Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Endogenous Random Asset Prices in Overlapping Generations Economies

This paper derives a general explicit sequential asset price process for an economy with overlapping generations of consumers. They maximize expected utility with respect to subjective transition probabilities given by Markov kernels. The process is determined primarily by the interaction of exogenous random dividends and the characteristics of consumers, given by arbitrary preferences and expectations, yielding an explicit random dynamical system with expectations feedback. The paper studies asset prices and equity premia for a parametrized class of examples with CARA utilities and exponential distributions. It provides a complete analysis of the role of risk aversion and of subjective as well as rational beliefs.
Effects of Two Probiotic Lactobacillus Strains on Jejunal and Cecal Microbiota of Broiler Chicken under Acute Heat Stress Condition as Revealed by Molecular Analysis of 16S rRNA Genes

We examined the effects of probiotic Lactobacillus strains of Lactobacillus agilis JCM 1048 and Lactobacillus salivarius subsp. salicinius JCM 1230 on jejunal and cecal microbiota of broiler chicken under heat stress condition using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T‐RFLP) analysis. The jejunal bacterial community was limited to a few bacterial groups, mostly Lactobacillus spp. A relatively abundant and higher prevalence of Lactobacillus spp. were observed in the jejunal and cecal microbiota of the probiotic chickens compared with those of the control chickens under heat stress condition. In general, the probiotic strains did not significantly affect the abundance of L. agilis and L. salivarius in chicken intestine but clearly contributed to increasing their prevalence in the probiotic chickens. The probiotic Lactobacillus strains enriched the diversity of Lactobacillus flora in chicken jejunum and cecum by increasing the abundance and prevalence of Lactobacillus spp. inhabiting the intestine. The richness of Lactobacillus species tended to be similar among the jejunal and cecal microbiota. The bacterial community of cecum was complex and age‐dependent. The major components of the cecal microbiota were clostridia and lactobacilli. The Clostridium subcluster XIVa was the most predominant group in chicken cecum. Probiotic Lactobacillus strains restored the microbial balance and maintained the natural stability of indigenous bacterial microbiota following heat stress‐induced changes.
[Cognitive development and attention performances at school age of "normal" prematurely born children].

OBJECTIVE A preterm birth can exert an influence on cognitive development. The aim of this study was to determine whether preterm birth may impact on attention executive processes, at school age, in children without neurological sequelae. DESIGN AND METHODS Prematurely born children admitted in the level III NICU of the Maternité régionale of Nancy between 1992 and 1994, underwent at 8 to 10 years 8 subtests of the mental processing scales of the K-ABC, which assess process categories involved in learning. The children were also submitted to 3 tests that evaluate attention mechanisms efficiency (category fluency task, backward digits span, Tower of London). The controls were children born at term recruted in schools of the same area. RESULTS The 124 children were born with birth weight appropriate for gestational age, and were in the school grades expected for their ages, in 3rd, 4rth, and 5fth grades. Fifty-three children were born at term, 29 were prematurely born (33-36 w), and 42 were very prematurely born (28-32 w). Birth term was significantly correlated (P < 0.001) with scores at sequential processing scale, at simultaneous processing scale and at the mental processing composite scale. At this scale, the children born at term obtained a median score of 112, the children prematurely born of 101, and the children very prematurely born of 98.5. For 40 third grade children (18 born at term, 10 prematurely born, and 12 very prematurely born), birth term was significantly correlated with performances at the 3 tests of attention. In all cases, preterm was inversely correlated with performances. CONCLUSION The results are consistent with a lower efficiency in attention executive processes which may be related to the higher frequency of learning disabilities associated with prematurity.
Macroeconomic forecasts: an empirical test of rationality and parameter stability

The consistency property of a select group of macroeconomic variables, representing both the real and the financial sector of the economy, is re-examined. Consistency is a precondition to rationality in the expectation formation process. The theoretical foundations are similar to those used to study exchange rate expectations. A very reliable and continuous data set, the ASA-NBER survey, is used, which has forecasts over multiple horizons. The Hansen test, which has the dual advantage of being a test of parameter stability over time and also examines the cointegration properties of the actual and forecast series using the modern null of cointegration approach, was applied. This is able to distinguish between unit root and near unit root processes, which is of vital interest in cases of near stationarity. Results show that experts' predictions are inconsistent over all time horizons in the data set.
The Effect of Business Risk on Corporate Capital Structure: Theory and Evidence

Under corporate and personal taxation, we demonstrate that the relation between optimal debt level and business risk is roughly U-shaped. This result follows from the fact that the tax liability is an option portfolio that is long in the corporate tax option and short in the personal tax option. Therefore, the net effect of a change in business risk on the optimal debt level depends upon the relative magnitudes of the resultant marginal changes in the values of these two options. Results of empirical tests offer support for the predicted U-shaped relationship.
Tracing the Economic Impact of Cumulative Discrimination

economic outcomes. This literature typically focuses on investigating whether there are racespecific effects present for a particular outcome (years of school, hiring, loan applications) within a particular domain (education, labor markets, housing markets) at a particular point in time. In this paper, I discuss the need to model and measure the cumulative effects of discrimination. For simplicity, I talk about black/white racial differences, but the discussion can be applied to other group comparisons. The paper builds on the discussion of cumulative discrimination found in Blank et al. (2004). Cumulative discrimination is the measure-
Silicon-die thermal monitoring using embedded sensor cells unit

Thermal monitoring is essential in integrated circuit (IC) and VLSI chip which are a multilayer structure and a stack of different materials. The increase of the internal temperature of the VLSI circuits can conduct to serious thermal and also thermo-mechanical problems. Due to aggressive technology scaling, VLSI integration density as well as power density increases drastically. Thermal phenomena research activities on micro-scale level are essential for SoC and MEMS-based applications. However, various measurement techniques are needed to understand the thermal behavior of VLSI chip. In particular, measurement techniques for surface temperature distributions of large VLSI systems are a highly challenging research topic. This paper presents an algorithm and the experimental result of silicon-die thermal monitoring method using embedded sensor cells unit. Sensor implementation results and analysis are also presented.
Discrimination of normal, inflammatory, premalignant, and malignant oral tissue: A Raman spectroscopy study

Optical spectroscopy methods are fast emerging as potential alternatives for early diagnosis of cancer. A Raman spectroscopy method for discrimination of normal and malignant oral tissues has been developed by us earlier. It is necessary to evaluate and establish the validity of the approach before it can be routinely used. In the present study, our Raman spectroscopy investigations are extended further to evaluate the efficacy of the technique to discriminate between normal, inflammatory, premalignant, and malignant conditions in oral tissue. Spectral profiles of normal, malignant, premalignant, and inflammatory conditions show pronounced differences between one another. Spectra of normal tissues can be attributed mainly to lipids whereas pathological tissue spectra are dominated by proteins. Principal components analysis (PCA) of the spectral data sets belonging to the four different categories showed that scores of factors differentiated between normal and all pathological conditions but gave only poor discrimination among the three pathological states. PCA combined with multiparameter limit tests allow match/mismatch criteria to be applied to test samples when pathologically certified calibration sets are available in each class. It is shown that by this method all the four tissue types could be discriminated and diagnosed correctly. The biochemical differences between normal and pathological conditions of oral tissue are also discussed from spectral differences of the different classes of spectra. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 81: 179–193, 2006
A five year review of the complications of progestogen only injectable contraceptive at the University of Port-Harcourt Teaching Hospital.

BACKGROUND The injectable progestogen only contraceptive is a widely accepted method of contraception in our environment and very Iittle has been reported on its complications in our environment. The aim of the study was to highlight the complications associated with use of injectable Medroxyprogesterone Acetate and Norethisterone Enanthate in dients at the University of Part-Harcourt Teachng Hospital, Port-Harcou, south-south Nigeria. METHODS It was a 5 rear year retrospective study of the clients who accepted and used progestogen only injectable contraceptives (depot medroxyprogesterone acetate noerthistherone enantate) at the family planning units of the University of Port Horcowt Teaching Hospital between 1st January 2000 and 31st December 2004. The case flies of these clients were retrieved and their data extracted. The informolion included the dients sociodemographic characteristics, the types doses of of injectable contraceptives received and the side effects reported at the follow up visits. The data was coded and entered into a data bank and analysed using SPSS for windows 11.0 version. RESULTS Seven hundred and seventy seven (777) injectable contraceptive acceptors out of the 1720 contraceptive acceptors during the study period. This accounted for 45.17% of the new acceptors over the 5 years period, making the injectable contraceptives the most commonly used method of birth control in UPTH. Five hundred and five (505) clients took depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) while 272 used norethesterone enanthate (NE-ET). The mean age of the injectable contraceptive users was 31.31 +/- 5.5 years and the mean parity was 5.5 +/- 2.5 deliveries. The users reported multiple side effects with 579 episodes. Secondary amenorrhea was the commonest side effect occurring in 350 (45.34%) clients. Others were hypertension in 17 (2.94%) and metabolic disturbances in 14 (2.41%). CONCLUSION Injectable progestogen only contraceptive is associated with multiple side effects, with secondary amenorrhoea being the most common. The contraceptive failure rate of this method in our women is low. CONCLUSION Injectable progestogen only contraceptive is associated with multiple side effects, with secondary amenorrhoea being the most common. The contraceptive failure rate of this method women is low.
Lipid metabolism of liquid-associated and solid-adherent bacteria gin rumen contents of dairy cows offered lipid-supplemented diets

The lipid distribution and fatty acid (FA) composition of total lipids, polar lipids and free fatty acids (FFA) were determined in liquid-associated bacteria (LAB) and solid-adherent bacteria (SAB) isolated from the rumen contents of seven dairy cows fitted with rumen fistulas. Two experiments, arranged according to a 4 x 4 and 3 x 3 Latin Square design, were performed using two basal diets consisting of one part hay and one part barley-based concentrate, and five lipid-supplemented diets consisting of the basal diet plus (g/kg dry matter): 53 or 94 rapeseed oil, 98 tallow, 87 soya-bean oil or 94 palmitostearin. For all diets used, total lipids were 1.7–2.2 times higher in SAB than in LAB (P < 005); this probably resulted from a preferential incorporation of dietary FA adsorbed onto food particles. Addition of oil or fat to the diets did not modify the polar lipid content but increased the FFA content of SAB and LAB by 150%. Lipid droplets were observed in the cytoplasm in SAB and LAB using transmission electron microscopy, which suggested that part of the additional FFA was really incorporated into the intracellular FFA rather than associated with the cell envelope by physical adsorption. Linoleic acid was specifically incorporated into the FFA of SAB, which emphasized the specific role of this bacterial compartment in the protection of this acid against rumen biohydrogenation.
Nonstandard work arrangements and configurations of firm and societal systems

In this study, we proposed and empirically confirmed that the use of nonstandard working arrangements (NSWAs) varies according to firm system and societal cluster. Utilizing the configurational, institutional and cultural perspectives, we explored antecedents to the use of four NSWAs across firms in six countries, expanding the scope of variables examined in relation to NSWAs and capturing context as a way of broadening the theory base on the subject. We found a tendency toward greater use of NSWAs among firm systems that foster internal socialization and career advancement over time as well as national contexts that promote employment protection and/or Institutional Collectivism. Finally, we found national context to be a significant determinant of firm system, reinforcing the importance of aligning national with organizational-level antecedents to the study of NSWAs.
Hypoglycemia Risk During Exercise After Intramuscular Injection of Insulin in Thigh in IDDM

The influence of bicycle exercise (60% of W170 [working capacity at a pulse rate of 170 beats/min]; 40 min) on the absorption of 125I-labeled fast-acting insulin (10 U; Actrapid human insulin) after intramuscular compared with subcutaneous injection in the thigh was studied on 2 consecutive days in 10 insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) patients. Insulin absorption was measured as disappearance of radioactivity (1st-order elimination rate constants) by continuous external monitoring and as appearance of plasma free immunoreactive insulin (IRI). Subcutaneous adipose tissue blood flow (ATBF) and skeletal muscle blood flow (MF) were measured concomitantly in the contralateral thigh with the raXe wash-out technique. Plasma glucose was determined intermittently. The rate constant for 125l-insulin increased during exercise from 0.46 ± 0.08 to 1.17 ± 0.14%/min after intramuscular injection (P < 0.001) and from 0.31 ± 0.05 to 0.45 ± 0.09%/min (NS) after subcutaneous injection. The rate constant of 125I-insulin from muscle remained elevated during the 80-min recovery period. The peak plasma free-IRI value was 39 mU/L higher, the area under the IRI curve was ∼80% greater, and the decrease in plasma glucose was ∼2 mM greater after intramuscular injection. Whereas MF increased fivefold, ATBF did not rise significantly during exercise. The results demonstrate that intramuscular compared with subcutaneous thigh injection of insulin followed by bicycle exercise induces a marked increase in insulin absorption and a substantial fall in plasma glucose. Because accidental intramuscular injection of insulin may occur frequently, these findings highlight a previously unobserved risk for an unexpected decrease in plasma glucose levels in connection with leg exercise in IDDM patients. This risk could be minimized by injection into a skin fold or by use of shorter needles for thigh injection.
Localization of the Neuronal Class III β‐Tubulin in Oligodendrogliomas: Comparison with Ki‐67 Proliferative Index and 1p/19q Status

The class III β-tubulin isotype (βIII) is widely regarded as a neuronal marker in development and neoplasia. Whereas the expression of βIII in neuronal/neuroblastic tumors is differentiation-dependent, the aberrant expression of this cytoskeletal protein in astrocytomas is associated with an ascending gradient of malignancy. To test the generality of this observation we have compared the immunoreactivity (IR) profiles of the βIII isotype with the Ki-67 nuclear antigen proliferative index in 41 archival, surgically excised oligodendrogliomas (32 classical [WHO grade II] and 9 anaplastic [WHO grade III]). Seventeen of 41 tumors were examined by quantitative microsatellite analysis for loss of 1p and/or 19q. Minimal deletion regions were defined on 1p (D1S468, D1S214) and 19q (D19S408, D19S867). Three of 10 classical oligodendrogliomas had combined 1p/19q loss, while 2 exhibited loss of either 1p or 19q. Three of 7 anaplastic tumors had combined 1p/19q loss. βIII IR was present in all tumors, but was significantly greater in the anaplastic (median labeling index [MLI] 61%, interquartile range [IQR] 55%–64%) as compared with the classical variants (MLI, 19%, IQR, 11–36%) (p < 0.0001). A highly significant relationship was found to exist between βIII and Ki-67 LIs (βIII, p < 0.0001 and Ki-67, p < 0.0001, r = 0.809). βIII localization delineated hitherto understated unipolar or bipolar tumor phenotypes with growth cones and leading cell processes resembling migrating oligodendrocyte progenitor cells. Codistribution of βIII and GFAP IR was present in “gliofibrillary” tumor areas. Synaptophysin IR was detected in rare tumor cells (mean LI, 0.7%), and only in 4/41 samples (10%), denoting a lack of relationship between βIII and synaptophysin expression. No significant differences in βIII LIs were observed in tumors with 1p and/or 19q loss as compared to those with 1p/19q intact status. Increased βIII IR in oligodendrogliomas is associated with an ascending degree of malignancy and thus is a potentially useful tumor marker. However, the significance of high βIII LIs in low-grade oligodendrogliomas with respect to prognostic and predictive value requires further evaluation. Class III β-tubulin expression in oligodendrogliomas should not be construed as a priori evidence of divergent neuronal differentiation.
Asian and native Hawaiian family caregiver satisfaction with palliative care services in nursing homes.

AIM The aim of this study was to gauge Asian and native Hawaiian family satisfaction with palliative care services in two nursing homes in Hawaii, US. METHODS This is a mixed-method study using a convergent design. Nine nursing home family caregivers who had received palliative care services took part. They completed a Famcare-2 satisfaction survey and participated in a 1-hour interview. Descriptive analyses and directed content analysis were completed and results were compared. RESULTS The Famcare-2 results indicated that family caregivers were satisfied with palliative care services. The interviews provided in-depth information on the major areas discussed in the survey-management of patient physical symptoms and comfort, information, family support, and patient psychological care. CONCLUSIONS There is a need to address family caregiver and interdisciplinary nursing home staff communication based on culturally appropriate approaches for palliative as well as end of-life care services among Asians and native Hawaiians.
Supply Diversification with Responsive Pricing

We study sourcing and pricing decisions of a firm with correlated suppliers and a price-dependent demand. With two suppliers, the insight -- cost is the order qualifier while reliability is the order winner -- derived in the literature for the case of exogenously determined price and independent suppliers, continues to hold when the suppliers' capacities are correlated. Moreover, a firm orders only from one supplier if the effective purchase cost from him, which includes the imputed cost of his unreliability, is lower than the wholesale price charged by his rival. Otherwise, the firm orders from both. Furthermore, the firm's diversification decision does not depend on the correlation between the two suppliers' random capacities. However, its order quantities do depend on the capacity correlation, and the total order quantity decreases as the capacity correlation increases in the sense of the supermodular order. With more than two suppliers, the insight no longer holds. That is, when ordering from two or more suppliers, one is the lowest-cost supplier and the others are not selected on the basis of their costs. We conclude the paper by developing a solution algorithm for the firm's optimal diversification problem.
Enterprises in the Post-Privatization Period

Most empirical studies in recent times have examined the effects of privatization and new ownership structures on enterprise performance in transition economies. Although the initial expectation was very optimistic, the empirical evidence does not confirm the hypothesis that enterprises in transition countries perform better after privatization (Earle and Estrin 1996; Konings 1998; Jones and Mygind 1998). Konings (1998) emphasizes that the unexpectedly worse performance of the privatized firms could be the result of the new ownership structure formed after the mass distribution of vouchers. Insiders, workers and managers' were then able to block the process of restructuring, which, in its first phase, is characterized mainly by the downsizing of loss-making activities and associated redundancies. Many authors present managers as being skillful in protecting themselves against pressures for change while resisting innovative changes and the restructuring of their firm's activities. How-
Laboratory evolution of cytochrome P450 BM‐3 monooxygenase for organic cosolvents

Cytochrome P450 BM‐3 (EC 1.14.14.1) catalyzes the hydroxylation and/or epoxidation of a broad range of substrates, including alkanes, alkenes, alcohols, fatty acids, amides, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, and heterocycles. For many of these notoriously water‐insoluble compounds, P450 BM‐3's Km values are in the millimolar range. Polar organic cosolvents are therefore added to increase substrate solubility and achieve high catalytic efficiency. Using P450 BM‐3 as a catalyst for these important transformations requires that we improve its ability to tolerate the cosolvents. By directed evolution, we improved the activity of P450 BM‐3 in the presence of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) and tetrahydrofuran (THF), achieving increases in specific activity up to 10‐fold in 2% (v/v) THF and 6‐fold in 25% (v/v) DMSO. The engineered P450 BM‐3's are also significantly more resistant to acetone, acetonitrile, dimethylformamide, and ethanol as cosolvents in the reaction. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Aldosterone synthase gene variation and adrenocortical response to sodium status, angiotensin II and ACTH in normal male subjects

objective Aldosterone synthase, a key enzyme in the terminal steps of aldosterone synthesis, is encoded by the CYP11B2 gene. A polymorphism in the 5′ coding region of this gene (−344 C/T) is associated with hypertension, particularly with elevation of the aldosterone to renin ratio. A second polymorphism (a conversion in intron 2 to resemble that of the neighbouring 11β‐hydroxylase (CYP11B1) gene) is found in close linkage dysequilibrium with the variant at −344 C/T. The mechanism by which these variants predispose to cardiovascular disease and the precise intermediate phenotype associated with them remains speculative.