Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
El Parlament de Catalunya: A Model for Regional Assertiveness in the EU?

Abstract Without the guarantees of a de jure federal system or clearly defined jurisdiction in external affairs, how can a regional legislature play a meaningful role in the European Union policy process? Such is the dilemma faced by constitutional regions and devolved parliaments in multiple EU member states, particularly Spain, Italy, France and the UK. Motivated by the observation that regional legislators in such countries increasingly profess to emulate the putative successes of the ‘Catalan model’, this article compares the observations and preferences of regional legislators in Catalonia and Scotland-with an eye to understanding why El Parlament de Catalunya lays claim to greater influence in EU decision-making and policy implementation processes. While not easily exportable to other similarly situated regions, the Catalan model reveals the significance not just of wresting competences from the centre, but also of professionalism, collective legislative competence and commitment to supranationalism.
Optimal Taxation and Political Equilibrium with Fairness Consideration

In this paper, I investigate the optimal taxation of labor and capital as well as the political equilibrium when people are homogeneous and have a preference for fairness. Not surprisingly, the optimal taxation takes a variant Ramsey-Mirrlees formula. I then fully characterize the equilibrium fiscal policy and find conditions under which the maximum capital levy holds. In particular, I show that an additional concern for fairness may enforce or weaken the maximum capital levy result in an intuitive manner. For example, if the degree to which labor income is determined by stochastic shocks with respect to talent and effort is relatively larger than that of capital income, the maximum capital levy and hence no tax on labor is less plausible to obtain on equilibrium. Copyright © 2007 The Author; Journal compilation © 2007 Blackwell Publishing Ltd and The University of Manchester.
A comparative analysis of cultural, conceptual and practical constraints on quality management implementations--findings from Australian and Korean banking industries

This paper proposes a model derived from literature reviews linking perceived service quality, customer satisfaction, customer loyalty and employee satisfaction whilst implementing Total Quality Management (TQM) amongst Australian and Korean banking industries. The study tested the model developed by using several measures and found significant relationships and path links between perceived service quality, customer satisfaction and customer loyalty as well as between TQM practices and employee satisfaction. These findings suggest that organizations, which are interested in long-term business success, should focus on the satisfaction of customers. A total of 11 banks, five in Seoul, Korea and six in Sydney, Australia, were chosen, which responded positively to questionnaires distributed to both bank customers and employees. Several cultural, conceptual and practical dimensions, along with hypotheses testing were carried out for comparative analysis of TQM implementations in both Korean and Australian banking industries.
Firm Profitability, State Ownership, and Top Management Turnover at the Listed Firms in China: A Behavioral Perspective

Using data from a large sample of the listed firms in China from 1999 to 2002, we find that firm profitability and state ownership are negatively related to top management turnover only when firm profitability is below target (measured by industry median). We also find that top management turnover has a positive impact on subsequent firm profitability when it occurs under performance below target, but has a negative impact when it occurs under performance above target. Lastly, we find that top management turnover under low performance has a positive impact on subsequent firm profitability when the state is not the largest shareholder, but has no impact when the state is the largest shareholder.
Doppler ultrasound diastolic flow analysis for the early identification of peripheral arterial disease.

OBJECTIVE The viscoelastic mechanical compliance properties of the human arterial system were examined in 100 subjects with A-mode Doppler ultrasound diastolic flow analysis. This technique of diastolic flow analysis is utilized to identify early atherogenic peripheral arterial disease. The sensitivity of the commonly utilized standard traditional ultrasound pressure-grade pneumatic cuff examination will be increased when accompanied by the diastolic flow analysis technique. SETTING Diastolic flow analysis will aid in the early identification of lower extremity vascular claudication when lumbar spinal canal stenosis and elevated cardiovascular risk factors are present. This examination may be performed in the office setting with standard A-mode Doppler ultrasound equipment along with the usual pneumatic cuff procedure. The standard ultrasound cuff examinations are based on pressure gradients to identify lower extremity arterial disease. The low level of sensitivity of this test requires arterial obstruction of at least 50% to be present before positive identification is possible. Pathological alterations of the arterial wall occur during the early stages of atherosclerotic disease, are reflected by reduced wall distensibility and may be quantified by Doppler ultrasound. SUBJECTS Studied were a total of 100 subjects, 50 with arterial disease risk factors and 50 normal controls. All subjects were screened for aortic coarctation, myocardial infarction, tachyarrhythmia, aortic value stenosis and mitral prolapse. The risk group subjects were all smokers and had a mixed distribution of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and hyperglycemia. The commonly utilized standard traditional ultrasound pneumatic cuff examination was negative in all subjects. Anthropometric measurements and percent body fat were also obtained. Arterial diastolic antegrade flow analysis was performed with Doppler ultrasound on each subject. RESULTS This study demonstrated that the elevated vascular risk factor group had a mean arterial distensibility measurement of 4.4 +/- 5.0%, and the control group displayed a mean measurement of 20.0 +/- 6.0%. The 50 elevated risk factor subjects showed approximately 5 times greater arterial stiffness and were identified with significance at an F test level of (p less than .001). CONCLUSION This arterial compliance evaluation procedure is shown to be a reliable sensitive indicator of early atherosclerotic disease prior to the development of obstructive arterial lesions.
Detection of human papillomaviruses in exfoliated cervicovaginal cells by in situ DNA hybridization analysis

A total of 851 specimens of exfoliated cervicovaginal cells and 27 specimens of male urethral smears obtained from 706 individuals with various clinical findings were examined for the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) types 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, and 33 by in situ DNA hybridization analysis. The nonradioactive DNA in situ hybridization method used in this study showed no detectable cross-hybridization either among different types of HPV (except between types 6 and 11) or between HPV DNA and human cellular DNA. Furthermore, this system was found to be more sensitive than the Southern blotting method in detecting HPV. HPV was found in 233 of 276 (84.4%) and in 34 of 47 (72.3%) samples of cervicovaginal cells from patients with urogenital condylomata and cervical dysplasia, respectively. HPV was also detected in 6 of 39 (15.4%) women with normal cytological findings who were also symptom-free. Young women who were at low risk but were infected with HPV showed significantly reduced ratios of helper-inducer T lymphocytes to suppressor-cytotoxic T lymphocytes compared with those of uninfected normal controls (1.28 +/- 0.31 versus 2.47 +/- 0.64; P less than 0.001). This in situ DNA hybridization method can have broad application to the screening of HPV in early lesions and in normal-looking tissues and may be used to identify patients at risk of more serious or possibly malignant progression.
Investment In The Greek Processing Of Agricultural Products And Food: A Panel Data Approach

The aim of this research is to quantify Greek investors’ behaviour in the industry of processing agricultural products and food at the aggregate level for all sectors and all regions over the period 1981-1999. The focus of this study is to investigate empirically the effectiveness of the EU and national policies concerning investment incentives in the processing of Greek agricultural products. Investors’ behaviour is examined by employing a synthesized traditional model. The dynamic model is estimated using alternative dynamic panel data methods, GMM and ML techniques. EU and national subsidies are instrumental in stimulating agricultural investments in the past decades, followed by investors’ expectations and, in most of the cases, investment lagged by one year. The empirical results obtained by ML by GMM are very similar, with the exception that the t-statistics are higher in the former case. Moreover, there is no evidence for autocorrelation or dynamic misspecification.
Small Worlds of Diversity: Views toward Immigration and Racial Minorities in Canadian Provinces

Abstract. Canadian provinces have long been considered as “small worlds,” each with its own cultural distinctiveness and province-building dynamics. This article examines whether these same provincial specificities are observed in terms of attitudes toward immigration intakes and racial diversity. Three questions are asked. First, are there important variations in views toward immigration and racial minorities across Canadian provinces within the native-born white Canadian population? Second, have the differences and similarities changed between 1988 and 2008? And third, do specific provincial economic, demographic, and cultural realities shape provincial public opinion on these matters? The findings indicate that there are significant differences and commonalities in how all provinces react to immigration and racial diversity, that native-born white Canadians have grown increasingly accepting of immigration and racial diversity over time and that views toward immigration and racial diversity are distinct from each other and each responds to a specific set of provincial realities. Résumé. Les provinces canadiennes constituent de “petits univers,” chacune possédant sa propre culture et sa propre dynamique politique. Cet article explore si de telles spécificités provinciales peuvent être également observées en ce qui a trait aux attitudes par rapport à l'immigration et à la diversité raciale. Nous posons trois questions. Premièrement, y a-t-il des différences d'opinions quant à l'immigration et aux minorités raciales entre provinces canadiennes au sein de la population blanche née au Canada? Deuxièmement, est-ce que les similarités et les différences entre les provinces ont changé entre 1988 et 2008? Et troisièmement, est-ce que les réalités économiques, démographiques et culturelles provinciales influencent l'opinion publique provinciale sur ces questions? Les résultats de l'étude indiquent qu'il y a à la fois des similarités et des différences quant aux attitudes des différentes provinces sur l'immigration et la diversité raciale, que la population blanche née au Canada s'est montrée de plus en plus ouverte à l'immigration et à la diversité raciale au cours de la période à l'étude, et que les attitudes par rapport à l'immigration et la diversité raciale ne sont pas identiques et qu'elles répondent chacune à leur façon à un certain nombre de réalités provinciales.
Empowerment in the Hospitality Industry: an Exploration of Antecedents and Outcomes

Does empowerment lead to positive employee outcomes? If so, to which antecedents should management turn in order to foster greater employee empow erment ? This study explored a number of potential antecedents and outcomes of empowerment among employees in the hospitality industry. A structural model was developed based on current theory and research and analyzed using structural equations modeling. The model was tested against data gathered from 182 employ ees in 33 hospitality organizations. From the data found, investments in efforts to foster psychological empowerment among hospitality employees seem worthwhile as satisfaction with promotion opportunities should rise, and turnover intentions decrease.
Technology Spillovers Through Foreign Direct Investment

I study the effects of technology spillovers ("catch-up") and a firm's investment in skills (training) on the firm's productivity when FDI (foreign direct investment) is a carrier of new technology. Using a 1992 firm-level survey data in China, I test the investment equation proposed by Parente and Prescott (JPE, April 1994). I find: (1) The catch-up effect and a firm's training both significantly raise a firm's TFP (total factor productivity) growth, just as Parente and Prescott hypothesized, (2) Chinese local firms are more likely to train skilled workers than foreign firms, which accelerated technology spillovers they received from foreign firms, (3) Foreign joint ventures did not significantly raise local firms' TFP growth, (4) Foreign-owned firms in China are unlikely to train local workers. Instead, they import intermediate inputs from their home countries.
Monetary policy in the UK

I was delighted to be asked to give the IFS Annual Lecture for 1994, not least because of my own connections with the Institute. These began with my participation in the meetings of IFS, and continued as a member of the Meade Committee in the 1970s. The work of that Committee — led by James Meade and Donald Ironside — proved to be one of the formative experiences of my professional career and led to my collaboration with John Kay on our book, The British Tax System. The Meade Committee Report represented a turning-point in the history of IFS, and since then it has gone from strength to strength under the successive leadership of Dick Taverne, John Kay, Bill Robinson and, now, Andrew Dilnot. I would like to take this opportunity to welcome the recent initiative to set up a Tax Law Review Committee. I know that IFS is seeking 50 sponsors to underwrite this venture, and I am happy to announce this evening that the Bank will be one of those 50.
Application of lean manufacturing using value stream mapping in an auto‐parts manufacturing unit

Purpose - This paper aims to address the application of lean manufacturing using value stream mapping (VSM) concepts in an auto-parts manufacturing organization. Using value stream concepts, both current and future states maps of the organization's shop floor scenarios have been discussed to identify sources of waste between the existing state and the proposed state of the selected organization for improving its competitiveness. Design/methodology/approach - VSM process symbols were used to discuss lean implementation stages in the auto-parts manufacturing unit. Current states of the selected manufacturing unit were prepared with the help of VSM symbols and improvement areas were identified. A few modifications in current state were made and, with these modifications, a future state map is suggested. Findings - After comparison of the current and future states of the selected manufacturing unit, it has been found that there was 69.41 percent reduction in cycle time, 18.26 percent reduction in work in-process inventory and 24.56 percent reduction in production lead times for the replacement ball product. While for Weldon ball end product 51.87 percent reduction in cycle time, 21.51 percent reduction in work in-process inventory, 25.88 percent reduction in lead time was noted. Research limitations/implications - The findings of this case study are valid due to limited selection of products only. Originality/value - This paper depicts a true picture of the implementation of lean manufacturing tools in an organization.
Computed tomography in blunt hepatic trauma.

BACKGROUND Nonoperative management of blunt hepatic injury in hemodynamically stable trauma patients is now common. Recently, it has been proposed that the finding of hepatic periportal tracking (PPT) of blood on the initial computed tomographic (CT) scan is a sensitive marker of significant hepatic and subhepatic injury that might militate against nonoperative management. While CT scan is useful in diagnosing the injury, the utility of follow-up CT scans has not been elucidated. DESIGN Retrospective chart review. SETTING Regional trauma center. PATIENTS The records of 58 hemodynamically stable patients with blunt hepatic trauma were reviewed and the following data recorded: age, outcome, Injury Severity Score (ISS), operative intervention, and complications. Computed tomographic scans were taken on admission and reviewed for the presence of PPT. The timing and radiographic appearance of follow-up CT scans was also recorded. RESULTS Seventeen patients (29%) had radiographic evidence of PPT while 41 patients (71%) did not. Age, ISS, injury grade, overall success rate of nonoperative management, and incidence of complications were not statistically significant between the two groups. In no instance did a routine follow-up CT scan affect subsequent management of the patient. CONCLUSIONS The finding of PPT on the admission CT scan is not clinically significant and does not preclude nonoperative management of patients with blunt hepatic injury. Furthermore, routine follow-up CT scans are not indicated, as treatment is not influenced by their results. Rather, follow-up CT scans should be obtained as dictated by the patient's clinical course. Extrapolation of these findings to all patients with blunt hepatic trauma in the United States would result in considerable savings of health care dollars, without negatively affecting patient care.
On the roles of international financial markets and their relevance for economic policy

A general equilibrium approach to international finance and macroeconomics has been developed. Recent work associated with this development provides useful tools for interpreting evidence and evaluating alternative policy options. Important issues to which these advances have been applied include the choice of an exchange rate system; the high variability of exchange rates; the effects of budget deficits, sterilized foreign exchange market intervention, and monetary and fiscal policies; the causes and consequences of large and variable current account deficits or surpluses and their connections with exchange rates; and the development of more open and sophisticated international financial markets. Copyright 1988 by Ohio State University Press.
Stock Series Holiday Regressors Generated from Flow Series Holiday Regressors

Stock economic time series, such as end-of-month inventories, arise as the cumulative sum of monthly inflows and outflows over time, i.e., as accumulations of monthly net flows. In this article, we derive holiday regressors for stock series from cumulative sums of flow-series holiday regressors. This is similar to how stock trading day regressors have been derived. The stock holiday regressors from this approach have a very simple and appealing form when the flow regressors have standard properties. The modeling, forecasting and graphical results we present, for Easter effects in U.S. manufacturing inventories and for Chinese New Year effects in economic indicator inventory series of Taiwan, confirm the utility of this first general approach tomodeling stock holiday effects. As with estimated holiday effects fromflowseries,we find that stock holiday effects are usually larger than trading day effects but smaller than seasonal effects.
The greenhouse gas flux and potential global warming feedbacks of a northern macrotidal and microtidal salt marsh

Conversion of wetlands by drainage for agriculture or other anthropogenic activities could have a negative or positive feedback to global warming (GWF). We suggest that a major predictor of the GWF is salinity of the wetland soil (a proxy for available sulfate), a factor often ignored in other studies. We assess the radiative balance of two northern salt marshes with average soil salinities > 20 ppt, but with high (macro-) and low (micro-) tidal amplitudes. The flux of greenhouse gases from soils at the end of the growing season averaged 485 ± 253 mg m − 2 h − 1, 13 ± 30 µg m − 2 h − 1, and 19 ± 58 µg m − 2 h − 1 in the microtidal marsh and 398 ± 201 mg m − 2 h − 1, 2 ± 26 µg m − 2 h − 1, and 35 ± 77 µg m − 2 h − 1 in the macrotidal marsh for CO2, N2O, and CH4, respectively. High rates of C sequestration mean that loss of these marshes would have a radiative balance of − 981 CO2_eq. m − 2 yr − 1 in the microtidal and − 567 CO2_eq. m − 2 yr − 1 in the macrotidal marsh.
Skilled Immigrants & Promotion: Good and Bad News from Canada

The incidence and rate of promotion for Canadian-born and immigrant age-at-arrival groups are investigated. Also a modified human capital framework is used to understand the relationship between job relevant characteristics and promotion. The findings indicate that immigrant's age-at-arrival, education, gender and other relevant characteristics contribute to the odds of receiving a promotion and the rate of promotion. Higher levels of education are related to higher promotion outcomes, for both Canadianborn and immigrants. There are also differences by gender, with females tending to have lower promotion outcomes, all else equal. Gaps in promotion outcomes are one potential pathway leading to the observed gap in earnings between immigrants and Canadian-born.
Stem Cell Transplantation Clinical and practical value of metaphase fluorescence in situ hybridization in follow-up after allogeneic stem cell transplantation in chronic myeloid leukemia

Metaphase-fluorescence in situ hybridization analyses, based on as many as 1000 cells were performed on 361 bone marrow specimens to monitor the level of residual disease after allogeneic stem cell transplantation in 102 patients with chronic myeloid leukemia. Residual cells were detected in 33 patients. No spontaneous eradication of residual cells was observed when the frequency of the cells exceeded 1% at any time during the follow-up.
The impact of customer knowledge and customer relationship management on service quality

Purpose – Enterprises realize that customers are their most important asset and recognize that a high level of customer satisfaction can only be achieved by enhancing service quality. Thus, how enterprises acquire customer knowledge by which to initiate and maintain customer relationships, as well as to enhance service quality has become an important issue. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – This study uses a questionnaire and statistical analytical techniques to explore the impact of customer knowledge and customer relationship management (CRM) on service quality. Findings – The results indicated that customer knowledge has a positive influence on service quality and CRM is the partial intervening variable between customer knowledge and service quality. That is, customer knowledge enhances the CRM, while CRM, in turn, increases service quality and provides competitive advantages. Research limitations/implications – This research explored the impact of customer knowledge.
The Ability of Earnings to Predict Future Operating Cash Flows Has Been Increasing Not Decreasing

We investigate the relationship between earnings and one-year-ahead operating cash flows from 1973 to 2000. Although the extant research indicates a weakening relationship between contemporaneous earnings and stock prices over time, we find that the relationship between current earnings and future operating cash flows has increased over time. This result holds for numerous divisions of our sample. Out-of-sample predictions of operating cash flows generally show increasing forecast accuracy over time. Increasing accounting conservatism appears to play a role in this phenomenon.