Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impacts of Financial, Food, and Fuel Crisis on the Urban Poor

The urban poor are particularly vulnerable in times of crisis due to their heavy reliance on the cash economy, job losses and wage reductions in urban based industries, and no agricultural production to fall back on. Prioritizing investments in cities can help to mitigation impacts in the short run and reduce risks in the future. Well targeted safety nets, workfare programs, and urban agriculture can play an importance role in cushioning the impacts for the urban poor during difficult times. It is estimated that the high food and fuel prices alone have increased the number of extremely poor in the world by at least 100 million. While impacts of the crises affect both urban and rural populations, the urban poor have been hit hardest in this recent food and fuel crisis, and in previous financial crisis, given their heavy reliance on the cash economy, no agricultural production to fall back on, and wage reductions and employment losses at urban based industries. This has resulted in social unrest in a number of cities earlier in 2008 all over the developing world. Urban Agriculture can be a very important source of additional income and food for households.
Offensive Risk Management II: The Case for Active Tail Hedging

Bhansali and Davis define offensive risk management as the use of tail hedges in a portfolio as a way for investors to allocate more capital to risky assets and simultaneously reduce the risk of large investment losses. If the hedge is purchased at the right price, the portfolio with tail risk hedges may have a more attractive risk–return profile than a buy-and-hold portfolio. The authors show, in the context of the 80-year history of the Standard & Poor’s Index, that intuitive rules of thumb for monetization can be justified and that the active management of tail hedges is consistent with the cyclical behavior of the economy and the markets.
ERP implementation at SMEs: analysis of five Canadian cases

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the critical success factors (CSFs) of enterprise resource planning (ERP) system implementation in small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs). Design/methodology/approach – Five case studies of Canadian SMEs were conducted. They included interviewing individuals from five roles at each organization and gathering project documents. Following an evaluation of each project's success (within‐case analysis), cross‐case analysis was conducted to elicit influential and distinctive factors.Findings – Factors were identified that appeared to explain variation between successful and unsuccessful implementations at SMEs, besides factors that appeared to be innovative or counter‐intuitive in light of the established literature.Research limitations/implications – The study reinforces the need for more research that is focused on SMEs. All cases were of Canadian SMEs with either a manufacturing or distribution focus, potentially limiting the generalizability of findings t.
Legislation and Labour Market Gender Inequality: An Analysis of OECD Countries

This paper presents the results of statistical analysis of workplace gender equality in OECD countries, including a time series regression analysis from 1974 to 1986. Two models of approaches to gender inequality in labour markets are set up - a `liberal' and a `collective' model - and the characteristics of each examined for their effects on measures of gender equality. The results suggest that aspects of the `collective' model, such as a centralised industrial relations system, high levels of public employment relative to total employment and sustained expenditure on active labour market programmes are most likely to deliver relatively high earnings for women, although not all these factors are conducive to high levels of female participation in labour markets. No clear evidence was found to support the efficacy of legislative measures in the pursuit of gender equality. The paper argues that the emancipatory potential of legislative moves will be best enhanced within a `collective' framework
Field‐capital theory and its implications for marketing

Purpose – This paper seeks to explore the applicability and implications of Bourdieu's field‐capital theory for marketing using original research with a typical European society. Bourdieu's field‐capital theory proposes that people acquire economic, social and cultural capital which they deploy in social arenas known as “fields” in order to compete for positions of distinction and status. This exploratory study aims to examine how Bourdieu's theory may explain competitive behavior in fields of interest to marketers.Design/methodology/approach – A total of 61 in‐depth interviews were completed with respondents that were representative of each of 61 geodemographic “types” – clusters that enable marketers to segment an entire population.Findings – The findings suggest that examining human behaviour through the lens of field and capital theory highlights the importance of the competition motive in explaining consumers' behaviour. New “fields” were identified which seem to have assumed primary importance, part.
Inter-firm R&D networks in the global software industry: An overview of major trends and patterns

This paper presents an analysis of some major historical trends in inter-firm R&D partnering in the international software industry during the period 1970–1999. Our research demonstrates an overall growth pattern of newly made R&D partnerships and reveals the important role played by leading firms. We also examine the emergence of various R&D networks in the software industry, indicating the change from sparse and disconnected inter-firm R&D networks to dense and well-connected networks since the second half of the 1980s.
Rural–Urban Migration and Dynamics of Income Distribution in China: A Non–Parametric Approach

Extending the income dynamics approach in Quah （2003）, the present paper studies the enlarging income inequality in China over the past three decades from the viewpoint of rural-urban migration and economic transition. We establish non-parametric estimations of rural and urban income distribution functions in China, and aggregate a population- weighted, nationwide income distribution function taking into account rural-urban differences in technological progress and price indexes. We calculate 12 inequality indexes through non-parametric estimation to overcome the biases in existingparametric estimation and, therefore, provide more accurate measurement of income inequalitY. Policy implications have been drawn based on our research.
CEO pay-performance sensitivity in the South African context

The topic of executive pay-performance sensitivity has resulted in mixed research findings. Literature related to executive remuneration constructs, company performance measures and the underlying theories is critically reviewed in this article. The literature is compared to research findings within the South African context pre, during and post the Global Financial Crisis of 2008. The researcher found similar results in the South African context compared to research in other countries and industries. The research challenges the notion that there is one dominant theory driving CEO compensation. The principal-agent theory, supported by the optimal contract theory, are foremost during periods of strong economic performance, while the influence of managerial power and other behavioural theories appear to prevail during periods of weak economic performance. This article proposes some critical considerations in order to manage this tension.
Political Parties and Social Policy Responses to Global Economic Crises: Constrained Partisanship in Mature Welfare States

Abstract Based on empirical findings from a comparative study on welfare state responses to the four major economic shocks (the 1970s oil shocks, the early 1990s recession, the 2008 financial crisis) in four OECD countries, this article demonstrates that, in contrast to conventional wisdom, policy responses to global economic crises vary significantly across countries. What explains the cross-national and within-case variation in responses to crises? We discuss several potential causes of this pattern and argue that political parties and the party composition of governments can play a key role in shaping crisis responses, albeit in ways that go beyond traditional partisan theory. We show that the partisan conflict and the impact of parties are conditioned by existing welfare state configurations. In less generous welfare states, the party composition of governments plays a decisive role in shaping the direction of social policy change. By contrast, in more generous welfare states, i.e., those with highly developed automatic stabilisers, the overall direction of policy change is regularly not subject to debate. Political conflict in these welfare states rather concerns the extent to which expansion or retrenchment is necessary. Therefore, a clear-cut partisan impact can often not be shown.
Voluntary contraction impairs the refractory period of transmission in healthy human axons

1 Voluntary contraction of a muscle causes substantial hyperpolarization of the active motor axons due to activation of the electrogenic Na+‐K+ pump. The present study was undertaken to determine whether voluntary effort produces a significant impairment in impulse transmission in normal axons and whether mechanisms other than membrane hyperpolarization contribute to the changes in axonal excitability. 2 The compound muscle action potential (CMAP) was recorded after median nerve stimulation at the wrist using sub‐ and supramaximal stimuli, delivered singly and in pairs at conditioning‐test intervals of 2‐15 ms. Axonal excitability parameters (threshold, refractoriness, supernormality, and strength‐duration time constant (τSD)) were measured using threshold tracking. Impulse transmission was assessed using supramaximal stimuli. 3 Maximal voluntary contractions of the abductor pollicis brevis for 1 min produced a substantial increase in threshold, an increase in supernormality and a decrease in τSD, all of which lasted ∼10 min and indicate axonal hyperpolarization. However, immediately after the contraction there was an unexpected increase in refractoriness. The post‐contraction increase in refractoriness could not be mimicked by an imposed ramp of hyperpolarization that produced changes in the other indices to an extent that was similar to voluntary contraction. 4 The contraction had relatively little effect on the size of the unconditioned maximal CMAP. However, there was failure of transmission of supramaximal conditioned volleys when the conditioning‐test interval was short. 5 The relationships between axonal excitability and supernormality and τSD following voluntary contraction differed significantly from those recorded during the hyperpolarization produced by DC current. It is argued that these differences probably result from extra‐axonal K+ accumulation with the voluntary contraction but not with the DC polarization. 6 It is concluded that, following maximal voluntary contraction of a normal muscle, the refractory period of transmission is impaired distal to the stimulus site sufficient to cause transmission failure of the second of a pair of closely spaced impulses. The site of transmission failure is likely to be the terminal axon, presumably at branch points, possibly in the unmyelinated pre‐terminal segment.
Processing of DNA Double-stranded Breaks and Intermediates of Recombination and Repair by Saccharomyces cerevisiae Mre11 and Its Stimulation by Rad50, Xrs2, and Sae2 Proteins*

Background: The mechanism of DSB end resection in yeast nuclease deficient mre11 mutants and Mre11 nuclease-independent ATM activation in mammalian cells remains unclear. Results: Mre11 binds to DSB ends and also promotes end bridging. Rad50, Xrs2, and Sae2 potentiate Mre11-catalyzed DNA unwinding activity. Conclusion: Mre11 nuclease activity is dispensable for DNA binding and unwinding activity. Significance: These studies reveal a novel mechanism of processing of DSBs by MRX-Sae2 complex. Saccharomyces cerevisiae RAD50, MRE11, and XRS2 genes are essential for telomere length maintenance, cell cycle checkpoint signaling, meiotic recombination, and DNA double-stranded break (DSB) repair via nonhomologous end joining and homologous recombination. The DSB repair pathways that draw upon Mre11-Rad50-Xrs2 subunits are complex, so their mechanistic features remain poorly understood. Moreover, the molecular basis of DSB end resection in yeast mre11-nuclease deficient mutants and Mre11 nuclease-independent activation of ATM in mammals remains unknown and adds a new dimension to many unanswered questions about the mechanism of DSB repair. Here, we demonstrate that S. cerevisiae Mre11 (ScMre11) exhibits higher binding affinity for single- over double-stranded DNA and intermediates of recombination and repair and catalyzes robust unwinding of substrates possessing a 3′ single-stranded DNA overhang but not of 5′ overhangs or blunt-ended DNA fragments. Additional evidence disclosed that ScMre11 nuclease activity is dispensable for its DNA binding and unwinding activity, thus uncovering the molecular basis underlying DSB end processing in mre11 nuclease deficient mutants. Significantly, Rad50, Xrs2, and Sae2 potentiate the DNA unwinding activity of Mre11, thus underscoring functional interaction among the components of DSB end repair machinery. Our results also show that ScMre11 by itself binds to DSB ends, then promotes end bridging of duplex DNA, and directly interacts with Sae2. We discuss the implications of these results in the context of an alternative mechanism for DSB end processing and the generation of single-stranded DNA for DNA repair and homologous recombination.
Novel role for ALCAM in lymphatic network formation and function

Adhesion molecules play an important role in vascular biology because they mediate vascular stability, permeability, and leukocyte trafficking to and from tissues. Performing microarray analyses, we have recently identified activated leukocyte cell adhesion molecule (ALCAM) as an inflammation‐induced gene in lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs). ALCAM belongs to the immunoglobulin superfamily and engages in homophilic as well as heterophilic interactions. In this study, we found ALCAM to be expressed at the protein level in human and murine lymphatic and blood vascular endothelial cells in vitro and in the vasculature of human and murine tissues in vivo. Functional in vitro experiments revealed that ALCAM mediates adhesive interactions, migration, and tube formation in LECs, suggesting a role for ALCAM in lymphatic vessel (LV) stability and in lymphangiogenesis. Furthermore, ALCAM supported dendritic cell (DC) adhesion to lymphatic endothelium. In agreement with these findings, experiments performed in ALCAM–/– mice detected reduced LEC numbers in various tissues and defects in the formation of an organized LV network. Moreover, DC migration from lung to draining lymph nodes was compromised in ALCAM–/– mice. Collectively, our data reveal a novel role for ALCAM in stabilizing LEC‐LEC interactions and in the organization and function of the LV network. —Iolyeva, M. , Karaman, S. , Willrodt, A. ‐H. , Weingartner, S. , Vigl, B. , Halin, C. Novel role for ALCAM in lymphatic network formation and function. FASEB J. 27, 978–990 (2013). www.fasebj. org
Radiosurgery in Metastatic Brain Cancer

RADIOSURGERY OFFERS PATIENTS with brain metastases an effective and minimally invasive treatment modality. Radiosurgery provides local tumor control and prolongs survival in select patients with brain metastases. This review will discuss numerous aspects of radiosurgery, including the various delivery techniques and radiobiology. Treatment recommendations will be outlined in view of the available clinical data. Although surgery or radiosurgery with whole-brain radiotherapy remains an important option for patients with a solitary brain metastasis, radiosurgery with or without whole-brain radiotherapy should be considered in patients with a limited number of small tumors and a good prognosis.
Accounting Standards, Implementation Guidance, and Example-Based Reasoning

ABSTRACT This paper examines interpretation of accounting standards that provide implementation guidance via affirmative or counter examples. Based on prior psychology research, we predict that practitioners engage in "example-based reasoning" such that they are more likely to conclude that their case qualifies for the same treatment as the example. We test our predictions in two experiments in which participants judge the appropriateness of income-statement recognition. Experiment 1 uses Masters of Business Administration (MBA) students and varies example type (affirmative, counter) and case (revenue recognition, expense recognition) in a 2 × 2 design. Experiment 1 supports our predictions. Experiment 2 uses more experienced practitioners, and varies example type (affirmative, counter, both) in a 1 × 3 design. Experiment 2 supports the use of example-based reasoning, and indicates that practitioners in the "both" condition respond as if they had only received an affirmative example. These results have implications for understanding how guidance that accompanies accounting standards can result in aggressive or conservative application of standards. Copyright University of Chicago on behalf of the Institute of Professional Accounting, 2007.
High Energy Gamma-Ray Spectroscopy Using Transition-Edge Sensor With a Superconducting Bulk Tantalum Absorber

We are developing transition edge sensor with a superconducting high-Z metal bulk absorber for high energy resolution spectroscopy of hard X-ray and gamma-ray within 100 keV ~ 1 MeV. We applied a bulk tantalum absorber for it has low heat capacity and high absorption efficiency to high energy photons. As a result of an experiment using gamma-ray from 137Cs, an energy resolution that is better than that of Ge semiconductor detector was achieved at 662 keV. In addition, we demonstrated more than three times higher absorption efficiency to 662 keV photons compared to Sn absorber TES as previously reported elsewhere. From our rough calculation, it is estimated that the heat capacity of tantalum is increased than theory and that may be the limit factor of the energy resolution.
Measuring Investors' Historical Returns: Hindsight Bias in Dollar-Weighted Returns

A growing number of studies use dollar-weighted returns as evidence that consistently bad timing substantially reduces investor returns, and that consequently the equity risk premium must be considerably lower than previously thought. These studies measure the impact of bad timing as the difference between the geometric mean return (corresponding to a buy-and-hold strategy) and the dollar-weighted return. However, the present paper demonstrates that this differential combines two distinct effects: The correlation of investor cashflows with (i) future asset returns, and (ii) past asset returns. Both correlations tend to alter the dollar-weighted return, but only the first affects investors’ expected wealth. The second generates a hindsight bias. This paper also derives a method which separates these two effects. The results show that the great majority of the return differential for mainstream US equities has been due to hindsight bias, and very little due to bad investor timing. Dollar-weighted returns have been low because aggregate investment flows reflect past returns rather than future returns, and these low returns should not lead us to adopt correspondingly low estimates of the risk premium. The decomposition method which is derived here also has many applications in other fields where dollar-weighted returns are used, such as project finance and investment management.
The Effects of Public Expenditure on Private Investment and Economic Growth in Nigeria

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of fiscal policy on private investment and economic growth in Nigeria, the study uses a time series data from 1973 to 2012, the choice of the study period was informed by availability of data and the magnitude of the problem on the study period. We adopted two stage instrumental variable estimation methods to perform our regression analysis because of its adaptability. The results indicate that fiscal policy impacts on investment and investment plays a major role in the determination of the economic growth in Nigeria. It is from this findings that we recommend that the following three measures can be adopted accordingly;- re-examination of government spending to eventually make it complementary to investment, channeling more credit to the private sector, and finally designing appropriate policies that deal with the current high domestic public debt and budget deficit.
Problems and challenges facing the islamic banking system in the west: The case of the UK

This study investigates the main problems, challenges, and opportunities facing Islamic banking in the United Kingdom. The study reports the results of interviews that were undertaken with senior officials of several key financial institutions who have had many years of experience in dealing with Islamic banking. Our interviews revealed that, although by strict definition Islamic banks do not currently exist in the UK, London is one of the major centers for Islamic banking and finance. It is apparent that the experience of previously established Islamic institutions, such as Al-Baraka, has made other institutions realize that it is possible to provide Islamic banking services in the UK under nonbanking regulations. The interviews also revealed that the main problem that Islamic banking faces in the UK is heterogeneous clients and potential clients. Moreover, regulatory hurdles, competition from conventional banks, and lack of adequately qualified and trained personnel exacerbate the situation. The study concludes by identifying opportunities such as e-banking that may have a significant impact on the future of Islamic banking in the UK.
LABOUR DEMAND IN GERMANY BY INDUSTRIAL SECTOR, OCCUPATIONAL FIELD AND QUALIFICATION UNTIL 2025 – MODEL CALCULATIONS USING THE IAB/INFORGE MODEL

By means of a trend extrapolation of microcensus structures (undertaken by the German Federal Statistical Office) for the time period 1996–2007, the projections for labour demand by industrial sector which the IAB already has at its disposal can be transferred to demand by occupational field and subsequently by qualification level until 2025. The findings which have been claimed for some time now are upheld: production-related occupations will lose in significance, while further increases in employment particularly in occupations in the service sector are to be expected. Accordingly, the demand for personnel with a degree from a university or a university of applied sciences will go on rising, while the labour market opportunities for unskilled workers will continue to fall. However, vocational training or its academic counterparts still remain the dominant form of training in Germany. A continuing employment trend is to be expected here.