Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An exploratory analysis of the influence of human resource management activities and organizational climate on job satisfaction in Turkish banks

This study aims to explore the influence of human resource management (HRM) activities and organizational climate on job satisfaction in Turkish banks. The study first examines the relative influence of eight HRM activities of: (i) behavior and attitudes (in recruitment and selection); (ii) teamwork; (iii) extensive training; (iv) written policies; (v) training in multiple functions; (vi) incentives; (vii) performance appraisal; and (viii) feedback on performance on job satisfaction. Second, the influence of six factors relating to organizational climate are examined, again from the view point of their influence on job satisfaction. The second group factors are: (i) support for innovation; (ii) managerial competence and consistency; (iii) workload pressure; (iv) cohesion; (v) organizational boundaries; and (vi) organizational ethics. The data collected through interviews from 346 employees from 19 banks show that in addition to the positive impact of HRM activities, organizational climate in particular makes a significant contribution to job satisfaction. The paper presents the influence of the two groups of factors on job satisfaction and the mechanisms through which these factors foster job satisfaction and their implications for practitioners.
Expression of the Essential Kinase PfCDPK1 from Plasmodium falciparum in Toxoplasma gondii Facilitates the Discovery of Novel Antimalarial Drugs

ABSTRACT We have previously shown that genetic disruption of Toxoplasma gondii calcium-dependent protein kinase 3 (TgCDPK3) affects calcium ionophore-induced egress. We examined whether Plasmodium falciparum CDPK1 (PfCDPK1), the closest homolog of TgCDPK3 in the malaria parasite P. falciparum, could complement a TgCDPK3 mutant strain. PfCDPK1 is essential and plays critical roles in merozoite development, motility, and secretion. We show that expression of PfCDPK1 in the TgCDPK3 mutant strain rescues the egress defect. This phenotypic complementation requires the localization of PfCDPK1 to the plasma membrane and kinase activity. Interestingly, PfCDPK1-expressing Toxoplasma becomes more sensitive to egress inhibition by purfalcamine, a potent inhibitor of PfCDPK1 with low activity against TgCDPK3. Based on this result, we tested eight small molecules previously determined to inhibit the kinase activity of recombinant PfCDPK1 for their abilities to inhibit ionophore-induced egress in the PfCDPK1-expressing strain. While two of these chemicals did not inhibit egress, we found that six drugs affected this process selectively in PfCDPK1-expressing Toxoplasma. Using mutant versions of PfCDPK1 and TgCDPK3, we show that the selectivities of dasatinib and PLX-4720 are regulated by the gatekeeper residue in the ATP binding site. Importantly, we have confirmed that the three most potent inhibitors of egress in the PfCDPK1-expressing strain effectively kill P. falciparum. Thus, we have established and validated a recombinant strain of Toxoplasma that can be used as a surrogate for the discovery and analysis of PfCDPK1-specific inhibitors that can be developed as antimalarials.
A General Equilibrium Approach to Marxian Economics

In the first part of the paper, a model is proposed which places the Marxian and Sraffian conceptions of a capitalist economy in a general equilibrium framework. A central concern of these writers is that the economy be reproducible; this is incorporated formally into the equilibrium definition. Capitalists maximize profits subject to a capital constraint and workers are paid a subsistence wage. Equilibrium existence theorems are proved. In the second part, the welfare properties of the equilibria are examined-which, in the Marxian tradition, involve the notion of exploitation. It is shown that the possibility of exploitation is necessary and sufficient for all equilibria to sustain positive profits, if a certain technological condition holds. Finally, the notion of a subsistence bundle is dispensed with, and a Marxian determination of workers' consumption is proposed. In addition to placing the formal Marxian model into a general equilibrium context, the specification of production here is more general than the usual Leontief or von Neumann technologies: production sets are assumed to be only convex.
Explaining Returns with Cash-Flow Proxies

Stock returns are correlated with contemporaneous earnings growth, dividend growth, future real activity, and other cash-flow proxies. The correlation between cash-flow proxies and stock returns may arise from association of cash-flow proxies with one-period expected returns, cash-flow news, and/or expected-return news. We use Campbell's (1991) return decomposition to measure the relative importance of these three effects in regressions of returns on cash-flow proxies. In some of the popular specifications, variables that are motivated as proxies for cash-flow news also track a nontrivial proportion of one-period expected returns and expected-return news. As a result, the R2 from a regression of returns on cash-flow proxies may overstate or understate the importance of cash-flow news as a source of return variance.
The Value in Participation

Excerpt] Much has been written about the critical role of top organizational leadership in diversity change. Leadership must understand the nature of the change initiative, articulate its strategic significance, authorize resources, compel accountability, and model consistency. We like to recall a simple encounter at a company dinner dance. The company had just extended language in the non-discrimination policy to include sexual orientation and instituted domestic partner benefits. When the dancing began, one gay couple approached the dance floor. No other couples joined them until the company president led his wife onto the floor and began to dance as well. That's leadership.
Modeling the logistics outsourcing relationship variables to enhance shippers' productivity and competitiveness in logistical supply chain

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to model the key variables of logistics outsourcing relationship between shippers and logistics service providers (LSPs) and to study their influence on productivity and competitiveness of the shipper company.Design/methodology/approach – In this paper, an interpretive structural modeling (ISM) based approach has been used to model the variables of logistics outsourcing relationship. Various variables, used by researchers and practiced by the shippers for effective management of logistics outsourcing relationship have been identified. These variables have been classified as enablers and outcome variable. Enablers are those variables that boost the “relationship bond” between shippers and LSPs, while outcome variables are the resultant variables arising out of outsourcing relationship between shippers and LSPs.Findings – A key finding of this modeling helps shippers as well as LSPs to take various initiatives, in order to have prosperous, outsourcing relationship betw.
HOW POLICY-MAKERS (REALLY) UNDERSTAND GLOBALIZATION: THE INTERNAL ARCHITECTURE OF ANGLOPHONE GLOBALIZATION DISCOURSE IN EUROPE

There is a growing acceptance in the literature of a potentially significant causal role for ideas about globalization in shaping the trajectory of policy and institutional reform in contemporary Europe. Yet we still know remarkably little about policy-makers' understandings of globalization, save those they choose to declare publicly. This paper contributes to the important task of operationalizing empirically this key set of ideational variables. Using factor analysis of new survey data collected by the authors it maps and compares UK and Irish policy-maker's understandings of, and orientations towards, globalization. The analysis reveals considerable similarities in the ordering of assumptions and attitudes towards globalization between the two country cases and between civil servants and parliamentarians. Yet it also shows some subtle and intriguing differences between policy-makers' responses in the UK and Ireland and between elected and unelected officials. Intriguingly, it also suggests a significant disparity between politicians' private understandings and public discourses of globalization, with the former less necessitarian in tone than the latter. Above all, it suggests that Anglophone globalization discourse in Europe is principally structured in terms of a number of dimensions which relate to the acceptance or rejection of a series of core neoliberal premises. In effect, the terms and internal architecture of globalization discourse in the UK and Ireland are defined by neoliberal assumptions, to the extent that they provide the core point of reference and orientation for even the most sceptical and critical of views.
The Macroeconomics of Demographic Change - Essays on Economic Modelling

This thesis addresses the macroeconomic consequences of demographic change. In particular, it quantifies the effects of future labor shortage and capital abundance on international capital markets. To this end, a large-scale multi-country dynamic macroeconomic simulation model is developed. Chapter 1 gives a brief introduction to the various interactions between demographic change and international capital markets and asks the economic questions that motivate the analysis. The main features of the multi-country simulation model are developed in Chapter 2. Chapter 3 presents a new solution method for such large-scale general equilibrium models that extends and improves upon earlier methods used in the literature. Starting from methods used in the “real business cycles” literature, Chapter 4 develops a new method for the choice of structural model parameters and for the test of the particular type of large-scale simulation models developed in this thesis (calibration). Simulation results on the effects of demographic transitions on international capital markets in the presence of pay-as-you-go (PAYG) public pension arrangements and the effects of fundamental pension reforms are presented in Chapter 5. Finally, Chapter 6 discusses the roles of various model features and concludes the analysis by summarizing its main findings.
Eyes on Romania: what to look when investing here?

In this paper we identify a framework of the main macroeconomic indicators an investor must look when investing in a country, depending on his activity business sector. Using a qualitative method of research on the Romanian case in period of 2000-2010, we establish that a series of leading indicators, as Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate, inflation rate and industrial production, are appropriate to get a brief snapshot of the economic outlook of a country. The following period, since 2011 to 2014, confirm our results. Beside the traditional indicators, we set as significant the degree of business cycles synchronization with the European Union (EU) in order to predict the next path of the Romanian economy. We use a structural divergence index for assessing the similarity of economic structure between Romania and EU. The results of this study confirm that Romania lags behind EU, offering the possibility to decide the next step of an investor’s business strategy.
Growth and Income Inequality: A Comparative Analysis

This paper investigates whether the relationship between income inequality and growth changes over time. Two time periods, covering 1970–1985 and 1985–1999, are analyzed and compared. A statistically significant relationship between inequality and growth in either time period fails to emerge. However, there are indications that effect of inequality on growth may be different in the nineties when compared to the seventies. In the literature, a consistent negative effect of inequality on growth is documented although the significance of the effect is open to debate. This paper also finds a negative effect of income inequality on growth in the seventies but, although statistically insignificant, a consistently positive effect in the nineties.
Visual Electrophysiology and Psychophysics in Chronic Alcoholics and in Patients on Tuberculostatic Chemotherapy

ABSTRACT Twenty‐one chronic alcoholics and 15 patients on tuberculostatic therapy were examined on repeated occasions using flash electroretinography (ERG), flash and pattern visual evoked responses (VER), visual fields, and flicker fusion thresholds. For both groups of visually symptomless patients, there is evidence of retinal abnormalities although more abnormal results are seen for the VER's. The results indicate that the mode of action of alcohol and tobacco differs from that of the tuberculostatic drugs. For ethambutol and possibly isoniazid therapy, the larger changes which are seen in the flash VER's than in the pattern VER's, suggest that these drugs have a generalized effect upon the visual system. On the other hand, the results for the alcoholics indicate that the effect of alcohol and tobacco is more specific to the macular region as the macular thresholds and VER's to the small check and field size are most affected.
Time-variation in the value premium and the CAPM: evidence from European markets

Many previous studies document a robust premium for value versus growth stocks in international markets. We show that this premium is driven by few years where High Minus Low (HML) returns are high and significant. For instance, for 12 European markets the HML return is statistically significant, on average, approximately 36% of the years and for these statistically significant years the average monthly HML return is 2.24%. For the rest of the years (i.e. about 64% of the time) the average HML monthly return is only 0.54%. We also find that historical βs for value and growth portfolios vary significantly over time, change between good and bad economic conditions, and that value portfolio βs are not always smaller than growth portfolio βs for the majority of the sample markets. Finally, when time-variation in systematic risk is addressed, we cannot reject the zero-intercept hypothesis, i.e. portfolio returns appear consistent with the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM).
Falling in love with(in) Europe: European bi-national love relationships, European identification and transnational solidarity

Love is often a key factor in migration decisions. Partner relationships and union formation have also been identified as forming an intrinsic part of intra-European migration. Nevertheless, empirical research into intra-European love migration remains rather scarce. In this paper, we focus on the often neglected but substantial intra-European moves. We analyse the relationship between bi-national couple formation, identification as a European and European transnational solidarity. The analyses are based on the EUMARR survey, investigating bi-national marriages in a unified Europe, comparing European bi-national and uni-national couples. In this paper, we focus on the Netherlands ( n â€‰=â€‰898) and compare Dutchâ€“Dutch with Dutchâ€“EU couples. Our findings indicate that bi-national couples are more likely to identify as European compared to uni-national couples, but this is not reflected in more solidarity to European countries in times of crisis. Implications of these findings are discussed in light of the European integration process.
Inter-firm networks and innovation: a survey of literature

This survey covers the recent literature on inter-firm networks as far as they have implications for innovation and technological change. The studies are classified according to the direction of causality in network studies. In the literature, some studies focus on the effect of networks, while others on the origins and formation of networks. These are represented as a circular flow diagram of network research. Circular diagram includes three themes of analysis as: (1) origins of networks, (2) firm performance, (3) network structure, and shows the relationship between these themes as observed in network research. The aim of this survey is to guide researchers working on inter-firm networks about the theoretical and empirical results obtained up to now in the field and to highlight those areas which need further work.
Can you have your Cake and Eat it too? Structural Holes' Influence on Status Accumulation and Market Performance in Collaborative Networks

Analyses of investment banks acting as advisers for merger and acquisition transactions in the United Kingdom during 1992–2001 are used to examine the relationship between structural holes in a firm's network and its performance. We argue that the firms need two types of information—about new business opportunities and partners' cooperativeness—to pursue, respectively, two types of performance goals: status accumulation and market performance. Open networks facilitate access to information about new business opportunities, but at the same time, open ego networks limit access to information about partners' cooperativeness. We find that there is a positive and reciprocal relationship between status accumulation and market performance. We also find that structural holes increase firms' status accumulation but also dampen their market performance.
Consumer behaviour analysis and consumer brand choice

This is the SECOND of TWO linked articles on consumer behavioural analysis dealing with the Behavioural Perspective Model, which locates consumer behaviour at the intersection of the consumer’s learning history and the consumer situation. As an example of research inspired by the Model, this article presents investigations into consumers’ patterns of brand choice, showing how brand repertoires are formed and how brands are selected within those repertoires.
Film tourism: celebrity involvement, celebrity worship and destination image

Film tourism is a growing phenomenon worldwide. Previous studies have attempted to examine the relationship between celebrity involvement and destination image in film tourism, though the mechanism underlying this relationship remains a black box. The purpose of this research is to examine the relationship between celebrity involvement and destination image, and to clarify the role of celebrity worship for film tourists. A quantitative method is adopted to examine the hypotheses, and by applying multiple regression analysis. Questionnaire data from 390 Taiwanese purposeful film tourists indicate that celebrity involvement is positively related to destination image. Furthermore, celebrity worship mediates the relationship between celebrity involvement and destination image. The findings contribute to understanding this specific type of film tourist, and especially the role of celebrity in their image, motivations and decision. Research implications suggest that celebrity and film can be an effective promotional tool to induce these specific film tourists.
Quantitative 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy and MRI of Parkinson's disease

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) of the substantia nigra, basal ganglia, and cerebral cortex were performed on 10 patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and 13 age‐matched, healthy control subjects. Compared to controls, PD patients had approximately 24% lower creatine in the region of the substantia nigra and smaller volumes of the putamen (11%), globus pallidus (16%), and prefrontal cortex (6%; all P < 0.05). No other significant between‐group differences were found in nine regions examined. Thus, quantitative MRI may show regional neurodegenerative changes outside the substantia nigra in PD but PD‐linked extranigral metabolic abnormalities, if they exist, may be difficult to detect with current 1H MRS methods. In additional, exploratory tests, volumes of the caudate (r = −0.56), putamen (r = −0.66), and globus pallidus (r = −0.60; all P < 0.05) were negatively correlated with the volume of the substantia nigra pars compacta in controls. In PD these correlations did not hold. Instead, pallidal volume in PD was positively correlated with compacta volume (r = 0.64; P < 0.05). This relationship suggests that basal ganglia volumes may be influenced by dopaminergic innervation from the substantia nigra in normal and PD subjects. © 2002 Movement Disorder Society
Facing expectations: Those that we prefer to fulfil and those that we disregard

We argue that people choosing prosocial distribution of goods (e.g., in dictator games) make this choice because they do not want to disappoint their partner rather than because of a direct preference for the chosen prosocial distribution. The chosen distribution is a means to fulfil one’s partner’s expectations. We review the economic experiments that corroborate this hypothesis and the experiments that deny that beliefs about others’ expectations motivate prosocial choice. We then formulate hypotheses about what types of expectation motivate someone to do what is expected: these are justifiable hopeful expectations that are clearly about his own choices. We experimentally investigate how people modulate their prosociality when they face low or unreasonably high expectations. In a version of a dictator game, we provide dictators with the opportunity to modulate their transfer as a function of their partner’s expectations. We observe that a significant portion of the population is willing to fulfil their partner’s expectation provided that this expectation expresses a reasonable hope. We conclude that people are averse to disappointing and we discuss what models of social preferences can account for the role of expectations in determining prosocial choice, with a special attention to models of guilt aversion and social esteem.
Long‐Term Gene Expression in the Nucleus Accumbens Following Heroin Administration is Subregion‐Specific and Depends on the Nature of Drug Administration

Repeated exposure to addictive drugs results in long‐lasting neuroadaptations in the brain, especially in the mesocorticolimbic system. Within this system, the nucleus accumbens (NAc) plays a major integrative role. As such, the NAc has been shown to be a target of short‐ and long‐lasting drug‐induced neuroadaptations at the levels of neurotransmission and cellular morphology. The long‐lasting neuroadaptations might depend critically on alterations in gene expression. Recently, we obtained a set of transcripts by means of subtractive hybridization, of which the expression was decreased in the rat NAc shell after long‐term extinction of intravenous heroin self‐administration. Interestingly, the majority of these transcripts were also down‐regulated upon long‐term extinction of cocaine self‐administration. Using the yoked‐control operant paradigm, it was shown that non‐contingent administration of these drugs resulted in a totally different gene expression profile. However, in the rat NAc core, both self‐administration and non‐contingent heroin administration induced a qualitatively similar expression profile. Hence, cognitive processes associated with drug self‐administration seem to direct the long‐term genomic responses in the NAc shell, whereas the NAc core might primarily mediate the persistent pharmacological effects of addictive drugs (including Pavlovian conditioning).