Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Senate Budget Committee: The Impact of Polarization on Institutional Design

Abstract The Senate Budget Committee is a unique and potentially powerful institution in the US legislature. It was begun to help coordinate the federal budget making process in the US Senate. Long-term trends and short-term institutional dynamics have weakened the coordinating capacity of the committee to the point that the budget process was entirely ignored in 2011. This article explores these changes. It shows evidence for Democrats and Republicans on the committee moving further apart ideologically since the 1970s resulting in more partisanship and less deliberation on the committee. It also shows how a combination of a narrow Democratic majority on the committee along with a recent uptick in ideological heterogeneity among Democrats but without prospects for bipartisanship, resulted in no budget process in 2011.
Impact of Peer Health Coaching on Glycemic Control in Low-Income Patients With Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial

PURPOSE Peer health coaches offer a potential model for extending the capacity of primary care practices to provide self-management support for patients with diabetes. We conducted a randomized controlled trial to test whether clinic-based peer health coaching, compared with usual care, improves glycemic control for low-income patients who have poorly controlled diabetes. METHOD We undertook a randomized controlled trial enrolling patients from 6 public health clinics in San Francisco. Twenty-three patients with a glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) level of less than 8.5%, who completed a 36-hour health coach training class, acted as peer coaches. Patients from the same clinics with HbA1C levels of 8.0% or more were recruited and randomized to receive health coaching (n = 148) or usual care (n = 151). The primary outcome was the difference in change in HbA1C levels at 6 months. Secondary outcomes were proportion of patients with a decrease in HbA1C level of 1.0% or more and proportion of patients with an HbA1C level of less than 7.5% at 6 months. Data were analyzed using a linear mixed model with and without adjustment for differences in baseline variables. RESULTS At 6 months, HbA1C levels had decreased by 1.07% in the coached group and 0.3% in the usual care group, a difference of 0.77% in favor of coaching (P = .01, adjusted). HbA1C levels decreased 1.0% or more in 49.6% of coached patients vs 31.5% of usual care patients (P = .001, adjusted), and levels at 6 months were less than 7.5% for 22.0% of coached vs 14.9% of usual care patients (P = .04, adjusted). CONCLUSIONS Peer health coaching significantly improved diabetes control in this group of low-income primary care patients.
The Rate of Return to Higher Education Over the Business Cycle

Currently there is only a scant literature available on the business cycle effect upon the private rate of return to higher education in Australia. This is despite the expectation that the business cycle would be of a significant consequence to the relative income of degree holders. This paper presents estimates of the rate of return in Australia associated with the completion of Bachelors degrees for a range of fields of study over the business cycle. The results show that for the average person there are strong incentives to complete these degrees, and the private rate of return compares favourably with the real long term real bond rate. However, there are considerable differences in rates of return according to gender and discipline of study. There also appear to be important business cycle effects on the rate of return to a university degree.
The Convergence of Regional House Prices in the UK

The ripple effect hypothesis implies a long-run convergence of regional UK house prices. However, despite many authors believing in the existence of such an underlying constancy, statistical evidence has yet to be presented supporting this implication. In this paper, an alternative approach is proposed to analyse regional house price ratios. In contrast to the findings of previous studies, application of this new procedure results in the detection of widespread convergence of house prices in a number of regions of the UK. The results suggest that the failure of previous analyses to uncover convergence is due to an underlying asymmetry in the adjustment process being ignored. Interestingly, the form of asymmetry detected varies between regions. While regions in the South East experience faster convergence following downswings in prices, other regions exhibit more rapid convergence following increases in prices.
Occupational therapy intervention for overuse syndrome.

This article was accepted for publication July 19, 1990. I n the past decade, occupational therapists involved with the rehabilitation of work-related musculoskeletal injuries have seen an astounding rise in the number of upper-extremity disorders. Various names have been given to these disorders, including repetitive strain disorder, cumulative trauma disorder, and overuse syndrome. All descrihe physical symptoms of persistent pain in jointS, muscles, tendons, or other soft tissues of the upper extremities. Many of these cases manifest themselves during work or leisure activities involving upper-body repetitive motions (Kroemer, 1989). A review of the literature reveals three main causes of occupationally induced overuse syndrome: (a) rapid repetitive movements; (b) less-frequent forceful movements; and (c) static loading, which is defined as the work the muscles must do to hold body parts in certain positions (Bammer & Blignault, 1987). Repetitive motions of the upper extremity occur frequently at the workplace. A data-entry operator may perform 20,000 keystrokes an hour, an assembly line worker may raise the dominant shoulder above acromion height 7,500 times per day, and a meat cutter may perform an average of 12,000 knife cuts per day (Snook, Fine, & Silverstein, 1988). Recent changes in industrial production methods may have precipitated the dramatic increase of overuse syndrome. For example, in the meatpacking industry, butchers used to work individually on carving whole carcasses. Several types of knives and knife strokes were used, thus providing variety in body movements and hand-grip specifications. Over the last two decades, however, the process of butchering cattle and hogs has been transformed into a high-speed assemblyline approach. Each worker makes the same knife cut several thousand times a day, resulting in a dramatic increase in production as well as a significant rise in overuse syndrome (Roel, 1989). Occupational therapists use a variety of intervention strategies to treat overuse syndrome, including splinting or casting for immobilization, education in proper hody mechanics and anatomy to minimize risk of reinjury, pain management techniques such as ice massage and pain medication, home modifications, and relaxation or stress management techniques. None of these treatment techniques, however, will help an injured employee return to his or her work environment unless modifications are made to the physical parameters of the job or the employee is allowed to modify his or her work behaviors. The present report describes occupational therapy intervention in the workplace with a printing company employee With bilateral upper-extremity overuse syndrome.
Actionnariat salarié et enracinement des dirigeants : un essai de compréhension

We examine in this paper the relationship between employee ownership and Ceo’s entrenchment strategies. Adopting a systemic approach, our analysis includes various control mechanisms able to influence the nature or the intensity of the studied relationship. Our research is based on a quantitative methodology combined with a qualitative approach. Issued from prior literature analysis, our hypotheses are tested for a sample of about 167 French quoted companies and results are discussed. JEL codes: M100
South Koreans' willingness to pay for Korean unification

This paper analyses the willingness to pay (WTP) of South Koreans for Korean unification. To deal with zero WTP responses given by a large number of people, a mixture model is used. The mean annual WTP for Korean unification is 5765 Korean won (GBP 2.88) per person. The aggregate value to South Koreans would then be 194.62 billion Korean won (GBP 97.31 million) annually.
Turning National Parks into Tourist Attractions: Nature Orientation and Quest for Facilities

Abstract This paper presents an exploratory analysis of foreign tourists’ quests for facilities in Norwegian national parks, related to their expressed nature orientation. The analysis was based on a survey among German, Dutch and Danish tourists during the summer season of 2008. Exploratory factor analysis was applied to identify underlying dimensions from indicator questions related to nature orientations and to quest for facilities inside and outside the national parks. The indicator questions were primarily inspired by Nils Uddenberg’s classification of modern Swedes’ nature orientations. We found a significant, although fairly weak, relationship between nature orientation and quest for facilities, applying multivariate regression modelling. The strongest relationship was found for the quest for larger management measures – “Infrastructure & services” – supported by nature orientations labelled Challenge or Sightseeing, while these were disapproved of by the traditional outdoor Recreation orientation. The wish for “Tracks and signposts” was also upheld by nature orientations Challenge and Sightseeing. A segment of the tourists, based on cluster analysis, indicated that one third requested development of “Infrastructure & services”, but this segment demanded all kinds of facility developments. The results indicate national park development potentials, clarifying which developments are contended, and diversifying the demand from three major nationalities visiting Norway.
Firms' human resource in information system and sustainable performance: does their organizational identity matter?

Research suggests that firms' human resource management (HRM) in information technology (IT) may have a positive effective effect on their strategies of sustainable development. Based on the perspective of organizational identity orientation, we argue that firms' collectivistic orientation may moderate the relationship between the HRM and the implementation of the strategy. Focusing on firm performance in environmental protection, we test our predictions with empirical data from China's manufacturing industry. The results show a significant direct effect of the HRM and a significant moderating effect of identity orientation on the dependent variable, i.e. performance in sustainable development.
Rethinking Food Aid to Fight Aids

While the realization that AIDS is far more than a health problem has dawned only recently, many development organizations have yet to undertake thorough analyses of what this means for what they do, and how they do it. Even fewer have actually changed their policies and procedures to adjust to these new realities. We know that food and nutrition are fundamentally intertwined with HIV transmission and the impacts of AIDS. Food and nutrition security is fundamentally relevant to all four of the conventional pillars of HIV/AIDS response—prevention, care, treatment, and mitigation—and food aid can be an important weapon in the arsenal. This paper, based on a detailed review of the relevant literature and the findings of a mission to eastern and southern Africa, highlights the implications of the HIV/AIDS pandemic for food aid strategy and programming. By viewing food aid programs through an “HIV/AIDS lens” and in the context of a livelihoods approach, the authors argue that organizations can effectively design interventions that reduce both susceptibility to HIV and vulnerability to AIDS impacts. Though there is little empirical evidence regarding the effectiveness of food aid in responding to HIV/AIDS, the authors argue that this should not constrain action. Using past experience as a guide, organizations can learn by doing, documenting, and continually reassessing their programs using the evolving lens, so as to ensure maximal relevance and impact.
Ultimate Ownership and Earnings Conservatism

In this paper we analyze whether the extent of timely recognition of unrealized losses into earnings shown by firms with a controlling owner depends on (1) the ownership share of the controlling owner and (2) the divergence between the controlling owner's voting and cash flow rights. Our results document a negative relation between both aspects of the ultimate ownership structure and timely loss recognition. Our results are consistent with two possible explanations. First, as the controlling owner's stake in the company increases, a smaller portion of the firm's financing needs will be provided by minority shareholders. Minority shareholders do not have access to the company's private information, but demand timely recognition of losses into earnings to protect their claim. Reducing the role of minority shareholders implies also lower demand for timely loss recognition. Second, the results are consistent with an increase in the ownership stake of the controlling owner or in the divergence between the controlling owner's voting and cash flow rights leading to an increase in managerial incentives to share information with the controlling shareholder, reducing the demand for timely loss recognition for monitoring purposes.
Aromatic Residues and Neighboring Arg414 in the (6R)-5,6,7,8-Tetrahydro-l-Biopterin Binding Site of Full-length Neuronal Nitric-oxide Synthase Are Crucial in Catalysis and Heme Reduction with NADPH*

Nitric-oxide synthase (NOS) requires the cofactor, (6R)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobiopterin (H4B), for catalytic activity. The crystal structures of NOSs indicate that H4B is surrounded by aromatic residues. We have mutated the conserved aromatic acids, Trp676, Trp678, Phe691, His692, and Tyr706, together with the neighboring Arg414 residue within the H4B binding region of full-length neuronal NOS. The W676L, W678L, and F691L mutants had no NO formation activity and had very low heme reduction rates (<0.02 min−1) with NADPH. Thus, it appears that Trp676, Trp678, and Phe691 are important to retain the appropriate active site conformation for H4B/l-Arg binding and/or electron transfer to the heme from NADPH. The mutation of Tyr706 to Leu and Phe decreased the activity down to 13 and 29%, respectively, of that of the wild type together with a dramatically increased EC50 value for H4B (30–40-fold of wild type). The Tyr706 phenol group interacts with the heme propionate and Arg414 amine via hydrogen bonds. The mutation of Arg414 to Leu and Glu resulted in the total loss of NO formation activity and of the heme reduction with NADPH. Thus, hydrogen bond networks consisting of the heme carboxylate, Tyr706, and Arg414 are crucial in stabilizing the appropriate conformation(s) of the heme active site for H4B/l-Arg binding and/or efficient electron transfer to occur.
The Effect of Compulsory Voting on Turnout Stratification Patterns: A Cross-national Analysis

As voter turnout is steadily declining in western democracies, various authors have expressed concern about the stratification in electoral participation that this trend might entail. Some research suggests that specific categories of potential voters refrain from voting, leading to the electoral dominance of more privileged groups within the population. In this article, we investigate whether systems of compulsory voting are associated with more equal participation in elections. We study 36 countries that participated in the 2004 International Social Survey Programme. The analysis shows that compulsory voting is associated with higher turnout rates, but we do not observe any significant differences in electoral participation based on gender or educational level. However, we find a significant interaction effect between age and compulsory voting, suggesting that young age cohorts are unlikely to be affected by the dynamics of the civic duty argument that is inherent in systems of compulsory voting.
You Know You Are A Project Manager When

When are you a project manager? Simple question. It is a question being asked and answered by an increasingly large number of people. Indeed, project management was ranked in 2009 by U.S. News and World Report as the third-most valued skill by employers, behind only leadership/negotiation skills and business analysis. More than 600,000 people from 184 countries are members and/or credential holders in the world’s largest project management professional association, the Project Management Institute. It is a question being asked increasingly by individuals striving to adopt the practices in the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK ® Guide), the International Project Management Association (IPMA) certification, and by U.S. government civilian employees as they endeavor to align their skills with the Federal Acquisition Certification for Program and Project Managers (FAC-P/PM). So, how do you know when you are a project manager? This paper will offer some insights into important aspects of being a project manager. It will explore project managers’ view of work, the attitudes of project managers when confronted with barriers and obstacles, and the relationship of project managers with their customers and stakeholders. A comparison will be made between accidental or interim project managers and career project managers. Project manager behavior toward relationships, toward decision-making, toward power, and toward their project, will be reviewed. A simplified checklist will be included that can be used as an aid in determining if you are a project manager. This paper is intended to provoke critical thinking about what it means to be a project manager and perhaps to provoke some introspection about being a project manager.
Power Laws In Financial Markets: Scaling Exponent H And Alpha-Stable Distributions

In this study, we analyzed whether daily returns of Brent crude oil, dollar/yen foreign exchange, Dow&Jones Industrial Average Index and 12-month libor display power law features in the scaling exponent and probability distributions or not, using different methods. Due to the fact that the simulated time series with different values showed the robustness of Higuchis Fractal Dimension and Pengs Statistic, we used these two models in the analysis of the scaling features of the returns. On the other hand, in order to examine power law behaviors of probability distributions, we estimated parameters of the alpha-stable distributions for the return series using the Ecf and Percentile methods. Results showed that the Brent crude oil and 12-month libor have a high persistency in the returns, while the dollar/yen foreign exchange and Dow&Jones Industrial Average Index returns have short memory. According to the alpha-stable parameter estimations, all of the return series have thicker tails than normal distribution. Similar to the highest persistency of 12-month libor returns in the scaling exponent analysis, we have seen that this variable also has the thickest tails in the probability distributions, meaning that 12-month libor returns have the highest power law features within the series.
Sustainability: UK retailers and social media

This paper provides an exploratory review of the extent to which the UK's retail industry is employing social media, specifically Facebook, to communicate their sustainability aspirations, commitments and achievements. The paper begins with an outline of the development and characteristics of social media and this is followed by a short discussion of the concept and contested meanings of sustainability. The paper draws its empirical material from the Facebook pages of the UK's top ten retail companies. The findings reveal that the individual retail businesses operated by the top ten retail companies all have Facebook pages but that these pages are dominated by marketing and sales promotion material with commentary on sustainability or attempts to develop engagement with members on sustainability being very limited. More critically the authors argue that if the wider concerns of climate change, the availability and security of resources and waste disposal become increasingly perceived to be pressing issues then the UK's leading retailers may need to look to harness the powerful potential of social media in an attempt to encourage more sustainable shopping behaviour.
Effect of bilateral carotid body resection on the counterregulatory response to hypoglycaemia in humans

What is the central question of this study? Hyperoxia blunts hypoglycaemia counterregulation in healthy adults. We hypothesized that this effect is mediated by the carotid bodies and that: (i) hyperoxia would have no effect on hypoglycaemia counterregulation in carotid body‐resected patients; and (ii) carotid body‐resected patients would exhibit an impaired counterregulatory response to hypoglycaemia. What is the main finding and its importance? Our data indicate that the effect of hyperoxia on hypoglycaemic counterregulation is mediated by the carotid bodies. However, a relatively normal counterregulatory response to hypoglycaemia in carotid body‐resected patients highlights: (i) the potential for long‐term adaptations after carotid body resection; and (ii) the importance of redundant mechanisms in mediating hypoglycaemia counterregulation.
Effect of enteric parasitic infection on serum trace elements and nutritional status in upper Egyptian children

Introduction: Enteric parasitic infections still the cause of major health problems among Egyptian children as they have great morbid effect on their physical and cognitive development. Malnutrition makes children more prone to micronutrient deficiency and subsequently more vulnerable to parasitic infection. The present study aimed to identify the effect of intestinal parasitism on micronutrient serum level and children nutritional status. Materials and Methods: A case control study was carried out on children from 1 to 6 years old who were attending the Assiut University Children Hospital outpatient clinic, after parasitological stool examination they were divided into Group 1 (G1, n: 60) positive with enteric parasite and Group 2 (G2, n: 60) age and sex matched and free of parasites. Anthropometric measurements were expressed as weight for age (WFA), height for age (HFA), and weight for height (WFH) parameters. Serum zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Results: Intestinal parasitic infection rate was 55.7%; more commonly detected parasites were Giardia lamblia 28%, Cryptosporidium sp. 20%, and polyparasitism 18%. All children (G1 and G2) were underweight (WFA) while 63% of G1 were malnourished, either in the form of wasting (WFH) or stunting (HFA) or both aspects. Stunting and wasting were more dominant among children infected with G. lamblia and Cryptosporidium sp. and most of them were below 2 years old. Conclusions: Coincident decrease in serum Zn level and an increase of serum Cu was more prominent among G. lamblia and Cryptosporidium sp. patients. G. lamblia and Cryptosporidium sp. were found to be more associated with nonstandard children nutritional status beside to an altered micronutrient level.