Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Temporary Contracts and Transitions to Stable Jobs in Italy

This paper evaluates whether and to what extent temporary jobs have been springboards to stable jobs in Italy. Using the 2000, 2002, and 2004 waves of the Survey of Italian Households' Income and Wealth, several dynamic unobserved effects probit models for the probability of having a permanent job are estimated. The main result is that a temporary job, rather than unemployment, significantly increases the probability of having a permanent job 2 years later by about 13.5-16 percentage points. The robustness of this stepping-stone effect is then assessed relaxing parametric assumptions on the unobserved individual heterogeneity distribution. Copyright 2008 The Author. Journal compilation CEIS, Fondazione Giacomo Brodolini and Blackwell Publishing Ltd. 2008.
CES Production Functions a la Samuelson

Most measures of the elasticity of factor substitution for a n-factor production function would define separate elasticities for each of the n (n-1) possible pairs of inputs. At least three such measures are well-known-the Allen measure [1], the direct elasticity and the shadow elasticity [3]. Samuelson [4] however has approached the problem differently: he defines an elasticity for each factor which determines the behaviour of its relative share as its input varies. Thus, we have a gain in simplicity and economy: the n Samuelsonian elasticities are fewer than the n (n 1)/2 partial elasticities for n> 3, besides furnishing a direct index of changes in relative factor shares. This raises an interesting question. Uzawa [5] and McFadden [3] have shown that if all the partial elasticities are constant, they can have at most two distinct values, one of which must be unity; indeed the production function must belong to an even narrower class than this implies. The restrictive character of such a production function makes it rather unsuitable for econometric use. It may be asked whether a production function with Samuelsonian elasticities of substitution all constant would be any better. Prima facie, one would expect so-since it would be subject to only n restrictions as against the n (n -1)/2 constraints on production functions with constant partial elasticities. Unfortunately, this is not so. Indeed we shall show that for a linear homogeneous production function the Samuelsonian elasticities can all be constant only if they are identical. The production function will then belong to the extended Arrow-CheneryMinhas-Solow [2] family. It will thus be more restrictive than any of the production functions with constant partial elasticities-coinciding in fact with their intersection.
Can Social Security Explain Trends in Labor Force Participation of Older Men in the United States?

After a long decline, the Labor Force Participation Rate (LFPR) of older men in the United States leveled off in the 1980s, and began to increase in the late 1990s. We examine how changes in Social Security rules affected these trends. We attribute only a small portion of the decline from the 1960s–80s to the increasing generosity of Social Security over this period. Increases in the Full Retirement Age and the Delayed Retirement Credit explain one quarter to one half of the recent increase in the LFPR. Increasing educational attainment and increasing LFPR of married women also contributed to the recent rise.
How Good Are Business School Rankings

Changes in Business Week and U.S. News graduate business school rankings have a strong tendency to revert. It seems that existing rankings are essentially simple aggregations of 'noisy' information and reversals of this noise are the most likely cause of reversibility in the rankings. Additionally, there is an almost puzzling lack of correlation between the contemporaneous changes of the two rankings, suggesting that most changes are not driven by common revisions of information. Thus, existing rankings should be probably viewed as useful but noisy and one-sided signals, rather than as comprehensive and efficient measures of the unobservable 'school quality. ' Copyright 1999 by University of Chicago Press.
Impact of psychogenic movement disorders versus Parkinson's on disability, quality of life, and psychopathology

Patients with psychogenic movement disorders (PMD) often report severe impairment, yet the impact of PMD on disability and quality of life has not been examined. We compared 66 patients with PMD and 704 patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) on measures of disability (Older Americans Resources and Services Scale, OARS); quality of life (QOL; SF‐12v2 Health Survey) and psychiatric symptomatology (Brief Symptom Inventory 18, BSI‐18). On the total OARS, PMD and PD patients reported similar levels of disability (17.6 ± 6.6, 19.8 ± 10.9, P = 0.490 at “best” function and 24.1 ± 11.2, 26.2 ± 14.3, P = 0.497 at their “worst” function). PMD patients reported similar Physical Health QOL to PD patients (38.9 ± 14.5, 39.8 ± 11.6, P = 0.652) but worse mental health QOL (41.6 ± 13.4 vs. 48.9 ± 11.0, P < 0.001). On the BSI‐18, PMD patients reported higher levels of distress on the Global Symptom Index (62.03 ± 9.6 vs. 53.7 ± 9.9, P < 0.001) and on Anxiety, Depression and Somatization subscales (PMD vs. PD scores: Anxiety 58.9 ± 12.0 vs. 52.3 ± 10.1, P < 0.001; Depression 58.8 ± 11.9 vs. 51.3 ± 10.3, P < 0.001; Somatization 60.5 ± 11.0 vs. 54.7 ± 8.7, P < 0.001). Thus, severity of disability reported by the PMD group was equal to that seen in a progressive neurodegenerative condition. Quality of life and mental health implications of PMD were also evident. PMD impacts several aspects of patient function and daily life. © 2007 Movement Disorder Society
Asset Markets as an Equilibrium Selection Mechanism: Coordination Failure, Game Form Auctions, and Tacit Communication

Abstract In this paper, we explore the possibility that asset markets provide a means of tacit communication, which may allow subjects to coordinate on the payoff-dominant equilibrium in an underlying coordination game. We find that the existence of a market price for the right to play does communicate information about the equilibrium selection problem. Specifically, behavior never converged to the efficient outcome when subjects were endowed with the right to participate, but always converged to the efficient outcome when subjects purchased the right to participate. Journal of Economic Literature Classification Numbers: C720, G120.
Aliso: A Journal of Systematic and Floristic Botany Aliso: A Journal of Systematic and Floristic Botany Wood Anatomy of Caryophyllaceae: Ecological, Habital, Wood Anatomy of Caryophyllaceae: Ecological, Habital, Systematic, and Phylogenetic Implications Systematic, and Phylogenetic Implications

Wood of Caryophyllaceae is more diverse than has been appreciated. Imperforate tracheary elements may be tracheids, fiber-tracheids, or libriform fibers. Rays may be uniseriate only, multiseriate only, or absent. Roots of some species (and sterns of a few of those same genera) have vascular tissue produced by successive cambia. The diversity in wood anatomy character states shows a range from primitive to specialized so great that origin close to one of the more specialized families of Cheno podiales, such as Chenopodiaceae or Amaranthaceae, is unlikely. Caryophyllaceae probably branched from the ordinal clade near the clade's base, as cladistic evidence suggests. Raylessness and abrupt onset of multiseriate rays may indicate woodiness in the family is secondary. Successive cambia might also be a subsidiary indicator of secondary woodiness in Caryophyllaceae (although not necessarily dicotyledons at large). Although a small shrub, Gymnocarpos may be primitively woody, and because that genus appears primitive in many wood features the family as a whole may derive from woody ancestors, despite apparent secondary woodiness in many phylads. Systematic distribution of wood character states in the family corresponds closely to the Pax and Hoffmann system of three tribes and their progressive degrees of specialization (Paronychieae, Alsineae, Sileneae). Wood data support the idea that Caryophyllaceae represent a branch from near the base of the order Caryophyllales. Wood of Caryophyllaeeae is highly xeromorphic, comparable in quantitative vessel features to wood of desert shrubs; insular species have less xeromorphic wood. Instances of storying and druse presence in axial and ray parenchyma are newly reported for the family, as is the inverted orientation of xylem, phloem, and periderm produced by a cambium at the periphery of the pith in Dianthus
Basket option pricing with the algorithms of piecewise lognormal interpolation

A basket option is an option on a portfolio of multiple risky assets. There is no analytical solution for basket option pricing, because the payoff of a basket option is determined by the weighted average of the prices of the multiple underlying assets. This study presents an approximation approach for valuing basket options by the algorithms of piecewise lognormal interpolation. The idea is to partition the time axis into collection of small intervals, in which the multiple lognormal average price process is approximated by a simple lognormal with the same first and second moments at the endpoints of the time intervals. Numerical examples of basket option with two stocks illustrate the accuracy of the approach when compared with results from Monte Carlo (MC) simulations. This method can be extrapolated to other complex option pricing, such as combination of options.
The Politics and Economics of Democratic Commitment: Support for Democracy in Transition Societies

Explanations of cross-national variation in levels of popular support for democracy can be distinguished by the relative emphasis they place on the importance of economic and political factors. ‘First generation’ theorists emphasized economic variables, including levels of economic development and rising expectations. In contrast, ‘second generation’ writers have focused on the role of political factors, including the mode of the transition to democracy itself and the effectiveness of the institutions and electoral processes which emerge. This article uses national probability samples from Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Russia and Ukraine to examine potential influences on support for democratic processes in postcommunist Europe. These influences include evaluations of electoral and market performance, experience of economic well-being in the recent past and the near future, and indicators of the perceived responsiveness of the electoral system. Although both political and economic factors are found to be significant, multivariate analysis indicates that political experience is of greater weight than is economic. Moreover, when support for marketization is controlled for, there is very little link from economic experience to support for democracy.
Coordination of Monetary and Fiscal Policy in a Monetary Union: Policy Issues and Analytical Models

The European Monetary Union raises new and interesting questions about the coordination of monetary and fiscal policy. In this lecture, I discuss some of these questions and the answers that a new class of models-new neoclassical synthesis (NNS) models-is currently giving to them. I will argue that the new questions expose some weaknesses in current NNS modeling; in particular, the models do not seem to explain the positive correlation between national inflation and growth differentials that has been observed in the European data. I also review some recent work that has been done on policy coordination within a currency union. Copyright © 2007 The Author; Journal compilation © 2007 Blackwell Publishing Ltd and The University of Manchester.
An analysis of anti-TDOA positioning capability for MIMO radar

The advantages of MIMO radar with orthogonal signals in anti-TDOA (Time Difference of Arrival) are discussed. First the cross-correlation between signals received by two receivers in different directions relative to MIMO radar is analyzed. It shows that the cross-correlation changes with the angle difference in certain value of which the two signals are even completely uncorrelated. Then a detailed analysis of angle-range coupling is presented based on uniform linear transmit array (ULTA) when Stepped Frequency Division Linear Frequency Modulation (SFDLFM) signals are used. The angle-range coupling will ultimately lead to the positioning deviation, thus contributing to the radar RF stealth.
Structural and genetic analysis of the folding and function of T4 lysozyme

The combination of directed mutagenesis with high‐resolution structure analysis has made it possible to systematically address fundamental questions of protein folding and stability. Here we briefly review some recent results in this area based on studies of the lysozyme of bacteriophage T4. Extended segments of the polypeptide chain can be substituted with alanine, suggesting that about 50%, or perhaps less, of the overall amino acid sequence protein is necessary to define the 3‐dimensional structure of the protein. It is the internal residues that seem to be most important for folding and stability (although not necessarily for function). Substitutions within the core of the protein of large nonpolar side chains with smaller ones have been used to better understand the nature of hydrophobic stabilization. Mutants that produce the largest cavities within the protein tend to be most destabilizing, allowing the energy cost of cavity formation to be estimated. Small, nonpolar ligands bind within such cavities and restore some stability to the protein. Analogous, nonpolar ligands do not bind, however, providing evidence that water molecules do not bind with high occupancy within nonpolar cavities. In a further series of studies it has been possible to re‐engineer the active site region of T4 lysozyme to change the catalytic mechanism of the enzyme. — Matthews, B. W. Structure and genetic analysis of the folding and function of T4 lysozyme. FASEB J. 10, 35‐41(1996)
How do innovation and exchange rate changes affect firms' mode of foreign expansion?

This paper uses a two-country two-firm imperfect competition model where each firm is located in a different country. We study the effects of firms' innovation and exchange rate change on their international expansion choices. As in Petit and Sanna-Randaccio (2000), the market structure is endogenously determined by the subgame perfect Nash equilibrium of a three-stage game that involves three different decisions by the firms: how to expand abroad, how much to invest in R&D, and how much to sell in each country under different market configurations. Since the price of output is directly affected by the exchange rate, we carefully include the impact of an anticipated exchange rate change in the future on firms' current decisions. The results show that an increase in R&D productivity leads firms towards multinational expansion. Furthermore, home currency appreciation also raises the likelihood of FDI by firms. Compared with the results of Petit and Sanna-Randaccio (2000), mixed duopoly is more likely to arise under exchange rate fluctuation in our model.
Medicare Challenges and Solutions - reimbursement Issues in Treating the Patient with Colorectal Cancer

BACKGROUND: Medicare covers costs far more than 50% of all cancer patients, and most private payers follow Medicares lead on coverage and benefits for cancer care. Medicare and private payers are legally required by federal statute to cover anticancer chemotherapeutic products based on U.S. Food and drug administration-approved labeling and indicate how off-label uses are covered. OBJECTIVES: To review reimbursement issues unique to Medicare with regard to oncology drugs. SUMMARY: Currently, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recognizes 2 compendia for purposes of evaluating off-label uses of drugs. Coverage determinations can be pursued nationally, locally, and case by case. Because of the impact and scope of colorectal cancer on the national budget, CMS initiated a process to establish national coverage determinations. This and other such Medicare reforms will have significant repercussions for clinicians who work with oncology patients. Major administrative and access challenges for both health care providers and beneficiaries include a diverse array of plan choices. In terms of Medicare Part d, the 25% of patients who are chronically ill and prescribed expensive therapies (including antineoplastics and supportive care agents) may find the coverage gap ("donut hole") challenging and even prohibitive in their access to appropriate care. Lack of coverage could potentially affect therapy compliance, and managed care must pursue additional payment or coverage support mechanisms. Evaluating formularies will be critical for cancer patients and those who use specialty drugs as they select their Part d plans in the future. CONCLUSIONS: Oncologists and their patients are left with difficult choices regarding not only the clinical efficacy of a treatment but also the financial considerations of the treatment.
A new ZVZCS three-level inverter

This paper presents a new ZVZCS three-level inverter with T-type structure. The proposed inverter can achieve ZCS on arm switches and ZVS on neutral point switches by series connecting the arm switches with resonant inductors and parallel connecting the neutral point switches with resonant capacitors. The proposed inverter can achieve a significant reduction in power loss dissipation. In this paper, the operation principle of the proposed inverter is illustrated. The performance of the proposed inverter is verified through Matlab/Simulink environment.
The Role of Universities in Innovation and Sustainable Development

This paper describes how the role of universities in innovation and economic development has been widely documented. However, universities’ contribution to sustainable development and innovation in renewable energy technologies has not been previously researched. The author uses a case study analysis to explore the knowledge exchange mechanisms between university and industry in fostering innovation in the solar photovoltaic sector and to sustainable development in general, in different locales. The author believes that universities play a key role in both technology development and economic growth, and the author hypothesizes that the way in which these goals are achieved depends on the specifics of the sector, the local economy, and the larger institutional environment. The author finds that the role of universities in innovation and sustainable development is most valuable for the private and public sector in five main areas: (a) contributing to fundamental research; (b) combining existing knowledge; (c) education and training (curriculum development); (d) creating space for open exploration of ideas; (e) community involvement. Hence, what matters is not only technology development, but also contributions in terms of assimilation and absorption of these factors by various social groups, such that the result is a change in behavior or practices.
Expression Analysis of Stress-Related Genes in Kernels of Different Maize (Zea mays L.) Inbred Lines with Different Resistance to Aflatoxin Contamination

This research examined the expression patterns of 94 stress-related genes in seven maize inbred lines with differential expressions of resistance to aflatoxin contamination. The objective was to develop a set of genes/probes associated with resistance to A. flavus and/or aflatoxin contamination. Ninety four genes were selected from previous gene expression studies with abiotic stress to test the differential expression in maize lines, A638, B73, Lo964, Lo1016, Mo17, Mp313E, and Tex6, using real-time RT-PCR. Based on the relative-expression levels, the seven maize inbred lines clustered into two different groups. One group included B73, Lo1016 and Mo17, which had higher levels of aflatoxin contamination and lower levels of overall gene expression. The second group which included Tex6, Mp313E, Lo964 and A638 had lower levels of aflatoxin contamination and higher overall levels of gene expressions. A total of six “cross-talking” genes were identified between the two groups, which are highly expressed in the resistant Group 2 but down-regulated in susceptible Group 1. When further subjected to drought stress, Tex6 expressed more genes up-regulated and B73 has fewer genes up-regulated. The transcript patterns and interactions measured in these experiments indicate that the resistant mechanism is an interconnected process involving many gene products and transcriptional regulators, as well as various host interactions with environmental factors, particularly, drought and high temperature.
A 14Gb/s high-swing thin-oxide device SST TX in 45nm CMOS SOI

The limited supply voltage of today's state-of-the-art CMOS technologies makes the design of high-speed transmitters at signaling swings above the typical 1V supply a challenging task. Higher-voltage TX amplitude is not only required in older I/O standards and legacy applications, but also in emerging electro-optical extensions where high voltage swing combined with high-speed operation is desired. Higher swing also helps meet certain I/O standards in applications where losses introduced by high-density package constraints can be compensated to some extent. The source-series terminated (SST) driver is a versatile building block in a multistandard I/O TX thanks to its potential for low-power operation, its low area consumption, high CMOS-style circuit content, and flexible termination capability [1]. Also, the SST driver supports single-ended output and differential operation.
A Principled Approach to Deriving Approximate Conditional Sampling Distributions in Population Genetics Models with Recombination

The multilocus conditional sampling distribution (CSD) describes the probability that an additionally sampled DNA sequence is of a certain type, given that a collection of sequences has already been observed. The CSD has a wide range of applications in both computational biology and population genomics analysis, including phasing genotype data into haplotype data, imputing missing data, estimating recombination rates, inferring local ancestry in admixed populations, and importance sampling of coalescent genealogies. Unfortunately, the true CSD under the coalescent with recombination is not known, so approximations, formulated as hidden Markov models, have been proposed in the past. These approximations have led to a number of useful statistical tools, but it is important to recognize that they were not derived from, though were certainly motivated by, principles underlying the coalescent process. The goal of this article is to develop a principled approach to derive improved CSDs directly from the underlying population genetics model. Our approach is based on the diffusion process approximation and the resulting mathematical expressions admit intuitive genealogical interpretations, which we utilize to introduce further approximations and make our method scalable in the number of loci. The general algorithm presented here applies to an arbitrary number of loci and an arbitrary finite-alleles recurrent mutation model. Empirical results are provided to demonstrate that our new CSDs are in general substantially more accurate than previously proposed approximations.