Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Talking Turkey: Anti-immigrant attitudes and their effect on support for Turkish membership of the EU

Recent studies have shown that the most important factor explaining opinions on European Union issues is attitudes towards immigrants. Two arguments are given to explain this effect. We contend that these arguments are both built on the idea that people with anti-immigrant attitudes frame other Europeans as an out-group. We then test the validity of these arguments by measuring how respondents in a voter survey frame the issue of Turkish membership. We find that framing the issue in terms of out-groups indeed mediates the effect of anti-immigrant attitudes on support for Turkish membership. This finding offers new insights into why levels of public support vary over different EU issues, because opposition is likely to increase when an issue is more easily framed in terms of out-groups.
The Income Splitting Method: Is it Good for Both Marriage Partners?

Abstract This paper analyzes how deviating from individual taxation affects married couples. The focus is on time allocation, on investment in family-specific human capital and on distribution of income within the family. Two insights are discussed in detail. First, the distribution of tax-reduction gains due to the income splitting system depends on whether the family has been started or not. After marriage, joint taxation increases redistribution among family members. Second, although joint taxation reduces the tax burden of the family, it might harm the marriage partner that is more productive in household production provided that potential marriage partners foresee the effects of joint filing on the time allocation within the family.
Association between dairy and calcium intake and general and central obesity among female students

Background: Nowadays, obesity is considered a worldwide problem. Although genetics is one of the factors associated with obesity, its predisposing factors include nutritional and environmental factors. Several studies have addressed the relationship between nutritional factors and general and central adiposity. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between the consumption of dairy products and prevalence of obesity and central obesity in young female university students at the Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 236 healthy female university students in the age range of 18 and 30 years who were selected randomly from among the students at the Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Iran. A previously validated semiquantitative food questionnaire was used to assess their entire dietary component intake. Physical activity was evaluated by recording daily physical activities. Findings: The prevalence of obesity, central adiposity, and excess weight was 1.7, 0.9, and 8.1%, respectively. The mean values of body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference were 21.54 kg/m2 and 70.37 cm, respectively. Moreover, the mean value of dairy product consumption was 444.24 g/day. The results showed no significant relationship between dairy or calcium intake and weight and waist circumference as well as prevalence of obesity, central adiposity, and excess weight (P>0.05). Conclusion: There was no significant relationship between the consumption of dairy products and calcium intake and excess weight, obesity, and central adiposity among female university students. However, this study is important in that the prevalence of obesity, central adiposity, and excess weight along with the mean values of BMI and waist circumference are reported.
Exact and Asymptotic SER of Receive Diversity in Multiple Amplify-And-Forward Relaying

Multiple amplify-and-forward (AF) relays with receive diversity is analyzed over unbalanced hops with independent but not necessarily identically distributed Rayleigh fading. Exact closed-form expressions are derived for the moment generating function of the end-to-end signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) at the destination. Our analysis apply to arbitrary numbers of relays and arbitrary numbers of antennas at the destination. Based on the derived results, we determine the symbol error rate with M-ary phase-shift keying. In addition, we carry out an asymptotic analysis in the high SNR regime. Our results provide fundamental insights into the impact of the number of antennas on the performance of multiple AF relaying. We explicitly reveal that the diversity order is equal to the sum of the number of relays and the number of antennas. Theoretical analysis is verified by simulation.
Many sins of the mass media in Nigeria: A critical appraisal of the media in a decade of nascent democracy

The thrust of this paper has two foci. First, a critical insight into the media as a political resource in both developing and advanced democracies. This glaringly forms the theoretical anchor for this paper. Secondly, the paper takes a cursory look at the performance of the mass media, within the first decade of civilian rule in Nigeria. The paper, however, infers that hardly do the media hold themselves down to the standards of conduct and decency they set for others. Indeed, one confronts the irony whereby those whose professional preoccupation and social mandate touch on the criticism and scrutiny of others become overtly defensive, aggressive, panicky or retaliatory when they are criticized. The paper recommends a more boisterous media devoid of the well-known impediments for sustainable democracy in the next decade. Key words: Press, mass media, democracy, ‘sins’, resources.
Dendritic Cell Function in Vivo during the Steady State: A Role in Peripheral Tolerance

Abstract: The avoidance of autoimmunity requires mechanisms to actively silence or tolerize self reactive T cells in the periphery. During infection, dendritic cells are not only capturing microbial antigens, but also are processing self antigens from dying cells as well as innocuous environmental proteins. Since the dendritic cells are maturing in response to microbial and other stimuli, peptides will be presented from both noxious and innocuous antigens. Therefore it would be valuable to have mechanisms whereby dendritic cells, prior to infection, establish tolerance to those self and environmental antigens that can be processed upon pathogen encounter. In the steady state, prior to acute infection and inflammation, dendritic cells are in an immature state and not fully differentiated to carry out their known roles as inducers of immunity. These immature cells are not inactive, however. They continuously circulate through tissues and into lymphoid organs, capturing self antigens as well as innocuous environmental proteins. Recent experiments have provided direct evidence that antigen‐loaded immature dendritic in vivo silence T cells either by deleting them or by expanding regulatory T cells. In this way, it is proposed that the immune system overcomes at least some of the risk of developing autoimmunity and chronic inflammation. It is proposed that dendritic cells play a major role in defining immunologic self, not only centrally in the thymus but also in the periphery.
The Contribution of Mindfulness Practice to a Multicomponent Behavioral Sleep Intervention following Substance Abuse Treatment in Adolescents: A Treatment-Development Study

Poor sleep is common in substance use disorders (SUDs) and is a risk factor for relapse. Within the context of a multicomponent, mindfulness-based sleep intervention that included mindfulness meditation (MM) for adolescent outpatients with SUDs (n = 55), this analysis assessed the contributions of MM practice intensity to gains in sleep quality and self-efficacy related to SUDs. Eighteen adolescents completed a 6-session study intervention and questionnaires on psychological distress, sleep quality, mindfulness practice, and substance use at baseline, 8, 20, and 60 weeks postentry. Program participation was associated with improvements in sleep and emotional distress, and reduced substance use. MM practice frequency correlated with increased sleep duration and improvement in self-efficacy about substance use. Increased sleep duration was associated with improvements in psychological distress, relapse resistance, and substance use–related problems. These findings suggest that sleep is an important therapeutic target in substance abusing adolescents and that MM may be a useful component to promote improved sleep.
How does Networking Impact the SMEs Growth

How does Networking Impact the SMEs Growth Today's market conditions are forcing companies to adapt to changes in order to survive, grow and be competitive. Such changes include inter-company cooperation and networks, which allow for competition and innovation in a dynamic environment. Today, almost all industries are affected by the evolution of networking relationships within and between firms; however, previous studies have revealed that companies differ in their competitive strategies, strategic and technological orientation, and methods of networking. Most of these studies have linked networking with performance, with less empirical evidence on linking networking in SMEs with company growth. Previous research has also shown that entrepreneurial potential in Slovenia is not fully utilized. For this reason, the presented paper investigates a networking in SMEs and its contribution to the companies' growth.
Closing the Latino/a Transfer Gap: Creating Pathways to the Baccalaureate

In October 2010, the White House Summit on Community Colleges, the first-ever convening of its kind, acknowledged the critical role of community colleges in achieving President Barack Obama’s goal of making America the most educated country in the world within a decade. This call to action came with a great sense of urgency for community colleges to create pathways to a baccalaureate and to design interventions that would AUTHORS
Payments for environmental services and rural livelihood strategies in Ecuador and Guatemala

ABSTRACT Presented in this paper are the results of two contingent valuation analyses, one undertaken in Ecuador and the other in Guatemala, of potential payments for environmental services (PES) directed toward rural households. We find that minimum compensation demanded by these households is far from uniform, depending in particular on individual strategies for raising incomes and dealing with risks. Our findings strengthen the case for allowing conservation payments to vary among recipients, which would be a departure from the current norm for PES initiatives in Latin America.
Detection of human papillomavirus-16 and HPV-18 DNA in normal, dysplastic, and malignant oral epithelium.

OBJECTIVE Our aim was to clarify the association of human papillomavirus (HPV) with oral carcinogenesis, especially its early stage. STUDY DESIGN Tissue specimens of normal mucosa, epithelial dysplasia, oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), and OSCC cell lines were examined for the presence of HPV-16 and HPV-18 E6 DNA by means of the polymerase chain reaction test. RESULTS The detection rate of HPV-16 in epithelial dysplasia (31/51) was higher than that in normal mucosa (16/44) and in OSCC (30/86) and was statistically different from that in OSCC. The cases that progressed from epithelial dysplasia to carcinoma showed a significantly higher HPV-16 detection rate than the other cases in both epithelial dysplasia and OSCC. HPV-16 and HPV-18 were detected only at early passages of 2 of 10 OSCC cell lines. CONCLUSIONS These results strongly suggest that HPV-16 may be involved in the early stages of the development of some oral carcinomas.
Measuring the Impact of Research on Well-being: A Survey of Indicators of Well-being

The main objective of this report is to conduct a survey and assessment of various indicators used by organizations, both in Canada and abroad, to measure attributes and the well-being of society at the economic, health, environmental, social, and cultural levels. The compilation includes a combination of quantitative and qualitative and objective and subjective indicators or measures. The report is divided into five major parts. The first part provides a brief overview of Canada's research effort. The second part, by far the longest section, surveys a large number of sets of indicators and composite measures that have been developed to quantify well-being in Canada, in the United States, in OECD countries, and at the international level. The third section develops a preliminary framework for measuring the impact of research on well-being. The fourth section discusses briefly the role of indicators in public policy initiatives to improve the well-being of Canadians. The fifth and final section outlines directions for further work. The report concludes that it is entirely feasible to assess the impact of research investments in Canada on various dimensions of well-being. But it is important to specify what particular research investments and what dimensions of well-being are of interest given the many types of research investments and well-being dimensions as well as the complex interrelationships between research and well-being.
Estimating the Distance Equivalence of the Canada-U.S. Border on U.S.-to-Canada Visitor Flows

This article describes a method for estimating the impact of the Canada-U.S. border on international travel by American residents to Canada in terms of the “distance equivalence” of the border. On average, the border is equivalent to an additional 1,650 km of travel. State variations are noted, and a possible correlate of these variations is identified.
Inhibition of heat shock gene expression does not block the development of thermotolerance

After cells have been exposed to a nonlethal heat shock, they develop an enhanced resistance to subsequent prolonged heat shock. This process, termed thermotolerance, correlates with the expression of a group of proteins called the heat shock proteins. When cells are exposed to heat, protein synthesis is rapidly turned off and takes 5–6 hr to recover. In thermotolerant cells, protein synthesis is not blocked by heat. The heat shock proteins are thought to be responsible for the development of thermotolerance and the protection of the protein synthesis machinery from heat inactivation. To test the hypothesis that the heat shock proteins are involved in the heat shock response, we used two inhibitors to block their transcription and expression during heating and then monitored the effect on the development of thermotolerance and on protein synthesis. Camptothecin inhibits DNA topoisomerase I and blocks transcription of all actively transcribed genes, whereas dichloro‐D‐ribofuranosylbenzimidazole (DRB) inhibits only those genes transcribed by RNA polymerase II. Both DRB and camptothecin blocked the heat‐induced expression of the heat shock proteins, but the absence of these proteins did not block either the development of thermotolerance or the protection of protein synthesis after heating. The data indicate that thermotolerance can develop in the absence of new protein synthesis. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Rethinking Social Security Claiming in a 401(k) World

This chapter argues that previous research on Social Security take-up alternatives has failed to recognize critical factors that greatly impact the discussion on when it is most beneficial to start Social Security retirement benefits. We show that the effect of taxes can have a dramatic effect on the financial security of retirees, yet the taxation caused by IRA withdrawals and the interaction with Social Security has been largely misunderstood. In addition, changes made under the Senior Citizens’ Freedom to Work Act of 2000 make delaying Social Security for married couples much more favorable. We also show how the traditional approach of starting Social Security benefits early and deriving income from stock and bond mutual funds is expected to under-perform a strategy that takes income from personal retirement assets first and is followed by increased benefits from Social Security. James Mahaney Prudential Retirement 200 Wood Ave. South Iselin, NJ 08830 james.mahaney@prudential.com Peter Carlson Retirement Income Strategies Prudential Financial P.O. Box 2975 280 Trumbull Street, H08H Hartford, CT 06103 peter.carlson@prudential.com
Permanent pacemaker implantation following isolated aortic valve replacement in a large cohort of elderly patients with severe aortic stenosis

Objectives To assess the incidence of conduction disturbances leading to permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI) following isolated aortic valve replacement (AVR) in a large cohort of elderly patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis, and to determine the predictive factors and prognostic value of PPI following AVR in such patients. Methods A total of 780 consecutive elderly patients (age 77±4 years, logistic EuroSCORE 10.4±8.5%, STS score 3.5±1.5%) with severe aortic stenosis and no previous pacemaker were analysed. Main outcome measures The incidence, clinical indications, timing and predictive factors of PPI within 30 days after AVR and their prognostic value were evaluated. Results Baseline ECG showed the presence of conduction abnormalities in 37.1% of the patients. Twenty-five patients (3.2%) needed PPI during the index hospitalisation due to the occurrence of complete atrioventricular block (2.6%) or severe bradycardia (0.6%). The presence of preprocedural left bundle branch block (OR 4.65, 95% CI 1.62 to 13.36, p=0.004) or right bundle branch block (OR 4.21, 95% CI 1.47 to 12.03, p=0.007) predicted the need for PPI after AVR. The need for PPI was associated with a longer hospital stay (p<0.0001). Thirty-day mortality rates were similar between patients with and without PPI (4% vs 3.2%, p=0.56). Survival rate at 5-year follow-up was 75%, with no differences between patients with and without PPI (p=0.12). Conclusions The need for PPI following isolated AVR in elderly patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis was low. Pre-existing bundle branch block predicted the need for PPI. PPI determined a longer hospital stay, but had no effect on acute and long-term mortality.
Two-Part Tariffs Versus Linear Pricing between Manufacturers and Retailers: Empirical Tests on Differentiated Products Markets

We present a methodology allowing to introduce manufacturers and retailers vertical contracting in their pricing strategies on a differentiated product market. We consider in particular two types of non linear pricing relationships, one where resale price maintenance is used with two part tariffs contracts and one where no resale price maintenance is allowed in two part tariffs contracts. Our contribution allows to recover price-cost margins from estimates of demand parameters both under linear pricing models and two part tariffs. The methodology allows then to test between different hypothesis on the contracting and pricing relationships between manufacturers and retailers in the supermarket industry using exogenous variables supposed to shift the marginal costs of production and distribution. We apply empirically this method to study the market for retailing bottled water in France. Our empirical evidence shows that manufacturers and retailers use non linear pricing contracts and in particular two part tariffs contracts with resale price maintenance. At last, thanks to the estimation of the our structural model, we present some simulations of counterfactual policy experiments like the change of ownership of some products between manufacturers.
Sports on YouTube

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Personalized Interactive Surfaces with Printed Electronics

Recent advances in printed electronics have enabled the design and fabrication of thin, flexible and customizable interactive surfaces. These interfaces create opportunities for a variety of novel interactions leveraging on the unique form factor, flexibility and customization options. Previous research has demonstrated the possibility of customizable multi-touch sensors, conformal on-skin interfaces and printable shape changing displays. The aim of this tutorial is to acquire basic conceptual and practical skills in developing interactive surfaces with printed electronics.
Skills of Cognitive Flexibility in Monolingual and Bilingual Younger Adults

ABSTRACT The current study examined skills of cognitive flexibility and sustained attention in late bilingual and monolingual younger adults. One-hundred and sixty two younger adults aged between 18 and 34 years old (M = 22.39) classified as Turkish-English late bilinguals (N = 74) and Turkish monolinguals (N = 88) completed the Trail Making Test (TMT-A and TMT-B). Results from this study showed that Turkish-English late bilinguals had shorter RTs than Turkish monolinguals on the TMT-B, however there were no significant RT differences between the groups on the TMT-A. These findings indicate that bilingualism impacts upon skills of cognitive flexibility but not sustained attention and that the amount of practice in coordinating, monitoring, and switching between languages is an important determinant of cognitive improvement.
A Dynamic Analysis of the Demand for Life Insurance

Prior research suggests that neither the choice to own life insurance nor the amount purchased is consistently related to the presence of children in the household. While these perplexing findings are based on a static framework, we alternatively examine life insurance demand in a dynamic framework as a function of changes in household life cycle and financial condition. Our results indicate both a statistically and economically significant relation between life events, such as new parenthood, and the demand for life insurance. We also provide new evidence in support of the emergency fund hypothesis: households in which either spouse has become unemployed are more likely than other households to surrender their whole life insurance.
Harder Yards Ahead: The Second Stage of Public Sector Reform in New Zealand

The strengths and weaknesses of the “New Zealand model of public management’ have been recognised in this country since 1996 and a progressive shift is occurring that preserves an output focus for budgeting and financial management but introduces ‘managing for outcomes’ for programme and policy management. Derived from the Review of the Centre and initiatives such as Pathfinder, this second stage of reform is building on established foundations but needing hard work over coming years to bring it to fruition. There is much to applaud amongst current improvements but, on the surface they seen conservative and too slow to develop. They might, however, represent progressive ‘collective learning’ in contrast to the rapid and radical reforms of the first stage.