Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The impact of MENA-to-EU migration in the context of demographic change*

Abstract We analyze the consequences of increasing MENA-to-EU migration on both sending and receiving regions. Using a general equilibrium model, we find that increasing MENA-to-EU migration generates significant changes in EU15 tax rates and income per capita. Compared to a non-selective immigration shock, selecting immigrants leads to a moderate reduction in tax rates, but to a greater impact on income per capita in the EU15. Emigration, especially if high-skilled, has a detrimental impact on MENA tax rates. Finally, the negative effects in MENA are mitigated if the brain drain leads to side-effects or is accompanied by increased education attainment at origin.
A cooperative species: human reciprocity and its evolution

doi:10.1371/journal.pone. 0072427 Frydman, R. , & Goldberg, M. (2007). Imperfect Knowledge Economics: Exchange Rates and Risk. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. Frydman, R. , & Goldberg, M. (2011). Beyond Mechanical Markets. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. Hands, W. (2013). Foundations of Contemporary Revealed Preference Theory. Erkenntnis, 78(5), 1081–1108. 10.1007/s10670-012-9395-2 Hildenbrand, W. (1994). Market Demand. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. Smerilli, A. (2012). We-Thinking and Vacillation Between Frames: Filling a Gap in Bacharach’s Theory. Theory and Decision, 73(4), 539–560. 10.1007/s11238-012-9294-7 Stirling, W. C. (2012). Theory of Conditional Games. New York: Cambridge University Press. Tan, J. H. V. , & Zizzo, D. J. (2008). Groups, Cooperation and Conflict in Games. The Journal of Socio-Economics, 37(1), 1–17. 10.1016/j.socec. 2006.12. 023
Implementing Educational Policies in Kenya

ABSTRZCT This paper reviews the evolution of the Kenyan education system since independence from Britain in 1963. At the time of independence, very few resources were devoted to the education of Africans as compared to non-Africans, resalting in critical shortages of trained manpower. Educational segregation and differentiation also reinforced racial and ethnic prejudices. After independence, education was to be a significant tool not only for social justice and rapid development, but also for the promotion of unity and "nationhood. " The report outlines the institutional-and legal steps that were tak,:n to improve the edgcational system and traces its development through four 5-year development plans. In the space of 20 years, the system has expanded dramatically and universal free primary education has been achieved, the progression of the system has been restructured, and the curriculum has been significantly revised, placing more emphasis on the technical and vocational skills which remain in high demand. However, educational development in the post-colonial period has been hampered by insufficient resources due to poor economic conditions, a high rate of population growth, teacher shortages, the need to balance native language with foreign language instruction, poor internal efficiency, and continued problems with curriculum relevance. (Author/DB)
Determination of volatile compounds in apple pomace by stir bar sorptive extraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SBSE-GC-MS).

UNLABELLED A method based on stir bar sorptive extraction combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry detection (SBSE-GC-MS) has been optimized with the aim of applying it to the analysis of apple pomace. The method allowed the identification of 124 volatile compounds after 3 h of extraction with a precision (RSDs) ranging between 2% (linalool) and 11% (ethyl hexanoate). Its use in analyzing varietal apple pomace revealed the interest of this substrate as regards its content in aromas. From a semi-quantitative point of view, the higher content in aldehydes and esters of the Blanquina variety is worth highlighting, as are the greater concentration of acids in the Clara variety and the higher content of terpenes and norisoprenoides in the Coloradona variety. In contrast, the Ernestina and Perico varieties presented the lowest levels of aromas. PRACTICAL APPLICATION The analysis of varietal apple pomaces showed the importance of this type of waste in the food industry, both for its content in aromas such as for its use as substrate in biotechnological processes.
Asian Pacific-American Public Opinion and Political Participation

Studying Asian-American politics with public opinion data is a relatively new phenomenon. Only in the last decade have a number of surveys (collected mostly at the local or regional level) been taken, reflecting expanded interest in the growing Asian-American population and the development of ethnic sampling and interviewing techniques.In this article, the terms “Asian” and “Asian American” are used interchangeably. While most research on Asian-American political behavior focuses on voting, some work examines other forms of political participation. Recent scholarship concerns not only individual characteristics, but also contextual and institutional factors.
Dynamic Pricing for Network Service: Equilibrium and Stability

Consider a data communication network owned and operated by a single organization. The network has an infinite number of small users and is managed by a system manager SM whose objective is to maximize the net value of the system as a whole. The objective of this paper is to study pricing mechanisms that induce the optimal arrival rates when the SM has no full knowledge of the demand in advance. We investigate the system behavior under three alternative dynamic pricing rules and users' expectations models, and characterize the equilibrium and its stability conditions.
Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome and Associated Health Care Expenditures

Context Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) is a postnatal drug withdrawal syn-drome primarily caused by maternal opiate use. No national estimates are availablefor the incidence of maternal opiate use at the time of delivery or NAS.Objectives To determine the national incidence of NAS and antepartum maternalopiate use and to characterize trends in national health care expenditures associatedwith NAS between 2000 and 2009.Design,Setting,andPatients Aretrospective,serial,cross-sectionalanalysisofana-tionallyrepresentativesampleofnewbornswithNAS.TheKids’InpatientDatabase(KID)wasusedtoidentifynewbornswithNASby
Memory deficits and early cognitive deterioration in MS

Introduction– In the present study, the pattern of memory and learning deficits in two cognitively different, but clinically and demographically similar, multiple sclerosis (MS) groups was compared. Material & methods– 23 patients represented the cognitively preserved MS group and 22 patients the MS group with early cognitive decline. A control group of 35 healthy controls was also included. The cognitive status of the subjects was defined using the Mild Deterioration Battery (MDB). Furthermore, all subjects were given a set of memory and learning tests and were instructed to evaluate the frequency of their memory and learning difficulties. The Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE) was also administered to all subjects. Results– The cognitively deteriorated patients, even those with normal MMSE performance, showed widespread memory and learning deficits, but adequate self‐evaluation of their everyday memory and learning difficulties. The preserved group, in turn, performed similarly to the controls. Conclusion– Widespread memory and learning deficits are associated with relatively mild cognitive decline in MS. These deficits were observable in the intermediate‐length screening battery, the MDB, but not in the MMSE. The present study suggests that the accuracy of patients’own evaluations of their memory and other cognitive problems is superior to the results of very brief screening batteries, like the MMSE. Therefore, brief screening in neuropsychological assessment of MS patients is not recommendable.
Crowding-Out Effects of Cruise Tourism on Stay-Over Tourism in the Caribbean: Non-Parametric Panel Data Evidence

Based on a non-parametric panel data estimation, this study provides an econometric analysis of the relationship between stay-over and cruise tourism for 15 Caribbean islands over the period 1985–2004. It reveals heterogeneity of tourism flows across different destinations. It also emphasizes the crowding-out effects of cruise tourism on stay-over tourism. Using a static Cournot game framework, the authors show that, for most of the destinations, stay-over tourism and cruise tourism are strategic substitutes. Moreover, a ‘crowding-out trap’ seems to have emerged since the beginning of the 1990s and is tending to spread. Policymakers have a weak negotiating position vis-à-vis an oligopolistic cruise ship tourism industry, resulting in an uncontrolled and increasing share of cruise tourism flows. As the Caribbean authorities have managed their growth process in the belief that there is complementarity between cruise tourism and stay-over tourism, these results suggest that the strategic vision of a growth process based on tourist activity has to be revised.
Mechanical Study of the Safe Distance Between Distal Femoral Fracture Site and Distal Locking Screws in Antegrade Intramedullary Nailing

Objective: To determine the safe distance for distal femoral fractures relative to the distal locking screws in antegrade intramedullary femoral nailing using a currently available titanium alloy nail design. Design: Cyclic (fatigue) mechanical testing study. Setting: Biomechanics laboratory. Intervention: Intramedullary nailing of left synthetic fiberglass composite femora with type 32/33-C fractures at 1, 2, 3, and 4 cm from the more proximal of the distal locking screws. Main Outcome Measurement: The number of loading cycles to failure of the nail. Results: A load level of 700 N through the femoral mechanical axis was validated as adequate to cause fatigue failure within 200,000 cycles in slotted stainless- steel nails. In the nonslotted titanium alloy nails, this load level caused failure in only 1 of 3 nails with a fracture at 2 cm from the more proximal of the 2 distal locking screws and in 2 of 3 nails with a fracture at 1 cm from the more proximal of the 2 distal locking screws. All of the other nails did not fail >1 million cycles. Conclusions: Under laboratory conditions, it is safe to assume that an antegrade titanium alloy nail will survive 1 million compression/bending cycles when the fracture is ≥3 cm from the more proximal of the 2 distal locking screws.
Appraising effect of environmental parameter toward mangrove area: A review

Mangrove is a valuable ecological and economic resource. However, mangrove is repeatedly being threatened by many ideas such as reclamation including aquaculture, agriculture or development projects. Similar trend is happening in Malaysia that the annual mangrove loss in some major state in Peninsular Malaysia is about 1,282 ha or about 1% a year since 1990. The actual scenario of mangrove ecosystem and what affect its growth are necessary to be study especially in Malaysia. This paper reviews the concept of mangrove study and its potential implementation in Malaysia mangrove area. This review paper aims to provide a short overview on mangrove ecosystem, their benefit and the application of remote sensing in mangrove analyses and monitoring including the technique applied and the output from mangrove study. A suggestion and recommendation for the next study were discussed at the end of this paper. In this paper, a research proposal for the next study was mentioned.
Housing Policy, (De)segregation and Social Mixing: An International Perspective

Much of the academic and policy literature on residential segregation has emphasised the negative effects of the enduring concentration of households from particular ethnic or socio-economic groups. Often drawing directly on the US experience of ‘ghettoisation’, many contributors have pointed to persistent black minority segregation in particular as a benchmark of failure with regard to social and economic integration, and equality of opportunity in housing and the workplace (for example, Fortuijn et al., 1998; Johnston et al., 2002; Peach, 1996; van der Laan Bouma-Doff, 2007; Walks & Bourne, 2006). As Fortuijn et al. (1998, p. 367) have contended ‘the black ghetto in American cities symbolises the accumulation of the miseries of modern Western societies’.
Circulating promyelocytes and low levels of CD16 expression on polymorphonuclear leukocytes accompany early-onset periodontitis

Early-onset periodontitis (EOP) is characterized by rapidly progressive alveolar bone loss, chemotactic defects of neutrophils, and significant familial aggregation. We found immature myeloid lineage cells, defined as promyelocytes, in the peripheral blood in patients with EOP. A hematological examination of peripheral blood cells showed normal reference values regarding cell proportions. Flow cytometry revealed significantly lower expression of CD16, a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored protein, on peripheral neutrophils in patients compared with those in age- and sex-matched healthy controls, whereas the levels of CD11a and CD11b expression were similar. The chemotactic response of neutrophils was lower toward not only formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine but also complement fragment C5a than that of healthy controls. The expression of another GPI-anchored protein, CD14, was equally expressed by controls and patients. Therefore, the low level of CD16 expression was not due to the incomplete synthesis of the GPI anchor. GPI anchors of CD16 on neutrophils from controls and patients were both partially resistant to phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C. The presence of promyelocytes in peripheral blood, low expression of CD16, and low chemotactic response of neutrophils suggest that patients with EOP have an abnormal maturation system in myeloid lineage cells in the bone marrow, which may be associated with the onset and course of EOP.
Managing Central-Local Government Relationships: The Case of New Zealand

The manner in which central and local governments engage has taken on extra salience in recent years as governments seek to address wicked issues and begin to appreciate the role of place as a key contributor of economic growth. Different approaches exist, ranging from formal and constitutional to informal and political, but none represents a magic bullet with outcomes always subject to local circumstances. In this context the example of New Zealand highlights a particular challenge; how to maintain effective of inter-governmental relationships in the absence of either constitutional recognition of local government or a formal agreement between the two sectors.
Misalignment and Managed Exchange Rates: An Application to the Thai Baht

This paper proposes a methodology for analyzing dynamic misalignment in managed exchange rate systems that combines the estimation approach to modeling the real exchange rate with the calibration approach to generating the equilibrium real exchange rate. The methodology is applied to the Thai baht and the model is estimated using only pre-July 1997 data. An analysis of the difference between the evolution of the actual real exchange rate and the generated equilibrium rate - the misalignment gap - reveals the extent to which the market was persistently factoring in an expected depreciation of the Thai baht.
Efficient Portfolios of Market Advisory Services: An Application of Shrinkage Estimators

A Bayesian hierarchical model was employed to estimate individual expected pricing performance for market advisory programs in corn and soybeans. Performance is defined as the difference between the price/revenue obtained by following the program's marketing recommendations and the average price/revenue offered by the market along the marketing window. The estimates obtained from this model are weighted averages of traditional separate and pooled estimates. Based on the sample employed, the most reasonable individual estimates for expected pricing performance imply a substantial shrinkage towards pooled values. The Bayesian estimates for expected pricing performance range from ¢9/bu to ¢9/bu for corn, from ¢11/bu to ¢17/bu for soybeans and $0.4/acre to $11/acre for revenue. Bayesian estimates are employed in the construction of efficient portfolios of advisory programs. Results suggest that farmers can benefit from following the marketing recommendations of advisory programs portfolios.
Testing evolutionary hypotheses about species borders: patterns of genetic variation towards the southern borders of two rainforest Drosophila and a related habitat generalist

Several evolutionary hypotheses help explain why only some species adapt readily to new conditions and expand distributions beyond borders, but there is limited evidence testing these hypotheses. In this study, we consider patterns of neutral (microsatellite) and quantitative genetic variation in traits in three species of Drosophila from the montium species group in eastern Australia. We found little support for restricted or asymmetrical gene flow in any species. In rainforest-restricted Drosophila birchii, there was evidence of selection for increased desiccation and starvation resistance towards the southern border, and a reduction in genetic diversity in desiccation resistance at this border. No such patterns existed for Drosophila bunnanda, which has an even more restricted distribution. In the habitat generalist Drosophila serrata, there was evidence for geographic selection for wing size and development time, although clinal patterns for increased cold and starvation resistance towards the southern border could not be differentiated from neutral expectations. These findings suggest that borders in these species are not limited by low overall genetic variation but instead in two of the species reflect patterns of selection and genetic variability in key traits limiting borders.
Economic growth and financial liberalization in the EU accession countries

This article investigates the impact of financial liberalization on aggregate productivity growth. Based on a sample of the EU accession countries and using quarterly longitudinal panel data between 1995 and 2007, the static robust and dynamic panel data estimates indicate clear evidence of a link between the long-run growth and a number of indicators of financial liberalization. The empirical results illustrate that financial liberalization is negatively related to economic growth significantly. The results imply that higher levels of post-EU-membership growth are not caused by liberalized financial markets.
Trace metal levels in water and sediment from the Sakumo II and Muni lagoons, Ghana

Trace metal (Cu, Zn, Pb, Mn, Fe and Cd) levels were determined in water and sediment from the Sakumo II and Muni lagoons and the Mamahuma and Gbagbla Ankonu feeder streams, which feed the Sakumo II lagoon over a 1-year period, and their occurrences compared. Some physical parameters (temperature, pH and electrical conductivity) were also investigated. The aim of the study was to establish the pollution status of the two lagoons, as well as investigate whether the feeder streams of the Sakumo II lagoon have any influence (in terms of trace metal pollution) on the Sakumo II lagoon. Results showed that upper mean values in water and sediment were Zn ( 0.160 ± 0.01 mg/l, 48.7 ± 0.93 mg/kg), Pb (0.057 ± 0.03 mg/l, 29.2 ± 3.2 mg/kg), Mn (0.798 ± 0.07 mg/l, 668.2 ± 6.3 mg/kg), Cu (0.158 ± 0.01 mg/l), Fe (1.32 ± 0.73 mg/l, 3075 ± 14.7 mg/kg), respectively, for Sakumo II lagoon. Cd levels in water and sediment ranged from 0.004 ± 0.001 to 0.009 ± 0.001 mg/l and
Primers for polymerase chain reaction to detect genomic DNA of Toxocara canis and T. cati

Abstract Primers for polymerase chain reaction to amplify genomic DNA of both Toxocara canis and T. cati were constructed by adapting cloning and sequencing random amplified polymorphic DNA. The primers are expected to detect eggs and/or larvae of T. canis and T. cati, both of which are known to cause toxocariasis in humans.
Novel optical hybrid line configuration for quasi-lossless transmission by distributed Raman amplification

We propose a novel lossless transmission line configuration which exhibits significantly small signal power variation along the line by Raman amplification. A hybrid line consisting of two fibers with different Raman gain properties is theoretically investigated, and it is shown that signal power deviation can be suppressed to only 1.2 dB in a 50-km span. Validity of the proposed hybrid line is confirmed by experiments.
Ultra compressed parametric modelling of UWB antenna measurements

The need for antenna models, both simple and realistic is more and more often expressed in the context of UWB communications. This paper addresses this topic through an approach based on a drastic reduction of the descriptive parameters set of antennas based on double projection of their Transfer Function or Impulse Response. The latter is expanded over a basis of damped sinusoids (Singular Expansion Method) via the Generalized Matrix-Pencil Total Least Squares (GMP-TLS) algorithm. The extracted Residues, functions of the angular coordinates are then expanded over a basis of spherical modes. The method is applied to various prototypes, focusing as a first step on small or moderate size antennas. It is shown in practice that data compression rates as high as 99.9 % are achievable.
Sources of family income and expenditure on children's private, after‐school education in Korea

This paper examines the relationship between sources of family income and household expenditure on private, after-school education for children in secondary schools in Korea in the context of educational ‘credentialism’, which values evidence of college education highly. Data from a survey of 514 parents of secondary school students are used. Estimated ordinary least squares coefficients indicate that the wife's income, but not the husband's, was positively associated with the amount of spending on children's education at private, after-school programmes. This finding suggests that some married women with children in Korea seek employment in order to earn the money needed for their children's private, after-school education.
Value of Serum IgG4 in the Diagnosis of Autoimmune Pancreatitis and in Distinguishing It From Pancreatic Cancer

OBJECTIVES:To determine the sensitivity and specificity of elevated serum IgG4 level for the diagnosis of autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) and its ability to distinguish AIP from pancreatic cancer, its main differential diagnosis.METHODS:We measured serum IgG4 levels (normal 8–140 mg/dL) in 510 patients including 45 with AIP, 135 with pancreatic cancer, 62 with no pancreatic disease, and 268 with other pancreatic diseases.RESULTS:Sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive values for elevated serum IgG4 (>140 mg/dL) for diagnosis of AIP were 76%, 93%, and 36%, respectively, and 53%, 99%, and 75%, respectively, for IgG4 of >280 mg/dL. Among subjects with elevated IgG4, non-AIP subjects (N = 32) differed from AIP subjects (N = 34) in that they were more likely to be female (45% vs 9%, P < 0.001), less likely to have serum IgG4 >280 mg/dL (13% vs 71%, P < 0.001), or elevation of total IgG (16% vs 56%, P < 0.001). Serum IgG4 levels were elevated in 13/135 (10%) pancreatic cancer patients; however, only 1% had IgG4 levels >280 mg/dL compared with 53% of AIP. Compared with AIP, pancreatic cancer patients were more likely to have CA19-9 levels of >100 U/mL (71% vs 9%, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION:Elevated serum IgG4 levels are characteristic of AIP. However, mild (<2-fold) elevations in serum IgG4 are seen in up to 10% of subjects without AIP including pancreatic cancer and cannot be used alone to distinguish AIP from pancreatic cancer. Because AIP is uncommon, IgG4 elevations in patients with low pretest probability of having AIP are likely to represent false positives.