Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Statutory Rules, Attorney Involvement, and Automobile Liability Claims

The cost associated with an automobile liability incident in the United States has been hypothesized to be related to different tort reform statutes, the presence of no-fault rules, and the impact of a plaintiff s attorney. This article tests these relationships and reports the marginal impact of variables related to liability claims with individual loss data from a representative insurer. Among major tort reforms, our analysis reveals that punitive damage limits, caps on noneconomic damages, and minor reforms (sanctions on frivolous suits or defenses, prejudgment interest, and provisions for structured settlements) are associated with a reduced individual claim severity. Reform of the joint and several liability rule is associated with an increased individual claim severity in this insurance market. Low dollar thresholds and add-on no-fault rules increase liability claim severity, while no statistically significant difference in claim severity is found when the claim is subject to verbal threshold rules relative to tort law. Finally, attorney involvement is associated with a 64 percent increase in the average claim size.
Economic Development, Agricultural Growth and Labour Productivity in Asia

This article addresses two goals related to the role of agriculture in the economic development of Asian countries. First, it reviews the extant theories/concepts/ideas as well as empirical literature that sheds light on the role of agriculture in the process of economic development. Ending a few decades of neglect of agriculture by international agencies and donor countries in designing development strategies for poor countries, a body of nascent research has convincingly shown that the growth in agricultural productivity plays a critical role in promoting economic development. Second, the performances of agricultural sectors in 11 Asian countries are analysed with a focus on Southeast Asia. In particular, the analysis shows that agricultural labour productivity has considerably diverged between Korea and the Southeast Asian countries, while the latter is catching up with the former in terms of agricultural land productivity. As such, this article contrasts agricultural input use patterns and productivity changes in recent decades between Korea and the Southeast Asian countries and discusses the strategies that are required for improving agricultural labour productivity in the region.
Lessons Learned from Community Organizations: Inclusion of People with Disabilities and Others

Workforce diversity requires broader vision and scope in managing diversity so that there is greater inclusion inside and outside organizations. This paper provides this vision by extending the stream of workforce diversity research to community-oriented inclusion and its processes. The authors interviewed 34 people with disabilities and 40 people without disabilities who were stakeholders of community arts and sports organizations. The participants with disabilities were mainly arts audiences, artists and sports athletes, and the participants without disabilities were mainly managers and government officials. The key findings report the importance of inclusion through common interest groups being facilitated by (1) non-minority specific communal activities, (2) listening to minority voices, (3) multidimensional accessibility, (4) availability of organizational and natural champions and (5) cross-boundary networks and collaborations. In order to create more inclusive organizations, the authors suggest that private organizations need more community-oriented values, goals and strategies that foster boundaryless inclusion of people with disabilities and other minority groups in organizations and society.
The Sudan-Contested National Identities

Part 1 Background and context: the problem of national identity and historical legacies the contradictory policies of Numairi 1969-1985. Part 2 Democratic period 1985-1989: the transition to democracy polarization during the parliamentary period efforts to resolve the civil war. Part 3 Polarization under the Islamist government: the evolving political system indoctrination and control fragmented opposition the impasse in negotiations emerging consensus within the opposition movement. Appendix: the changing composition of governments.
Response Surface Methodology Approach for the Synthesis of Ethyl Butyrate

Summary Response surface methodology was used to determine optimum conditions for the esterification of ethanol and butyric acid to produce a flavour ester using immobilized lipase. Various reaction parameters including butyric acid concentration, enzyme concentration, temperature and ethanol/butyric acid molar ratio affecting ethyl butyrate production were investigated using a fractional factorial design 2 4–1 . Based on the results from the first factorial design, all of the variables which were significant in the process were selected to be used in a 2 4 central composite rotatable design (CCRD). The optimum conditions for the enzymatic reaction were obtained at a 90 mM butyric acid concentration using a 7.7 g/L enzyme concentration at 45 °C and the ethanol/butyric acid molar ratio of 1:1 for 3 h. The esterification percentage, under these conditions, was 87 %.
Amartya Sen's Contribution to Development Economics

Amartya Sen has been writing about development issues since the mid-1950s, most notably, but far from exclusively, in the 1960s. As a young man he was influenced by Tagore, by Nehru and by his teachers in Calcutta and Cambridge. He generally adopted an anti-market, anti-neoclassical stance. In the period 1957‐76 Sen worked on choice of techniques, surplus labour in Indian agriculture and the rationale for import substitution in Indian planning; a group of issues relating to "pervasive suboptimality", which led to development of the concept of shadow pricing. The second phase came from 1976 onwards when there was a shift from suboptimality to what can be termed "humane economics", which challenges conventional utility theory. It began with applied work on the Bengal famine, leading to the concept of "entitlement", and branched outwards into intensive studies of poverty and deprivation. The end result is the creation of a new set of concepts in economics and philosophy with human concerns at the centre. This by passes many central preoccupations of economists and shifts work on development on to new ground.
Overcoming the ‘value‐action gap’ in environmental policy: Tensions between national policy and local experience

Abstract This paper is concerned with debates over the implementation of sustainability objectives. In particular, it focuses on policies that address the ‘value‐action gap’ in environmental policy. Using evidence from the author's research connected with the UK Going for Green Sustainable Communities Project in Huntingdonshire, the paper highlights the tensions between national policies that are based on an ‘information deficit’ model of participation, and local research and experience that posits a more complex relationship between individuals and institutions. While this suggests the need to develop more differentiated policies based on the restructuring of socioeconomic and political institutions, the paper warns against knee‐jerk calls for more local, community or public participation which simply replace one set of generalised appeals with another. The paper concludes that greater emphasis must be placed on the negotiation of partnerships that are more sensitive to local diversity, and which involve.
Networks in EU Multi-level Governance: Concepts and Contributions

Abstract While there is broad scholarly agreement that policy-making in the European Union (EU) involves a multitude of public and private actors at different levels of government, there is less agreement whether the EU should be conceptualized as a form of governance by networks or governance in networks. This article first examines different concepts of networks. It then sets out multiple functions of networks within the EU policy process. Particular attention is paid to the extent to which networks may provide added value to European integration and improve the quality of governance by effectively solving common problems and helping to address the democratic deficit or whether, by acting as mechanisms of exclusion rather than inclusion, they actually contribute to the EU's legitimacy deficit. Since networks can enhance governance quality as well as undermine its democratic credentials, a balance sheet shows both positive and negative consequences.
Does the Antibacterial Activity of Silver Nanoparticles Depend on the Shape of the Nanoparticle? A Study of the Gram-Negative Bacterium Escherichia coli

ABSTRACT In this work we investigated the antibacterial properties of differently shaped silver nanoparticles against the gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli, both in liquid systems and on agar plates. Energy-filtering transmission electron microscopy images revealed considerable changes in the cell membranes upon treatment, resulting in cell death. Truncated triangular silver nanoplates with a {111} lattice plane as the basal plane displayed the strongest biocidal action, compared with spherical and rod-shaped nanoparticles and with Ag+ (in the form of AgNO3). It is proposed that nanoscale size and the presence of a {111} plane combine to promote this biocidal property. To our knowledge, this is the first comparative study on the bactericidal properties of silver nanoparticles of different shapes, and our results demonstrate that silver nanoparticles undergo a shape-dependent interaction with the gram-negative organism E. coli.
Policy consistency and inflation in Ghana

Inflation appears to be the macro-problem in Ghana for which no antidote has been found under the economic recovery programme. It is possible that either a wrong diagnosis has been made of the problem, or that certain factors within the economy are preventing inflation from staying within target levels. Using an error-correction model (ECM), the paper estimates an inflation equation for Ghana.
The effectiveness of fraud detection instruments in not-for-profit organizations

Purpose - – The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of fraud detection instruments in not-for-profit (NFP) organizations. Not-for-profit organizations rely on trust and volunteer support. They are often small in size and do not have relevant expertise to prevent fraud. Such organizations are more vulnerable to fraud and, consequently, require effective fraud detection instruments. The existing literature on fraud detection is primarily descriptive and does not measure instrument performance. The authors address this research gap and provide a detailed overview of the impact of nine common fraud detection instruments. Design/methodology/approach - – Data were obtained from an NFP fraud survey conducted in Australia and New Zealand. A set of contingency tables is produced to explore the relationship between the existence of a specific fraud detection instrument and actual detection of fraud. We also investigate the relationship between organization size and fraud detection strategy. Findings - – The findings provide valuable insights into understanding fraud detection mechanisms. Although most fraud detection measures may not lead to more fraud detection, three highly effective instruments emerge, namely, fraud control policies, whistle-blower policies and fraud risk registers. The results also reveal that commonly used fraud detection instruments are not necessarily the most effective. This is true in a significant number of small organizations that appear to be focusing on ineffective fraud detection instruments. Practical implications - – Implementation of more effective fraud detection measures will reduce the damage caused to an organization and is highly relevant for practitioners. Originality/value - – The results show that differences in the effectiveness of fraud detection instruments in the NFP sector exist. This knowledge is directly applicable by related organizations to reduce fraud damage.
Technology-Focused Early Field Experiences in Preservice Teacher Education

Abstract Although a broad body of research exists on field experiences in teacher education, one specific area of inquiry lacking substantial current research is that of technology-focused early field experiences, or field experiences that occur prior to student teaching and more formal clinical experiences. To address this gap, I conducted this investigation to better understand how preservice teachers’ participation in a technology-focused early field experience called Tech Club influenced their perceptions of teaching and learning. At the conclusion of the early field experience, preservice teachers completed a pilot survey that addressed how their perceptions of teaching and learning changed as a result of their participation in the Tech Club. Findings highlight the importance of early field experiences and establish a rationale for providing preservice teachers early opportunities to practice with technology in authentic contexts.
Modeling and evaluation of benefits of trolley assist system for mining trucks

As the exploitation of an open pit mine is evolving, the depth and therefore the distance traveled by the mine haul trucks increases. As a result, the operational cost of mining operation increases due to the higher consumption of fuel and tires. This work presents the evaluation of the performance of a truck fleet when using a trolley assistance system. A model of the trolley system is developed using an AFE converter, which in combination with the integrated electric-mechanical model of a mining truck, allows quantifying the production increase, fuel savings and net energy consumption during an up-down cycle of the truck. A set of evaluations are presented, first on idealized uphill and downhill routes, and then using the coordinates of a route of a copper mine located to the north of Chile. Results show a 44% increase in the upgrade speed, a 16% reduction of the travel time, and a fuel saving of over 85% on each up-down cycle. The tool developed allows evaluating the performance of a truck fleet in any mine facility, just knowing the coordinates of the mine routes and the models of the trucks.
Study of a Pressure Transmitter Using an Improved Inductance Bridge Network and Bourdon Tube as Transducer

A Bourdon tube is a mechanical-type pressure sensor. It is generally used in a local pressure indicator and display. Hence, a special technique is needed to transmit to and display the reading of a Bourdon gauge at a remote distance. In this paper, an improved inductance bridge-type technique has been developed to convert the Bourdon tube movement into an electrical current signal which can be transmitted to a remote indicator. A bent ferromagnetic wire attached to the tip of the Bourdon tube acts as a sensing element of pressure. The movement of the wire as a result of pressure variations inside an inductive pickup coil changes the self-inductance of the coil with the changes in pressure. An improved inductance bridge network has been utilized to measure the self-inductance of the coil more accurately when compared with the readings by an LCR meter. It has been observed that the variation of the self-inductance of the pickup coil as well as the variation of the transducer and transmitter outputs with pressure has very good linearity and repeatability. The necessary theoretical equations, along with the experimental results, are reported and compared in this paper.
Internal and External Focus of Attention During Gait Re-Education: An Observational Study of Physical Therapist Practice in Stroke Rehabilitation

Background Focus of attention is known to play an important role in motor skill learning, yet little is known about how attention is directed within the context of stroke rehabilitation. Objective The aims of this study were: (1) to identify physical therapists' use of internal and external focus of attention during gait rehabilitation for individuals with hemiplegia following stroke and (2) to use the findings to design an experimental study examining the impact of focus of attention on learning poststroke. Design The study design involved direct nonparticipation observation of physical therapy treatment sessions. Methods Eight physical therapy treatment sessions, in which gait rehabilitation was taking place, were video recorded. Patients were aged between 36 and 85 years, and ranged from 7 to 216 days poststroke; physical therapists had between 3 and 12 years of experience in stroke rehabilitation. Data analysis took 2 forms: (1) clear definitions of internal and external focus of attention were agreed on via a consensus group and used to develop an analysis matrix through which incidences of instruction and feedback were identified, categorized, and counted; and (2) verbal dialogue was transcribed verbatim and transcripts were thematically analyzed to provide a detailed description of how instructions and feedback were used, illustrated by examples. Results The use of instructions and feedback (internal and external focus) was high; an average of one verbal instruction or feedback statement was delivered every 14 seconds. Sixty-seven percent of the statements were internally focused, 22% were externally focused, and 11% were of mixed focus. Unfocused statements (eg, “good”) also were used regularly. Patients were frequently encouraged to “think about” their performance. Limitations Observational data collection methods may result in changes in the behavior of those observed, which is a potential source of bias. The small sample size also was a limitation of the study. Conclusion Physical therapists frequently encouraged patients to be aware of their movements and their performance (internal focus). This approach may reduce automaticity and hinder learning and retention.
The Effects of Client Identity Strength and Professional Identity Salience on Auditor Judgments

ABSTRACT: Considerable recent audit regulation, both proposed and mandated, and accounting research has focused on auditor independence threats arising over long auditor tenure. Psychology research, however, suggests independence threats also likely arise when auditor tenure is short because auditors can quickly develop a strong client identity, raising questions about the effectiveness of mandatory audit partner or firm rotation to address independence concerns. Relying on Social Identity Theory, I examine mechanisms for promoting auditor independence that can be implemented regardless of auditor tenure or rotation. I conduct two experiments in a setting with no prior auditor-client history. As predicted, auditors who identify more strongly with their clients, by sharing their values, agree more with the client's preferred accounting treatment, unless the salience or arousal of their professional identity is heightened. Further, as predicted, heightening professional identity salience increases professio.
How serious is the neglect of intrahousehold inequality

In this report the authors develop a framework for assessing the consequences of ignoring intrahousehold inequality in the measurement and analysis of poverty and inequality. They apply this framework to data for the Philippines and conclude that : 1) the result of neglecting intrahousehold inequality will probably be considerable understatement of the levels of poverty and inequality. With the Philippine data, measured levels of inequality and poverty were off 30 percent as a result of ignoring intrahousehold variation, and 2) patterns of inequality revealed by household level data are somewhat different from patterns revealed by individual level data, but the differences seem not to be dramatic. To confirm these results, the exercise should be repeated with data from other countries.
Soluble CD44 and CD44v6 serum levels in patients with colorectal cancer are independent of tumor stage and tissue expression of CD44v6

Objective:Tissue overexpression of CD44 variants, especially CD44v6, and elevated serum concentrations of soluble CD44 variants (sCD44) have been demonstrated in patients with colorectal cancer and several other tumors. Our aim was to evaluate the clinical value of their measurement in colorectal cancer.Methods:To examine the suitability of sCD44 and sCD44v6 as tumor markers in colorectal cancer these parameters were analyzed in serum of patients with colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, chronic renal failure, and controls. Tissue expression of CD44v6 in colorectal carcinomas was investigated by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results:sCD44 and sCD44v6 levels were significantly elevated in most of the patient groups (medians, sCD44: 330–709 ng/ml; sCD44v6: 125–160 ng/ml) compared to controls (sCD44: 346 ng/ml; sCD44v6: 106.5 ng/ml). No difference was seen between colorectal cancer patients of different UICC (Union Internationale Contre le Cancer) stages and between patients with CD44v6-positive or -negative primary tumors.Conclusions:sCD44 and sCD44v6 concentrations showed no correlation to tumor burden or CD44v6 tissue expression. Sensitivity and specificity were low, compared to CEA. Therefore, in our view sCD44 and sCD44v6 measurement in screening or follow-up of patients with colorectal cancer is of very little clinical value.
A double-masked, randomized, parallel comparison of a fixed combination of bimatoprost 0.03%/timolol 0.5% with non-fixed combination use in patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension.

PURPOSE To compare the safety and efficacy of the fixed combination product with nonfixedcombination use of the same active ingredients in separate bottles (bimatoprost oncedaily[qd], and timolol twice-daily [bid]). A bimatoprost 0.03% qd treatment arm was usedfor validation of the study. METHODS This was a double-masked, randomized, parallel study in 445 patients with openangleglaucoma or ocular hypertension. They were randomized in a ratio of 2:2:1 to receivebilateral treatment with the fixed combination, non-fixed combination treatment, or bimatoprostalone. RESULTS Comparing the fixed combination and non-fixed combination, the non-inferioritymargin of 1.5 mmHg was met at all three timepoints for mean intraocular pressure (IOP),and a margin of 1.0 mmHg for mean diurnal IOP. The incidence of conjunctival hyperemiawas statistically significantly lower (p=0.014) in the fixed combination group (8.5%, 15/176)compared with the bimatoprost group (18.9%, 17/90) and the non-fixed combination group(12.5%, 22/176). CONCLUSIONS The fixed combination of bimatoprost 0.03%/timolol 0.5% administered oncedaily was comparable in ocular hypotensive efficacy to the non-fixed combination. The lowerpropensity of the fixed combination to elicit conjunctival hyperemia suggests a superiorcomparative benefit/risk assessment of the fixed combination in the treatment of elevatedIOP.
A Note on Nonparametric Estimation of the CTE

The a-level Conditional Tail Expectation (CTE) of a continuous random variable X is defined as its conditional expectation given the event {X > qa} where qa represents its a-level quantile. It is well known that the empirical CTE (the average of the n (1 – a) largest order statistics in a sample of size n) is a negatively biased estimator of the CTE. This bias vanishes as the sample size increases, but in small samples can be significant. In this article it is shown that an unbiased nonparametric estimator of the CTE does not exist. In addition, the asymptotic behavior of the bias of the empirical CTE is studied, and a closed form expression for its first order term is derived. This expression facilitates the study of the behavior of the empirical CTE with respect to the underlying distribution, and suggests an alternative (to the bootstrap) approach to bias correction. The performance of the resulting estimator is assessed via simulation.