Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
THE POLICY USE OF THE PRODUCTS OF THE RETIREMENT INCOME MODELLING TASK FORCE

This paper reviews the potential and actual analytic contribution of the products of the Retirement Income Modelling Task Force using a framework of the long term risks in retirement income policy. The products reviewed include six policy models, demographic and labour force projection models, and four unique detailed datasets. The policy issues analysed include national fiscal and economic risks as well as adequacy issues for individuals and families. The paper demonstrates how existing models and datasets have proved very useful for analysing policy issues, including the development of the Government's new superannuation co-contribution policy. The paper concludes that the products of the Task Force will represent a major contribution to retirement income policy analysis, once the major aggregate projection model, RIMGROUP is finalised. *The Retirement Income Modelling Task Force is jointly sponsored by the Commonwealth Departments of the Treasury, Finance and Social Security. The views expressed in this paper are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the sponsoring Departments.
FMO bitrate overhead reducing for High Definition Video streaming over packet networks

The transmission of High Definition Video (HDV) has to confront large size video packets due to the high resolution of video frames. The usage of Flexible Macroblock Ordering (FMO) to control the size of video packets for different network types causes bitrate overhead. In this paper, we propose an improved FMO algorithm that can efficiently reduce the bitrate overhead. In the proposed algorithm, all MBs are grouped in SGs based on the similarity of the transformation coefficients. Experimental results show that our algorithm can reduce the bitrate overhead significantly as compared with conventional FMOs.
From immunity to susceptibility: virus resistance induced in tomato by a silenced transgene is lost as TGS overcomes PTGS.

Tomato line 30.4 was obtained engineering the nucleocapsid (N) gene of tomato spotted wilt virus into plant genome, and immunity to tomato spotted wilt virus infection of its self-pollinated homozygous progeny was observed. Despite the presence of a high amount of transgenic transcripts, transgenic proteins have not been detected, suggesting a mechanism of resistance mediated by RNA. In the present study, we identify post-transcriptional gene silencing as the main mechanism of resistance, which is able to spread systemically through grafting, and show that the line 30.4 resistant plants produce both 24 and 21-22 nt N-gene specific siRNA classes. The transgenic locus in chromosome 4 shows complex multiple insertions of four T-DNA copies in various orientations, all with 3' end deletions in the terminator and part of the N gene. However, for three of them, polyadenylated transcripts are produced, due to flanking tomato genome sequences acting as alternative terminators. Interestingly, starting at the fifth generation after the transformation event, some individual plants show a tomato spotted wilt virus-susceptible phenotype. The change is associated with the disappearance of transgene-specific transcripts and siRNAs, and with hyper-methylation of the transgene, which proceeds gradually through the generations. Once it reaches a critical threshold, the shift from post-transcriptional gene silencing to transcriptional silencing of the transgene eliminates the previously well established virus resistance.
The Business Model and Firm Performance: The Case of Russian Food Service Ventures

Using a unique methodology for capturing the business model and drawing comparisons across larger samples of firms, we investigate the relationship between business model design and firm performance in a Russian context. The evolution of the business model concept and its components is reviewed. Empirical research was conducted on the basis of a cross‐sectional survey of firms in the food service industry. A typology of seven business models in this industry is produced, and linkages are established between model type and company performance.
Centralized KNN anomaly detector for WSN

This work suggests to detect abnormalities from spatial distribution of data using a numerical outlier data detector in a wireless sensor network (WSN). The detector is able to find anomalous from one or many events by using KNN technique and Euclidian distance. WSN uses a Low Energy Adaptive Clustering Hierarchy protocol (LEACH), where we compute the good impact of detection on energy. From this, a mean time to failure is computed. The evaluation is also with detection rates metrics in order to appreciate the detection accuracy and quality of data.
The Determinants of Financial Health of Asian Insurance Companies

Previous studies of financial health of insurance companies are mainly focused on insurers operating in the United States and developed economies. This article focuses on the solvency of general (property-liability) and life insurance companies in Asia using firm data and macro data separately. It uses different classification methods to classify the financial status of both general and life insurance companies. With the exception of Japan, failures of insurers in Singapore, Malaysia, and Taiwan are nonexistent. We find that, first, the factors that significantly affect general insurers' financial health in Asian economies are firm size, investment performance, liquidity ratio, surplus growth, combined ratio, and operating margin. Second, the factors that significantly affect life insurers' financial health are firm size, change in asset mix, investment performance, and change in product mix, but the last three factors are more applicable to Japan. Third, the financial health of insurance companies in Singapore seems to be significantly weakened by the Asian Financial Crisis. As the insurance industry in different Asian economies is at different stages of development, they require different regulatory guidelines.
Household Saving Rates and the Design of Public Pension Programmes: Cross–Country Evidence

I argue that the offsetting effect of public pension contributions on household retirement saving depends on how closely the public pension programme imitates a private retirement saving plan (i.e. the ‘actuarial’ content of the public pension programme) — the closer the design of the programme to a private retirement saving plan, the higher the offset. I estimate the determinants of household saving rates in a cross-country panel, augmenting standard measures of public pension programme generosity and cost by indicators that proxy the actuarial component of the programme. These indicators affect saving rates as predicted.
Association between markers of emphysema and more severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Background: The predominant emphysema phenotype is associated with more severe airflow limitation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A study was undertaken to investigate whether COPD patients, with or without emphysema quantitatively confirmed by high resolution computed tomography (HRCT), have different COPD severity as assessed by the BODE index (body mass index, airflow obstruction, dyspnoea, exercise performance) and inspiratory capacity to total lung capacity ratio (IC/TLC), and by different biological markers of lung parenchymal destruction. Methods: Twenty six outpatients with COPD and eight healthy non-smokers were examined. Each subject underwent HRCT scanning, pulmonary function tests, cell counts, and measurements of neutrophil elastase, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 in induced sputum, as well as measurement of desmosine, a marker of elastin degradation in urine, plasma and sputum. Results: Patients with HRCT confirmed emphysema had a higher BODE index and lower IC/TLC ratio than subjects without HRCT confirmed emphysema and controls. Forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), FEV1/forced vital capacity ratio, and carbon monoxide transfer coefficient were lower, whereas the number of eosinophils, MMP-9, and the MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio in sputum were higher in patients with emphysema. In COPD patients the number of sputum eosinophils was the biological variable that correlated positively with the HRCT score of emphysema (p = 0.04). Conclusions: These results suggest that COPD associated with HRCT confirmed emphysema is characterised by more severe lung function impairment, more intense airway inflammation and, possibly, more serious systemic dysfunction than COPD not associated with HRCT confirmed emphysema.
How managerial interactions affect employees' work output in Ghanaian organizations

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to examine how managerial interactions with employees affect work output, using Ghanaian organizations as a study. Design/methodology/approach - The paper adopts a survey method, using questionnaires to collect data from 120 workers from four Ghanaian organizations to form the basis of the study. Findings - It was found that regular interactions between managers and employees have a direct positive effect on employee work output. Results emerging from the analysis show that for organizations to make any significant impact on performance, both managers and their subordinates must have a very good climate of social interactions. The involvement of lower level employees in organizational activities and decision making is of crucial importance to organizational performance. Research limitations/implications - The study is limited to the four organizations of the sample and the number of respondents. Practical implications - The paper's findings call for some behavioural directions for managers in organizations to pay serious attention to the total involvement of workers through effective communication in the running of the organizations. Originality/value - The paper discusses organizational communication by focusing on managerial interaction with employees, and how it can affect organizational work output. The consequences of lack of effective managerial interaction with employees would result in an increased tendency for individuals to leave the organization due to a lower level of satisfaction with their managers.
Promoting Intersectoral Growth Linkages in Rural Africa Through Agricultural Technology and Policy Reform

This paper addresses how increased rural incomes in select African cases are spent on consumption items, the implications of these patterns for stimulating rural growth, and areas of intervention necessary to sustain demand-led growth from improved agricultural technology and economic reforms. The country studies utilize panel data collected by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) in collaboration with African institutions and re-
Intensity of competition in China: profitability dynamics of Chinese listed companies

How intense is market competition in the Chinese economy? We extend to China, the literature that measures the intensity of market competition in terms of the persistence of firm profitability from year to year. The fundamental notion is that intense competition will quickly evaporate any short run quasi-rents enjoyed by any company, and force each to revert to its own ‘normal’ level of profitability, as determined by its command over various strategic resources. We examine the extent to which deviations from their expected values of profitability tend to be corrected among quoted companies in China. Our estimates, based on Chinese listed companies over the 11-year period to 2005, find that the rate of mean reversion in profitability is 55%. This suggests an intensely competitive market. We also find that the state owned enterprises (SOEs) have a higher propensity to revert to their expected profitability, at the average rate of 76%, suggesting that they are subject to more intense competitive pressure.
Neutrophil leukocyte emigration induced by endotoxin. Mediator roles of interleukin 1 and tumor necrosis factor alpha 1.

The hypothesis that cytokines mediate neutrophil emigration induced by endotoxin (LPS) was studied by examining the potency, the kinetics of neutrophil emigration, and the tachyphylaxis of intradermal sites with IL-1, TNF-alpha and LPS. Human rIL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta, synthetic lipid A, and LPS were several orders of magnitude more potent than human rTNF. The kinetic profiles of neutrophil emigration induced by IL-1 alpha, TNF, and LPS were characterized by minimal emigration in the first 30 min, followed by rapid and transient emigration. After the injection of LPS, the onset and the time at which the rate of emigration was maximal consistently appeared 30 min later than IL-alpha or TNF, suggesting that neutrophil emigration in response to LPS was mediated by a locally generated cytokine. IL-1 and TNF were then examined as potential secondary mediators of LPS-induced emigration by comparing the patterns of tachyphylaxis between LPS and IL-1 alpha or TNF; i.e., the magnitude of neutrophil emigration into inflammatory sites was compared with sites injected 6 h previously (desensitizing injections) with a cytokine or with LPS. Tachyphylaxis was dose dependent with each and also between the IL-1 species; therefore, when tachyphylaxis between the cytokines and LPS was examined, relatively higher doses were selected for the desensitizing injections than for the test injections. With this approach, desensitizing injections of IL-1 alpha diminished the neutrophil accumulation after LPS, and LPS also desensitized sites to IL-1 alpha. However, tachyphylaxis was not observed between TNF and LPS, or between TNF and IL-1 alpha. These data suggest that IL-1, but not TNF, is a potential mediator of LPS-induced neutrophil emigration.
Succession in Small and Medium-Sized Family Businesses: Toward a Typology of Predecessor Roles During and After Instatement of the Successor

The last two steps in the succession process—the joint management and withdrawal phases—differ from preceding phases in that they mark the successor's official entry into the family business as future head and the gradual retirement of the predecessor. Alone at the helm until that point, predecessors are faced with an important period of transition in their life where their role as leader is replaced by other roles that have not yet been clearly defined in the existing literature. Using a case study research strategy, this article presents a typology of predecessor roles during and after instatement of the successor from five small and medium-sized family businesses that have successfully completed their first generational transfer.
Cardiovascular health in Italy. Ten-year surveillance of cardiovascular diseases and risk factors: Osservatorio Epidemiologico Cardiovascolare/Health Examination Survey 1998–2012

Background Surveillance of and monitoring trends for cardiovascular diseases and risk factors are relevant when we consider that these diseases and conditions are largely preventable. The aim of this paper is to assess time trends of cardiovascular diseases, lifestyles, risk factors and high risk conditions in different socioeconomic levels. Methods Paired but independent population samples of men and women aged 35–74 years located in all 20 Italian regions were examined in 1998–2002 (n = 9612) and in 2008–2012 (n = 8141). Time trends of lifestyles, cardiovascular risk factors, prevalence of high-risk conditions and cardiovascular diseases are shown for two different socioeconomic levels, as assessed by educational level. Results Over 10 years, in both genders and socioeconomic classes, the prevalence of smoking decreased (from 32% to 23% in men) as well as mean levels of blood pressure (systolic from 136 mmHg to 133 mmHg in men and from 132 mmHg to 127 mmHg in women), while the prevalence of dyslipidemia and obesity increased reaching 35% and 25% of the population respectively; the prevalence of myocardial infarction remained stable (1.6% in men; about 0.5% in women), that of stroke decreased in men (from 1.2% to 0.7%); the prevalence of diabetes did not change (12% in men; 8% in women). In the low educational class, cardiovascular risk factors and diseases remained unfavourable compared with the high educational class. Conclusions The burden of cardiovascular diseases and their risk factors remain high and require continuous appropriate action at the community and individual levels, as suggested by the European Guidelines for Cardiovascular Prevention.
Intravenous immunoglobulin skews macrophages to an anti‐inflammatory, IL‐10‐producing activation state

Intravenous Ig is used to treat autoimmune or autoinflammatory disorders, but the mechanism by which it exerts its immunosuppressive activity is not understood completely. To examine the impact of intravenous Ig on macrophages, we compared cytokine production by LPS‐activated macrophages in the presence and absence of intravenous Ig. Intravenous Ig treatment induced robust production of IL‐10 in response to LPS, relative to LPS stimulation alone, and reduced production of proinflammatory cytokines. This anti‐inflammatory, intravenous Ig‐induced activation was sustained for 24 h but could only be induced if intravenous Ig were provided within 1 h of LPS stimulation. Intravenous Ig activation led to enhanced and prolonged activation of MAPKs, Erk1/2, p38, and Erk5, and inhibition of each reduced intravenous Ig‐induced IL‐10 production and suppression of IL‐12/23p40. IL‐10 production occurred rapidly in response to intravenous Ig + LPS and was sufficient to reduce proinflammatory IL‐12/23p40 production in response to LPS. IL‐10 induction and reduced IL‐12/23p40 production were transcriptionally regulated. IL‐10 played a direct role in reducing proinflammatory cytokine production by macrophages treated with intravenous Ig + LPS, as macrophages from mice deficient in the IL‐10R β chain or in IL‐10 were compromised in their ability to reduce proinflammatory cytokine production. Finally, intraperitoneal injection of intravenous Ig or intravenous Ig + LPS into mice activated macrophages to produce high levels of IL‐10 during subsequent or concurrent LPS challenge, respectively. These findings identify IL‐10 as a key anti‐inflammatory mediator produced by intravenous Ig‐treated macrophages and provide insight into a novel mechanism by which intravenous Ig may dampen down inflammatory responses in patients with autoimmune or autoinflammatory diseases.
Breakthrough Renewables and the Green Paradox

We show how a monopolistic owner of oil reserves responds to a carbon-free substitute becoming available at some uncertain point in the future if demand is isoelastic and variable extraction costs are zero but upfront exploration investment costs have to be made. Not the arrival of this substitute matters for efficiency, but the uncertainty about the timing of this substitute coming on stream. Before the carbon-free substitute comes on stream, oil reserves are depleted too rapidly; as soon as the substitute has arrived, the oil depletion rate drops and the oil price jumps up by a discrete amount. Subsidizing green R&D to speed up the introduction of breakthrough renewables leads to more rapid oil extraction before the breakthrough, but more oil is left in situ as exploration investment will be lower. The latter offsets the Green Paradox.
Criminal victimization of persons with severe mental illness.

OBJECTIVE The types and amounts of crime experienced by persons with severe mental illness were examined to better understand criminal victimization in this population. METHODS Subjects were 331 involuntarily admitted psychiatric inpatients who were ordered by the court to outpatient commitment after discharge. Extensive interviews provided information on subjects' experience with crime in the previous four months and their perceived vulnerability to victimization, as well as on their living conditions and substance use. Medical records provided clinical data. RESULTS The rate of nonviolent criminal victimization (22.4 percent) was similar to that in the general population (21.1 percent). The rate of violent criminal victimization was two and a half times greater than in the general population--8.2 percent versus 3.1 percent. Being an urban resident, using alcohol or drugs, having a secondary diagnosis of a personality disorder, and experiencing transient living conditions before hospitalization were significantly associated with being the victim of a crime. In the multivariate analysis, substance use and transient living conditions were strong predictors of criminal victimization; no demographic or clinical variable was a significant predictor. (Given the relatively high crime rates, subjects' perceived vulnerability to victimization was unexpectedly low; only 16.3 percent expressed concerns about personal safety. Those with a higher level of education expressed greater feelings of vulnerability. CONCLUSIONS The study found a substantial rate of violent criminal victimization among persons with severe and persistent mental illness. Results suggest that substance use and homelessness make criminal victimization more likely.
Advantages of using an image-guided system for transnasal endoscopic surgery.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the advantages of image-guided system in transnasal endoscopic surgery. METHODS Transnasal endoscopic surgery was performed with the aid of an image-guided system in 28 patients, supported with histopathologic diagnoses of chronic sinusitis with/without nasal polyps (10 cases), juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma (4 cases), pituitary adenoma (6 cases), ethmoidal ossifying fibroma (3 cases), nasopharyngeal mixed tumor (2 cases), nasal leiomyoma (1 case), fungal sinusitis (1 case) and inverted nasal papilloma (1 case). RESULTS For all the patients, the time periods from initialization to surgery ranged from 15 to 30 minutes (a mean of 26 minutes). The calibration coefficient ranged from 1.3 to 2.0. Accuracy of localization fell within 1 mm. Compared with traditional endoscopic surgery, operation times were not noticeably different. No complications occurred. CONCLUSIONS The image-guided system was able to identify borders and critical anatomical structures in real-time, especially of those with distorted anatomical markers. It provided a powerful means for a safer and less invasive endoscopic sinus surgery.
Microeconomic Perspectives on the Structure and Operation of Local Housing Markets

This paper provides a highly selective review of the voluminous literature on the economic analysis of local housing markets. It is suggested that, although it often appears that mainstream economics is more concerned with improving technical elements of the modelling approach than enhancing our understanding of how markets function, there is in fact a rich literature that is largely concerned with explaining market processes and dynamics and with the impact of policy interventions on the workings of the market. The housing economics literature is more methodologically diverse than many housing analysts might expect and, in the UK and Europe in particular, this has helped stimulate several new developments in local market analysis. These advancements have been associated, in part, with improvements in statistical techniques and conceptual models. This has resulted in renewed interest in the treatment of neighbourhood segmentation and complex spatial processes in local market analysis. It is argued that further progress might be made by abducting insights from qualitative analysis in order to improve the specification of models and in their refinement and development.