Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Role Of The International Gold Standard In Propagating The Great Depression

I do not claim in this paper that the international gold standard was a principal cause of the Great Depression. Instead, I explore the events that allowed the world to slip deeper into depression despite the gold standard. The volatility of international short-term capital flows surely contributed greatly to the Depression. I argue that this volatility was exacerbated-rather than ameliorated-by the international gold standard. The reason is that despite governments' legal assurances that they are committed to a gold standard, speculators never perceive the terms of gold parity as immutable. This statement holds with increasing force when one observes the precarious status of government debts and international finance during the 1920s. This reality renders a gold standard vulnerable to precisely the type of volatility in international capital markets that made the 1931 downturn more severe. Copyright 1988 Western Economic Association International.
Organised crime goes online: realities and challenges

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to provide an empirically based description of how the Internet is exploited by different types of organised crime groups (OCGs), ranging from Italian mafia-style groups to looser gangs. Design/methodology/approach – The article relies on a dataset collected from mid-2011 to mid-2013 and, specifically, on semi-structured interviews to law enforcement officials and acknowledged experts in Italy, the UK, the USA and The Netherlands; judicial transcripts; police records; and media news. Findings – This article provides an account of the main scope for which the Internet has been used for various criminal activities traditionally associated with the organised crime rhetoric, first and foremost, cross-border trafficking activities. This study also discusses some current legal and policy approaches to deal with OCGs operating online. Originality/value – This contribution addresses an under-investigated research field and aims to foster a reflection on the opportunity to .
How do Transfer Students Perform in Economics? Evidence from Intermediate Macroeconomics

For students taking intermediate-level economics, does it matter where they studied principles of economics? Does transferring college credit influence subsequent academic performance in economics? With a sample covering 1999–2008, the authors analyze in this article a group of nearly 1,000 students taking intermediate macroeconomics at a prominent state university. Despite seemingly impressive-looking grades from the principles of macroeconomics course, community college transfer students significantly underperformed their peers in the intermediate macroeconomics course, unlike transfer students from four-year institutions. Moreover, students who transferred other course work from community college (that is, other than the principles course) were relatively less likely to succeed in intermediate macroeconomics.
Valuation Effects with Transitory and Trend Output Shocks

This paper investigates the role of valuation effects on a country's net foreign asset position. It shows that following transitory output shocks, valuation effects are stabilizing; they counteract current account movements and mitigate the impact of the current account on a country's net foreign assets. Following trend shocks, valuation effects are amplifying; they move in the same direction as the current account and reinforce the impact of the current account on net foreign assets. The results are illustrated by the external imbalances between the U.S. and other industrialized countries since the 1990s.
The burden of gallstone disease in Europe

Gallstones are common and may be associated with recurrent bouts of upper abdominal pain, often with nausea and ⁄ or vomiting. The frequency of gallstones increases with age, female gender and obesity. The majority of gallstones are asymptomatic. Despite this, gallstone disease is the most common abdominal condition for which patients are admitted to hospital in developed countries. Medical presentations usually result from complications or through routine investigations for abdominal pain. Complications attributable to gallstones include chronic inflammation ⁄ infection of the gallbladder (cholecystitis), abscess formation, and biliary obstruction, which can result in jaundice or a severe ascending infection of the bile ducts and acute pancreatitis. Most uncomplicated cases that present to clinicians can be effectively treated by keyhole surgery (laparoscopic cholecystectomy), but patients with more severe disease often require multidisciplinary management, involving radiological, gastroenterological and surgical services. Medical management other than the use of antibiotics to treat infection are infrequently employed due to the poor long-term response rates. Although now uncommon, severe cases can be associated with significant morbidity and mortality, particularly in frail or elderly patients. To determine the recent prevalence and incidence rates of gallstones, their complications and surgical treatments in Europe, a MedLine database search from 1989 to 2003 was performed.
Etiologic diagnosis of bacterial nosocomial pneumonia in seriously ill patients

We identified retrospectively 19 critically ill, intubated patients in whom tracheobronchial secretions had been cultured before antimicrobials were administered. Each of these patients had bacterial nosocomial pneumonia, as diagnosed by a positive bacterial culture from blood, pleural fluid, percutaneously aspirated lung material, special endobronchial brushings, and/or postmortem lung specimens. In 11 (58%) patients, the predominant organism in the tracheobronchial secretions was the same one identified in the diagnostic culture. However, in eight (42%) patients, the infecting bacteria were either not predominant or did not grow in the culture of respiratory secretions.We conclude that standard microbiologic studies of central tracheobronchial secretions are not always reliable for establishing the etiology of a bacterial nosocomial pneumonia in this type of patient.
Immunohistochemical Panel of Undifferentiated Orbital Metastatic Carcinomas

Purpose: To examine the applicability of an immunohistochemical panel of seven monoclonal antibodies to identify the primary site of poorly differentiated orbital metastatic carcinomas. Material and Methods: Immunohistochemistry was performed to detect cytokeratin (CK) 7, CK20, thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1), BRST1, BRST2, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in seven cases of poorly differentiated orbital metastases. Of the seven cases, four were female and three male. The youngest patient was thirty-six while the oldest was eighty-eight years of age. Results: The immunohistochemical panel alone was helpful to identify the primary source of the metastatic lesion in three out of the seven cases. Two of them were metastatic breast carcinomas (BRST1, BRST2 positive) and one was a prostate carcinoma (PSA positive). By correlating the immunohistochemical results with the previous clinical history, the primary site could be identified in two more cases. In those metastatic lesions, the positive staining for CK7, CK20, and CEA, associated with negative staining for BRST1, BRST2, PSA and TTF-1, indicated bladder as the probable primary site. In two out of seven cases, the metastatic tumor was only positive for CEA, therefore a primary site could not be identified. Conclusions: An immunohistochemical panel of poorly differentiated orbital metastases is helpful in the identification of the primary tumor site. The association of seven markers with the patient's clinical history allowed for the positive identification of the primary tumor in the majority of these cases.
Consumer price behaviour: evidence from Luxembourg micro data

We analyse micro-level consumer price data in Luxembourg with a particular view on price change reversals and wage indexation. The median duration is roughly 8 months. On an average, price decreases are as large as price increases. With the exception of services, individual prices do not show signs of downward rigidity. Excluding price change reversals reduces the weighted frequency of price change from 17 to 12%. Accumulated price and wage inflation, automatic wage indexation, and the cash changeover increase the probability of a price change, whereas pricing at attractive pricing points and price regulation have the opposite effect. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Measuring the Dynamic Effects of Welfare Time Limits

This paper develops a new dynamic panel data model that can formally incorporate the dynamics of welfare participation behavior under time limits. The model is estimated using data from a policy experiment in the United States and a generalized method of moments estimator. The effects of time limits are found to be larger and more dynamical than in previous regression approaches, after comparing estimation results from several approaches using the same data. Around 40 percent of the anticipatory effect of the time limit are due to individuals depleting their stock of remaining months of welfare eligibility. The anticipatory effect is also found to be much larger among disadvantaged individuals. The results call for further assessment of the importance of time limits in explaining the low welfare caseload in the post-welfare reform era.
On the dark side of strategic sourcing: Experiences from the aerospace industry

Executive Overview American manufacturing has undergone dramatic changes during the last two decades. Manufacturing firms were re-engineered, downsized, and restructured. Employees were dismissed, divisions were scrapped, and subsidiaries were spun off. As a consequence, outsourcing to external suppliers increased significantly, which in turn resulted in the increased saliency of strategic sourcing and its economic implications. Strategic sourcing integrates the buying firm's strategic decisions with those of its key suppliers, thus promoting trust and decreasing transaction costs. However, a dark side of strategic sourcing has emerged. Some firms established long-term contracts with their suppliers, set up mutually dependent relationships, and then began to strangle suppliers with relentlessly short-term, cost-driven decisions. As a result, the buying firms and their suppliers have now become competitors in the same market. Simply put, there is serious long-term risk associated with firms becoming strate.
Trading off health, environmental and genetic modification attributes in food

This study examines the trade-offs made by consumers between possible risks associated with genetically modified (GM) ingredients and potential health or environment benefits in food. A latent class model is used to analyse consumers' preferences for GM food. There is considerable diversity amongst consumers in risk attitudes to GM food. The analysis reveals that trade-offs between risks and related concerns associated with GM food and benefits that may be associated with introduced health and environmental attributes of food depend upon individual's characteristics. The findings have implications for public policies that seek to minimise the effects of perceived risk in food markets. Copyright 2004, Oxford University Press.
People, pace, place: Qualitative and quantitative images of Ireland as a tourism destination in France

Ireland’s traditional tourist images — relating to people, pace and place — are increasingly threatened by the development of the Celtic tiger economy. Furthermore, recent trends suggest that the French visitor market to Ireland is showing signs of stagnation. To date, however, there has been little research regarding destination image in either Ireland or France and none that focuses specifically on Ireland’s image in France. In this study, 281 French visitors to Ireland were asked to describe their image of Ireland in terms of common attribute-based components and holistic aspects. The findings show that the key images of Ireland remain the welcoming people, the beautiful scenery and the relaxed pace of life. Given the dramatic changes that have taken place in Ireland since the 1990s there are indications that these images may no longer accurately represent all aspects of Irish society. The study highlights the need for image modification to ensure that the portrayed image of Ireland is consistent with what the destination has to offer in reality.
Functional capacity in patients with congestive heart failure.

BACKGROUND Six-minute walk distance (6MWd) is related to activities of daily living and is also an independent predictor of prognosis in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). Therefore, it is important to determine factors that contribute to the variability of this test. METHODS AND RESULTS We assessed the relationship between 6MWd and peak aerobic capacity (VO2) and dynamic muscle strength in 180 patients with CHF (age, 66+/-10 years; 146 men, 34 women; ejection fraction, .29+/-0.08). We also hypothesized that a measure of work performed during the walk test (6MWw) would be a better indicator of exercise capacity than 6MWd. The 6MWd had weak to moderate correlations with dynamic muscle strength (r = 0.33 to 0.41) and peak VO2 (r = 0.48). However, 6MWw was strongly related to dynamic muscle strength (r = 0.63 to 0.70) and peak VO2 (r = 0.77). Multivariate analysis indicated that a model combining dynamic muscle strength and peak VO2 explained 69% of the variance in 6MWw, more than with peak VO2 alone (R2 = 0.59). CONCLUSIONS Compared with 6MWd, 6MWw correlates significantly better with peak VO2 and dynamic muscle strength, suggesting that 6MWw may be a better reflection of a patient's exercise capacity. Furthermore, these results suggest that an exercise program combining both aerobic and strength training in patients with CHF may improve 6MWw and therefore 6MWd.
Identification of Technology transfer options based on technological characteristics

Summary Traditionally, licensing has been the dominant channel for the commercialization of the intellectual property of public sectors. However, performing the cooperative R&D and formation of spin‐off companies has become an alternative route for technology transfer. With plenty of options by which public research institutes (PRI) can employ technology transfer, one should determine first the appropriate channel for the transfer in order to establish the appropriate strategy. This paper builds a theoretical framework to match the mode of technology transfer with two key conditions: (1) absorptive capacity of recipient firms and (2) dependence on complementary assets. The theoretical discussion elucidates that the combination of lower level of absorptive capacity and less dependence on complementary assets favor the creation of new firms as a mode of technology transfer; the opposite combination favors cooperative research and development (R&D), and the in‐between case supports licensing as an appropriate mode of transfer. Based on the theoretical framework, we analyzed the case of chemical industry in Korea utilizing the concept of patent portfolio analysis.
Design of CMOS RF receiver front-end for IEEE 802.11b

This paper presents the design of a fully integrated receiver front-end for a 2.4 GHz RF transceiver. The proposed receiver front end (low-noise amplifier and mixer) is based on a direct conversion architecture designed in 0.18 mum CMOS technology. The chip provides a down conversion gain to the 50 MHz IF of 13.2 dB, SSB noise figure (NF) of 7.65 dB and a 3rd-order input intercept point (IIP3) of -14.6 dBm consuming 50.6 mW at 1.8 V.
Adaptation Strategies of Multinational Corporations, State-Owned Enterprises, and Domestic Business Groups to Economic and Political Transitions: A Network Analysis of the Chilean Telecommunications Sector, 1958–2005

This paper compares the corporate network strategies between multinational corporations of two different origins (United States and Spain), business groups, and state-owned enterprises in the public utility sector of a developing country going through economic and political transitions. The transitions we consider are from an import substitution industrialization model to an open market economy and from a democratic regime to a dictatorial one and back to democracy. We analyze the Chilean telecommunications sector between 1958 and 2005 and find that during a democratic regime all firms sought to build more networks with each other, while incentives decrease under an authoritarian regime. In the protectionist era, US investors built links with Chile’s corporate elite, while in times of an open economy, Spanish investors built these links with the government. State-owned corporations did not attempt to build links with other actors at any time, and business groups sought to build most networks among members of the group. Our findings challenge two commonly held assumptions: first, that open economies decrease incentives for domestic actors to build links with each other and, second, that close political regimes increase incentives to build networks among economic actors.
Culture in maritime safety

Many accidents, resulting in a larger number of fatalities during the last few years, have focused attention on issues of maritime safety. Accident registration reveals that a large proportion have human related causes, and indicates that, by looking at cultural aspects, one's understanding of the underlying mechanisms leading to accidents might increase. Several constructs of culture and climate have appeared on national, organizational and safety levels. Those constructs are discussed together with problems that occur when interpreting accidental data, and recording accidental causes. The papers reviewed indicate the existence of a ‘chain of evidence’ from accidents/safety to attitudes, communications, conflict-solving, etc. and further to safety culture. To be able to reduce the risk for accidents, there seems to be a need for coordination and the cultural perspective seems to be one that integrates and takes the many disciplines and multi-level nature of accidents and safety into account.
Voiding dysfunction in older men

Purpose of review Voiding dysfunction in older men is an important health issue, with significant morbidity and biosocioeconomic burden. Treatment decisions are increasingly complex as many older men also suffer concurrent comorbidities and polypharmacy. A relatively sparse number of publications specifically examine this relevant topic. Recent findings Common geriatric voiding syndromes include overactive bladder (OAB) and underactive bladder, with nocturia and incontinence often the most bothersome lower urinary tract symptoms, and may represent a falls risk together with OAB and incontinence. The combination of detrusor overactivity and impaired contractility may coexist in older patients and can be particularly difficult to diagnose and treat clinically. A small but not insignificant proportion of older men experience spontaneous remission of OAB symptoms without treatment, and ‘watchful waiting’ may be a reasonable option. OAB treatment with mirabegron may have a preferable side-effect profile compared with anticholinergics in older men. Intravesical onabotulinum toxin A is effective but risk of retention is greater in the older adults. Benign prostatic obstruction (BPO) and underactive bladder may lead to urinary retention, necessitating surgery or catheterization. BPO surgery is a reasonable option in older men, with realistic counselling of postoperative expectations. Combination BPO surgery and medical OAB treatment is suitable for detrusor overactivity and impaired contractility. Stress incontinence in older patients is usually iatrogenic and treatment can include continence applicances, urethral bulking agents, suburethral sling or artificial urinary sphincter. Summary Management of voiding dysfunction in older patients need to take into account multiple factors including symptomatic and functional impairment, cognition, comorbidities and polypharmacy. Future research examining pathophysiology and treatment outcomes of voiding dysfunction in the older patient population is increasingly relevant.
The Three Dimensional Economy and the Common Good Model An Alternative Approach to Mainstream Economic Theory

Purpose: The aim of this paper is to present and support the idea that the anthropology and value order of Aristotelian and Thomistic virtue ethics provide the necessary prerequisites for furthering a sustainable and human-centred economic order. On this basis a macro- and micro level economic model called “The Three Dimensional Economy” is worked out that is in close relationship with Alford – Naughton’s [2001] Common Good Model, since the latter model is focused on the organizational level. Together these two models offer an alternative to current mainstream economic models. Approach: The paper describes the characteristics of virtue ethics from humanistic and economic points of view and proceeds from the hypothesis that “different human value structures will involve different economic orders”. In the course of the exposition, the paper makes comparisons between issues seen from the point of view of mainstream economics and from that of virtue ethics, with the latter offered as an alternative paradigm to the mainstream one. The paper first introduces anthropological and then economic phenomena, illustrating that the economic order is built on a human base. Findings: On the basis of the reasoning presented here, and according to the findings of a substantial body of academic literature, we come to the conclusion that Aristotelianism and Thomism can offer an anthropology that fits into the requirements of a sustainable economic and worldly order. A second finding of the paper is that an anthropology and an economic order consistent with the virtue ethics fulfils the requirements of sustainability considerably better than those arising from the mainstream paradigm.
The Coupling and Decoupling of Business Cycles in Historical Perspective: Scandinavian Evidence from the Early 19th Century

Annual data for Norway, Sweden, the UK and the USA are investigated. What drive business cycle movements is influenced by the availability of a range of macroeconomic time series. The relationship between output movements in Norway, Sweden, the UK and the USA is non-linear. Large shocks, such as the Great Depression or global conflicts, do get transmitted and there is seemingly little that a chosen monetary policy regime can do to prevent such an outcome. Finally, 19th and 20th century business cycles are different likely due to the introduction of counter-cyclical policies in all of the countries in our sample.