Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
FORGOTTEN LEADERS? THE ROLE AND WORKLOAD OF DEPUTY PRINCIPALS IN QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Historically, the deputy principalship in secondary schools has been an under-researched area, despite the significant and on-going changes impacting on schools in recent years. There is no information, certainly for Queensland government schools, about what deputy principals do in terms of their roles and workload nor the underpinning skills and competencies required to undertake these. This paper reports on the findings of a project commissioned by the Queensland Secondary Principals' Association to address this information void. The research, undertaken in December 2001, comprised a literature review and a questionnaire distributed to the deputy principal membership of the association. Included among a range of significant findings from the study is that despite long work-hours, high pressure and significant changes and an expanding diversity in their roles in recent times, the vast majority of deputy principals are satisfied with their role. Deputy principals also reported differences between the activities in what they saw as a typical week for them and what they envisaged as an ideal week eg. they would like to be more involved in strategic and curriculum leadership and less involved in student and staff issues, and management and administrative matters. The key skills required in the role were seen to be strong interpersonal/people skills, inspiring and visioning change, delegation and empowerment and being a good manager
Measuring consumer's willingness to pay for organic and Fair Trade products

Previous research has extensively studied consumer's environmental and social concerns. However, measuring the value of the environmental or social dimension of a product remains a challenge. This paper proposes to partially fill this gap by measuring the double ‘Fair Trade and organic’ labels' value using an experimental method – the Becker-DeGroot-Marschak's mechanism. Two ‘organic and Fair Trade’ and two conventional chocolate products were tested on a sample of 102 consumers. Results show that organic and Fair Trade labels increase consumers' willingness to pay, and allow the identification of three consumers clusters. The first cluster represents people insensitive to the label. For the second cluster, the ‘organic and Fair Trade’ labels' influence on the improving image of the products is positive and important. And finally, for the third cluster, the valuation of the ‘organic and Fair Trade’ label is determined by the product's taste. Our research contributes to a better understanding of consumers' valuation of Fair Trade and organic labels, leading to our conclusions, which offer managerial implications with respect to this market (importance of taste and usefulness of double labels).
[Cancer survival before and after initiating the Danish Cancer Control plan].

INTRODUCTION Has there been a visible effect on cancer survival after the launch of the first cancer control plan in year 2000? MATERIAL AND METHODS All cancers reported 1995-2003 to the Danish Cancer Registry were included. Three cohorts diagnosed 1995-1997, 1998-2000 and 2001-2003 were followed for death until 31 December 2006 and age standardized 1- and 3-year relative survival was calculated by the cohort method. RESULTS One-year survival increased for men from 59 to 65% and for women from 67 to 70%, and 3-year survival from 44 to 51% and 55 to 59%, respectively. The improved 3-year survival for women was after the launch of the cancer plan, whilst for men it was in the entire observation period. Improvement in 3-year survival for both sexes occurred for colon, rectum and lung cancer, and for bladder and prostate in men and esophagus, breast, ovary and leukemia in women. Worse survival was seen for oral and pharyngeal cancer in women. DISCUSSION The improved trend in survival has been maintained. The cancer plan may improve survival before onset due to the early implementation of recommendations. Since improvements in surgery presents early, 3-year survival is relevant. The improved survival for colo-rectal, lung, bladder, esophagus and ovarian cancer may be related to the cancer plan. Improvement in breast cancer survival is likely due to screening and the DBCG continued activity, whilst increasing incidence of prostate cancer due to PSA testing is likely to be behind our observation. Longer follow-up and a timely and updated cancer registry are needed to fully assess the impact of the cancer plan.
The Influence of Top Management Team International Exposure on International Alliance Formation

This study examines the effect of top management team (TMT) international exposure on the formation of international alliances. We develop our arguments based on relational capital theory to suggest that top executives with international exposure are critical to firms' international alliance formation. Supporting this view, we find that TMT international exposure is positively associated with the formation of international alliances. Moreover, we find evidence to suggest that the effect of TMT international exposure on international alliance formation is more positive as the level of environmental uncertainty increases. We discuss implications and directions for future research. Copyright (c) Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2008.
Levels of soluble ICAM-1 and soluble IL-2R in the serum and aqueous humor of uveitis patients

Purpose. To study the ocular and systemic behaviour of the immune activation markers soluble ICAM-1 and soluble IL-2R in patients with active uveitis. Methods. We determined the levels of soluble ICAM-1 and soluble IL-2R in the aqueous humor and peripheral blood of 23 patients with active uveitis and 16 age and gender matched controls (who were to undergo cataract extraction) by means of ELISA enzyme immunoanalysis. Results. Patients with uveitis presented higher levels of soluble ICAM-1 and soluble IL-2R in the aqueous humor and peripheral blood. Comparison of the aqueous humor and peripheral blood revealed higher levels of soluble ICAM-1 in the aqueous humor, while we found no differences for soluble IL-2R. Analysis of the clinical characteristics of the uveitis we studied showed no differences in the levels of these markers in either blood or aqueous humor. Conclusions. The finding of elevated levels of soluble IL-2R and soluble ICAM-1 in the aqueous humor and peripheral blood of patients with uveitis suggests the local and systemic participation of these markers in the pathogenesis of uveitis.
The Contribution of Chinese FDI to Africa's Pre Crisis Growth Surge

Abstract In the 3 years before the 2008 Financial Crisis, GDP growth in Sub-Saharan Africa (averaged over individual economies) was around 6%, or 2 percentage points above mean growth rates for the preceding 10 years. This period also coincided with significant Chinese FDI flows into these countries, accounting for up to 10% of total inward FDI flows for certain countries in these years. We use growth accounting methods to assess what portion of this elevated growth can be attributed to Chinese inward FDI. We follow Solow (1957), Dennison (1962), and others and use data for individual economies between 1990 and 2008 to calculate Solow residuals for these years for individual economies. We use capital stock data, workforce, and factor share data by country. Capital stock data is unavailable directly and so we use perpetual inventory methods to construct the data. Factor shares come from UN National Accounts data. We then run counterfactual growth accounting experiments for thirteen Sub-Saharan African countries excluding Chinese FDI inflows for 2005-2007 and also 2003-2009. Our individual results vary by year and country, but there are several year/country combinations where Chinese FDI contributed to an additional one half of a percentage point or above to GDP growth. These results suggest that a significant, even if in some cases small, portion of the elevated growth in Sub-Saharan Africa in the three years before the Financial Crisis and also in the two years afterwards (2008-2009) can be attributed to Chinese inward investment.
Industry Merger Intensity and Cost of Capital

Using a panel of industry‐average implied cost of equity capital and the value of prior year aggregate industry mergers, we find strong evidence that the industry cost of equity capital is negatively associated with industry merger activity. Our evidence is consistent with greater media coverage, analyst following, or increase in investor attention associated with industry merger activity lowering the required return on equity for firms in an industry that is not involved in merger activity via the ‘information risk’ or ‘incomplete information’ channels.
Human factors: spanning the gap between OM and HRM

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the claim that the application of human factors (HF) knowledge can improve both human well‐being and operations system (OS) performance.Design/methodology/approach – A systematic review was conducted using a general and two specialist databases to identify empirical studies addressing both human and OS effects in examining manufacturing OS design aspects.Findings – A total of 45 empirical studies were found, addressing both the human and system effects of OS (re)design. Of those studies providing clear directional effects, 95 percent showed a convergence between human effects and system effects (+, + or −,−), 5 percent showed a divergence of human and system effects (+,− or −,+). System effects included quality, productivity, implementation performance of new technologies, and also more “intangible” effects in terms of improved communication and co‐operation. Human effects included employee health, attitudes, physical workload, and “quality of working life.
Networking Behavior and Contracting Relationships among Entrepreneurs in Business Incubators

Many studies focus on the relationship between social networks and performance. I study networking behavior as an antecedent of tie formation among entrepreneurs in business incubators. I distinguish between two types of networking behavior: individual networking orientation or building potentially valuable ties for personal gain, and tertius iungens orientation or facilitating tie formation between others. I find that both types of networking behavior are positively related with the number of business partners to whom entrepreneurs give business assignments. Contrary to expectations, I find no relationship between networking behavior and the number of business partners from whom entrepreneurs receive business assignments.
Vascular conductance and aerobic power in sedentary and active subjects and heart failure patients.

The relationship between peak aerobic power and a strain-gauge determination of local skeletal muscle vascular conductance 10-13 s after calf exercise to fatigue was examined in 21 middle-aged adults (age 38.1 +/- 2.5 yr): seven physically active men (A), seven sedentary men (S), and six men and one woman with compensated idiopathic heart failure (HF). The three subgroups were chosen as differing widely in peak O2 intake [48.2 +/- 1.2, 32.9 +/- 1.6, and 16.1 +/- 1.3 (SE) ml.kg-1 x min-1, respectively]. Calf vascular conductance showed a gradation with aerobic power: 64.8 +/- 3.8, 40.7 +/- 4.3, and 30.7 +/- 6.1 (SE) ml/min local flow per 10 liters of tissue per unit of blood pressure. There was a strong positive correlation between O2 intake and vascular conductance for the overall group (VO2 = 0.614 G + 3.5; r = 0.75, P < 0.001) and for the 14 normal subjects (VO2 = 0.377 G + 20.6; r = 0.74, P < 0.002). The mean conductance was smaller in HF (P < 0.001), with no significant slope in relation to O2 intake. There was no relationship between the resting cardiac ejection fraction [74.4 +/- 4.1% (SE) for A, 74.3 +/- 4.2% for S, and 25.8 +/- 5.2% for HF] and either peak aerobic power or calf vascular conductance. We conclude that peak aerobic power is strongly associated with local vascular conductance during peripherally limited exercise involving the calf muscles of one leg and that vascular conductance is particularly low in subjects with compensated idiopathic heart failure.
Striving for a Better Position: Aspirations and the Role of Cultural, Economic, and Social Capital for Irregular Migrants in Belgium 1

Drawing upon 120 semi-structured interviews with irregular migrants in Belgium, this article focuses on their aspirations and the resources needed in order to realize these. It is demonstrated that specific aspirations require specific forms of capital. A typology is constructed, based on three types of aspirations with corresponding resources. First, investment migrants, who aspire to return and invest in upward social mobility in their country of origin, require job competencies (cultural capital) and social leverage (social capital). Second, legalization migrants, who aspire to obtain legal residence, require different forms of capital, depending on the marriage market they are active in. Third, settlement migrants, aiming at residing legally or illegally in the receiving society, require both social support and social leverage (combined social capital). These findings indicate it is important to adopt a contextualized approach studying the mechanisms through which various forms of capital lead to different outcomes for irregular migrants.
Public sector efficiency: evidence for new EU member states and emerging markets

In this article, we analyse public sector efficiency in the new member states of the EU compared to that in emerging markets. After a conceptual discussion of expenditure efficiency measurement, we compute efficiency scores and rankings by applying a range of measurement techniques. The study finds that expenditure efficiency across new EU member states is rather diverse especially as compared to the group of top performing emerging markets in Asia. Econometric analysis shows that higher income, civil service competence and education levels as well as the security of property rights seem to facilitate the prevention of inefficiencies in the public sector.
Innovation and Growth in Ugandan Manufacturing Firms

The aim of this study was to establish the effects of innovation on the growth of Ugandan manufacturing firms' using pseudo panel data. Little is known about the relationship between innovation and firm growth in Sub-Saharan African countries. This study adopts Gibrat's Law of Proportionate Effect and a learning model by Jovanovic (with some modifications) to analyse the relationship between innovation and firm growth in Uganda. Descriptive results show that innovative firms, as measured by computer usage and purchase of new machinery, compared to non-innovative firms on average grow faster. However, regression results showed that there is no significant difference between the growth rates of innovative and non-innovative firms.
Use of Dermagraft, a Cultured Human Dermis, to Treat Diabetic Foot Ulcers

OBJECTIVE To assess the effect of a tissue-engineered human dermis (Dermagraft) in healing diabetic foot ulcers. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS This controlled prospective multicenter randomized single-blinded pilot study evaluated healing over a 12-week period in 50 patients with diabetic foot ulcers. These patients were randomized into four groups (three different dosage regimens of Dermagraft and one control group). All patients received identical care except for the use of Dermagraft tissue. Ulcer healing was assessed by percentage of wounds achieving complete or 50% closure, time to complete or 50% closure, and volume and area measurements. RESULTS Ulcers treated with the highest dosage of Dermagraft, one piece applied weekly for 8 weeks (group A), healed significantly more often than those treated with conventional wound closure methods; 50% (6 of 12) of the Dermagraft-treated and 8% (1 of 13) of the control ulcers healed completely (P = 0.03). The percentage of wounds achieving 50% closure was also significantly higher (75 vs. 23%; P = 0.018), and the time to complete or 50% closure was faster (P = 0.056). The group A regimen was more effective than other treatment regimens. All three were better than the control, however, and a dose-response was observed. There were no safety concerns. After a mean of 14 months of follow-up (range 11-22 months), there were no recurrences in the Dermagraft-healed ulcers. CONCLUSIONS Dermagraft was associated with more complete and rapid healing in diabetic foot ulcers. The recurrence data may indicate an improved quality of wound healing.
Structural, Experimentalist, and Descriptive Approaches to Empirical Work in Regional Economics

The three general approaches to empirical work in economics are structural, experimentalist, and descriptive. This paper provides an overview of how empirical work in regional economics fits into these three categories. In particular, I examine a single issue in the field, the nature of agglomeration benefits and the productivity gains from agglomeration, and analyze the advantages and drawbacks of following each of these three empirical approaches. I also discuss potentially fruitful ways empirical work in regional economics might advance. Copyright (c) 2010, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Sovereignty Versus Soundness: Cross-Border/Interstate Banking in the European Union and in the United States: Similarities, Differences and Policy Issues

Banks are finally crossing borders within the European Union (EU) and the United States. Some EU member countries and some U.S. states have welcomed entry by banks from elsewhere, while others have resisted it. The article compares the processes of banking deregulation in the two unions and provides some measures of the ensuing progressnot yet completetoward cross-border banking. The analysis focuses on resistance to entry, the reasons for it, and the methods used to put it into effect. Apportioning responsibilities for chartering, prudential supervision and other facets of the financial safety net between the EU and its member countries give rise to active conflicts over sovereignty and compromises over efficiency. Similar conflicts raise questions over the continued viability of the dual banking system in the United States.
First count to five: some principles for the reform of vocational qualifications in England

Vocational qualifications in England are undergoing another round of reform. This paper starts by reviewing the alleged weaknesses of English vocational qualifications, but argues that these do not necessarily establish a case for radical reform. The issue is not so much whether the system needs to be changed as the nature of the change that is needed. The paper argues for a more deliberative and incremental approach and proposes five principles upon which this should be based. These are the following: that the process of change is as important as the content of change; that institutions matter; that the purposes of reform need to be clear, consistent and realistic; that reforms should help to create a more unified qualifications system; and that the interests of the UK’s other home countries should be considered.
Secret Report and Optimal Collusion-Proof Mechanism Design: the Case of Moral Hazard

This paper bridges the practice of anti-collusion to the theory of collusion-proof mechanism design. The role of secret reporting as an effective way of fighting collusion is highlighted through a multi-stage Maskin mechanism. Applying this mechanism to two multi-agent settings under moral hazard: mutually observable actions and privately observable actions, we show that the optimal incentive contracts in the absence of collusion can be implemented in spite of collusion, which implies that preventing collusion entails no costs. JEL Classification: C72, D82
The effects of discovery learning and expository instruction on the acquisition of definitional and intuitive knowledge

Types of learning with a strong emphasis on the responsibility of the learner (such as discovery learning) are gaining popularity over traditional forms of (expository) instruction. Discovery learning distinguishes itself by the central role of learning processes such as hypothesis generation (induction), experiment design, and data interpretation. Expository instruction pays more attention to directly ‘exposing’ definitions and equations to learners. In the current study, students worked with either a simulation (discovery learning) or a hypertext learning environment (expository instruction) with the same domain content. Each of the environments contained a large number of assignments. The study followed a pre-test, post-test design. To measure the knowledge acquired a definitional knowledge test, an intuitive knowledge test (where both correctness and speed of answering are aspects that are measured) and a test in which relations needed to be explained were administered. It was predicted that the hypertext group would outperform the simulation group on the definitional knowledge test and it was expected that the simulation group would perform better on the intuitive knowledge test. Results showed that both the interaction with the simulation and with the hypertext resulted in substantial learning gains. It was found that the hypertext group performed better on the definitional knowledge test. On the intuitive knowledge test the hypertext scored better than the simulation group on the correctness of the items but not on the time needed to answer items. On the explanation test there was no difference between the two groups. An analysis of interaction processes as recorded in the logfiles indicates that the differences between both environments in their actual usage were less distinctive than expected. In the simulation group many students followed the assignments given and did not engage in self-guided discovery. Since the assignments were rather directive, this resulted in ‘discovery behaviour’ that focused on generating outcomes; outcomes that were also, and more directly presented in the hypertext environment. For research and practice, this implies that simulations are to be considered only when clear benefits of discovery are expected, and only with complex domains, sufficient learning time and freedom for students in the assignments to engage in discovery.
Local Underemployment and the Discouraged Worker Effect

The effect of poor local labour market opportunities on occupational achievement is an important aspect of the spatial mismatch hypothesis. Much of the research has concentrated on the direct link between geographical access to jobs and employment outcomes. In contrast, little attention has been given to the discouraging effect of poor chances on job search activities. The discouraged worker effect is defined as the decision to refrain from job search as a result of poor chances on the labour market. Discouragement effects can arise from a lack of individual qualifications, from discrimination in the labour market or from a high local level of underemployment. The empirical findings of this paper, based on the Netherlands Labour Force Surveys 1994-97, show that discouragement can enter the job search process both at the stage of deciding to enter the labour force and at the stage of deciding to engage actively in a job search. Gender differentials in discouragement are revealed in the process of self-selection into the labour force. Poor labour market chances lead to less activity in both off-the-job and on-the-job search, indicating a role of discouragement in the spatial mismatch. Individual qualifications and ascribed characteristics turn out to be more decisive than the local level of underemployment.