bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The impact of college‐ and university‐run high school summer programs on students’ end of high school STEM career aspirations
Authors: Kitchen Joseph A. , Sonnert Gerhard , Sadler Philip M. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractInsufficient student interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers has been identified as a pressing issue by educators and education policy makers. This retrospective cohort study examined one promising approach to reach and inspire students early on: college‐ and university‐ run high school STEM summer programs. Data were collected from 27 colleges and universities participating in the National Science Foundation's STEM Talent Expansion Program. We examined the impact of high school STEM summer program participation on end of high school career aspirations among a sample of 845 program participants and 15,002 controls. The study employed logistic regression modeling with propensity weighting to address differences in group characteristics to model the impact of programs. Results showed that students who participated in a program had 1.4 times the odds of wanting to pursue a STEM career, controlling for background characteristics. A closer look at program design revealed that students experiencing the real‐world relevance of STEM had 1.8 times the odds of aspiring to STEM careers at the end of high school compared with controls. Findings suggest that scaling up STEM summer programs and carefully designing programs to show the real‐life relevance of STEM may be an effective strategy to curtail pipeline attrition and to inspire more students to pursue STEM careers.
A New Co‐P Nanocomposite with Ultrahigh Relaxivity for In Vivo Magnetic Resonance Imaging‐Guided Tumor Eradication by Chemo/Photothermal Synergistic Therapy
Authors: Liu Jianhua , Jin Longhai , Wang Yinghui , Ding Xing , Zhang Songtao , Song Shuyan , Wang Daguang , Zhang Hongjie 
Published: January 2018

AbstractDesign of new nanoagents that intrinsically have both diagnostic imaging and therapeutic capabilities is highly desirable for personalized medicine. In this work, a novel nanotheranostic agent is fabricated based on polydopamine (PDA)‐functionalized Co‐P nanocomposites (Co‐P@PDA) for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)‐guided combined photothermal therapy and chemotherapy. The ultrahigh relaxivity of 224.61 mm−1 s−1 can enable Co‐P@PDA to be applied as an excellent contrast agent for MRI in vitro and in vivo, providing essential and comprehensive information for tumor clinical diagnosis. Moreover, Co‐P@PDA exhibit excellent photothermal performance owing to the strong near‐infrared (NIR) absorbance of both Co‐P nanocomposite and PDA. Highly effective ablation of tumors is achieved in a murine tumor model because the NIR laser not only induces photothermal effects but also triggers the chemotherapeutic drug on‐demand release, which endows the Co‐P@PDA with high curative effects but little toxicity and few side effects. These findings demonstrate that Co‐P@PDA are promising agents for highly effective and precise antitumor treatment and warrant exploration as novel theranostic nanoagents with good potential for future clinical translation.
Decomposition of the Gender Wage Gap Using Matching: An Application for Switzerland
Authors: Djurdjevic Dragana , Radyakin Sergiy 
Published: January 2018

SummaryIn this paper, we investigate the gender wage differentials for Switzerland. Using micro data from the Swiss Labour Force Survey, we apply a matching method to decompose the wage gap in Switzerland. This nonparametric technique accounts for wage differences that can be due to differences in the supports. We can interpret these differences as a form of “discrimination” which is reflected in wages because women face “barriers” in accessing certain characteristics that men achieve. As a consequence, accounting for these differences in gender supports may be useful in terms of policy implications in promoting more equality between men and women.
To Wait or Not to Wait: Swiss EU-Membership as an Investment under Uncertainty
Authors: Spirig Beat , Weder Rolf 
Published: January 2018

Summary
Why do some countries join the EU earlier than others, why do others wait? In order to address this question we apply the theory of investment under uncertainty (Dixit and Pindyck, 1994) to the decision on EU-membership. We present the idea in a simplified model of two periods to study how the value of waiting depends among other things on the expected benefits, the degree of uncertainty and the adjustment costs. The approach gives rise to a country’s position to deliberately postpone a membership in order to keep the option to join later if this is desirable. The model, thus, may explain delayed accession to the EU. We apply this framework to Switzerland by quantifying some of the crucial determinants of the value of waiting and qualitatively compare these findings with the experiences of other countries. We find evidence that adjustment costs are relatively high for Switzerland whereas net annual benefits are limited and subject to an increased degree of uncertainty.
Swiss DRGs: Patient Heterogeneity and Hospital Payments
Authors: Mougeot Michel , Naegelen Florence 
Published: January 2018

Summary
In this paper, we analyze the prospective method of paying hospitals when the within-DRG variance is high. To avoid patients dumping, an outlier payment system is implemented. In the APDRG Swiss System, it consists in a mixture of fully prospective payments for low costs patients and partially cost-based system for high cost patients. We show how the optimal policy depends on the degree to which hospitals take patients’ interest into account. A fixed-price policy is optimal when the hospital is sufficiently benevolent. When the hospital is weakly benevolent, a mixed policy solving a trade-off between rent extraction, efficiency and dumping deterrence must be preferred. Following Mougeot and Naegelen (2008), we show how the optimal combination of fixed price and partially cost-based payment depends on the degree of benevolence of the hospital, the social cost of public funds and the distribution of patients severity.
Swiss monetary policy 2000–2009
Authors: Genberg Hans , Gerlach Stefan 
Published: January 2018

Summary
In January 2000 the Swiss National Bank adopted a new monetary policy framework incorporating a price stability objective defined as (any rate of) CPI inflation below 2 percent. We contrast this framework with inflation targeting strategies and review the SNB’s policy decisions since its introduction. Empirical results indicate that in setting policy the SNB reacts in much the same way as inflation targeting central banks. The recent sharp reduction in the policy rate is consistent with the estimated reaction function until the second quarter of 2009 when the zero bound became binding, while the deterioration of economic conditions still called for further monetary easing. This may explain the unconventional monetary policy measures adopted since then.
Measuring the natural output level by DSGE models: An empirical investigation for Switzerland
Authors: Leist Stefan , Neusser Klaus 
Published: January 2018

Summary
The output gap plays an important role in the assessment and conduct of monetary policy. Most of the current literature, however, relies on filtering procedures which use ad hoc smoothness arguments for identification. Furthermore, they are subject to end-of-sample problems and do not provide estimates of the output gap based on economic theory. In contrast, our model-based approach relies on a precise definition of the natural level of output and consequently of the output gap. This paper provides, for the first time, an estimate of the output gap based on a DSGE small open economy model for Switzerland. We use Bayesian econometrics to derive an estimate of the output gap, which is then compared to some alternatives. Except for the last years, our measure of the output gap is close to zero most of the time. This suggests that price rigidities play a minor role in the propagation of the Swiss business cycle. We show that our estimate produces sensible and robust results which encourage further research.
Poverty in Tunisia: A Fuzzy measurement approach
Authors: Belhadj Besma , Matoussi Mohamed Salah 
Published: January 2018

Summary
Although poverty is widely recognised as a multidimensional phenomenon, we still believe that monetary aspect has a fundamental role and therefore deserves a special treatment. For this reason we propose an individual unidimensional measure according to a fuzzy approach that, unlike conventional methods, is consistent with the vague nature of poverty and preserves all the available statistical information. Referred to the overall population, we use an Information Theory approach to design unidimensional fuzzy collective index. The methodology proposed here is illustrated by means of the Tunisia case.
The effect of parental background on track choices and wages
Authors: Falter Jean-Marc , Luzzi Giovanni Ferro , Sbergami Federica 
Published: January 2018

Summary
Intergenerational links are often investigated by computing educational attainment correlations between parents and children, even though parental background may influence outcomes at earlier stages of the educational path. Because of early school track selection and widespread vocational training, this effect may be quite important in the Swiss context. We first investigate the importance of parental background variables for upper secondary educational attainment over the last 6 decades. We next estimate the impact of parental background on earnings. This effect is shown to depend on the magnitude of intergenerational correlations, the returns to qualifications and the availability of further training for those having ended up in a low educational track at age 15. The impact of tracking at age 15 on wage inequality is found to be relatively small in Switzerland, comparing to results for Germany. Relatively low returns from academic education best explain this pattern.
Socialisation, trust and reciprocity among young people
Authors: Migheli Matteo 
Published: January 2018

Summary
This paper analyzes the contribution of youth’s different time allocations to positive behaviors in exchanges. Psychologists highlight that time spent within voluntary organizations fosters positive development. The paper aims at deepening the knowledge of the psychological bases of the observed outcomes of a basic trust game. Undergraduate students played a basic trust game; after this, information about the use of their spare time was collected. Higher passed amounts positively correlate with time spent in youth organizations. The main novelties of the paper are: the way social capital is measured and the strong link with the psychological literature.
Swiss Climate Change and Nuclear Policy: A Comparative Analysis Using an Energy System Approach and a Sectoral Electricity Model
Authors: Weidmann Nicolas , Kannan Ramachandran , Turton Hal 
Published: January 2018

Summary
Decisions on climate change and nuclear policies are likely to have major influences on the future evolution of the Swiss energy system. To understand the implications of selected future policy decisions, we analyse the development of the Swiss energy system with a bottom-up technology-rich least-cost optimisation modelling framework. We use the Swiss MARKAL energy system model and analyse a stringent climate change mitigation policy with two policy variants on the availability of nuclear energy, i.e. with and without nuclear new builds. The energy system modelling approach provides insights into system-wide energy pathways, technology choice and cross-sectoral trade-offs like resource competition, electrification, and CO2 mitigation options across supply and demand sectors. To complement the full system approach, we apply an experimental TIMES model — a successor to MARKAL — of the Swiss electricity sector with a detailed representation of the electricity load curve accounting for diurnal and seasonal variations in demand and resource supply. The analytical results from both modelling approaches are presented and the electricity sector results compared to illustrate the complementary policy insights. The implications for realising an ambitious climate target with and without investment in new nuclear plants are discussed, and a number of areas for possible policy support identified.
Spatial and temporal aggregation in racial profiling
Authors: Ilić Dragan 
Published: January 2018

Summary
In the last decade, models of rational choice have chimed into the discussion on racial profiling, the use of race in stop and search decisions of the police. The models describe the behavior of motorists and the police and provide empirical tests to assess the question whether the police exhibit racial animus. However, existing studies have neglected the effect of spatial and temporal aggregation of the data on the application of the tests. Using data from the Florida Highway Patrol, this paper shows that regional subsets disclose policing behavior which deviates substantially from the aggregate. Broad conclusions on the absence or presence of racial prejudice are thus at risk of being unfounded. In addition, the disaggregated analysis suggests that the empirical tests implied by the rational choice models are not applicable to all observed regions. The results call for a cautious application of the tests and the interpretation of their conclusions.
The value of a statistical injury: New evidence from the Swiss labor market
Authors: Kuhn Andreas , Ruf Oliver 
Published: January 2018

Summary
We study the monetary compensation for non-fatal accident risk in Switzerland using the number of accidents within cells defined over industry × skill-level of the job and capitalizing on the partial panel structure of our data. Our results show that using accident risk at a lower level of aggregation, using narrower samples of workers, and using the wage component that is specific to the firm all yield higher (i.e. more positive) estimates of risk compensation. However, we only find a statistically significant positive compensation for non-fatal accident risk for workers in jobs with the lowest skill-level. Our preferred estimate for this group of workers yields an estimate of about 35,000 Swiss francs per prevented injury per year.
What news drive variation in Swiss and US bond and stock excess returns?
Authors: Nitschka Thomas 
Published: January 2018

Summary
Based on a vector autoregressive model (VAR), this paper shows that time variation in monthly excess returns on Swiss government bonds and stocks is predominantly driven by news of inflation and dividends, respectively. This finding is in marked contrast to US evidence which points to a more prominent role of excess return news. Variance decompositions based on estimates from threshold VARs show that US stock market evidence is consistent with the view that market participants put more weight on news of macroeconomic, i.e. cash-flow, risks in periods of exceptionally low real interest rates than in normal times.
The Characteristics of FDI Activities Located in Different Host Regions — A Study Based on Firm-Level Data
Authors: Arvanitis Spyros , Hollenstein Heinz , Stucki Tobias 
Published: January 2018

Summary
Based on a unique firm-level dataset for Swiss MNEs, this paper characterizes FDI activities located in different host regions. The characterization of the FDI activities is based on information on the parent companies, their foreign subsidiaries and the two-way trade flows between parent companies and foreign affiliates Concretely, the study provides econometric evidence based on multivariate probit estimates about the relationship between a firm’s choice of nine alternative host regions and the type of FDI (horizontal production-oriented, vertical production-oriented, distribution-oriented), a firm’s FDI experience and its capabilities for innovation, respectively. The estimation results indicate that there is low correlation between a firm’s capability for innovation and FDI experience, respectively, and the location of their FDI activities. Further, our estimates indicate large heterogeneity with respect to the type of FDI activities.
Determinants of the Swiss Franc Real Exchange Rate
Authors: Griffoli Tommaso Mancini , Meyer Christoph , Natal Jean-Marc , Zanetti Attilio 
Published: January 2018

Summary
We conduct an empirical investigation of the determinants of the Swiss franc real exchange rate. Theory and related empirical papers suggest various specific factors as potential determinants We select some of these factors, and test their significance and magnitude in affecting the course of the CHF real exchange rate. Results stemming from a co-integration approach point to terms of trade and relative government spending as the most significant explanatory variables. Balassa-Samuelson effects do not play any significant role. Our results also confirm that this kind of empirical approach is sensitive to the choice of explanatory variables, panel countries and sample periods.
Wine Competitions: Reevaluating the Gold Standard
Authors: Bitter Christopher 
Published: January 2018

AbstractCompetition medals are one of the most readily available sources of expert opinion to wine consumers, yet the “expertise” of competition judges and efficacy of medals have been questioned in the literature. This paper reevaluates the relevance of gold medals using data from ten competitions and scores from two leading wine publications. The analysis begins by exploring differences in gold medal award rates across competitions while holding wine quality constant through paired comparisons, which are found to be substantial. Next, the relevance of gold medals as indicators of wine quality is assessed, using the average scores from Wine Enthusiast and Wine Spectator as surrogates for quality. By itself, knowledge that a wine is a gold medal winner appears to have little relevance, as these wines do not score significantly higher than other medal winners. However, evidence suggests that golds from some competitions may be more relevant than others. (JEL Classifications: L15, L66)
Social anxiety disorder: looking back and moving forward
Authors: Hyett Matthew P. , McEvoy Peter M. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractFifty years have passed since social anxiety disorder (SAD) was first differentiated from other phobias. In the years since research has largely aligned with the zeitgeist of categorical classificatory frameworks, and has spanned identifying causes, maintenance factors and innovative interventions. Despite significant advances in the field, the capacity to conceptualise SAD as an independent entity is limited given the heterogeneity and dimensionality of diagnostic criteria, high rates of comorbidity, and non-specificity of aetiological mechanisms, maintaining factors and approaches to treatment. The Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) initiative was developed in an effort to overcome the inherent limitations posed by descriptive diagnostic systems – particularly in terms of reliability and validity – and in doing so seeks to facilitate research into underlying pathophysiological and behavioural mechanisms that cut across traditional diagnostic boundaries. The RDoC framework is furnished with a ‘matrix’, which in essence corresponds to a set of research principles that attempt to reconcile neuroscience and psychopathology. This review outlines a rationale for integrating SAD research with the RDoC approach, and offers examples of how future studies may wish to frame hypotheses and design experiments as the field moves towards classifying dimensions of psychopathology through a mechanistic understanding of underlying neurobiological and behavioural processes.
Neo-Tudor and its Enemies
Authors: Stamp Gavin 
Published: January 2018

Has any architecture – even the concrete ‘shoe boxes’ of the 1960s – received such consistent abuse as the neo-Tudor of the first half of the twentieth century – especially in its middle-class, suburban manifestations (Fig. 1)? ‘The abominable Tudoristic villa of the By-pass road’, ‘The worst bogus Tudor housing estates’, and ‘Those repellent, jerry-built, sham-Tudor houses that disfigure England’ are some contemporary judgements. And as far as that enthusiast for the modern, Anthony Bertram, in his 1935 book,The House: A Machine for Living In, was concerned:The man who builds a bogus Tudoresque villa or castellates his suburban home is committing a crime against truth and tradition: he is denying the history of progress, denying his own age and insulting the very thing he pretends to imitate by misusing it.
Changes in Milk Components Through Breeding
Authors: Swanson G.I.T. , Mrode R.A. , Winters M.S. 
Published: January 2018

In view of the major changes taking place concerning the buying and selling of milk and milk products this is an appropriate time to consider ways and means to manipulate milk components. The replacement of the Milk Marketing Boards by voluntary co-operatives and the potential changes in the pricing of milk together with changes in consumer demand raises questions over breeding objectives in relation to the emphasis on milk, fat and protein.The total cow population in the United Kingdom (UK) in 1992 was 4.38 million of which 2.68 million were dairy cows. Prior to 1984 when quotas were introduced cow numbers remained relatively static over a period of 25 years. Since 1984 cow numbers have decreased steadily from 3.3 million to 2.68 million. The major dairy breeds together with their average yields and composition are shown in Table 1.
Genotype with feeding regime interaction in pigs
Authors: Cameron N.D. , Curran M.K. 
Published: January 2018

This paper examined a genotype with feeding regime interaction by performance testing pigs, selected for lean growth on ad-libitum or restricted feeding, on both the normal and the alternative feeding regime.Large White (LW) and Landrace (LR) pigs from divergent selection lines were for four generations for lean growth either on an ad-libitum (LGA) or a restricted (LGS) feeding regime. In each selection group, there were high, low and control lines, which consisted of 10 sires and 20 dams. On average, 3 boars and 3 gilts were tested per litter, with one boar and one gilt per litter tested on the alternative feeding regime. On ad-libitum feeding, there were 181 LGA and 94 LGS LW pigs and 162 LGA and 67 LGS LR pigs. On restricted feeding, 92 LGA and 212 LGS LW and 53 LGA and 135 LGS LR pigs were tested.Performance test. The performance test was over a fixed weight range of 30±3 kg to 85±5 kg for ad-libitum fed pigs and for a fixed time of 84 days for restricted fed pigs. Restricted feeding was equal to 0.75 g/g of daily food intake of ad-libitum fed pigs. All pigs were individually penned and fed a high energy (13.8 MJ DE/kg DM) and high protein (210 g/kg DM crude protein) pelleted ration.