Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Creating a Paradox: Self-Interest, Civic Duty, and the Evolution of the Theory of the Rational Voter in the Formative Era of Public Choice Analysis

The rational choice or “economic” approach to politics—public choice analysis—brought the self-interest axiom into the analysis of the political sector as part of a move to provide a model of political behavior useful for economic policy analysis and bring a greater degree of theoretical rigor to the analysis of the political process. One aspect of this line of inquiry involved the portrayal of voting as a utility-maximizing choice. The problem that immediately arose, though, was that the model implied that rational individuals will not vote, which flies in the face of empirical data on voter turnout. One of the oddities of the application of the rational actor model to politics is that it seemed to offer rather convincing explanations for many forms of legislative and bureaucratic behavior but could not explain this most basic of democratic political decisions. Rather than see this as evidence against the rational choice model, public choice scholars—political scientists as well as economists—attempted to rescue the rational choice model through various means. This article examines the early evolution of the theory of the rational voter, including the attempts by public choice scholars to reconcile the predictions of the model with empirical realities. It shows how, in the process, these scholars absorbed within the rational actor model some of the very motivational forces that the rational choice voting model was originally intended to replace.
Degeneracy in model parameter estimation for multi‐compartmental diffusion in neuronal tissue

The ultimate promise of diffusion MRI (dMRI) models is specificity to neuronal microstructure, which may lead to distinct clinical biomarkers using noninvasive imaging. While multi‐compartment models are a common approach to interpret water diffusion in the brain in vivo, the estimation of their parameters from the dMRI signal remains an unresolved problem. Practically, even when q space is highly oversampled, nonlinear fit outputs suffer from heavy bias and poor precision. So far, this has been alleviated by fixing some of the model parameters to a priori values, for improved precision at the expense of accuracy. Here we use a representative two‐compartment model to show that fitting fails to determine the five model parameters from over 60 measurement points. For the first time, we identify the reasons for this poor performance. The first reason is the existence of two local minima in the parameter space for the objective function of the fitting procedure. These minima correspond to qualitatively different sets of parameters, yet they both lie within biophysically plausible ranges. We show that, at realistic signal‐to‐noise ratio values, choosing between the two minima based on the associated objective function values is essentially impossible. Second, there is an ensemble of very low objective function values around each of these minima in the form of a pipe. The existence of such a direction in parameter space, along which the objective function profile is very flat, explains the bias and large uncertainty in parameter estimation, and the spurious parameter correlations: in the presence of noise, the minimum can be randomly displaced by a very large amount along each pipe. Our results suggest that the biophysical interpretation of dMRI model parameters crucially depends on establishing which of the minima is closer to the biophysical reality and the size of the uncertainty associated with each parameter. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Cost of Internally Developed Applications: Analysis of Problems and Cost Control Methods

Abstract:The organizational cost of developing software continues to be higher than is projected within the organizations’ budgets. Numerous design methods have been developed to assist in bringing the cost of development under control. The research reported in this article indicates that few of these methods have assisted in bringing costs under control and actually some have caused greater cost overruns.
Inferring convective responses to El Niño with atmospheric electricity measurements at Shetland

Pacific ocean temperature anomalies associated with the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) modulate atmospheric convection and hence thunderstorm electrification. The generated current flows globally via the atmospheric electric circuit, which can be monitored anywhere on Earth. Atmospheric electricity measurements made at Shetland (in Scotland) display a mean global circuit response to ENSO that is characterized by strengthening during ‘El Niño’ conditions, and weakening during ‘La Niña’ conditions. Examining the hourly varying response indicates that a potential gradient (PG) increase around noon UT is likely to be associated with a change in atmospheric convection and resultant lightning activity over equatorial Africa and Eastern Asia. A secondary increase in PG just after midnight UT can be attributed to more shower clouds in the central Pacific ocean during an ‘El Niño’.
When Is Correlation Coevolution?

Studying the correlation between traits of interacting species has long been a popular approach for identifying putative cases of coevolution. More recently, such approaches have been used as a means to evaluate support for the geographic mosaic theory of coevolution. Here we examine the utility of these approaches, using mathematical and computational models to predict the correlation that evolves between traits of interacting species for a broad range of interaction types. Our results reveal that coevolution is neither a necessary nor a sufficient condition for the evolution of spatially correlated traits between two species. Specifically, our results show that coevolutionary selection fails to consistently generate statistically significant correlations and, conversely, that non‐coevolutionary processes can readily cause statistically significant correlations to evolve. In addition, our results demonstrate that studies of trait correlations per se cannot be used as evidence either for or against a geographic mosaic process. Taken together, our results suggest that understanding the coevolutionary process in natural populations will require detailed mechanistic studies conducted in multiple populations or the use of more sophisticated statistical approaches that better use information contained in existing data sets.
An Empirical Research of Concentration of China’s Civil Aviation Industry

With China’s sustained and rapid economic development, China’s civil aviation industry gradually market-oriented, and has undergone several major reforms, gradual deregulation. At the same time, industry concentration showed a gradual downward trend. The internationally accepted measure of industrial concentration of two indicators: Industry moderate and HHI index. We described and analyzed the industry concentration and development trends on China’s civil aviation industry, and we got the main factors of the change of industry concentration. Also put forward policy recommendations.
Evolutionary and statistical properties of three genetic distances

Many genetic distances have been developed to summarize allele frequency differences between populations. I review the evolutionary and statistical properties of three popular genetic distances: DS, DA, and θ, using computer simulation of two simple evolutionary histories: an isolation model of population divergence and an equilibrium migration model. The effect of effective population size, mutation rate, and mutation mechanism upon the parametric value between pairs of populations in these models explored, and the unique properties of each distance are described. The effect of these evolutionary parameters on study design is also investigated and similar results are found for each genetic distance in each model of evolution: large sample sizes are warranted when populations are relatively genetically similar; and loci with more alleles produce better estimates of genetic distance.
Short-Term Interest Rate Futures

Not long ago futures trading was limited to contracts for agricultural and other commodities. Trading in futures contracts for financial instruments began in the early 1970s, after almost a decade of accelerating inflation exposed market participants to unprecedented levels of exchange rate and interest rate risk. Foreign currency futures, introduced in 1972 by the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, were the first financial futures contracts to be traded. The first interest rate futures contract, a contract for the future delivery of mortgage certificates issued by the Government National Mortgage Association, began trading on the floor of the Chicago Board of Trade in 1975. Today financial futures are among the most actively traded of all futures contracts.
Trade and the Distribution Sector: Some Evidence for OECD Countries

In this paper the link between an economy's distribution sector and its international trade is studied, using bilateral trade data from twenty-three OECD countries. The empirical analysis provides strong support for the view that the distribution sector has considerable impact on a country's trade and that high distribution costs can act as a trade barrier. It is found that increased efficiency of the distribution sectors of trading countries will increase trade between them. JEL Classification: Fl Commerce international et secteur de la distribution: quelques resultats a' propos des pays de l'OCDE. Ce m6moire 6tudie le lien entre le commerce international d'un pays et son secteur de la distribution en utilisant les donn6es sur le commerce bilat6ral de vingt-trois pays de l'OCDE. L'analyse empirique supporte fortement le point de vue que le secteur de la distribution a un impact consid6rable sur le commerce international d'un pays, et que des couts de distribution 6lev6s peuvent agir comme empechement au commerce international. 11 appert qu'une efficacit6 accrue dans les secteurs de distribution de pays qui commercent les uns avec les autres va tendre a accroitre le commerce international entre eux.
Macroeconomic shocks across Central European Countries

The purpose of the research was to investigate the transmission mechanism of macroeconomic shocks across EU countries and CECs. It was expected that the findings would allow to verify the following hypotheses.If it turns out that macroeconomic shocks can be transmitted from the EU to Central European countries (CECs) rather than in opposite way,one should not be afraid that asymmetric shocks across CECs will destabilise the European integration. Moreover,if the size of shocks to EU countries is much smaller than to CECs, this would suggest that the integration process creates mechanisms which limit the extent of the disturbances in output.Therefore, the access of CECs to EU is likely to accelerate reducing the size of shocks.The research was based on VAR models,to which Granger non-causality tests, deletion tests, variance decompositions were applied.
Prevalence and distribution of Helicobacter pylori in gastroesophageal reflux disease: a study from the East

OBJECTIVES:The relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and gastroesophageal reflux (H. pylori) disease (GERD) is controversial. In Asian populations, the prevalence of H. pylori infection is high and GERD is relatively uncommon. The aim of this study was 1) to test the hypothesis that H. pylori protects the esophagus against GERD, and 2) to study the pattern of H. pylori colonization and gastritis in GERD.METHODS:We conducted a prospective case-control study in which patients with GERD and asymptomatic controls were compared for the prevalence of H. pylori infection. Diagnosis of GERD was based on symptoms of heartburn that improved with acid-suppressive therapy and/or endoscopic evidence of erosive esophagitis. H. pylori status was determined by serology and, when endoscopy was indicated, was confirmed by rapid urease test and histology. Gastric biopsies were examined under hematoxylin and eosin and Giemsa stains. Density of H. pylori colonization and activity of gastritis at different parts of stomach were graded and compared according to Updated Sydney system.RESULTS:A total of 106 patients with GERD and 120 age- and sex-matched, asymptomatic controls were enrolled. The prevalence of H. pylori infection was significantly lower in GERD patients (31%) compared with controls (61%, p < 0.001, odds ratio 0.229, 95% confidence interval 0.13–0.41). H. pylori-infected GERD patients showed significantly more severe gastritis in the antrum than in other parts of stomach (mean inflammatory scores: antrum; 3.3 ± 1.63*, body; 1.85 ± 1.31; fundus; 1.65 ± 0.58; cardia, 1.65 ± 1.39; *p < 0.005). H. pylori colonization was found less commonly and at lower density at the cardia compared with other parts of the stomach.CONCLUSIONS:H. pylori infection protects against the development of GERD, and carditis is unlikely to play an important role.
A time sort filing system pattern

Knowledge workers share a common pain. They need paper artifacts and must store them, usually running a subject-based filing system. The Noguchi Filing System (NFS) instead offers a frequency-of-access alternative. It organizes by using and automatically optimizes itself that puts most required documents closest to hand. Every document is placed in an envelope that is dropped vertically on a shelf. The least recently used item moves to the beginning of a queue of envelopes. This procedure eliminates the need to initiate and maintain an organizing scheme of labels. Any artifact can be retrieved fast and replaced without additional cognitive effort. NFS creates a self-maintaining archive of seldom-used files (they slowly wander to the right), and present those often used together (they wait at the left end). Primary sources for NFS are only available in Japanese, secondary sources in other languages are mainly spread on the Internet. This is the first major attempt to collect definitions, explanations, and experiences, and put them together in a consistent way. All information available about NFS is arranged in a format of a single pattern. It should act as a unique source of information for any knowledge worker who wants to benefit from NFS.
The Rising Power of the Prime Minister in Finland

During the past two decades, the Finnish political system has gradually changed from a semi-presidential to a nearly parliamentary one. This process was finalized with the drafting of the new constitution in 2000. Four factors in particular contributed to the parliamentarization of the Finnish constitution. Firstly, the breakdown of the Soviet Union also broke down the tradition of highly personalized, presidential rule in Finnish–Soviet relations. Secondly, Finnish membership of the European Union increased the need to integrate the Finnish cabinet in decision making on foreign affairs. Thirdly, because of the stabilization of cabinets, based on the increased coalition elasticity and coalition capacity of the political parties, there was not as much need, or room, for presidential intervention as in earlier decades. Fourthly, after the highly personalized tenure of President Urho Kekkonen, there was, among the political parties, a reaction against personalized presidential rule. The new constitution is to a large extent based on cabinet-centred governance, although steps towards ministerial governance have also been taken. There are, however, many non-constitutional factors giving rise to a new kind of prime-ministerial governance. Among these are: (1) internationalization of politics, (2) growth of the public sector, (3) convergence of party ideologies, and (4) a new kind of personalized political publicity.
Towards value‐creating corporate real estate assets management in emerging economies

Purpose - This paper aims to increase the awareness of developing countries' corporations and academics concerning the significant importance of CRE holdings in corporate asset portfolios. It seeks to demonstrate how corporate real estate management can be employed by organisations in developing countries to add value to overall business value by adopting quantitative evaluation measures to determine space utilisation and occupation of organisations. Design/methodology/approach - The methodology involved the review and analysis of previous related papers in respect of the subject in advanced countries as a guide to practitioners in developing countries. The paper identified the various concepts and attributes of real estate that make it a unique value-adding product to a business organisation. The paper outlines performance measures that are in common practice in advanced countries for use in developing countries. Findings - The practice of corporate real estate management is still relatively new to African countries like Nigeria. The implication is not benefiting from value contribution that real estate could make to business organisations. Understanding real estate performance measures is a major pathway to tapping the benefits of real estate. Originality/value - The paper is a useful guide to corporate real estate managers in developing countries towards employing real estate holdings to increase the overall value of their companies.
Increased ventilatory response to exercise in symptomatic and asymptomatic LMNA mutation carriers: a follow‐up study

LMNA mutations are an important cause of cardiomyopathy often leading to cardiac arrhythmias, heart failure and even heart transplantation. An increasing number of asymptomatic mutation carriers are identified, as family members of the index patients are screened. Our aim was to study the disease progression in asymptomatic LMNA mutation carriers and in patients with symptomatic cardiolaminopathy by repeated spiroergometric testing in a prospective clinical follow‐up study.
The use of whole‐mount in situ hybridization to illustrate gene expression regulation

In situ hybridization is a widely used technique for studying gene expression. Here, we describe two experiments addressed to postgraduate genetics students in which the effect of transcription factors on gene expression is analyzed in Drosophila embryos of different genotypes by whole‐mount in situ hybridization. In one of the experiments, students analyzed the repressive effect of Snail over rhomboid expression using reporter lines containing different constructs of the rhomboid neuroectodermal enhancer fused to the lacZ gene. In the second experiment, the epistatic relationship between the cabut and decapentaplegic genes was analyzed. These simple experiments allowed students to (1) understand the role of transcription factors and cis‐regulatory elements over gene expression regulation and (2) practice a widespread laboratory technique, in situ hybridization with nonradioactive labeled probes, to detect gene expression patterns. These experiments required 12 hr and were organized into four daily sessions that included the discussion of the results with students. Examples of the results obtained and their relevance are shown and discussed herein. The methods described in these laboratory exercises can be easily adapted to model organisms other than Drosophila. © 2014 by The International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 42(4):339–347, 2014.
Use of recombinant factor VIIa in the treatment of massive retroperitoneal bleeding due to severe necrotizing pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND Recently, a growing number of case reports and case series have suggested that the use of recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) may be effective in treatment of patients with non-hemophilic acquired coagulopathy not responding to conventional treatment such as major surgery, major trauma, sepsis, necrotizing pancreatitis and bleeding due to cerebral arteriovenous malformations. CASE REPORT We presented a septic patient with massive, life-threatening bleeding caused by retroperitoneal necrosis, due to severe acute necrotizing pancreatitis. As conservative treatment (blood, plasma, cryoprecipitates and platelet transfusions) failed to induce cessation of bleeding, the patient was urgently operated on. In spite of usual procedures of surgical hemostasis (ligation, suture, thermocauterisation, fibrin glue, temporary tamponade), hemorrhage could not be stopped. The patient manifested the signs of hypothermia and metabolic acidosis and, therefore, the decision was made to use recombinant activated factor VII (Novo Seven). The application of rFVIIa resulted in significant discontinuation of hemorrhage, restoration to normal blood count as well as other relevant coagulation parameters. CONCLUSION Although application of rFVIIa is still in the initial clinical phase, and the experience is based mainly on uncontrolled series as well as on individual observations, it seems that this drug can be promising, potent and attractive adjunctive prohemostatic agent. This drug may play a beneficial role in the treatment of serious and unresponsive, "nonsurgical", life-threatening bleeding due to severe acute necrotizing pancreatitis.
Cyclic administration of pamidronate in children with severe osteogenesis imperfecta.

BACKGROUND Severe osteogenesis imperfecta is a disorder characterized by osteopenia, frequent fractures, progressive deformity, loss of mobility, and chronic bone pain. There is no effective therapy for the disorder. We assessed the effects of treatment with a bisphosphonate on bone resorption. METHODS In an uncontrolled observational study involving 30 children who were 3 to 16 years old and had severe osteogenesis imperfecta, we administered pamidronate intravenously (mean [+/-SD] dose, 6.8+/-1.1 mg per kilogram of body weight per year) at 4-to-6-month intervals for 1.3 to 5.0 years. Clinical status, biochemical characteristics reflecting bone turnover, the bone mineral density of the lumbar spine, and radiologic changes were assessed regularly during treatment. RESULTS Administration of pamidronate resulted in sustained reductions in serum alkaline phosphatase concentrations and in the urinary excretion of calcium and type I collagen N-telopeptide. There was a mean annualized increase of 41.9+/-29.0 percent in bone mineral density, and the deviation of bone mineral density from normal, as indicated by the z score, improved from -5.3+/-1.2 to -3.4+/-1.5. The cortical width of the metacarpals increased by 27+/-20.2 percent per year. The increases in the size of the vertebral bodies suggested that new bone had formed. The mean incidence of radiologically confirmed fractures decreased by 1.7 per year (P<0.001). Treatment with pamidronate did not alter the rate of fracture healing, the growth rate, or the appearance of the growth plates. Mobility and ambulation improved in 16 children and remained unchanged in the other 14. All the children reported substantial relief of chronic pain and fatigue. CONCLUSIONS In children with severe osteogenesis imperfecta, cyclic administration of intravenous pamidronate improved clinical outcomes, reduced bone resorption, and increased bone density.