Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Modelling the Choice of Tenure and Building Type

A multinomial logistic (MNL) model and a naive nested logistic model are estimated to relate differences in household size, age, income and housing prices to differences in the choice of tenure and building type. The estimated models show that the demand for lower-density options decreases with a reduction in household size and increases with increasing age and real income. Higher rents increase the demand for owner-occupied single-family detached houses. Higher price levels for the ownership option shift demand toward all of the higher-density options, particularly toward high-rise rental apartments. The key assumption underlying the MNL model is examined and shown to not hold true. However, the differences in the predictions made by the two models are too small to matter in the study of the choices among the major building types. Issues regarding the choice of models are discussed in the conclusions.
Assessing Public Managers' Change-Oriented Behavior: Are Private Managers Caught in the Doldrums?

This article presents a concept and a measurement of managers' change-oriented behavior related to the initiation and implementation organizational change. It is argued that managers have an optimal potential for achieving organizational changes if they have the change-centered leadership style, are intuitive, recognize demands for change, and have power-motivated behavior. Public and private managers are significantly different in relation to change-oriented behavior based on data from 343 managers in two public organizations and one private. One result was unexpected: public managers are more change-oriented than managers in business organizations. As expected, there is no significant difference in change-oriented behavior among managers in public agencies. Possible explanations for these outcomes are presented.
Mortgage Option Deltas

Mortgage options are European options on TBA contracts that are forwards on securitized pools of agency-backed mortgages. Because of the significant negative convexity of TBAs, calculation of option deltas is a delicate issue. It is common to model TBA options with the S-curve framework. Mortgage option prices, however, may be significantly higher than such a model predicts. There are various ways of dealing with this price discrepancy, including adjusting the TBA DV01 curve, applying a scaling factor to swaption volatilities used in calibration, or adding an extra rate-independent variance to TBA prices. These different modifications of the base S-curve framework may lead to the same option prices but different deltas. In this article, the authors estimate deltas using local price volatility and compare the deltas resulting from different modifications of the base S-curve framework to these “model-free” estimates. The analysis is primarily important for risk management in terms of mark-to-the-market pricing of mortgage options and its implication for the deltas. Although in practice only at-the-money mortgage options are marked to market, the authors also discuss the implications for skew and some valuation implications.
Fertility at District Level in India: Lessons from the 2011 Census

This paper describes the methodology for estimating recent fertility levels at the district level in India based on the 2011 Census figures. Due to the absence of reliable vital statistics for Indian districts, fertility levels are assessed using a set of indirect methods. Using mortality estimates and the child population aged 0-6 years to estimate the number of births during the seven years preceding the census, figures for crude birth rates and fertility rates are derived for all Indian districts. The results are compared with those derived from the 2001 Census. Our analysis points, in particular, to the significant population overcount in Jammu and Kashmir during the 2011 Census and the continuous but extremely slow process of fertility decline in India.
[Symptomatic vesicoureteral reflux in kidney transplantation: results of endoscopic injections of teflon and predictive factors for success].

OBJECTIVES Evaluation of the results of endoscopic Teflon injections for the treatment of symptomatic vesicoureteric reflux in renal transplant recipients and identification of prognostic factors. POPULATION AND METHODS Between June 1997 and January 2002, out of a series of 408 renal transplant recipients, 15 patients (8 males, 7 females) with a mean age of 41.9 years were treated for symptomatic vesicoureteric reflux on the transplanted kidney by endoscopic Teflon injection. This treatment was indicated due to the presence of febrile or afebrile infections, possibly associated with deterioration of renal function. Reflux was demonstrated by retrograde cystography. The results of endoscopic treatment were evaluated by cystography at 3 months, and by clinical and laboratory examinations thereafter. RESULTS The mean interval between renal transplantation and endoscopic treatment was 64.2 +/- 64.7 months. With a mean follow-up of 25 +/- 16.7 months, we observed a 53.3% success rate (8 patients), 13.3% of patients (2 patients) were improved and 33.3% of procedures were considered to be failures (5 patients). A lower number of preoperative infections, reflux < or = grade III and the absence of impaired renal function are predictive factors for the success of endoscopic treatment. The only complication was one case of renal colic due to meatal stenosis at 3 months, which responded favourably to endoscopic treatment alone. CONCLUSION Endoscopic treatment of symptomatic vesicoureteric reflux on a transplanted kidney by Teflon injection is effective in two-thirds of cases. Due to the low morbidity of this minimally invasive procedure, this treatment should be proposed as first-line management for all cases of symptomatic vesicoureteric reflux on a transplanted kidney.
Institutional Arrangements to Counter Human Trafficking in the Asia Pacific

In recent years there has been a marked increase in human trafficking across the borders of Asia-Pacific states. In addressing this problem, regional states have found that unilateral actions are insufficient to stem the flows of trafficked persons. In response to this shortfall in capacity a number of arrangements have been initiated by regional institutions. The purpose of this article is to analyse the efficacy of these institutional arrangements. This article discusses the problem of human trafficking and its patterns within the region, before assessing the current anti-trafficking programmes and policies developed by regional institutions in East Asia and the South Pacific. The article then reviews trans-regional efforts being undertaken through the ASEAN Regional Forum, including the Asia-Europe Meeting and the Bali Process. In concluding, it is suggested that while the regional institutions remain captured by state interests they are nonetheless an important vehicle in combating human trafficking in the Asia Pacific.
L-carnitine levels in the seminal plasma of fertile and infertile men: correlation with sperm quality.

OBJECTIVE To confirm the presence of L-carnitine in human seminal plasma, to show differences between L-carnitine concentrations in fertile and infertile subjects, and to show potential relationships between L-carnitine and semen quality. STUDY DESIGN Seminal plasma from 101 men obtained by masturbation was examined for the presence of L-carnitine. Semen samples were divided as follows: (a) in eight groups according to the etiology of fertility, (b) in two groups on the basis of normal or abnormal spermiogram, (c) correlation of the amount of L-carnitine in seminal plasma with values of the spermiogram. RESULTS We found the following: (1) L-carnitine levels differ significantly between controls and the patient groups (P < .0001) (2) The group with normal spermiogram has a mean value for L-carnitine of 478.4 while the abnormal one comes to 100.58. This difference is statistically significant (P < .0001). (3) There is a statistically significant, positive correlation between L-carnitine and the number of spermatozoa, the percentage of motile spermatozoa, and the percentage of normal forms (P < .0001). CONCLUSION These findings suggest that determination of seminal carnitine values might provide the physician with an additional means of evaluating the infertile male.
Cuticle Integrity and Biogenic Amine Synthesis in Caenorhabditis elegans Require the Cofactor Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4)

Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) is the natural cofactor of several enzymes widely distributed among eukaryotes, including aromatic amino acid hydroxylases (AAAHs), nitric oxide synthases (NOSs), and alkylglycerol monooxygenase (AGMO). We show here that the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, which has three AAAH genes and one AGMO gene, contains BH4 and has genes that function in BH4 synthesis and regeneration. Knockout mutants for putative BH4 synthetic enzyme genes lack the predicted enzymatic activities, synthesize no BH4, and have indistinguishable behavioral and neurotransmitter phenotypes, including serotonin and dopamine deficiency. The BH4 regeneration enzymes are not required for steady-state levels of biogenic amines, but become rate limiting in conditions of reduced BH4 synthesis. BH4-deficient mutants also have a fragile cuticle and are generally hypersensitive to exogenous agents, a phenotype that is not due to AAAH deficiency, but rather to dysfunction in the lipid metabolic enzyme AGMO, which is expressed in the epidermis. Loss of AGMO or BH4 synthesis also specifically alters the sensitivity of C. elegans to bacterial pathogens, revealing a cuticular function for AGMO-dependent lipid metabolism in host–pathogen interactions.
Gold star or bottom of the class: is South Africa a good international citizen?

When, on 23 June 1994, Deputy President Thabo Mbeki announced South Africa's new foreign policy goal at the United Nations as its commitment to being a good citizen of the world, the concept of being a good international citizen (GIC) had been floating on the international seas since 1989. Over 13 years later, how has South Africa played its international role, especially since winning a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council in 2006? South Africa is a young, flawed democracy. It has a great deal of moral authority internationally; it is an emerging middle power in the Global South; and it is a true leader on the African continent and the hegemon in the Southern African region. But is it a good international citizen?
The value-added contribution of advisors in the process of acquiring venture capital

This article examines the determinants of the value-added contribution offered by advisors to entrepreneurs seeking venture capital (VC) funding. It hypothesizes that the contribution of advisors is particularly helpful in addressing problems of asymmetric information and uncertainty. The study develops seven hypotheses derived from agency theory using data from questionnaire responses given by entrepreneurs that used advisors to acquire VC. The results indicate that advisor value-added contributions are substantial when entrepreneurs have limited experience in dealing with venture capitalists (VCs). Other determinants are stage of venture development, level of innovation and the entrepreneur’s industry sector experience.
Investment Performance of International Mutual Funds

In this paper we add several new perspectives to the growing body of empirical evidence on the investment performance of international mutual funds by applying a pooled cross-sectional/time-series regression methodology to a large data base over an extended period. Risk-adjusted and unadjusted investment returns are not related to whether a fund is load or no-load, and asset size, expense ratios, and turnover rates are not related to investment performance. We find no reward for paying a load fee when investing in mutual funds. It is noteworthy that performance is not affected by fund size, given the explosive growth of international mutual funds.
Participatory Democracy May Go a Long Way: Comparative Growth Performance of Employee Ownership Firms in New York and Washington States

This article presents results from two studies implemented in the USA from 1990 to 1993. A main finding of the studies was that participatory decision-making in employee ownership firms seems to be a key explanatory variable to relatively faster growth rates than in conventional firms. Other indicative findings on participatory employee ownership firms outperforming conventional participatory firms lead us to hypothesize whether employee ownership and participatory decision-making may have a synergistic performance effect. A longitudinal approach mainly suggests that employee ownership firms perform worse than conventional firms before the inception of an employee ownership programme, but better afterwards. The findings are discussed in relation to economic theories on profit sharing and on participatory and labour-managed firms.
Oral Fluids as an Alternative to Serum for Measurement of Markers of Immune Activation

ABSTRACT Oral fluids are convenient alternatives to blood sampling for evaluating significant metabolic components. Two forms of oral fluids, oral mucosal transudates (OMT) and saliva, were collected and compared for content of soluble products of immune activation. The data confirm that OMT and saliva represent distinct body fluids. The concentrations, outputs, and analyte/protein ratios of β-2-microglobulin (β2M), soluble tumor necrosis factor alpha receptor II (sTNFαRII), and neopterin were measured. Both the OMT and the saliva of most of the individuals in the control healthy populations had measurable levels of all three activation markers. When the immune system is activated, as in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, the levels of β2M and sTNFαRII are increased in both OMT and saliva compared to those in a healthy control population. OMT levels correlated better with levels in serum than did saliva and appear to reflect systemic immune activation in HIV infection. Because acquisition of oral fluids is noninvasive and easily repeatable, measurement of β2M and/or sTNFαRII content in OMT could be useful in the assessment of disease activity in patients with HIV infection or chronic inflammatory diseases.
The Effectiveness of Recruitment Advertisements and Recruitment Websites: Indirect and Interactive Effects on Applicant Attraction

This study compares the effect of printed recruitment advertisements and recruitment websites on applicant attraction and shows how these recruitment activities interact with one another. Our results indicate that websites have a significantly stronger impact on applicant attraction than printed advertisements. We show that websites and printed recruitment advertisements have an indirect effect on applicant attraction that is mediated by employer knowledge. Furthermore, printed advertisements supplement the positive effects of websites and, thus, the simultaneous use of multiple recruitment activities directly influences applicant attraction.
Potentiation of Nitric Oxide-Mediated Vascular Relaxation by SC52608, a Superoxide Dismutase Mimic

Abstract Nitric oxide (NO) produced by the vascular endothelium is an endogenous contributor to the regulation of vascular relaxation and the maintenance of blood pressure. The effective half-life of NO and the relaxation of aortic rings by NO is enhanced by a reduction in the concentration of superoxide radicals with superoxide dismutase (SOD). In the current study, SC52608, a newly synthesized SOD mimic with a manganese core, was tested for its ability to potentiate the activity of NO both in vitro and in vivo. SC52608 relaxation of rat aortic segments was endothelium dependent as well as concentration dependent. The maximum relaxation following KCI contraction was 44% with 300 μM SC52608. Cyclic GMP concentrations in the segments were increased 1.6- and 3.2-fold with 5 and 300 μM SC52608, respectively. N-monomethyl-l-arginine pretreatment of aortic rings abolished the relaxation and cyclic GMP accumulation mediated by SC52608. In a smooth muscle cell reporter system of nitric oxide synthase activity, SC52608 potentiated the increase in cyclic GMP elicited by NO in a concentration-dependent manner with a maximum increase of 5.2-fold at 100 μM. Injection of SC52608 into conscious, restrained rats resulted in a dose-dependent decrease of blood pressure. Therefore, the data suggest that SC52608 potentiates the actions of nitric oxide on vascular tone, cyclic GMP, and blood pressure by enhancing the half-life of NO through a mechanism that mimics the action of SOD.
Modelling different types of multilateral co-operation between SMEs

This paper focuses on a theoretical modelling of multilateral SME co-operation. A major part of the previous research has been done on dyadic or bilateral relationships between two partners in a vertical chain although new co-operative ventures increasingly involve multiple partners. The objectives of the paper are to accomplish a conceptualization of different types of multilateral co-operation between SMEs as a synthesis of longitudinal empirical observations and selected theoretical discussions of inter-firm co-operation, to bring out possible advantages and prerequisites of successful co-operation of these types, and to show how co-operation can develop from one basic model to another. The main point in the modelling of SME co-operation is that those who plan, promote or build up co-operative arrangements must know right from the beginning what kind of co-operative model a group of firms will strive for, because the prerequisites of successful co-operation are emphasized differently in different types of co-operation. The empirical examples also suggest that co-operation leads to co-operation, i.e. when a company once joins a net, it is more probable that the company gets access to other nets as well. The basic challenge thus is to get the small or medium-sized company to enter its first co-operative arrangement.
Price Search in a Product Market

Regressions using panel data on grocery purchases show lower purchase costs are significantly associated with a larger number of stores visited per week. There is also evidence, but somewhat weaker, of diminishing gains from such search. An economic model of the determinants of search suggests that prices paid, quantities purchased, and number of store visits are interrelated, a view supported by results of estimating a proposed simultaneous-equations model.
Determinants of the self-efficacy of physical activity for maintaining weight during pregnancy: The application of the health belief model

INTRODUCTION: Pregnancy is one of the high-risk periods for women's health that the lack of attention to healthy behaviors such as weight control behaviors can lead to adverse consequences on the health of women and also the fetus. Therefore, the aim of this paper was to explore the determinants of weight control self-efficacy among pregnant women using Health Belief Model (HBM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study were enrolled 202 pregnant women referring to Health Care Center in Isfahan city, Iran. Sampling method was multistage random. A researcher-made instrument based on HBM structures was used after confirming the valid and reliable. Data were analyzed by software SPSS 21 and descriptive statistics were represented with (frequency, mean and standard deviation) and analytical (Pearson correlation, independent t and liner regression) at the significant level of <0.05. RESULTS: The average age of participants was 27.80 ± 5.08. HBM structures were able explained 31% of variance of weight control self-efficacy. Also, of the studied structures, perceived benefits, perceived barriers were statistically significant predictors of weight control self-efficacy, within which perceived barriers (β = 0.391) was the most significant predictor. CONCLUSION: The findings of current study showed that the HBM model could be as a suitable framework to identify effective factors for designing educational intervention to improve weight control behaviors among pregnant women.
The profit rate: where and how much did it fall? Did it recover? (USA 1948-2000)

The decline of the profit rate since World War II, up to the early 1980s, is now widely acknowledged, and a new upward trend has been identified. This study presents new computations of profit rates using a definition like that used by Marx in Volume III of Capital, where profits correspond to total surplus-value, as well as a definition of the rate of profit that impacts individual firms, taking account of interest, taxes, and inventories. We show that both the level and trend of a specific group of industries (such as Railroads), called Highly Capital Intensive Industries, whose capital-labor ratio is very large, are totally different from that of other industries. (Their profit rate is very low and did not decline.) When these industries are removed from the data set, the downward trend of the profit rate and the limited recovery can be more clearly observed. Overall, between 1948 and 1982, the profit rate was divided by a coefficient ranging between 2 and 7, depending on the sector and definition of the profit rate. The profit rate in 2000 is still only half of its value in 1948. Finally, we show that the decline of the productivity of capital was the main factor in the fall of the profit rate, though the decline of the share of profits also contributed to this evolution.
Expectations, Life Expectancy, and Economic Behavior

Unlike price expectations, which are central to macroeconomic theory and have been examined extensively using survey data, formation of individuals' horizons, which are central to the theory of life-cycle behavior, have been completely neglected. This is especially surprising since life expectancy of adults has increased especially rapidly in Western countries in the past ten years. This study presents the results of analyzing responses by two groups--economists and a random sample--to a questionnaire designed to elicit subjective expectations and probabilities of survival. It shows that people do not extrapolate past improvements in longevity when they determine their subjective horizons, though they are fully aware of levels of and movements within today's life tables. They skew subjective survival probabilities in a way that implies the subjective distribution has greater variance than its actuarial counterpart; and the subjective variance decreases with age. They also base their subjective horizons disproportionately on their relatives' longevity, and long-lived relatives increase uncertainty about the distribution of subjective survival probabilities. As one example of the many areas of life-cycle behavior to which the results are applicable, the study examines the consumption-leisure choices of the optimizing consumer over his lifetime. It finds that shortfalls in utility in old age because people's ex ante horizons had to be updated as -- average longevity increased are relatively small. This implies that large subsidies to retirees under today's Social Security system cannot be justified as compensation for an unexpectedly long retirement for which they failed to save.