study among women receiving methadone.

OBJECTIVES We examined whether frequent drug use increases the likelihood of subsequent sexual or physical intimate partner violence (IPV) and whether IPV increases the likelihood of subsequent frequent drug use. METHODS A random sample of 416 women on methadone was assessed at baseline (wave 1) and at 6 months (wave 2), and 12 months (wave 3) following the initial assessment. Propensity score matching and multiple logistic regression were employed. RESULTS Women who reported frequent crack use at wave 2 were more likely than non-drug using women to report IPV at wave 3 (odds ratio [OR]=4.4; 95% confidence interval [CI]=2.1, 9.1; P<.01), and frequent marijuana users at wave 2 were more likely than non-drug users to report IPV at wave 3 (OR=4.5; 95% CI=2.4, 8.4; P<.01). In addition, women who reported IPV at wave 2 were more likely than women who did not report IPV to indicate frequent heroin use at wave 3 (OR=2.7; 95% CI=1.1, 6.5; P=.04). CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that the relationship between frequent drug use and IPV is bidirectional and varies by type of drug.
Social communication in advertising : persons, products & images of well-being

Social Communication in Advertising is the first genuinely comprehensive study of advertising in our society and culture. It shows how advertising encompasses the three most influential domains of our lives; industrial technology, popular culture and mass media. The authors present a well-balanced account of the attacks on advertising and the counter-arguments for it, and they explore the context in which advertising is created within ad agencies. Their book offers a wide-ranging theory about how advertising connects goods and symbols in the consumer society, and a number of important reflections on the implications of advertising for social issues and social policy.
A Reliable Broadcast Protocol in Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks

Periodical broadcasts of individual vehicle's safety information such as velocity and acceleration are critical in vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs). However, current contention-based media access control (MAC) protocols cannot guarantee high performance in high density VANETs. In this paper, we propose a MAC protocol based on s-disjunct code to achieve reliable and real-time broadcasts via assigning a channel to each vehicle as the vehicle enters the network. Our protocol is adaptive as vehicles are required to adjust their communication ranges according to the network density in order to avert the interference among them. We conduct an extensive simulation study, and our results indicate that the proposed scheme can successfully achieve the requirements of the dedicated short range communication (DSRC) standard, that is, to broadcast safety information 10 times per second. Even at a high vehicle density, our scheme still guarantees that the success rates of both transmission and reception are greater than 95%, and the collision rates of access collision and merging collision are lower than 10 collisions/period.
Using Hierarchical Skills for Optimized Task Assignment in Knowledge-Intensive Crowdsourcing

Besides the simple human intelligence tasks such as image labeling, crowdsourcing platforms propose more and more tasks that require very specific skills, especially in participative science projects. In this context, there is a need to reason about the required skills for a task and the set of available skills in the crowd, in order to increase the resulting quality. Most of the existing solutions rely on unstructured tags to model skills (vector of skills). In this paper we propose to finely model tasks and participants using a skill tree, that is a taxonomy of skills equipped with a similarity distance within skills. This model of skills enables to map participants to tasks in a way that exploits the natural hierarchy among the skills. We illustrate the effectiveness of our model and algorithms through extensive experimentation with synthetic and real data sets.
Impact of aspirin dose on adenosine diphosphate-mediated platelet activities

Summary Different aspirin dosing regimens have been suggested to impact outcomes when used in combination with adenosine diphosphate (ADP) P2Y12 receptor antagonists. Prior investigations have shown that not only aspirin, but also potent ADP P2Y12 receptor blockade can inhibit thromboxane A2-mediated platelet activation. The impact of aspirin dosing on ADP mediated platelet activities is unknown and represents the aim of this in vitro pilot pharmacodynamic (PD) investigation. Twenty-six patients with stable coronary artery disease on aspirin 81 mg/day and P2Y12 naïve were enrolled. PD assessments were performed at baseline, while patients were on 81 mg/day aspirin and after switching to 325 mg/day for 7 ± 2 days with and without escalating concentrations (vehicle, 1, 3, and 10 μM) of prasugrel’s active metabolite (P-AM). PD assays included flow cytometric assessment of VASP to define the platelet reactivity index (PRI) and the Multiplate Analyzer (MEA) using multiple agonists [ADP, ADP + prostaglandin (PGE1), arachidonic acid (AA), and collagen]. Escalating P-AM concentrations showed incremental platelet P2Y12 inhibition measured by VASP-PRI (p<0.001). However, there were no differences according to aspirin dosing regimen at any P-AM concentration (vehicle: p=0.899; 1 ïM: p=0.888; 3 ïM: p=0.524; 10 ïM: p=0.548). Similar findings were observed in purinergic markers assessed by MEA (ADP and ADP+PGE1). P-AM addition significantly reduced AA and collagen induced platelet aggregation (p<0.001 for all measures), irrespective of aspirin dose. In conclusion, aspirin dosing does not appear to affect PD measures of ADP-mediated platelet reactivity irrespective of the degree of P2Y12 receptor blockade. P2Y12 receptor blockade modulates platelet reactivity mediated by alternative activators.
The Nuclear Dbf2-Related Kinase COT1 and the Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases MAK1 and MAK2 Genetically Interact to Regulate Filamentous Growth, Hyphal Fusion and Sexual Development in Neurospora crassa

Ndr kinases, such as Neurospora crassa COT1, are important for cell differentiation and polar morphogenesis, yet their input signals as well as their integration into a cellular signaling context are still elusive. Here, we identify the cot-1 suppressor gul-4 as mak-2 and show that mutants of the gul-4/mak-2 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathway suppress cot-1 phenotypes along with a concomitant reduction in protein kinase A (PKA) activity. Furthermore, mak-2 pathway defects are partially overcome in a cot-1 background and are associated with increased MAK1 MAPK signaling. A comparative characterization of N. crassa MAPKs revealed that they act as three distinct modules during vegetative growth and asexual development. In addition, common functions of MAK1 and MAK2 signaling during maintenance of cell-wall integrity distinguished the two ERK-type pathways from the p38-type OS2 osmosensing pathway. In contrast to separate functions during vegetative growth, the concerted activity of the three MAPK pathways is essential for cell fusion and for the subsequent formation of multicellular structures that are required for sexual development. Taken together, our data indicate a functional link between COT1 and MAPK signaling in regulating filamentous growth, hyphal fusion, and sexual development.
Effects of Stroke Education of Junior High School Students on Stroke Knowledge of Their Parents: Tochigi Project

Background and purpose— Educating the youth about stroke is a promising approach for spreading stroke knowledge. The aim of this study was to verify communication of stroke knowledge to parents by educating junior high school students about stroke. Methods— We enrolled 1127 junior high school students (age, 13–15 years) and their parents in the Tochigi prefecture, Japan. All students received a stroke lesson, watched an animated cartoon, and read the related Manga comic as educational aids. The students took back home the Manga and discussed what they learned with their parents. Questionnaires on stroke knowledge were given to all at baseline and immediately after the lesson. Results— A total of 1125 students and 915 parents answered the questionnaires. In the students, the frequency of correct answers increased significantly for all questions on stroke symptoms except for headache, and for all questions on risk factors after the lesson. In the parents, the correct answer rates increased for stroke symptoms except for headache and numbness in one side of the body, and for all questions on risk factors except for hypertension. Ninety-one percent of students and 92.7% of parents correctly understood the Face, Arm, Speech, and Time (FAST) mnemonic after the lesson. Conclusions— Improvement of stroke knowledge immediately after the stroke lesson was observed in parents as well as their children, which indicated that our teaching materials using the Manga was effective in delivering the stroke knowledge to parents through their children.
Mortgage Prepayments

GREGG N. PATRUN0 is a vice president in the mortgage securities research department at Goldman, Sachs & Co. in New York. ver the last several years, the mortgage securities market has endured a dramatic range of prepayment experiences, frustratingly few of which 0 were adequately predicted by existing prepayment models. Today, the market has both the motive and, for the first time, the opportunity to seek a superior approach to prepayment prediction. Why mortgage investors need new prepayment models is clear: Previous models have tended to provide seriously inaccurate predictions whenever the conditions influencing borrowers’ prepayment decisions have changed to any significant degree. However, this very range of conditions provides the opportunity to improve our quantitative understanding of prepayment behavior. We now have a wealth of data on the impact of changing interest rates and yeld curve shapes, differences in loan size and transaction costs, varying housing market conditions, evolving regulations, and mortgage product innovation. Subtleties in seasoning patterns and the important distinctions among different vintages of mortgages have now become much clearer. Finally, the extended market rally that drove mortgage rates to successive lows provides the researcher with a perfect laboratory for examining refinancing behavior and, particularly, changes in the refinancing efticiency and composition of a mortgage pool over time. We have taken advantage of this opportunity to develop an entirely new generation of prepayment models, based on data from the early 1970s to the present and spanning all the major fixed-rate, single-family mortgage sectors level pay and balloon, agency and non-agency This family of models, which we collectively designate the new Goldman Sachs prepayment
Real time 3D ultrasound imaging of the brain

We tested the feasibility of real time 3D ultrasound imaging in the brain with a 2.5 MHz 2D array using a Volumetrics Model 1 scanner. In a human subject, the scans produced simultaneous transcranial axial, coronal and saggital image planes and real time volume rendered images of the gross anatomy of the brain. In a transcranial sheep model we obtained real time 3D color flow Doppler scans of cerebral vessels as well as perfusion images using bolus injection of contrast agents into the internal carotid artery. Our long term goal includes phase aberration correction of the skull using the 2D array. Phase aberration measurements have been made from both polymer castings of the temporal bone region and of a fixed human parietal bone. Severe aberration data from the skull bone indicates a significant potential improvement in image quality yet to be realized in real time transcranial sonography. Using the multi-lag least-squares cross-correlation method, we have corrected an electronically aberrated 3D scan, leading to an increase in contrast-to speckle ratio (CSR) and contrast in a cyst phantom.
Enhancing Environmental Decision-making Using Citizens' Juries

Survey techniques such as contingent valuation and opinion polls are used to develop an understanding of consumer preferences for the environment in the context of environmental decision-making. However, the exposure of weaknesses in such methods has led researchers to look to other information-gathering approaches which might enhance, complement or replace survey-based approaches. One such approach is that of the citizens' jury. A citizens' jury consists of a small group of people, selected to represent the general public rather than any interest-group or sector, which meets to deliberate upon a policy question. The paper critically evaluates the role that the citizens' jury might play in aiding environmental decision-making. Two case studies are reported where the citizens' jury process is used: first, to make recommendations on rural environmental projects in the Borders Region of Scotland; and, secondly, on meeting air quality targets in Edinburgh, Scotland. The paper concludes with recommendations on how the citizens' jury might complement other methods of environmental decision support and indicates the role that citizens' juries may play in future environmental and rural decision-making.
Teacher Preparation and Vision 20:2020: The Challenges Ahead

The teacher has been identified as a major player in the realization of Nigeria’s Vision 20:2020. This is true to the fact that education is an essential ingredient in the Vision 20:2020 initiative. At the centre of the system of education is the teacher, who translates the curriculum document into reality in order to achieve the national goals of education. However, the extent to which the Nigerian teacher is or has been prepared to key into this Vision 20:2020 enterprise remains a source of concern to all and sundry. It is against this background that this article reviewed Vision 20:2020 and the concepts of teaching and teacher. Some basic components of teacher preparation were also highlighted. Teachers capacity building and formulation of a sound national policy on teacher education were among the recommendations made. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2013. v4n5p81
Spatiotemporal Homogeneity of Campylobacter Subtypes from Cattle and Sheep across Northeastern and Southwestern Scotland

ABSTRACT Source attribution using molecular subtypes has implicated cattle and sheep as sources of human Campylobacter infection. Whether the Campylobacter subtypes associated with cattle and sheep vary spatiotemporally remains poorly known, especially at national levels. Here we describe spatiotemporal patterns of prevalence, bacterial enumeration, and subtype composition in Campylobacter isolates from cattle and sheep feces from northeastern (63 farms, 414 samples) and southwestern (71 farms, 449 samples) Scotland during 2005 to 2006. Isolates (201) were categorized as sequence type (ST), as clonal complex (CC), and as Campylobacter jejuni or Campylobacter coli using multilocus sequence typing (MLST). No significant difference in average prevalence (cattle, 22%; sheep, 25%) or average enumeration (cattle, 2.7 × 104 CFU/g; sheep, 2.0 × 105 CFU/g) was found between hosts or regions. The four most common STs (C. jejuni ST-19, ST-42, and ST-61 and C. coli ST-827) occurred in both hosts, whereas STs of the C. coli ST-828 clonal complex were more common in sheep. Neither host yielded evidence for regional differences in ST, CC, or MLST allele composition. Isolates from the two hosts combined, categorized as ST or CC, were more similar within than between farms but showed no further spatiotemporal trends up to 330 km and 50 weeks between farm samples. In contrast, both regions yielded evidence for significant differences in ST, CC, and allele composition between hosts, such that 65% of isolates could be attributed to a known host. These results suggest that cattle and sheep within the spatiotemporal scales analyzed are each capable of contributing homogeneous Campylobacter strains to human infections.
Simulation of propagation characteristics of ultrasonic guided waves in fractured long bone

Using ultrasonic guided waves (GW) to assess fractures in long bones has gained considerable attention. This paper focuses on using an improved hybrid boundary element method (HBEM) to analyze and calculate reflection coefficients (RC) and transmission coefficients (TC) of low-order GWs for cracks with different depth-to-width ratios (d/w) in fractured long bones. The results showed that the primary received modes, which include the transmitted and reflected modes, are the same as the incident modes. For some values of d/w, the TC of different GW always had local maxima at adjacent frequencies. For some other cracks with different d/w, most of the TC curves had local maxima of which frequencies and values are not overlapped. These results obtained could be useful for optimizing the excitation of GWs on quantitative assessment of fractured long bones.
The Impact of Free Trade Agreements in Asia

This paper discusses a quantitative simulation analysis on the impact of Japan's FTAs in Asia using a CGE model of global trade. It has been argued that a regional FTA would be a step toward global trade liberalization rather than a final goal. In fact, it is shown that changes in sectoral trade balance and production would vary according to the partners in Japan's FTAs in Asia deviating from those expected in global trade liberalization. Moreover, the terms of trade effects would be relatively significant in determining the overall welfare impacts in partial trade liberalization. On the other hand, capital formation mechanisms, one through dynamic capital accumulation and another through international capital movements, are shown to be particularly important for macroeconomic gains in several ASEAN countries. It is suggested that liberalization and facilitation of not just the trade of goods but also investment would be essential for economic partnerships in Asia.
A two‐year follow‐up of work capacity in early rheumatoid arthritis: a study of multidisciplinary team care with emphasis on vocational support

Objective: To explore changes in sick leave patterns and work ability in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The patients received active team support focusing on vocational rehabilitation, in addition to treatment with disease‐modifying anti‐rheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Methods: This is an observational study of 110 patients with early RA aged 18–60 years and not permanently disabled. All patients were monitored regularly during a 2‐year period by a team comprising a nurse, an occupational therapist, a physiotherapist, a rheumatologist, and a social worker. Intervention included work‐site visits and rehabilitation meetings with the employer and the official from the local social insurance office in addition to DMARD treatment and different individual treatments, and support from the team members. Results: The number of patients working full‐time increased from 65 to 74 (14%), those with full‐time work disability decreased from 37 to 13 (65%), and patients working part‐time increased from 8 to 23 (65%). This change was already evident during the first year. Conclusion: Active vocational support in addition to DMARD treatment may prevent or delay work disability in patients with early RA.