Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Divergence in Labor Market Institutions and International Business Cycles

This paper investigates the sources of business cycle comovement within the New Open Economy Macroeconomy framework. It sheds new light on the business cycle comovement issue by examining the role of cross-country divergence in labor market institutions. The authors first document stylized facts supporting that heterogeneous labor market institutions are associated with lower cross-country GDP correlations among OECD countries. They then investigate this fact within a two-country dynamic general equilibrium model with frictions on the good and labor markets. On the good-market side, they model monopolistic competition and nominal price rigidity. Labor market frictions are introduced through a matching function a la Mortensen and Pissarides (1999). Their conclusions disclose that heterogenous labor market institutions amplify the crosscountry GDP differential in response to aggregate shocks. In quantitative terms, they contribute to reduce cross-country output correlation, when the model is subject to real and/or monetary shocks. Their overall results show that taking into account labor market heterogeneity improves their understanding of the quantity puzzle.
The Impact of Exchanges Rates on International Real Estate Portfolio Allocation

Executive Summary.This paper examines whether the asset holdings and weights of an international real estate portfolio using exchange rate adjusted returns are essentially the same or radically different from those based on unadjusted returns. The results indicate that the portfolio compositions produced by exchange rate adjusted returns are markedly different from those based on unadjusted returns. However, following the introduction of the single currency, the differences in portfolio composition are much less pronounced. The findings have a practical consequence for the investor because they suggest that following the introduction of the single currency international investors can concentrate on real estate fundamentals when making their portfolio choices, rather than worry about the implications of exchange rate risk.This paper is the winner of the best paper on International Real Estate Investment/Portfolio Management (sponsored by Jones Lang LaSalle) award presented at the 2006 American Real Estate .
On Games in Formal Verification

Nel Capitolo 1 facciamo uno studio generale del concetto di "prompt" applicato ai Parity Games. Tale studio permette di raggruppare diverse condizioni di parity, alcune introdotte da noi, altre gia presenti in letteratura, sotto un unico framework. Inoltre, in questo capitolo, vengono descritte semplici riduzioni polinomiali da tutte queste condizioni a Buchi o Parity, che semplificano tutte le procedure conosciute finora. In particolare, le riduzioni che vengono descritte, abbassano la classe di complessita delle condizioni Cost e Bounded Cost Parity recentemente introdotte. Infatti, vengono forniti algoritmi che mostrano che, determinare il vincitore di tale giochi e in UPTime ∩ CoUPTime. Nel Capitolo 2 viene rivisitata l'implementazione dell'algoritmo ricorsivo di Zielonka introducendo diversi miglioramenti e facendo uso del linguaggio di programmazione Scala. Questa scelta e stata dimostrata essere vantaggiosa, riducendo il tempo di esecuzioni di due ordini di grandezza. Nel Capitolo 3, viene introdotto e studiato Graded Strategy Logic (GSL), un estensione di Strategy Logic (SL) con quantificatori di grado. In tale capitolo, oltre ad essere fornite sintassi e semantica di tale logica, vengono investigate alcune questioni riguardo il frammento vanilla di GSL. In particolare vengono riportati risultati positivi circa la determinatezza dei giochi turn-based ed il relativo problema del model checking, che e mostrato essere in Ptime.
Exchange rate and foreign GDP elasticities of Swiss exports across sectors and destination countries

ABSTRACT This article uses a detailed breakdown of Swiss trade flows to identify how the impact of the two main determinants of Switzerland’s exports – foreign demand and the real exchange rate – varies across sectors and export destinations. Our main findings are that (i) both foreign demand and exchange rate elasticities vary substantially across both export sectors and export destinations. (ii) Foreign demand trends are more important for structural considerations than the exchange rate. This is due to the fact that exports of the two largest export sectors are relatively sensitive to long-run foreign demand developments while they are relatively insensitive to changes in the exchange rate. (iii) The sectoral structure of Switzerland’s exports has shifted towards goods that have a lower short-run demand elasticity and a higher long-run demand elasticity. Goods exports are thus less influenced by business cycle fluctuations while they benefit more from long-term growth trends. (iv) The export share of sectors with a relatively low exchange rate elasticity has increased. However, this result is mainly driven by the strong rise in exports of chemicals and pharmaceuticals as well as precision instruments and watches, which are also the two important sectors responsible for the Swiss trade surplus.
Teaching-learning sequences: A comparison of learning demand analysis and educational reconstruction

Teaching-learning sequences (TLS) for science teaching have been designed for over two decades and there is a growing interest in them amongst the science education community. Several theoretical frameworks have been utilized in designing TLSs. In this paper we outline two such frameworks: learning demand and educational reconstruction. We compare the learning demand and the educational reconstruction frameworks, present some concrete examples from two studies where these frameworks have been used, and present some general recommendations for developing TLSs.
Malignant Progression of Glioblastoma

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most devastating type of human cancers with a median survival time ranging from 12-18 months following maximal therapies [1]. Glioma is classified into four malignancy grades according to histological features; the low-grade tumors including WHO Grade I (localized gliomas) and WHO Grade II (diffuse astrocytoma or oligodendrogliomas), and the high-grade tumors including WHO Grades III (anaplastic gliomas) and WHO Grade IV (GBM).
DRG upcoding in German neonatology

Since 2003/2004, German hospitals are reimbursed based on a prospective payment scheme (diagnosis related groups, DRGs). Patient classification in neonatology is based inter alia on birth weight, with substantial discontinuities in reimbursement at the relevant thresholds. These discontinuities create strong incentives to upcode especially newborns with very low or extremely low birth weight into classes of even lower birth weight. In this paper, we use data from the German birth statistics 1996 to 2010 to document the extent to which German hospitals have upcoded newborns by systematically documenting birth weights below the DRG thresholds. We estimate that between 2003 and 2010, hospitals have gained additional reimbursement in excess of 100 million Euro from the manipulation of birth weights alone. Further, we show that the likelihood of birth weight manipulation may be linked with the strength of financial incentives, regional competition in the hospital sector, ownership status, and newborn health. A corollary of our study is that, for cohorts born after 2002, regression discontinuity designs for effects of neonatal care on child health based on birth weight classifications are invalid.
Relationship between anxiety symptoms and physical activity among adolescent girls in Iceland

The main focus of this study is anxiety symptoms among adolescent girls and what effect physical activity may have on anxiety symptoms. Mixed methods research design was used in this study. Quantitative research was used to measure whether frequency of physical activity is linked to the girls’ anxiety symptoms. Data from Icelandic Centre for Social Research and Analysis (ICSRA), Youth in Iceland 2016 was used. Participants were a random sample of total 2000 elementary school students in 8 -10 grade in Iceland. The hypothesis was that girls that are physically inactive report more anxiety symptoms than the girls that are more physically active. The results provided that girls that participate in organized sports 1-3 times a week or 4 times or more a week report significant less anxiety symptoms than those who are physically inactive. There was no significant difference between participating 1-3 times a week and 4 times or more a week. Qualitative research was used to examine professionals’ experiences of adolescent girls’ anxiety symptoms. Participants were two coaches and one educationaland vocational counselor. All of them had experienced girls’ anxiety through their work. In conclusion, physically active girls report better mental health than physically inactive girls.
Spatio-temporal Variations of d18O Isotope Signatures of Hydrological Components within a Glacierised Mountainous Basin

Understanding the spatio-temporal variations of isotopic tracers in complex mountainous environments can assist with seasonal and inter-annual hydrological process studies. In addition, if components of a hydrological balance can be isotopically characterised through time at a basin end-point, then they can potentially be used to evaluate the hydrological balance predicted in a model run. Over one hundred samples were collected of bulk snowpack, glacial ice, rainfall and various forms of groundwater/baseflow from the Bow Valley in the Canadian Rockies in an attempt to characterise the spatio-temporal variations of stable oxygen isotope compositions for each of these end members. A discussion of the observed changes in each of the flow component signatures with regard to the hydrological processes that may be controlling these dynamic changes in signature is provided. The paper ends with a generalisation (or conceptual model) of the oxygen isotope signatures for each of the major hydrological balance components at a monthly time step for the years 1996 – 1999.
The Effects of Feedback on Student Performance While Performing Multiple Tasks Simultaneously

Research shows that feedback or knowledge of results can increase performance on multiple activities. In order for feedback to be successful, it should follow closely in time to the behavior. The current study is a between-group design where the experimental group received visual feedback in the form of a point total about their accuracy in performing a computer task and the control group was not presented with the point totals. While the experimental group did have higher average point totals, the results were not statistically significant. Gender served as the second independent variable and there was not a significant difference between the average total points for men and women. There was not a significant interaction between the two variables. THE EFFECTS OF FEEDBACK ON STUDENT PERFORMANCE WHILE PERFORMING MULTIPLE TASKS
Effect Of Nicotine And Goat Milk Co-Administration On Rat Testis And Sperm Parameters

The present study was conducted to observe the beneficial effect of goat milk on the sperm parameters of nicotine treated rats. Sprague Dawley juvenile rats (5 to 6 weeks old) were randomly divided into three groups. For nicotine (N) and goat milk (GM) groups, the rats were daily injected with 5.0mg/kg body weight of nicotine and force-fed with 20.0ml/kg body weight of goat milk, respectively. However, for nicotine with goat milk (N-GM) group, the rats were injected with 5.0mg/kg body weight of nicotine and force-fed with 20.0ml/kg body weight of goat milk. After 60 days of treatments, the rats were sacrificed and the reproductive organs were removed. Sperm were collected from epididymis and assessed for sperm count, viability and morphology. Goat milk (GM) group showed higher sperm count (40.30±13.39 x 10 5 /ml), more live sperm (385.49±12.97) and more normal sperm (188.31±0.61) than N and N-GM groups (P<0.05). However, co-administration of nicotine with goat milk (N-GM) gave higher sperm parameters values as compared to that observe in N group (P<0.05). This study suggested that goat milk is potentially useful in increasing the fertility of nicotine treated male rats.
Tracing the Development of Human Resource Management on a Continuum: A Critical Review

HRM developed in response to the substantial increase in competitive pressures American business organizations began experiencing by the late 1970s as a result of such factors as globalization, deregulation, and rapid technological change. These pressures gave rise to an enhanced concern on the part of firms to engage in strategic planning. This research focuses on the history or evolution of human resource management development. Its changing phase over time and the extent to which new dimensions and knowledge can be harnessed and optimised for professional use
Protein supply in organic broiler production using fast-growing hybrids

The broiler's requirements of sulphur amino acids (AA) are high; however, currently available organic protein feedstuffs generally contain only low levels. According to national organic standards, fast-growing broilers in organic production are allowed to be slaughtered at 70 d, provided that their average growth rate does not exceed 50 g/day. This means that a growth restriction is necessary and may be done by using a low crude protein (CP) diet. However, such organic diets imply a risk for low dietary AA levels, which may jeopardize poultry welfare. The aim of this thesis is to evaluate the effect of organic, low CP/AA diets on bird welfare and to evaluate the use of hemp seed cake as a potential future protein feedstuff in organic diets. Three experiments were conducted over production periods of 70 d both indoors and in organic outdoor productions. The experiments covered evaluations of behaviour, health, physiological indicators and production when feeding fastgrowing broilers low CP and AA diets, also with the inclusion of hemp seed cake. Birds fed low CP/AA diets had lower live weights, increased activity, decreased mortality, and fewer birds had to be culled due to leg problems compared to birds fed higher levels of CP/AA. However, observed behavioural differences indicated that birds fed the low CP/AA diet showed hunger and associated frustration. These birds used their outdoor pasture much more, and had a higher forage intake, indicating a search for other nutrients than the ones provided. Cannibalism occurred in birds fed the low CP/AA diets, which is a welfare risk with such diets. Even though mortality was lowered for these birds, overall it was high and culling due to leg problems occurred during the last three weeks. The results indicate that low CP/AA diets used to maintain a maximum growth of 50 g/day are not optimal regarding bird welfare. The use of female broilers in organic production could be advantageous, to further reduce growth rates and culling due to leg problems. Another solution may be to shorten the rearing periods by approximately three weeks. The use of hybrids with lower growth rates may be an alternative in Swedish organic production and needs to be evaluated.
The Ten Hallmarks of Cancer in Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma [REVIEW]

Malignant tumors are complex and therapeutic intervention often ineffective. To bring more structure in the complex nature of tumors, the hallmarks of cancer framework was developed. This conceptual framework encompasses ten cellular functions that make normal cells malignant cancer cells. These hallmarks are: genomic instability and mutation, tumor promoting inflammation, sustaining proliferative signaling, evading growth suppres - sors, resisting cell death, enabling replicative immortality, inducing angiogenesis, activating invasion and metastasis, deregulating cellular energetics and finally avoiding immune destruction. These hallmarks are functional within the context of the tumor microenvironment. The hallmarks of cancer form a general framework which can be applied to interpret alterations that occur in different types of cancer. Therefore it should predict that any specific type of can - cer shows oncogenic alterations that match the hallmarks described by Hanahan and Weinberg. The type of cancer selected to test this hypothesis is melanoma. This form of skin cancer represents only 4% of human skin cancers but is responsible for 75-80% of skin cancer deaths.
Influence of polyurethane adhesives on tensile and compressive properties of ground rubber composites

Rubber from End-of-Life Tires (ELT) is often used as secondary raw material for composites. Polyurethane adhesives are widely employed in such formulations, since they bind to rubber particles effectively. In this study Ground Tire Rubber of passenger car ELT and truck tire tread buffings were used as feedstock. Toluene diisocyanate was used as a hardener for polyether-based prepolymer resin. Hardener amounts, curing durations and temperatures were varied to produce composite sheets. Scanning electron microscopy showed differences in the type of voids within the sheet and suggested that the amount of adhesive, surface wetting and curing regime could affect the composite structure significantly. Tensile and compressive properties of the composites were more dependent on the adhesive amount than curing temperature variation below 60°C. Better understanding how to control physical and mechanical properties of such composites will significantly contribute to value-added utilization of ELT as well as environmental and societal benefits.
The Beck Depression Inventory: A Cross-Validated Study of Factorial Structure for Nonclinical Adolescents.

Based on three independent samples of high school adolescents in central Canada, aged 12 to 18 years, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory fc-tor analysis (CFA) were used to identify, test, and cross-validate first-order and second-order factorial structures underlying the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Specifically, the study focused on: (1) determining an initial first-order structure of the BDI based on Group 1 'n=196); (2) postulating and testing alternative first-order structures using CFA procedures based on Group 2 (n=284), On the basis of EFA findings; (3) testing for the validity of a hierarchical structure that includes a single second-order factor of general depril.ssion; and (4) cross-validating plausible first-order and second-order structures across Group 3 (n=205) using double cross-validation procedures to identify models having the highest degree of predictive validity. Based on these three increasingly str4ngent tests of the BDI, the findings suggest that, for non-clinica. adolescents, the most appropriate factorial structure comprises a higher-order general factor of depression, with three first-order factors--negative attitudes, performance, and somatic elements. Four data tables are included. (Author/T,TH) **********************U***x**********************************W******* * Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made * * from the original document. * *********************************************************************** U S DEPARTMENT Of EDUCATION Othce ot Ectocanonai ResearCI1 and Irn0foreclent EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORSAATION CENTER IERICI 34hs document has been ney,c4Licea as rece.ved from the oelsOn cogan.zat,or Ong.nanng C Mmor changes have been made to . rnp,ove reoroguct.on ()away OPC.IS,Ave.C. 00,. OnSSIVednMSOM, mem co hot neCeSsaoty represent Moat OERI pos+t,on of DOICy 'PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY bARBAtil 114. h9y,e,u6" TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) 1 The Beck Depression Inventory: A Cross-validated Study of Factorial Structure for Nonclinical Adolescents Barbara M. Byrne and Pierre Baron University of Ottawa Paper presented at the American Psychological Association Annual Meeting, Boston 1990 2 RFST COPY AVAILABLE
Bias correcting climate model simulated daily temperature

B. L. Thrasher, E. P. Maurer, C. McKellar, and P. B. Duffy Climate Analytics Group, Palo Alto, CA 94303, USA Climate Central, Princeton, NJ 08542, USA Santa Clara University, Civil Engineering Department, Santa Clara, California, 95053-0563, USA San Jose State University, Department of Meteorology and Climate Science, San Jose, CA 95126, USA Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94550, USA
TISSUE CULTURE IN MEDICINAL PLANT OF SUMAC ( Rhus coriaria)

Sumac (Rhus coriaria) from Anacardiaceae is an important medicinal plant that contains tanen, deecstrose, and miristine. Sumac has many medicinal properties such as antiseptic, antispasm, antioxidant and styptic. There is port about propagation ofRhus coriariathrough tissue culture. In this research callus induction and regeneration of sumac were studied. Axillary buds were used as explants. Buds were sterilized by 0.02% (w/v) mercuric chloride for 3 min . , 70% ethanol for 2 min. and 30% NaOCl for 15 min. The explants were cultured on MS medium supplemented with different hormones such as IAA, BA, IBA, and TDZ. An experiment was carried out using a completely randomized design. There was no significant d ifference among media for callus initiation. The best shoot induction medium was MS with 1 mg/l BA + 0.5 mg/l IAA. Rooting of shoots occurred on MS medium supplemented with 1 mg/l IBA. The plantlets were successfully transferred to soil.
ALSV Vector Substantially Shortens Generation Time of Horticultural Plants

Flowering of plants is tightly regulated by both plant maturity and seasons in the year. Now that the Flowering Locus T ( FT ) gene has been revealed to encode the flowering hormone florigen, researchers are seeking to regulate and modify flowering behav - iours by using florigen as a genetic tool. In place of transgenic approaches, Apple latent spherical virus (ALSV) vector was successful in promoting flowering of both model plants (Arabidopsis and tobacco), and fruit trees (e.g. apple, pear, and loquat), vegetables (e.g. tomato and cucumber), legumes (e.g. soybean), and ornamental flowers (e.g. petunia, Japanese gentian and Eustoma). In so doing, FT was expressed and/or TFL1 was suppressed by the ALSV vector. ALSV is a latent (non-pathogenic) virus isolated from an apple tree. After induction of flowering and seed production in crops, ALSV is not trans ferred to most of the next-generation seedlings, or it can be artificially removed from the infected plant by incubation at high temperature. Thus, the generation times of horticul tural plants are approximately halved, and the generation time of apple plants is substan - tially shortened to within one year. Hence, ALSV technology is expected to be useful as a part of New Plant Breeding Techniques (NPBT) for agricultural application.
A study of rumors spreading model with on scale-free network

In this paper, a novel SIRS model of rumors on scale-free network with time delay is proposed. The basic reproductive number for the model is presented. We prove that the rumors will die out when the basic reproductive number is less than the unity. Whereas the permanence of the rumors is shown if the basic reproductive number exceeds the unity. Numerical simulations confirmed the analytical results.