Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Economics of Public Utility Regulation

The Economics of Public Utility Regulation surveys the large literature on the regulation of public utilities and provides industry studies with specific applications of the more general theories. The industries covered Include telecommunications, electricity, gas, and water. The authors explain the economic concepts involved And present a rich framework for understanding the institutional and administrative context of the regulatory process. Michael Crew and Paul Kleindorfer consolidated their reputations as experts in the field of regulated public utilities in 1979, when their book Public Utility Economics was published. Since then, theoretical concepts for dealing with utilities have been significantly extended, and utilities themselves have been dramatically transformed. This new book presents an indispensible update. The opening section introduces the basic welfare foundations, including a neoclassical treatment of efficiency and equity and a development of the principles of the new institutional economics. These concepts are then employed to examine the problems of natural monopoly and regulation. The material on welfare-optimal pricing puts special emphasis on the peak-load pricing problem, which is shown to be pervasive in public utilities of all varieties. Both deterministic models and stochastic models of peak-load pricing are examined. Alternative governance structures for natural monopoly are evaluated in some detail, with the U.S. system of privately owned regulated monopolies and the predominant governance structure in the U.S. - rate-of-return regulation - receiving the greatest attention. The authors next take a close-up look at four specific public utilitiesfocusing on pricing and efficiency. Michael A. Crew is Professor of Economics at the Graduate School of Management, Rutgers University. Paul R. Kleindorfer is Professor of Decision Sciences and Economics at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, and Director of the Center for the Study of Organizational Innovation. The Economics of Public Utility Regulation is the thirteenth in the MIT Press Series on the Regulation of Economic Activity, edited by Richard Schmalensee.
The Nature and Causes of Effective Human Resource Management

Abstract: Four models of the causes of effective human resource management were tested using a large sample of national health service (NHS) provider trusts and districts. The four models, labelled organizational integration, policy integration, functional integration and process integration, were operationalized and tested in a regression analysis against a range of qualitative and quantitative measures of HRM effectiveness. The results reveal little or no association between the qualitative and quantitative measures of effectiveness and show that the models are better at explaining qualitative effectiveness. The most strongly supported models are organizational integration, reflected particularly in the formalization by senior management of HRM policy, and process integration, reflected in the quality and efficiency of personnel service and support. There is little support for policy integration — the idea of a coherent policy focus — and none at all for functional integration, that is, the view that a personnel department generously staffed by professional specialists will enhance effectiveness. The theoretical and policy implications of these results are discussed.
Kinodynamic Motion Planning for UAVs: A Minimum Energy Approach

We present an optimal kinodynamic rapidly exploring random tree, a single query incremental sampling based optimal motion planner for robots with non-linear dynamics, differential constraints and actuation limitations. Our work extends the algorithms presented previously by formulating a fixed-final-state-free-final-time open loop configuration space metric for nearest neighbours search and the appropriate closed loop feedback controller for the tree extension heuristic, allowing us to introduce constraints on actuation magnitude and bandwidth. The controller is formulated by minimizing the amount of energy used to connect two states whereas the trade off is between total trajectory time and weighted actuation norm. We demonstrate the algorithm on (1) a simple 2D pendulum with actuation constraints and (2) a quad rotor 13D model.
Thirty-Something Million: Should They Be Exceptions?

There are over 30 million people in the United States with disabilities or functional limitations (of which a major cause is aging), and this number is increasing. An examination of the role of human factors in addressing this population is presented which includes both special designs for disability/aging and the incorporation of disability/aging into mainstream human factors research and education. Statistics regarding the size and characteristics of this population are presented, including the costs of disability. Examples demonstrating the economic and commercial feasibility of incorporating disability/aging considerations in mass-market designs are provided along with a discussion of the benefits to nondisabled users.
Corporate governance, regulation and risk-taking behaviour in the banking industry: the Tunisian evidence

This paper analyses empirically the determinants of risk-taking in Tunisian commercial banks, with special emphasis on the ownership structure, the acceptance of government officials on bank's boards, the capital adequacy requirements and the franchise value. The sample used comprised ten commercial banks for the period from 1997 to 2006. In 1999, the Central Bank of Tunisia increased the minimum capital requirements for the banking industry vis-a-vis risk-weighted assets to 8%, along the lines proposed by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision. We find that the key component of Basel I-capital adequacy requirements does not affect bank risk-taking. The acceptance of government officials on banks' boards reduces bank risk. The relationship between the managerial holdings and total and firm specific risk is non-linear; the risk increases initially with the ownership by managers, and then decreases as the effect of managerial entrenchment dominates the effects of interest alignment on bank risk. In contrast, systematic risk was unrelated to ownership. The franchise value does not affect bank risk. Finally, robustness tests examining the shareholder monitoring hypothesis and the substitution hypothesis yield results inconsistent with the argument that regulation (an external governance mechanism) and shareholder monitoring (an internal governance mechanism) are substitutes for one another.
Comparison of British National Newspaper Coverage of Homicide Committed by Perpetrators with and Without Mental Illness

Objective: Adverse newspaper reporting of mental illness and in particular, violence committed by a mentally ill person, is thought to contribute to stigma. However, violent events are also considered highly newsworthy by journalists. The aim of this study was to compare the likelihood of newspaper reporting for convicted perpetrators of homicide with and without a history of contact with mental health services. Method: A 12 month (April 2000-March 2001) cohort of 577 homicide perpetrators with and without a history of contact with mental health services in England and Wales was examined. These cases were identified by the National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide by People with Mental Illness. By examining 12 national newspapers, we compared the likelihood of reporting homicide perpetrators with and without mental illness. Results: Under half (228 cases, 40%) of the homicide perpetrators were reported in at least one of the study newspapers. Under a fifth (94 cases, 16%) of perpetrators had a history of contact with mental health services and such previous contact did not increase the likelihood of newspaper reporting (odds ratio 1.0 (0.6–1.6)). Conclusions: Previous contact with mental health services did not influence the newsworthiness of a homicide perpetrator. The stigmatizing effect of reporting homicide by perpetrators with mental illness may relate more to the quality of reporting rather than selective over-reporting.
True and false memories in adolescents with psychosis: Evidence for impaired recollection and familiarity

Introduction. Psychotic patients are impaired on recall and recognition of studied items (true memory) and typically make more false recall (intrusions) and false recognition than controls, reflecting greater susceptibility to false memory. The functional mechanisms underlying these deficits are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to examine recollection and familiarity in true and false memory in psychotic adolescents without long-term exposure to medication and repeated hospitalisations. Methods. Seventeen adolescents with psychosis and 17 matched controls were tested on a DRM false memory paradigm combined with a remember (R)/know (K)/guess (G) procedure. Recall and recognition of targets (studied words), critical lures (associated words) and unrelated distractors were measured. Between-group comparisons were made using t-tests and mixed ANOVAs. Independent estimates for recollection and familiarity were also calculated. Results. True memory was impaired in patients. Similar rates of false memory for critical lures were found in both groups. False memory for unrelated distractors was increased in patients. Contrary to controls, who attributed more R and K responses to targets than lures, patients attributed similar proportions of R and K responses to targets and lures. Furthermore, patients attributed more K responses than controls to all distractors. Conclusions. These findings suggest a deficit in recollection- and familiarity-based memory in psychotic adolescents as well as reliance on preserved gist or meaning-based memory to support poor item-specific memory.
The Effects of Personal Economic Problems upon Voting in American National Elections

Several previous studies have concluded that individuals' personal economic conditions exert only weak, intermittent effects upon their voting decisions. These studies, however, have all used the same measure to test the same basic hypothesis—that economic adversity of any kind leads to voting against the incumbent President and candidates of his party. This study uses answers to a battery of open-ended questions included in the 1972-1976 CPS National Election Studies to develop new and more detailed indicators of personally experienced economic problems. These data are then used to test an alternative, policy-oriented hypothesis that personal difficulties resulting from inflation lead voters to give greater support to the Republicans, while voters personally injured by unemployment give greater support to the Democrats. In analyzing these new measures this study repeatedly found important differences between inflation and unemployment. First, unemployment inflicts substantial objective economic costs while the major costs of inflation, at least in the short run, are the more intangible psychological costs of coping with more uncertainty. Secondly, the costs of unemployment are heavily concentrated among certain sectors of the labor force, while the costs of inflation are borne roughly equally by all major groups in society. Thirdly, inflation and unemployment differ markedly in their political ramifications. Only a small percentage of individuals cited unemployment, but they tended to perceive the Democrats to be better at dealing with unemployment, and gave relatively greater support to Democratic candidates. In contrast, during the period studied a large percentage of the citizenry cited inflation as their most serious economic problem. But these voters did not give a significant edge to either party as better able to handle inflation, nor did their concern over inflation systematically affect their choices in presidential and congressional elections.
Therapeutic time window and effect of intracarotid neural stem cells transplantation for intracerebral hemorrhage

This study investigated the therapeutic effect of neural stem cells transplanted via the carotid artery at different times after intracerebral hemorrhage. A great number of 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine-positive cells were observed surviving and distributed evenly in the perihematoma areas. Phenotypes of grafted cells depended upon time of transplantation, and the later the cells were transplanted, the larger the percentage of cells that differentiated into neurons. Animals treated at 7 and 14 days after injury exhibited the most significant improvements in behavioral tests. Therefore,intracarotid injection allows efficient delivery of cells to the injured hemisphere, especially during the period 7–14 days after injury, and may potentially be applicable in humans.
[META-ANALYSIS OF CLINICAL STUDIES ON THE USE OF STATINS FOR PREVENTION OF ATRIAL FIBRILLATION SOON AFTER CORONARY BYPASS SURGERY].

BACKGROUND Atrial fibrillation (AF) develops in the early postoperative period in each third patient undergoing coronary bypass surgery (CBPS). Multifactorial pathogenesis of postoperative AF is unclear. The concept of postoperative inflammation as a potential basic mechanism of this condition has been implied in many studies. Pre- and postoperative treatment with antiinflammatory statins proved beneficial as a means for reducing the frequency of AF. MATERIALS AND METHODS The meta-analysis is based on the results of 15 clinical studies carried out in the last 15 years. They included 9369 patients of whom 5598 (59.75%) used statins and 3771 (49.25%) did not receive them. The following endpoints were evaluated in the early postoperative periods: fiequency of AF, overall lethality, frequency of cerebral circulation disorders and myocardial infarction. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% CI were calculated, levels of inflammation markers before and after surgery and duration of hospitalization were determined. RESULTS Statins decreased the frequency of AF soon after CBPS (OR 0,481 at 95% CI 0,345-0,672; p = 0,000), they did not influence overall lethality (OR 0,837 at 95% CI 0,501-1,399: p = 0,497) and frequency of myocardial infarction (OR 1,001 at 95% CI 0,702-1,426; p = 0,997), but decreased frequency of cerebral circulation disorders (OR 0,067 at 95% Cl 0,037- 0,121; p = 0,000). Also, they reduced duration of hospitalization and serum levels of inflammation markers. CONCLUSION Results of clinical studies available to date leave no doubt that statins produce anti-inflammatory and anti-arrhythmic effects. Meta-analysis of relevant studies confirmed on the whole the positive role of statin therapy prior to CBPS.
The determinants of cereal crop productivity of the peasant farm sector in Ethiopia, 1981-87

This paper employs a Cobb-Douglas type production function to estimate the impacts of various farm inputs on cereal crop production of the peasant farm sector in Ethiopia. The production function is estimated for the major food crops, teff, wheat, maize, barley and sorghum, using seemingly unrelated regression estimation (SURE). On average, about 90 per cent of crop output is explained by the two major traditional inputs, land and labour. Less than 10 per cent of output is explained by chemical fertilizers. The impact of chemical fertilizers is small but statistically significant. Rainfall has an important impact on cereal production. Stagnant and declining food production is due to poor factor productivity, which is mainly explained by population pressure, poor farming practice and vulnerability to droughts.
A phase I and pharmacokinetic study of a new camptothecin derivative, 9-aminocamptothecin.

Camptothecins are the only available antitumor agents which target the nuclear enzyme topoisomerase I. 9-Aminocamptothecin (9-AC) is a water-insoluble derivative of camptothecin which has demonstrated impressive antitumor activity in preclinical models. While two other water-soluble derivatives, CPT-11 and topotecan, have successfully completed Phase I and Phase II testing, biochemical and tissue culture studies suggest that camptothecin analogues differ in characteristics which may be important in determining antitumor activity. We performed a Phase I trial of 9-AC to determine the pharmacokinetics, dose-limiting toxicity, and maximum tolerated dose of this agent when administered as a 72-h continuous i.v. infusion. Thirty-one patients with resistant solid cancers received 5-60 microgram/m2/h 9-AC for 72 h, repeated at 3-week intervals. The drug was administered in a vehicle containing dimethylacetamide, polyethylene glycol, and phosphoric acid. Blood samples were collected and the lactone (closed ring) form of 9-AC was quantitated. The maximum tolerated dose of 9-AC was determined to be 45 microgram/m2/h. Dose-limiting toxicity consisted of neutropenia. Thrombocytopenia was also prominent. There were no significant nonhematological toxicities. Minimal responses were seen in patients with gastric, colon, and non-small cell lung cancer. Although significant interpatient variation in plasma 9-AC lactone levels was observed, pooled data were fit to a two-compartment model, with a terminal half-life of 36 h. Analyses of topoisomerase protein levels in peripheral blood cells indicated decreases in topoisomerase I accompanied by increases in topoisomerase II in two of three patients. 9-AC is an active antitumor agent and may be administered safely as a 72-h infusion in patients with cancer. Although Phase II trials with a 72-h infusion of 9-AC are warranted, alternate schedules should be evaluated given the dramatic preclinical activity seen with more prolonged administrations.
Body Temperature and Grooming in the Mongolian Gerbil

The Mongolian gerbil, Meriones unguiculatus, like many other rodents, releases a complex mixture of pigments and lipids from the Harderian gland during a self-groom. The material exits from the external nares of the nose, is mixed with saliva, and spread widely over the pelage. Cold temperatures, especially, are effective in initiating grooming. A self-groom is associated with an increase in body temperature (compensatory thermogenesis in the cold). In addition to acting as a chemosignal, the Harderian material serves two major homeostatic functions: (1) the lipids on the pelage act to insulate the animal against cold and wetness, and (2) the lipids and pigments darken the pelage and increase radiant absorption. Body temperature is thus maintained at a higher level than would otherwise be the case. The amount of Harderian material found on the pelage varies with Harderianectomy, sandbathing, and ambient temperatures. Animals prevented from sandbathing accumulate excess lipids on the pelage, and cold temperatures facilitate the acquisition of lipids on the pelage. Under hot temperatures the grooming of Harderian substances is repressed and the frequency of sandbathing is increased. Thus pelage lipids are reduced in two ways. The amount of Harderian material released during an autogroom is inversely related to the ambient temperature, whereas the amount of saliva used for evaporative cooling is positively related to ambient temperature. The net effect is that pelage lipids are increased and maintained during cold conditions, and are reduced during hot conditions. In hot environments the gerbil switches from the spread of Harderian material for insulation to the spread of saliva for evaporative cooling. The gerbil optimizes its body temperature by varying the frequency of grooming and sandbathing, and by altering the amount of Harderian material and saliva released. Other species living in arid environments may use similar mechanisms to stabilize body temperature. Self-grooming is a critical behavior for meeting thermal needs, and is complexly integrated with related processes.
Procedural justice in promotion decisions of managerial staff in Malaysia

Previous research indicates that procedural justice in promotion decisions has affected employees' organizational commitment, intent to leave and career satisfaction. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of procedural justice in promotion decisions on managers' commitment, specifically organizational commitment, intent to leave, career satisfaction and job performance in multinational companies in Malaysia. Data were obtained from a sample of managers with more than 10 years of service in the organization through in-depth interviews. The findings show that perceived procedural injustice in promotion decisions have an unfavourable impact on employee commitment, job performance and career satisfaction. The intent to leave is also higher, especially among young managerial staff.
The Convergence of a Class of Quasimonotone Reaction–Diffusion Systems

It is proved that every solution of the Neumann initial‐boundary problem { ∂ui/∂t=diΔui+Fi(u)t>0, x∈Ω,∂ui/∂n(t,x)=0t>0, x∈∂Ω, i=1,2,…,n,ui(x,0)=ui,0(x)⩾0x∈Ω¯, converges to some equilibrium, if the system satisfies (i) ∂Fi/∂uj ⩾ 0 for all 1 ⩽ i ≠ j ⩽ n, (ii) F(u * g(s)) ⩾ h(s) * F(u) whenever u ∈ R+n and 0 ⩽ s ⩽ 1, where x * y = (x1y1, …, xnyn) and g, h : [0, 1] → [0, 1]n are continuous functions satisfying gi(0) = hi(0) = 0, gi(1) = hi(1) = 1, 0 < gi(s); hi(s) < 1 for all s ∈ (0, 1) and i = 1, 2, …, n, and (iii) the solution of the corresponding ordinary differential equation system is bounded in R+n . We also study the convergence of the solution of the Lotka–Volterra system { ∂ui/∂t=Δui+ui(ri+∑j=1naijuj)t>0, x∈Ω∂ui/∂n+αui=0t>0, x∈∂Ω, i=1,2…,n,ui(x,0)=ui,0(x)⩾0x∈Ω¯, where ri > 0, α ⩾ 0, and aij ⩾ 0 for i ≠ j.
Hardware verification: Determining the parameters of the modified Izhikevich neuron model with genetic algorithm

The nonlinear function in Izhikevich neuron model (IzNM) makes difficult the digital hardware realizations of the model, so this parabolic function has been transformed to piecewise linear (PWL) functions in the literature. Some coefficients have been identified in the PWL functions by utilizing the classical step size method, but the values of these coefficients depend on the sensitivity of the step size considerably. In this study, the coefficients of the PWL functions in the modified IzNM are determined by using Genetic Algorithm (GA). After the parameter determination, the modified IzNM is simulated with the parameters, which are determined by both classical step size and GA. Also, the original and modified IzNMs exhibiting “tonic spiking” and “tonic bursting” behaviors are realized with digital programmable device, namely FPGA. Thus, it is tested the utility of the intelligent search algorithms in the neuronal structures and verified the adaptability of their results to the hardware implementations.
Managing human resources in the leisure industry

“For us, our employees matter most. It just seems common sense to me that if you start off with a happy well motivated workforce, you’re much more likely to have happy customers. And in due course the resulting profits will make your shareholders happy” (Branson, Virgin) “there are 30,000 Nike employees across six continents, each of whom make their own contribution to fulfil our mission statement” (Nike) “success depends on all of our employees, men and women throughout the world” (Accor)
Trade Openness and Economic Growth in Latin American Countries

In the pre-reforms period the trade policy in Latin America had involved very high levels of protection and government intervention. The recent trade liberalization policies of the Latin American countries have sought to reverse the protectionist policies and open the scope for foreign direct investment and joint ventures in the public and private sector industries. This paper discusses the impact of trade openness policy on tariff structure, export competitiveness, inflation and economic growth of Latin American countries. The relationship between the trade openness and general price level as an indicator of inflation and robustness of this relationship has been explored in the study.