Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
‘Popularity Functions’ and the Role of the Media: A Pilot Study of the Popular Press

It is widely supposed that the level of popular support for governments depends on those governments' success in handling the economy. Some recent studies have attempted to test this idea by estimating the statistical relationship between the government's popularity in the opinion polls and various indicators of the state of the economy such as unemployment rates, inflation rates, growth rates and so on. A general finding of these studies is that popularity is significantly correlated with all these indicators of the standard of living. All of them, however, operate on the assumption that the voters behave as if they had perfect knowledge of the state of the economy as set out for example by the Government Statistical Service. Whether this assumption does, in fact, approximate to the truth will, however, depend in large part on how the popular media present economic trends and economic relationships to their public. If there are gaps and biases in the information which is presented to many voters, then those voters will be responding to a picture of the economy which may differ dramatically from the picture offered by publications such as Economic Trends and the government will be selling its policies in a highly imperfect market. The purpose of this paper is to mount a preliminary investigation into the picture of the economy which has been presented by one important medium of communication, namely mass-circulation newspapers. The aim is to show how firstly the scope and secondly the interpretation of the economic data presented by the popular press developed over the period 1960–80. The limitations of this method should be spelled out. We are not considering all the sources from which people derive information about the economy (personal communications, radio, television, newspapers), but only the last and possibly the most partisan of these. This Note offers, therefore, in no sense ‘the ordinary man in the street's perception of the economy’ but simply the picture of the economy which one influential medium of communication presented.
Born Global or Gradual Global? Examining the Export Behavior of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

Over the past decade, several studies have questioned the stage models of the internationalization process. Many of these studies concentrate on the exporting versus nonexporting factor, identifying an increasing number of firms that are active in international markets shortly after establishment. Limited empirical evidence exists as to whether this actuality indicates simply a reduced time factor in the preexport phase or an important change in the export behavior of firms. Using small and medium-sized exporting firms from Norway, Denmark, and France, the authors focus on the concept of gradual development. The results suggest that export intensity, distribution, market selection, and global orientation are not influenced by the firm's year of establishment or first year of exporting activity. One-third of the firms sampled reported that the time period between establishment and export commencement was less than two years. In terms of export intensity, these firms outperform those that waited several years before exporting. The results indicate that the future export involvement of a firm is, to a large extent, influenced by its behavior shortly after establishment. The results further indicate that the development of resources in support of international market competitiveness may be regarded as the key issue and that the basic resources and competencies of the firm are determined during the establishment phase. The authors review how the management challenges differ depending on the type of firm (age and export involvement) in question.
Late Toxicity Is Not Increased in BRCA1/BRCA2 Mutation Carriers Undergoing Breast Radiotherapy in the United Kingdom

Purpose: To undertake the first substantial clinical study of breast radiotherapy toxicity in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers in the United Kingdom. Experimental Design: Acute and late radiation effects were evaluated in a retrospective study of 55 BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers treated with radiotherapy for breast cancer at four centers between 1983 and 2002. Individual matching with controls who had sporadic breast cancer was undertaken for age at diagnosis, time since completion of radiation, and treatment variables. Detailed assessments were undertaken by one examiner. Median follow-up was 6.75 years for carriers and 7.75 years for controls. Rates of late events (rib fractures, lung fibrosis, necrosis of soft tissue/bone, and pericarditis) as well as LENT-SOMA scores and clinical photography scores of breast size, shape, and skin telangiectasia were the primary end points. Results: No increase in clinically significant late toxicity was seen in the mutation carriers. Conclusions: These data add substantial weight to the evidence that the outcomes in the treated breast from radiotherapy in women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations are comparable with those in women with sporadic breast cancer.
LEXICOGRAPHIC AND WEIGHTING APPROACH TO MULTI-CRITERIA PORTFOLIO OPTIMIZATION BY MIXED INTEGER PROGRAMMING

This chapter presents the portfolio optimization problem formulated as a multi-criteria mixed integer program. Weighting and lexicographic approach are proposed. The portfolio selection problem considered is based on a single-period model of investment. An extension of the Markowitz portfolio optimization model is considered, in which the variance has been replaced with the Value-at-Risk (VaR). The VaR is a quantile of the return distribution function. In the classical Markowitz approach, future returns are random variables controlled by such parameters as the portfolio efficiency, which is measured by the expectation, whereas risk is calculated by the standard deviation. As a result, the classical problem is formulated as a quadratic program with continuous variables and some side constraints. The objective of the problem considered in this chapter is to allocate wealth on different securities to maximize the weighted difference of the portfolio expected return and the threshold of the probability that the return is less than a required level. The auxiliary objectives are minimization of risk probability of portfolio loss and minimization of the number of security types in portfolio. The four types of decision variables are introduced in the model: a continuous wealth allocation variable that represents the percentage of wealth allocated to each asset, a continuous variable that prevents the probability that return of investment is not less than required level, a binary selection variable that prevents the choice of portfolios whose VaR is below the minimized threshold, and a binary selection variable that represents choice of stocks in which capital should be invested. The results of some computational experiments with the mixed integer programming approach modeled on a real data from the Warsaw Stock Exchange are reported.
Evaluation of active frequency drift anti-islanding methods with a single-phase grid-tie photovoltaic inverter

The increasing number of distributed generators connected to the distribution grids requires islanding detection methods that guarantee the disconnection of generators during grid faults and unintentional island situations. Many anti-islanding techniques have been developed to satisfy this necessity. This paper evaluates two frequency-drift anti-islanding methods used with a single-phase grid-tie photovoltaic (PV) inverter.
Estimates of the Term Premium on Near-Dated Federal Funds Futures Contracts

This paper examines estimates of the term premium on federal funds futures rates, with a focus on near-dated contracts and therefore the more immediate policy horizon. The first set of methods assumes that the term premium is constant over time. Under this framework, calculations that use survey data to proxy for forecast errors produce more intuitive results than estimates based on the restrictive assumption that forecast errors average to zero over the sample. The second set of methods allows the term premium to vary over time, but the results based on the term structure of near-dated federal funds futures contracts are highly volatile, which perhaps reflects numerous technical factors in the underlying federal funds market. Finally, under an asset-pricing approach, the CAPM suggests that the risk premium on federal funds futures is either less than or equal to zero, while APT indicates that it can be positive.
Auto-Differentiating Linear Algebra

Development systems for deep learning, such as Theano, Torch, TensorFlow, or MXNet, are easy-to-use tools for creating complex neural network models. Since gradient computations are automatically baked in, and execution is mapped to high performance hardware, these models can be trained end-to-end on large amounts of data. However, it is currently not easy to implement many basic machine learning primitives in these systems (such as Gaussian processes, least squares estimation, principal components analysis, Kalman smoothing), mainly because they lack efficient support of linear algebra primitives as differentiable operators. We detail how a number of matrix decompositions (Cholesky, LQ, symmetric eigen) can be implemented as differentiable operators. We have implemented these primitives in MXNet, running on CPU and GPU in single and double precision. We sketch use cases of these new operators, learning Gaussian process and Bayesian linear regression models. Our implementation is based on BLAS/LAPACK APIs, for which highly tuned implementations are available on all major CPUs and GPUs.
Deficits, Democrats, and Distributive Benefits: Congressional Elections and the Pork Barrel in the 1980s

In this study, we examine the extent to which legislators receive elec toral benefits from altering the geographic distribution of federal outlays. Although there are both theoretical and anecdotal reasons to believe in the existence of such benefits, previous empirical work has largely failed to verify the connection between pork barreling and reelection. We ex amine House incumbents during the 1980s, when budget deficits were allegedly forcing legislators to end the acquisition of distributive benefits, and we discover that legislators did in fact reap electoral benefits from pork barreling in the 1980s. We further discover that there is a sharp partisan difference in the marginal effects of federal outlays: additional federal monies strongly affect Democratic reelection margins but barely impact the electoral fortunes of Republicans. This conclusion has impor tant implications for current debates about Congress, divided govern ment, and the recent Republican takeover of Congress.
Increased adipogenesis of osteoporotic human‐mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) characterizes by impaired leptin action

The bone marrow contains mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) that differentiate to the osteogenic and adipogenic lineages. The fact that the decrease in bone volume of age‐related osteoporosis is accompanied by an increase in marrow adipose tissue implies the importance that the adipogenic process may have in bone loss. We previously observed that MSCs from control and osteoporotic women showed differences in their capacity to differentiate into the osteogenic and adipogenic pathways. In vitro studies indicate that bone marrow stromal cells are responsive to leptin, which increases their proliferation, differentiation to osteoblasts, and the number of mineralized nodules, but inhibits their differentiation to adipocytes. The aim of the present report was to study the direct effect of leptin on control and osteoporotic MSCs analyzing whether the protective effect of leptin against osteoporosis could be expressed by inhibition of adipocyte differentiation. MSCs from control, and osteoporotic donors were subjected to adipogenic conditions, in the absence or in the presence of 62.5 nM leptin. The number of adipocytes, the content of PPARγ protein, and mRNA, and leptin mRNA were measured by flow cytometry, Western blot, and RT‐PCR, respectively. Results indicate that control and osteoporotic MSCs differ in their adipogenic potential as shown by expression of active PPARγ protein. Leptin exerted an antiadipogenic effect only on control MSCs increasing the proportion of inactive phosphorylated PPARγ protein. Finally, results obtained during adipogenesis of osteoporotic cells suggest that this process is abnormal not only because of increased adipocyte number, but because of impaired leptin cells response. J. Cell. Biochem. 103: 1054–1065, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Trialogue Plus: Management of cardiovascular risk in hyperglycaemic/diabetic patients at hospital discharge.

Diabetes mellitus and hyperglycaemia are both independent risk factors (RF) for cardiovascular (CV) events and increased general and CV mortality. Type 2 diabetes, which is often associated with obesity, hypertension and dyslipidaemia, is accompanied by an up to fourfold increase in the incidence of acute coronary heart disease compared to normoglycaemia, even when other CV RF are equal. In the diabetic population, acute CV events are more likely to have associated cardiac complications, such as heart failure, and CV mortality is increased by twofold–fourfold. Several patients, hospitalised in medical, cardiology and intensive care departments, have undiagnosed diabetes mellitus or elevated glucose levels at the time of admission. These conditions require intensive care in the acute phase and dedicated follow-up at discharge. The Trialogue Plus project was created with the goal of providing good clinical practice guidelines and recommendations for the management of CV risk in patients with diabetes/hyperglycaemia at discharge from hospital. The aim is developing a document that defines timing, diagnostics, targets and therapeutic strategy for the management of CV risk, both in primary and in secondary prevention of patients with diabetes/hyperglycaemia who have experienced an event, involving the Diabetologist, Cardiologist, Internist, GP and area Specialists. This document concerns the implementation of existing guidelines and consensus statements, and as such, the recommendations have not been classified on the basis of scientific evidence and strength.
Operation Everest II: elevated high-altitude pulmonary resistance unresponsive to oxygen.

High altitude increases pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP), but no measurements have been made in humans above 4,500 m. Eight male athletic volunteers were decompressed in a hypobaric chamber for 40 days to a barometric pressure (PB) of 240 Torr, equivalent to the summit of Mt. Everest. Serial hemodynamic measurements were made at PB 760 (sea level), 347 (6,100 m), and 282/240 Torr (7,620/8,840 m). Resting PAP and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) increased from sea level to maximal values at PB 282 Torr from 15 +/- 0.9 to 34 +/- 3.0 mmHg and from 1.2 +/- 0.1 to 4.3 +/- 0.3 mmHg.l-1 X min, respectively. During near maximal exercise PAP increased from 33 +/- 1 mmHg at sea level to 54 +/- 2 mmHg at PB 282 Torr. Right atrial and wedge pressures were not increased with altitude. Acute 100% O2 breathing lowered cardiac output and PAP but not PVR. Systemic arterial pressure and resistance did not rise with altitude but did increase with O2 breathing, indicating systemic control differed from the lung circulation. We concluded that severe chronic hypoxia caused elevated pulmonary resistance not accompanied by right heart failure nor immediately reversed by O2 breathing.
Economic Development Indicators as Determinants of Medal Winning at the Sydney Olympics: An Extreme Bounds Analysis

This paper examines the variables that determine the performance of countries at the Olympic Games as measured by a weighted sum of the medals won at the Sydney 2000 Games. While previous studies have identified the importance of a country's economic size and the resources available to sport, this paper examines nine more variables including the number of athletes representing each nation and some development indicators. Based on 2310 regressions, both traditional and restricted extreme bounds analysis show that only two variables are robust: the number of athletes and national expenditure on health. Thus, the final model recognises four explanatory variables that include these two as well as GDP and population.
Developing a new Multi‐Nation tourism region: Thai perspectives on the Mekong initiatives

This article examines Thailand's recent tourism policy and its attitudes towards international tourism development collaboration in the Greater Mekong Subregion. Thailand is the major tourist destination country and gateway for international tourists visiting the region, and is a leader of Mekong tourism developments. This paper considers the Thai perspective on its tourism development, and examines current co‐operative activities in the Mekong region in the context of its own tourism industry. A number of research needs are sketched out as a proposed framework for future studies.
Reforming public services in the UK: Bringing in the third sector

In the UK, the government continues its project to reform public services. Earlier projects have focused on the modernization of public sector organizations; in the latest round of reform, New Labour has focused on widening choice and the personalization of services. To this end, the government has been working with Third Sector (TS) organizations to expand their role in shaping, commissioning and delivering public services. The government's vision is predicated on a normative assertion, that, unlike traditional public sector organizations, TS bodies create public value by being more innovative, are inspired by altruistic aims and values, and have greater commitment to their clients. This paper reviews recent policy and questions whether the government's policy is flawed, contradictory and risks damaging the attributes of the TS admired by New Labour. © 2007 The Author. Journal compilation © 2007 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Barriers to Formal IT Governance Practice -- Insights from a Qualitative Study

IT Governance (ITG) continues to be a top priority for organizations, public and non-public. While the level of awareness towards ITG is evident, it is hardly manifested in practice. The purpose of this study is to elicit factors that act as barriers to the adoption of formal ITG practice. This qualitative study consists of 9 semi-structured interviews with the key person in charge of ITG adoption and practice within their respective organizations. The interviews were analyzed using thematic content analysis, guided by themes previously obtained from the literature and from an earlier pilot study. Findings obtained supported previous findings and also reveal new factors noticeably absent from the ITG literature. The findings will provide useful input towards the development of a causal model on barriers to formal ITG practice.
Effects of cochlea removal on GABAergic terminals in nucleus magnocellularis of the chicken

The effects of unilateral cochlea removal on GABA‐immunoreactive (GABA‐I) terminals in nucleus magnocellularis (NM) of the chick were assessed by immunocytochemical (ICC) techniques. Posthatch chicks (5–8 days old) survived from 1–37 days following unilateral cochlea removal. In the ipsilateral NM, the density of GABA‐I terminals appeared to increase relative to normal controls. 10–37 days after cochlea removal. However, most of that increase could be attributed to a decrease in cell size, cell number, and volume of the nucleus as a result of deafferentation. In the contralateral NM, the density of GABA‐I terminals decreased relative to the ipsilateral NM and to normal animals 1–21 days after cochlea removal. The number of GABA‐I terminals per NM neuron also decreased in the contralateral NM while that in the ipsilateral NM was comparable to normal controls. To ascertain whether these changes represented changes in the number of terminals or in the amount of GABA contained within the terminals, we also examined these terminals using an antibody to glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), the biosynthetic enzyme for GABA. Following unilateral cochlea removal, there was no difference in the density of GAD‐I terminals in NM between the two sides of the brain for any of the survival times. Similarly, bilateral cochlea removal had no discernible effect on the density of GABA‐I terminals in NM. These data suggest that unilateral deafferentation may temporarily downregulate the biosynthesis of GABA in the contralateral NM.
Second languages and Australian schooling

It is an underlying principle of [this publication] that active efforts should be made to cultivate the latent bilingual potential within Australia's wider population and that this should be linked to major improvements in the quality of language teaching in schools. A combined approach of this kind will require investment in specialised preparation for language teachers, more time allocated to second language teaching in schools, and coordination of effort across school and post-schooling sectors. Section one describes the critical distinction between niche learning and mass learning of languages, and the current distribution of language competence throughout Australian society. The role of languages throughout the world is discussed, including the problem of the dominance of English. Section two traces the major ideologies and key social interests and voices that influenced thinking and policy making in languages education in Australia. Section three analyses the dynamic forces which contribute to the choice of languages provided in Australia and examines the research on how to teach and learn languages, including immersion education. Section four describes the Australian patterns of planning, implementation and provision of language education. Section five proposes several ways forward, but the focus is on improving quality of offerings, enhancing teacher education, encouraging student persistence and building a culture that expects high levels of achievement.
Rewritting Data Cleaning Operations Defined at a Conceptual Level

The handling of increasing amounts of data creates the need to deal with redundant and/or complementary repositories which are disparate in their data models and/or their data structures. Current data cleaning techniques developed to tackle data quality problems are just suitable for scenarios were all repositories share the same model and structure. Recently, a novel methodology was proposed to overcome this limitation. In the context of this methodology, it is outlined a generic process aimed to rewrite Data Cleaning Operation (DCO) specified at a conceptual level for a given domain ontology, and whose structure and semantics are described by the E-DQM ontology, according to another data structure of a target repository and another vocabulary required by an existing Data Cleaning Tool. The proposed algorithm includes validation of the rewritten DCOs and its serialization to the required output format.