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The massification of higher education has dramatically changed the association between credentials and jobs in advanced countries, while its impacts in transitional economies have received less academic attention. To address this research lacuna, the paper utilizes rich information from China's national surveys of college graduates from 2003 to 2019 and multiple waves of census data to explore the temporal and spatial effects of tertiary education expansion on college graduates' job sorting. Regression results from the fixed effects model and the two-stage least-squares model indicate that, on the temporal dimension, the higher education expansion has weakened ties between college credentials and quality jobs over the past 20 years. Recent graduates are more likely to work in informal, non-urban, and non-public sectors, and the college earnings premium has also declined. There is a persistent gap in employment outcomes between bachelor's and associate degree holders. On the spatial dimension, the growing enrolment size leads to skill sorting towards low skilled regions. The study argues that the dynamic effects of college credentials may be explained by labour market flexibility and cohort crowding after higher education expansion. This paper calls for a critical reflection on the merit of further massification of higher education in developing economies, regarding its potential impacts on intergenerational inequality and regional inequality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We revisit our earlier extension of the CRM and introduce a new version of the dose escalation procedure. Its performance is assessed by simulation, with respect to a template of five operating measures BEARS (Benchmark, Efficiency, Accuracy, Reliability, Safety) that was used in Zhang, Wang and Yang. Our goal is to correctly identify the maximum tolerated dose with a high probability while protecting trial subjects from undue risk of toxicity. Simulation results show that this may be achieved for some considered scenarios, selective models, and considered competing designs. We discuss the pros and cons of the new version of the dose escalation procedure in the face of treatment versus experimentation dilemma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supersaturated multistratum designs are applied for identifying important factors in experiments in which the run order cannot be completely randomized. Since supersaturated multistratum designs have small run sizes and large numbers of factors, there exist problems of model uncertainty. A drawback of the stepwise regression analysis commonly used in the literature is that it only produces a single model and, thus, is not suitable to deal with model uncertainty. In this paper, we propose a Bayesian approach for analyzing the data collected from supersaturated multistratum designs. Instead of producing a single model, the Bayesian analysis reports several competing models and, thus, provides an opportunity for the experimenters to explore potentially important factors. To further reduce uncertainty, we suggest conducting follow-up experiments and develop a generalized model-discrimination criterion for selecting follow-up supersaturated designs that are effective in reducing ambiguity in the analysis results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a new design of the continual reassessment method and systematically evaluate its performance on certain operating measures to satisfy the requirements of collective and individual ethics. Simulation results are derived to compare the new design with currently available designs on criteria BEARS: Benchmark, Efficiency, Accuracy, Reliability, Safety. Overall, the new design performs well and safely avoids toxic doses (hence safeguarding individual ethics) while reliably identifying the maximum tolerated dose (hence protecting collective ethics). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to better provide geological basis for the rail transport planning in Zhengzhou, the geo-environmental suitability assessment for tunnel in sub-deep layer was carried out. In the study, the multi-objective linear weighted function method and analytic hierarchy process were used to evaluate the suitability of geological environment. The results show that the index affecting the geological environment suitability of tunnel in sub-deep layer in the study area mainly include the enriched layer of calcareous concretions, the weighted average compressive modulus, the standard deviation of compression modulus and the content of chloride ion in groundwater. The area with poor suitability of geological environment is mainly distributed in the southeast of the study area. During the construction in this area, the influence of the enriched layer of calcareous concretions and the stratum with poor uniformity on operation should be considered. The moderate suitability of geological environment is mainly consistent with the distribution of the enriched layer of calcareous concretions. Other areas in the study area are the good suitability of geological environment. In the future, the data precision in the evaluation should be improved, utilization of underground space should be got by remote sensing, and a relative-independent evaluation index system and dynamic evaluation model should be established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radiofrequency (RF)-assisted devices are widely used for hemostasis during liver resection. This study compared the use of dual switching (DS) versus single switching (SS) control modes for RF-based liver resections in a pig model. The RF-based system comprised a 200-W generator and three electrodes with 4-cm tips arranged in a linear configuration using an adaptor. Eight Lanyu pigs were used to assess ablation outcomes with electrode spacing of 2 or 3 cm, and ablation durations of 1.5, 2 or 3 min. All combinations were tested in DS and SS modes. Procedures were performed on left lateral, caudal and right anterior liver lobes, and after which transections were performed using a scalpel. Blood loss, complete ablation rate and ablation speed were compared. DS mode was shown to induce significantly less blood loss than SS mode when the electrode spacing was set at 2 cm and the ablation duration was 2 min or 3 min (p=.010 and.012, respectively). Extended ablation duration and narrow electrode spacing tended to induce less blood loss, regardless of operating mode. Bloodless resection was achieved using DS mode with electrode spacing of 2 cm and ablation duration of 2–3 min. The highest rate of complete ablation (11.3 cm2/min) was achieved using DS mode with electrode spacing of 2 cm and ablation duration of 1.5 min. RF-based hepatic resection using DS mode is safe and feasible, resulting in less blood loss than SS mode with a higher rate of complete ablation (i.e., superior ablation efficiency). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The second article, 'The impact of globalisation on the skill wage gap in Turkey: A quantile regression approach' by Hayriye Özgül Özkan-Degirmenci, focusses on the returns to different levels of skills in Turkey's labour market in an environment with increasing globalisation as well as international trade. Globalisation and technological changes are widening the income gap between the highly-skilled and the unskilled. A workforce strategy coupling skill formation, employment opportunity, and income security will spur both the short-term economic recovery and longer-term economic development in the post-COVID era. [Extracted from the article]

We compare three countries where public policy has explicitly sought to align incentives of employers and educational institutions around closing the gap between skill formation and labor market demand. In large, heterogeneous countries such as the United States, Russia and China, collaborative arrangements such apprenticeships and other forms of public-private partnerships can be constructed at the subnational level by building on direct, face-to-face ties across educational, business, government, and civic sectors. Drawing on existing literature as well as fieldwork studying a number of specific cases in the three countries, the paper develops a typology of such arrangements and proposes an explanation for the observed variation. It emphasizes the importance of two sets of factors: those that induce cooperation on the part of firms and schools, and those that influence the character of such partnerships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study develops an economic production quantity (EPQ) model and solution procedure for imperfect items with shortage and screening constraint. The Renewal Reward Theorem (RRT) is applied to formulate the exact expected total profit per unit time. We have shown the robustness of our model using time interval as decision variable rather than the traditional order size and backorder quantity. A solution procedure is provided to derive the optimal policy. Special cases of the EOQ/EPQ models can be obtained by taking the parameter limiting values. Numerical examples and sensitivity analysis are presented to verify our results. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Using global citizenship as the framework and guided by a phenomenological approach, this paper examines the experiences of overseas education on Chinese students studying in American high schools, and the mechanisms through which potential growth takes place. The data were collected from interviews with 15 Chinese students studying at American high schools and seven teacher participants who work closely with them. Findings reveal that international sojourning could potentially serve as an effective pathway to global citizenship because it may help international students develop global competencies (knowledge, understanding and skills), and global consciousness (values and attitudes). The paper argues that the process of growing into a global citizen may be viewed as an advanced level of student development, and the mechanisms through which this kind of ideal transformation takes place which were identified in this study include: having non-vanity motives, developing self-authorship, exposure to different perspectives, and experiencing disadvantages and deprivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Facing a rapidly aging population, China has recently started to formulate and implement policies with the aim to provide old-age care. While well-developed old-age care policies commonly include a built-in component that assesses eligibility based on vulnerability, no such process is established in the context of China. Here, based on data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study collected in both 2011 and 2013, we (a) developed a simple and effective strategy for identifying vulnerable Chinese elderly, which can serve as a basis for policy targeting, and (b) improved the policy relevance and targeting efficiency of this vulnerability measure by including additional health indicators. Our vulnerability measures identify 35% to 46% of Chinese elderly as vulnerable, covering up to 67% of elderly at high risk of death or functional decline. They can serve as an initial screening step for more comprehensive geriatric assessments and enable policy makers to effectively target vulnerable elderly persons in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:Star fruit (SF) is a commonly available fruit produced and eaten in tropical and subtropical countries. Since 1993, various reports have described neurotoxicity after eating SF, but this clinical condition remains unfamiliar. We aimed to describe this clinical entity, the role of renal dysfunction in this disorder, treatment strategies, and prognosis of patients with SF intoxication. Methods:We conducted a search of PubMed and Google Scholar databases from 1993 to 2016. We included reports describing patients with a clear history of SF ingestion with acute symptoms. We described the demographic characteristics, reported SF intake, treatments used, and outcomes. Results:We reviewed totally 126 patients (male:female = 1.5:1) from 33 articles with mean age 54.4 ± 11 (range: 30–84). The most common symptom was hiccups (65%), whereas confusion and seizure were the most common symptoms associated with mortality (42% and 61%, respectively). Pre-intoxication renal function also affected mortality. While there was no mortality in patients with normal renal function (NRF), the mortality of patients among reported cases with chronic renal insufficiency and end-stage renal disease undergoing dialysis were 36% and 27%, respectively. With the inclusion of patients reported to have NRF, the overall mortality was 24%. Consistently, the number of SF consumed was substantially higher in the patients with NRF than those with renal functional impairment. The most common treatment strategy was hemodialysis (59%). Conclusions:Patients with impaired renal function were at higher risks of SF intoxication. Severe neurologic symptoms mandate immediate medical intervention because of the association between their occurrence and high mortalities. Toxin removal through dialysis, rather than symptomatic relief, seems to be beneficial to patient survival. Early and continuous dialysis appears to alleviate severe symptoms and prevent symptom rebounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An investment and consumption problem is formulated and its optimal strategy is investigated. We assume the basic binary model, but with unknown parameters. We apply the parametric Bayesian approach to formulate the problem as a sequential stochastic optimization model and use the technique of dynamic programming to characterize the optimal strategy. It is discovered that despite unknown parameters, when the power and logarithmic utility functions are treated, the optimal value function is of the same form of the utility function. The random finite horizon model is formulated as an infinite horizon model. Our results are similar to the ones in the literature having different return functions with constant relative risk aversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China has recently launched a radical reform to transform over 600 regional universities into application and technology oriented institutions. The reform is a response to diverse labour market demands, regional economic development and the suboptimal structure of the higher education system, and uses international experiences as a reference. While China is still struggling to identify proper international models to follow, this article offers a potential candidate – Finland, with respect to Finnish experiences recommendations for the Chinese reform are discussed and elicited. The analysis flows from discussions in a series of seminars and workshops held in Finland and China in 2014. This article argues that the Finnish experience is of relevance to Chinese regional university transformation, notwithstanding the huge difference in scale. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Vector quantisation (VQ) codebooks are generated by combining principal component analysis (PCA) algorithms with Linde–Buzo–Gray (LBG) algorithms. All training vectors are grouped according to the projected values of the principal components. The PCA-LBG-based algorithms include (1) PCA-LBG-Median, which selects the median vector of each group, (2) PCA-LBG-Centroid, which adopts the centroid vector of each group, and (3) PCA-LBG-Random, which randomly selects a vector of each group. The LBG algorithm finds a codebook based on the better vectors sent to an initial codebook by the PCA. The PCA performs an orthogonal transformation to convert a set of potentially correlated variables into a set of variables that are not linearly correlated. Because the orthogonal transformation efficiently distinguishes test image vectors, the proposed PCA-LBG-based algorithm is expected to outperform conventional algorithms in designing VQ codebooks. The experimental results confirm that the proposed PCA-LBG-based algorithms indeed obtain better results compared to existing methods reported in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to analyze the recent development of Chinese vocational colleges from two perspectives: the adoption of employability as a new institutional mission and organizational changes in six areas. The analysis is based on a multiple-case study. The analytical frameworks are developed from sociological theory and organizational theory. This study argues that vocational colleges in China are experiencing substantial transformations. At the macro level, they are transforming from a social institution to industry under the neoliberal argument for globalization. Colleges adopt employability as their new mission. At the micro level, there are considerable changes under the influence of the new mission, in terms of program goal, program development, curriculum development, dominant pedagogy, faculty development, and internal management. The changes fit the rhetoric of employability as a core competency. There is a tendency that Chinese vocational higher education institutions will degenerate into training organizations for employment. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The magneto-electronic properties of quasi-one-dimensional zigzag graphene nanoribbons are investigated by using the Peierls tight-binding model. Quasi-Landau levels (QLLs), dispersionless Landau subbands within a certain region of-space, are resulted from the competition between magnetic and quantum confinement effects. In bilayer system, the interlayer interactions lead to two groups of QLLs, one occurring at the Fermi level and the other one occurring at higher energies. Transverse electric fields are able to distort energy spectrum, tilt two groups of QLLs, and cause semiconductor-metal transition. From the perspective of wave functions, the distribution of electrons is explored, and the evolution of Landau states under the influence of electric fields is clearly discussed. More interestingly, the band mixing phenomena exhibited in the energy spectrum are related to the state mixing, which can be seen by the wave functions. The density of states, which could be verified through surface inspections and optical experiments, such as scanning tunneling spectroscopy and absorption spectroscopy, is provided at last. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An effective method for controlling brain damage and neurodegeneration caused by inflammation remains elusive. Down-expression of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory cytokines resulting in endotoxin tolerance is reported as an alternative anti-infection treatment. Nonetheless, because the dosage and action site are hard to control, endotoxin tolerance caused by low-dose LPS injection in brain tissue may induce side effects. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that static magnetic fields (SMF) stimulate endotoxin tolerance in brain tissue. In this study, survival rate and pathological changes in brain tissues of LPS-challenged mice were examined with and without SMF treatment. In addition, the effects of SMF exposure on growth rate and cytokine expression of LPS-challenged BV-2 microglia cells were monitored. Our results showed that SMF pre-exposure had positive effects on the survival rate and histological outcomes of LPS-treated mice. Furthermore, SMF exposure significantly decreased IL-6 expression in BV-2 cells ( p < 0.05) by a phenomenon similar to endotoxin tolerance. We suggest that SMF has potential as an alternative simulation source for controlling LPS-induced excess neuro-inflammatory response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzed 586 students from nine vocational high schools in three provinces in China. It found a substantial gap between the demand for and the supply of government financial aid. Moreover, correct student aid information and aid application was not equally distributed among various student groups. A financial aid application made a significant difference in access to aid. Finally, disadvantaged students got more aid when they received other kinds of financial support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. This study determines the clinical significance of residual renal function (RRF), defined as residual daily urine volume (RDUV), in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients. Methods. This multi-center study enrolled 704 MHD patients. Geographic, hematological, biochemical, and dialysis-related data were obtained. Values for nutritional and inflammatory markers were analyzed together with RDUV. Results. In total, 670 of 704 patients (95.2%) with HD duration greater than 1 year had abnormal RDUV (<500 ml). Patients with higher RRF were younger, had shorter HD duration, higher prevalence of hypertension and levels of serum albumin, high density lipoprotein (HDL), and lower mid-week inter-dialysis body weight increase (MIBWI), cardio-thoracic ratio, levels of intact parathyroid hormone, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (Hs CRP), and KT/V (Daugirdes) values than those with low RRF. Stepwise multiple regression analysis demonstrated that RRF was positively correlated with serum albumin, HDL levels, and presence of hypertension, and negatively correlated with age, HD duration, and MIBWI in MHD patients. Moreover, after adjusting factors that were significantly related to serum albumin or Hs CRP, RRF was still positively correlated with serum albumin (0.000137 ± 0.000585, p = 0.0197) and negatively correlated with log Hs CRP (-0.000184 ± 0.000952, p = 0.0533). A one-liter increase in RDUV was associated with a 1.4 g/L increase in serum albumin level in MHD patients. Conclusion. This clinical study first demonstrated that RRF affects nutritional and inflammatory status in MHD patients. Because malnutrition and inflammation can cause high mortality in MHD patients, preserving RRF is important for these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a review of cases of acute ingestion poisoning with insecticide formulations containing pyrethroid permethrin, xylene and surfactant. Background on pyrethroid insecticides; Clinical signs and symptoms in each organ system associated with such poisoning; Types of synthetic pyrethroids according to their chemical bonds.

This study develops an arborescent (tree-like) inventory model with a constant demand rate. By considering the integration of the producer, distributors and retailers, a mathematical model and an economic ordering policy are developed. It can be shown that the integrated approach results in an impressive cost-reduction compared with an independent decision by the partial party. A numerical example of an arborescent inventory system is attached to demonstrate the economic ordering policy with the help of mathematical software - Maple V. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reason for considering the quick response production strategy to market demand is due to the rapid technology change, which results in decreasing market price and obsolescence. This study considers a production strategy of locating final production line in response to the changes in market demand and the continuous deterioration in stock. The demand rate is assumed to decrease exponentially with time while the price is assumed to decrease linearly with time. The purpose of this study is to derive the most economical site of final-production line that assembles products with short life cycle. The model considered in this research takes into account the sales revenue, the deteriorating cost, the carrying cost, the variable cost and the fixed cost of production. Although there is a higher labour and material cost when the production site is located near market point, the total profit increases due to quicker responsive time, smaller import tax, lower inventory and lesser deteriorating cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deals with a case of carbofuran poison with delayed neuropathy presented with typical features of anticholinesterase poisoning including impaired consciousness and respiratory failure. Results of sensory and neurologic examinations; Response of the patient to treatment approaches.