Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The puzzle of aid and growth: any role for investment?

This paper explores the relationship between aid and growth, through the explicit inclusion of the investment component. We construct a new database, which adds to the previous papers’ variables (policy, institutional quality and civil unrest) some capital accumulation indicators. Partly based on the main literature, a simultaneous equations model is constructed to account for endogeneity and different methods are applied for a robustness check. Although in line with previous literature, in this paper we find that the capital accumulation process is a significant and fundamental channel to understand the link between development assistance and growth. In low-income countries aid effectiveness seems to be significantly lower.
Managing organizational capabilities: the Keystone step

Purpose – This paper seeks to contribute to the RBV by focusing on a central construct, the “Keystone step”, within the firms' capability management field. It aims at providing a conceptual framework for top managers to understand the main related issues and steps, and to position their own organizational perspective.Design/methodology/approach – The study explores the associated conceptual and empirical literature, borrowing from a strategic and a cognitive perspective, and defines and characterizes the central construct.Findings – The author identifies a three‐step managerial process to handle capabilities: the Analytical step, the Action step, and the Keystone step. After briefly reviewing the resource‐based view, he suggests definitions and critical dimensions to design a conceptual frame articulated around the Keystone step, within which top managers can position and build their own approach. The critical founding rationale of capability management, rooted in underlying assumptions and beliefs, often.
Complex cis-regulatory landscape of the insulin receptor gene underlies the broad expression of a central signaling regulator

Insulin signaling plays key roles in development, growth and metabolism through dynamic control of glucose uptake, global protein translation and transcriptional regulation. Altered levels of insulin signaling are known to play key roles in development and disease, yet the molecular basis of such differential signaling remains obscure. Expression of the insulin receptor (InR) gene itself appears to play an important role, but the nature of the molecular wiring controlling InR transcription has not been elucidated. We characterized the regulatory elements driving Drosophila InR expression and found that the generally broad expression of this gene is belied by complex individual switch elements, the dynamic regulation of which reflects direct and indirect contributions of FOXO, EcR, Rbf and additional transcription factors through redundant elements dispersed throughout ∼40 kb of non-coding regions. The control of InR transcription in response to nutritional and tissue-specific inputs represents an integration of multiple cis-regulatory elements, the structure and function of which may have been sculpted by evolutionary selection to provide a highly tailored set of signaling responses on developmental and tissue-specific levels. Summary: Although the Drosophila insulin gene is broadly expressed, its regulation is complex - with multiple cis-regulatory elements integrating nutritional and tissue-specific inputs.
The Position of Former Council Homes in the Housing Market

The Right to Buy for council tenants has now been in operation for 14 years. In that time around 1.5m public-sector dwellings in England have transferred to the owner-occupied sector. Most discussion of this process has focused on the impact on the public sector. This paper examines the contribution of council house sales to the recent growth of home ownership and price relationships between former council homes and other dwellings in the market. The paper draws on a major national study of the resale of former council homes which included a survey of over 3000 dwellings which had been resold by the original sitting tenant purchasers.
Considerations to Implement Holistic Groups With the Elderly

The group modality is a viable holistic treatment consideration for the elderly, given the steady increase in the elderly population, the presence of various psychiatric and/or medical conditions in this cohort, and cost concerns. The holistic nurse and group leader share similar role definitions of being a facilitator in the healing process. They embrace the concept that the person and group are greater than the sum of the parts. Using a group modality can increase the number of people served by one nurse, thereby making it cost-effective. Incorporating the holistic mind–body–spirit approach addresses the Healthy People 2010 goal of increasing the quality of life. Tips on conducting groups with the elderly are reviewed, including types of groups, setting, goals, composition, duration, and frequency. Theme-centered groups are discussed from a holistic perspective. Yalom's 11 therapeutic factors that account for group functions are explained, along with other group concepts that reflect holistic nursing concepts.
Host Community Residents' Attitudes: A Comparison of Environmental Viewpoints

This study explores the relationship between host community residents' attitudes about the environment and the benefits and costs of various types of tourism development. Factor cluster analysis based on participant scores on the new environmental paradigm scale revealed that the residents comprised three groups: Conservationists; Anthropocentrics; and Optimists. The Conservationists supported the development of ecotourism but were less supportive of and saw fewer benefits from the development of other forms of tourism than the other two groups. This group appears to be most concerned about the amount of abuse nature can withstand. Implications for tourism planners and developers are discussed.
Programme Participation Intensity and Children’s Nutritional Status: Evidence from a Randomised Control Trial in Mozambique

Abstract Agricultural interventions are thought to have the potential to improve nutrition, but little rigorous evidence is available about programmes that link the two. In this article, we study impacts of an integrated agricultural and nutritional biofortification project, the REU in Mozambique. We first provide evidence on dietary impacts of the programme and then examine impacts of the programme by participation intensity. Using OLS and IV techniques, we find that more intense participation in both project components led to larger impacts. The results therefore have important implications for refining the design of future projects attempting to link agricultural and nutrition interventions.
Charles A. Dice Center for Research in Financial Economics Relationships, Corporate Governance, and Performance: Evidence from Private Placements of Common Stock

Using data from private placement contracts, we analyze relationships between investors and issuers, and their impact on corporate governance and performance. Most investors have a relationship with the issuer pre-placement and many new relationships are formed through the placement agreement. New relationships are largely governance-related (board seats and/or 5% or greater blocks), but also include key business partnerships and/or employment arrangements. We have three main findings. First, new relationships drive the positive stock price response at announcement; placements lacking new relationships are non-events. Second, investors with relationship ties to the issuer are more likely to gain directorships as part of the placement. Third, new relationships are associated with stronger post-placement profitability and stock price performance. Overall, our findings are consistent with private placements creating value when they are associated with increased monitoring and strong governance. JEL classification: G39; G32; K22
From Politics to Co-operation: The Dynamics of Embeddedness in Alternative Food Supply Chains

Alternative food supply chains have been the subject of a number of studies utilising the concept of embeddedness to account for their various dimensions, but they have been little analysed in terms of the relations between producers. As part of the body of research into the social construction of markets, this article aims to consider the nature and dynamics of ties between producers involved in the development of these chains. The study presented here relies on a series of quantitative and longitudinal network analyses in different systems of direct selling in the South of France. We consider here the example of a farmers' market and contrast it with vegetable box schemes. Our research demonstrates that alternative supply chains can renew ties between producers by decoupling political relations and through the embeddedness of sales activity in technical and friendship relations, both of which favour co-operation towards innovation. This article also aims to encourage a reconsideration of sociometry, as well as alternative food supply chains, to analyse and accompany sustainable local food systems.
Space for pluralism? Examining the Malibya land grab

Recent years have seen a flood of pseudo-facts and falsely precise data on land deals. This has led some to call for a more careful approach to the study of land deals that moves away from the current hectare-centric focus towards a grounded case-study methodology. Heeding such calls, this contribution draws on fieldwork undertaken in Mali during 2011 to examine a well-known land deal, the Malibya project, which involved a contract for the transfer of control of 100,000 hectares of land within the Office du Niger. Locally and globally, the deal was denounced following the destruction of homes and gardens as a result of a canal development associated with project. In contrast, the Malian government has argued such projects are vital for expanded irrigation infrastructure and thus securing food self-sufficiency for Mali. Somewhere in between are the farmers of the Office du Niger, some of whom argue for the cessation of the project and others of whom argue the expansion of irrigation in the zone could benefit farmers, particularly those without sufficient access to land. This paper explores the differing viewpoints of the actors involved and the role the land-grabbing frame has played in mobilising these different responses.
Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt & Sudan

This article compares the evidence from two related movements: the contemporary Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, and the cluster of organisations that have been closely associated with Hasan al-Turabi in Sudan, in order to query the extent to which Islamism is compatible with liberal democratic politics. The answers suggested are, in the Egyptian case, hopeful, but for Sudan decidedly pessimistic. However, there are complexities within both stories. The comparison indicates ways in which the outcomes are related to the framing circumstances, but also points out the limitations of the information currently available in the academic literature.
Accounting professionals and the accounting profession: linking conduct and context

Abstract Recent years have seen an upsurge in published research concerned with the daily conduct of accounting professionals in Big Five firms. However, in general, these studies have given scant consideration to the institutional setting within which accountants work. In this paper we analyse the UK accounting profession in terms of the fragmentation of its professional bodies and the diversification of its markets, and link this to empirical findings from a detailed qualitative research project examining the professional socialisation of trainees in the UK regional offices of two Big Five firms. These findings confirm earlier studies in terms of the key relationship between professionalism and forms of self-conduct, but extend the earlier studies by exploring trainees' accounts of their professional expertise, qualification and examination. We conclude by arguing that these conceptions reinforce, albeit in unintended ways, the changing institutional context of the accounting profession.
Effects of Mycophenolate Mofetil Combined with Corticosteroids for Induction Therapy of Microscopic Polyangiitis

Aims: We prospectively compared the effects of oral mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) or intravenous cyclophosphamide (IVC) combined with corticosteroids for induction therapy of microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) with renal involvement over a follow-up period of 6 months. Methods: 41 MPA patients were randomly assigned to either the open-label MMF group or the IVC group. Patients in the MMF group (n = 19) received oral MMF 1.0 g/day (1.5 g/day for patients with a body weight >70 kg) and patients in the IVC group (n = 22) received IVC in monthly pulses of 1.0 g per pulse (0.8 g per pulse for patients with a body weight <50 kg). Both groups received intravenous methylprednisolone 360–500 mg/day for 3 days, followed by oral prednisone 0.6–0.8 mg/kg/day and gradual tapering. Results: There was no significant difference of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) level between the IVC and MMF groups at baseline. At 6 months, the eGFR level increased significantly in both groups, but there was no significant difference between the two. Three patients in the IVC group and 1 in the MMF group received maintenance dialysis within 6 months (p = 0.36). The remission rate was 63.6% in the IVC group and 78.9% in the MMF group (p = 0.23). Conclusion: MMF is effective for inducing remission in Chinese MPA patients and may represent an alternative therapy to monthly impulses of IVC.
Nonlinear permanent – temporary decompositions in macroeconomics and finance*

We suggest a method of decomposing univariate and multivariate nonlinear processes into their permanent and temporary components, extending the analysis of Beveridge and Nelson (1981) and Stock and Watson (1987). We provide applications in the univariate nonlinear case to recent work on nonlinearities in the US business cycle, and in the multivariate nonlinear case to recent work on asymmetric nonlinear adjustment in the term structure of interest rates for the US. The business cycle results suggest that the method may be particularly useful in future research on output fluctuations. Copyright Royal Economic Society 2003
Why Does Employment Legislation Not Damage Small Firms?

Business rhetoric and conventional theory expect that employment regulations will have negative effects on small firms. Prior research has shown that effects are quite rare, but has not explained why. Case studies of 18 firms from three sectors identified four explanations. (1) Perceptions of effects tend to be broad and general, rather than reflections of concrete experience. (2) 'The law' is not uniform, with older laws being largely taken for granted. (3) Effects depend on competitive conditions, which are more important influences on firms than are regulations; where conditions are benign, regulations can be absorbed, but in other circumstances employment regulations can exacerbate competitive pressures. (4) A degree of informality in small firms further eases responses. By the same token, however, hopes that regulation will stimulate modernization are rarely realized.
Importer commitment drivers and their impact on performance: a resource-based perspective

Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) play a dominant role in emerging economies. However, most studies on buyer-seller relationship behaviour have focussed on the larger firms from developed countries with little attention being given to SMEs' import behaviour, especially those from emerging economies. To fill this gap in the literature, this paper presents findings of an empirical study conducted in an Asian emerging economy on the commitment relationships of SME importers with their foreign suppliers. Primary data were collected through a mail survey of 168 SMEs. The findings indicate that communication, knowledge and a sustainable competitive advantage are significant predictors of importer commitment; whilst cultural similarity has an impact on communication and knowledge with commitment having a direct impact on performance.
Anti-infective prophylaxis in pediatric patients with acute myeloid leukemia

Pediatric patients undergoing treatment for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are at high risk for infectious complications, predominantly due to Gram-negative bacteria, viridans group streptococci and fungal pathogens. In order to prevent infections in these patients, most institutions have implemented a number of non-pharmacological approaches to supportive care. In addition, antibiotic prophylaxis reduces bacterial infection, but may increase the emergence of resistance. Antifungal prophylaxis is generally recommended for children with AML. Whereas the use of hematopoietic growth factors has not resulted in improved survival, the efficacy of prophylactic granulocyte transfusions has to be determined.
Distinguishing Errors in Measurement from Errors in Optimization

Typical econometric production practices under duality ignore the source of disturbances. We show that, depending on the source, a different approach to estimation is required. The typical approach applies under errors in factor input measurement rather than errors in optimization. An approach to the identification of disturbance sources is suggested. We find credible evidence in U.S. agriculture of errors in optimization compared to errors of measurement, and thus reject the typical specification. Copyright 2003, Oxford University Press.
Inequality Trends in the Swiss Income Distribution

As in many countries income inequality in Switzerland has increased between the early 1980s and the early 1990s. This paper applies decomposition methods in order to identify potential causes for this increase. The decomposition is performed by a) population subgroups and b) income sources. Our results indicate that demographic shifts can only account for a minor fraction of the overall change. The decomposition by income sources provides a clearer picture. The main contributing factors to the increase in overall inequality are the household head's labour earnings and household wealth income.
Scaling laws and electricity consumption in cities: a sectoral view

With the use of electricity being increasingly concentrated in urban areas it becomes important to understand the influence of cities, and their size, on patterns of consumption. We tested the application of the scaling law to the Portuguese urban system, across time and municipalities, with special focus on the sectoral consumption of electricity from 1994 until 2009. Results showed that the scaling law is not suitable to describe a city’s electricity consumption throughout the years. In the cross-sectional results, the scaling law proved to be applicable for all cases, although the scaling exponent varies both in time and across sectors. For the residential sector the decrease of the scaling exponent might be related with the electrificationof the energy system and with the increase of average income. For the service sector the scaling exponent was fairly constant, above 1, during the 16 years of the study. The largest variation was found for the industrial sector whose scaling exponent decreased 15–20% in the time frame analyzed, though in this sector electricity consumption appeared to be the one with the weakest relation with city size.
Nebuleuse and the 'internationalization of the state' in the UK? The case of HM Treasury and the Bank of England

Notions of the 'internationalization of the state' in neo-Gramscian writings are vague, ambiguous and lack empirical grounding. Here it is argued that the 'internationalization of the state' can only be understood through a focus on the social basis of the state. A case study of the UK reveals that HM Treasury and the Bank of England have been penetrated by transnational economic interests and that they subsequently act on behalf of these interests. In this respect the current prevailing global discourse or 'Washington consensus' of sound money and open markets is primarily generated, sustained and reinforced by 'internationalized' or 'transnationalized' state agencies such as HM Treasury or the Bank of England, which act on behalf of internationally mobile forms of capital. There is, however, a complex, mutually reinforcing relationship between the prevailing 'Washington consensus' and the policies and practice of these national state agencies.
Preconditioning therapy with lentiviral vector-programmed dendritic cells accelerates the homeostatic expansion of antigen-reactive human T cells in NOD.Rag1-/-.IL-2rγc-/- mice.

Dendritic cell (DC)-based immunization is a potent strategy to direct prompt and durable immune responses against viral reactivations after transplantations. Here, we show that overnight lentiviral vector (LV) gene transfer into human monocytes co-expressing granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor and interleukin (IL)-4 induced self-differentiated DCs (SMART-DCs) with stable DC immunophenotype over weeks in culture and secreted several inflammatory cytokines. SMART-DCs injected subcutaneously in immunodeficient NOD.Rag1(-/-). IL2rγ(-/-) (NRG) mice 1 day after LV transduction were stable for a month in vivo. "Conventional" DCs (cDCs) and SMART-DCs were compared with regard to their potency to accelerate the expansion, biodistribution, and antigenic stimulation of autologous human T cells. Peripheral blood cells obtained from human cytomegalovirus (hCMV)-reactive donors and full-length hCMV pp65 antigenic protein or peptides were used. DCs loaded with pp65 were administered subcutaneously into NRG mice as a preconditioning treatment a week prior to intravenous infusion with T cells. Optical imaging analyses demonstrated that in mice preconditioned with SMART-DC-pp65, T cells were directly recruited to the immunization site and subsequently spread to the spleen and other organs. A dramatic expansion of both human CD8(+) and CD4(+) T cells could be observed within a few days after infusion, and this was associated with consistent measurable CD8(+) effector memory T-cell responses against different pp65 epitopes. Thus, this mouse model demonstrates the proof-of-principle for SMART-DCs to accelerate expansion of human lymphocytes, resulting in poly-functional and antigen-specific immune responses against hCMV-pp65.
VOLATILITY, LEVERAGE AND FIRM SIZE: THE U.K. EVIDENCE

The GARCH family of statistical processes are used to examine the characteristics of the volatility of the returns on capitalization-ranked portfolios of U.K. company shares. In common with U.S. evidence, the authors find an asymmetry related to firm size. Unexpected returns of large firm portfolios influence the future volatility and returns of small firm portfolios but not the reverse. The authors extend earlier studies by considering whether the direction of the shock is important. There is evidence of a 'leverage' effect and it is concluded that the appropriate choice of volatility model for U.K. equity returns depends upon firm size. Copyright 1996 by Blackwell Publishers Ltd and The Victoria University of Manchester