Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Regional Network for Quality Promotion: A Case-study of the Basque Country

Abstract Quality promotion as a means of improving competitiveness is a major objective in many countries. This paper examines successful practices in the Basque Country over an 11-year period, with a view to shedding light on the theoretical literature. Research on policy networks has produced useful results but we are still some way from a plausible, consensus-based theory of policy networks. Based on experience in the Basque Country, an integrated approach to understanding the antecedents and consequences of a regional knowledge-driven network for quality promotion is offered. Other regions in developing countries could use this approach to achieve successful policy networks. Although Total Quality Management implementation in public sector entities has been studied before, evidence about Regional Quality Promotion experiences is scarce.
A CFD Investigation of Emissions Formation in HCCI Engines, Including Detailed NOx Chemistry

Three-dimensional time-dependent CFD simulations of autoignition and emissions are reported for an idealized engine configuration under HCCI-like operating conditions. The emphasis is on NOx emissions. Detailed NOx chemistry is integrated with skeletal autoignition mechanisms for n-heptane and iso-octane fuels. A storage/retrieval scheme is used to accelerate the computation of chemical source terms, and turbulence/chemistry interactions are treated using a transported probability density function (PDF) method. Simulations include direct in-cylinder fuel injection, and feature direct coupling between the stochastic Lagrangian fuel-spray model and the gas-phase stochastic Lagrangian PDF method. For the conditions simulated, consideration of turbulence/chemistry interactions is essential. Simulations that ignore these interactions fail to capture global heat release and ignition timing, in addition to emissions. For these lean, low-temperature operating conditions, engine-out NOx levels are low and NOx pathways other than thermal NO are dominant. Engine-out NO2 levels exceed engine-out NO levels in some cases. In-cylinder inhomogeneity and unmixedness must be considered for accurate emissions predictions. These findings are consistent with results that have been reported recently in the HCCI engine literature.
Structure-Regularized Compressive Tracking With Online Data-Driven Sampling

Being a powerful appearance model, compressive random projection derives effective Haar-like features from non-rotated 4-D-parameterized rectangles, thus supporting fast and reliable object tracking. In this paper, we show that such successful fast compressive tracking scheme can be further significantly improved by structural regularization and online data-driven sampling. Our major contribution is threefold. First, we find that superpixel-guided compressive projection can generate more discriminative features by sufficiently capturing rich local structural information of images. Second, we propose fast directional integration that enables low-cost extraction of feasible Haar-like features from arbitrarily rotated 5-D-parameterized rectangles to realize more accurate object localization. Third, beyond naive dense uniform sampling, we present two practical online data-driven sampling strategies to produce less yet more effective candidate and training samples for object detection and classifier updating, respectively. Extensive experiments on real-world benchmark data sets validate the superior performance, i.e., much better object localization ability and robustness, of the proposed approach over state-of-the-art trackers.
New agents in development for the management of obesity

Obesity is fast becoming the major cause of premature death in the developed world. The rising prevalence of obesity and obesity‐related comorbidities also elevates healthcare costs, and reduced quality of life. The National Institute of Clinical Excellence in the UK recommends pharmacotherapy, in conjunction with lifestyle modification, for obese individuals [i.e. body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2] and for overweight persons with a BMI greater than 27 kg/m2, accompanied by at least one comorbidity. However, the current pharmaceutical treatment available to combat this epidemic remains limited. We review the efficacy and pharmacology of the anti‐obesity agents currently used in clinical practice as well as some of the potential agents in phase II and III trials.
An assessment of the economywide effects on Vietnam's ongoing microeconomic reform

iii Acknowledgements . v Abbreviations . vii List of Boxes and Figures . xiii List of Tables . xiv Chapter 1Introduction . 1 1.1 Background . 1 1.2 Issues and Questions . 1 1.3 Chapter Outlines . 4 Chapter 2Economic Performance and Macroeconomic Policies . 7 2.
Performance-Vested Stock Options and Earnings Management

This paper investigates the effects of performance-vested stock options (PVSOs) on the propensity of managers to engage in earnings management. Using observations from the 240 largest non-financial firms in the UK, I show that managers are more likely to engage in earnings management when they hold a larger proportion of their compensation in PVSOs. When categorizing PVSOs on the basis of their distance from the end of performance periods, the results show that managerial incentives to manage earnings mainly stem from PVSOs that are granted in prior years but within a performance evaluation period (i.e., PVSOs before vesting). Moreover, vesting targets influence the relationship between earnings management and PVSO compensation. The findings are consistent with the earnings smoothing hypothesis: confronted with more ambitious vesting targets, managers who are heavily loaded with PVSOs before vesting will report higher performance by generating greater accounting accruals, whereas in years with good performance, these managers will have incentives to reduce current reported performance by managing earnings downward so they can increase earnings as needed in the future.
ENVIRONMENTAL UNCERTAINTY, THE ENTREPRENEURIAL ORIENTATION OF BUSINESS VENTURES AND PERFORMANCE

Business ventures fuel economic growth and national prosperity. Yet, these ventures face increasing environmental uncertainty. This paper, using data from the Arabian Gulf Sultanate of Oman, tests the notion that firms need and will respond to uncertain situations with greater entrepreneurship. Doing so will improve the performance level of such firms. The conclusions reached in the paper affirm the relationship among uncertainty, entrepreneurial orientation and performance. However, there is some variation among industries. Manufacturing organizations have responded with greater entrepreneurial intensity in the face of uncertainty and attained higher performance levels than commercial enterprises.
Assessing the effectiveness of performance measurement systems: A case study

This paper is based on a case study which examines the implementation of a total quality-based performance measurement system. The organization selected is responsible for the repair and maintenance of photographic, photocopying and medical imaging equipment, among others. The analysis revealed that there is a gap between information sought by people and what they tend to receive. Respondents are also concerned by the volume of information received and have suggested a wide variety of improvement measures including, for instance, timeliness in performance reporting. The overriding message is the need for greater involvement of individuals in choosing the measures of their performance.
Is there a duration dependence in Taiwan's business cycles?

This paper intends to investigate the duration dependent feature of Taiwan's business cycles. The constant Markov switching model is revised to take account of the duration dependent feature. The most innovative findings herein are that there is no duration dependence for contraction for the circa pre-1990 periods and no duration dependence for expansion for the circa post-1990 periods. However, there is duration dependence for economic expansion for the circa pre-1990 and duration dependence for contraction for circa post-1990 periods, respectively. In addition, the recessionary dates identified by the duration dependent Markov switching model are identical to the officially defined recessionary chronologies.
Shipping Fees or Shipping Free? A Tale of Two Price Partitioning Strategies in Online Retailing

In this paper, we study the price partitioning decisions of online retailers regarding shipping and handling (SH in the second, customers are offered free shipping through a non-partitioned format where the product price already includes the shipping cost (the ZS strategy). We first develop a stylized game-theoretic model that captures the competitive dynamics between (and within) these two formats. Analysis of the model provides insights into how both firm and product level characteristics drive a retailer''s strategic choice regarding which partitioning format to adopt, and, hence, determines the equilibrium market structure in terms of proportion of ZS and PS retailers. Subsequently, we conduct empirical analyses, based on product and S&H prices data for two different product categories (digital cameras and printers) collected from online retailers, to validate all the results of our theoretical model. We establish that PS retailers charge lower product prices than ZS ones, but the total price (product S&H) charged is higher for the first group. The S&H charge for PS retailers can be significant - it is, on average, 5.4% (printers) and 3.0% (digital cameras) for our two product categories. Furthermore, retailers which are popular and or face risky cost environment are more likely to opt for the ZS strategy, while retailers whose portfolio mostly includes large or heavy products with high cost(S&H)-to-price ratios usually choose the PS strategy. Lastly, our empirical study also illustrates that the price adjustment behavior of retailers is affected by their shipping-fee policies - for example, ZS retailers change their product prices almost 1.5 times more frequently than PS ones.
An Assessment of Changes in Employment Conditions in Less Developed Countries

Among the problems considered to be most pressing among less developed countries (LDCs) is that of employment. The popular and professional literature is replete with references to an alleged "failure" of economic development to provide a sufficient number of new employments to absorb rapidly growing labor forces. Expressions of fear that a low absorptive capacity would lead to a deterioration in the quality of employment or to an increase in open and disguised unemployment have now been converted into assertions that employment conditions have been worsening generally in LDCs.1 What is notable about these assertions is that they are undocumented, that is, they lack an empirical foundation. Few would argue with an assertion that employment conditions in LDCs are precarious for many, for, after all, this is one of the conditions by which we can distinguish LDCs from DCs. However, to go beyond such an observation to an assertion that employment conditions have actually been deteriorating would seem to require more than a simple statement that it is so in order to establish it as "truth. "
Modelling Cognitively Bounded Rationality: An Evaluative Taxonomy

Since its origins in the 1950s, the notion of bounded rationality has been incorporated into economic theory using an array of methodological approaches. This paper presents a taxonomy by which these approaches can be categorized and understood, evaluating each approach against a range of important criteria. At a time when the foundations of economic theory are being re‐examined, this paper should be viewed as a first step towards an assessment of the appropriate role that this more realistic view of cognition should take in different areas of economic theory, and also of the desirable characteristics of models that incorporate it.
Attitudes and Farmer Conservation Behavior

Conservation behavior is influenced by the attitudes of farmers and by context variables, like income and farm terrain. Important attitudes were selected by using the theory that fundamental value ranks or weights affect attitudes and that only certain values are important to the conservation decision. An extension of the tobit estimation approach, handling both censored observations of the dependent variable and measurement error for the nonlimit observations, was used. Conservation behavior models can be improved with a merger of concepts and approaches from social psychology and economics.
Rotational Internal Audit Programs and Financial Reporting Quality: Do Compensating Controls Help?

A report from the Institute of Internal Auditors finds that a majority of Fortune 500 companies systematically rotate internal auditors out of the internal audit function and into operational management (IIA 2009a). We use semi-structured interviews with 11 chief audit executives and 2 audit committee chairmen to develop an initial framework focusing on how this practice affects financial reporting quality. We then test these associations with archival data and find that companies that use a rotational staffing model for the internal audit function have significantly lower financial reporting quality than companies that do not. However, we find that several compensating controls identified from the interviews (e.g., consistency of IAF leadership or supervision, audit committee oversight, and management oversight and direction) can reduce this adverse financial reporting effect. We conclude that companies should consider the potential costs of using a rotational staffing model in the internal audit function and, if adopting this practice, should ensure the appropriate compensating controls are in place to mitigate such costs.
Economic value added and systemic value added: symmetry, additive coherence and differences in performance

Two measures of excess profit are currently available in the literature: Economic Value Added (EVA) (Stewart, 1991) and Systemic Value Added (SVA) (Magni, 2003a, b, 2004; 2005). This study shows that, unlike EVA, SVA is symmetric and additively coherent. Also, EVA and SVA are not simply different in value but also convey different information about good or bad performances.
Narrowing gaps between research and policy development in climate change adaptation work in the water resources and agriculture sectors of Cambodia

Narrowing research and policy, while challenging, is especially important in climate change adaptation work (CCA) due to the high uncertainties involved in planning for climate change. This article aims to seek stakeholders’ opinions regarding how research and policy development can be bridged within the Cambodian water resources and agriculture sectors. The study used institutional ethnography methods with informants from government organizations, local academia, and development partners (DPs). This article identifies a number of challenges, and barriers for narrowing research–policy development gaps, including: limited effectiveness of governmental policies and planning; lack of relevant information required to promote evidence-based planning and policy development; and communication barriers. Evidence-based planning is valued by government officials most when there is actual and effective implementation of policies and plans. In practice, this often implies that governmental policies and plans need be scoped and scaled down to meet the available budget, and thus be achievable. In the long term, it also means building the capacity for policy-relevant research on climate change adaptation within Cambodia. Engaging policy stakeholders in research process for co-producing adaptation knowledge, and introducing knowledge intermediaries are suggested by informants as means to narrowing gaps between research and policy development. The presence of the Cambodia's Prime Minister in research–policy dialogues is recommended as important for attracting the attention of high-level policy makers. Policy relevance As a least developed and highly climate-vulnerable country, Cambodia has received climate change funding to implement a number of climate adaptation initiatives. Cambodia is likely to receive more climate change finance in the future. This article aims to assist evidence-based planning, in particular, through policy-relevant research on CCA, so that resources for adaptation in Cambodia are used effectively and efficiently. This research also directly benefits the sustainable development of the country.
The Recruitment and Retention of Headteachers in Scotland

1. Background to, and Purpose of, the Study 1.1 This study, funded by the Scottish Government in December 2007, was commissioned to make recommendations about the recruitment and retention of headteachers in Scotland. 2. Recruitment and Retention: An International Issue 2.1 The background to the study is a growing international concern about recruitment and retention of high quality school leaders. A finding common to studies in a number of countries is the high profile and intensity of the leadership role and the phenomenon of “career deputies” - people who did do not want the responsibility of leading a school. In Scotland there would appear to be opportunities for addressing issues that fall directly within the scope of schools, local authorities and the Scottish Government. 3. The Research Questions and Methodology 3.1 The research was framed by the following four overarching questions: 1.What do head teachers think about their role? What keeps them in post and what might make them leave or change direction? 2.What prompts teachers to seek to become head teachers and what barriers do they face? 3.Why do some teachers not aspire to headships and is there anything that could change their views? 4.What arrangements, approaches and policies have been adopted by local authorities and central government for succession planning, identifying early leadership potential and training and development? 3.2 1218 teachers and 1137 headteachers responded to two surveys. 94 per cent of headteacher respondents were serving heads and 6 per cent were acting up. Follow up interviews were conducted with a representative sample of 47 headteachers, 9 local authorities 28 non-aspirant deputes and potential heads plus 18 aspirant teachers/deputes.
Effects of older age and multiple comorbidities on functional outcome after partial hip replacement surgery for hip fractures.

AIM To assess clinical factors associated with partial hip replacement surgery failure and to develop a scoring system to predict it before treatment. METHODS This was a historical cohort study of hip fracture cases underwent partial hip replacement in Siaga Raya Hospital, Jakarta between January 1997 and December 2006. Patients' clinical assessment included sex, age at surgery, ambulatory state, the number of underlying disease or comorbidities, hemoglobin and serum albumin levels, type of fracture and elapsed time between the day of fracture and day of surgery. All patients underwent partial hip surgery. Functional outcome after surgery was assessed by Harris' Hip Score (HHS). A score below 80 points was considered poor. Kaplan-Meier curve with log-rank test was deployed and Cox proportional hazard model was performed to identify independent risk factors associated with poor HHS after surgery. RESULTS Harris hip score could be obtained from 123 patients during the study period. The patients' mean age at surgery was 73+/-9.8 years old. Cox regression analysis showed several risk factors for poor HHS after partial hip replacement procedures, i.e. age at surgery 75 years or more, the presence of two or more comorbidities, anemia and Low albumin. In adjusted model, the number of comorbidities, anemia and Low albumin were confirmed to be independent risk factors for poor HHS after surgery. CONCLUSION Our present study showed that several clinical factors could be used to predict poor Harris hip score after partial hip replacement surgery. Independent risk factors were the number of comorbidities, the presence of anemia and low albumin. Further studies are needed to confirm the prediction model in new, prospective cases.
Private Savings: Ultrarationality, Aggregation, and 'Denison's Law'

The article examines the behavior of the ratio of gross private saving to gross national product-the gross private savings rate or GPSRfor the United States during the period 1898-1969. It emerges that the GPSR defined to include consumer durables expenditures and the imputed return on durables has no trend over the period and that its year-to-year variation is extremely small except for the World War I, World War II, and Great Depression years. This stability prevailed in the face of pronounced shifts in the composition of private savings from personal saving to durables expenditure and corporate saving, and a redistribution of income from the private to public sectors. The notion of ultrarationality, in which households subsume corporate and government spending and saving in their budget decisions, is used to explain the stability of the GPSR despite the important changes in its composition. Leading implications of this stability for theory and policy are explored: one important conclusion is that, under full employment, fiscal policy can neither affect aggregate expenditure nor alter the ratio of investment to consumption.
The Private and Total Returns to Education in Canada, 1985

The purpose of this paper is to present private and public rates of return to schooling in Canada by level and, for bachelor's degrees, by field of study. The paper is divided into three parts. In the first part, the analytical framework used is discussed and results of previous studies are reviewed. In the second part, the data and methodology are described. In the third part, results are presented and analyzed. The results show the importance of completing a minimum level of schooling (high school), a decrease in rates of return to schooling with an increase in the level of schooling, differences between men and women, and differences among fields of study.
Hybrid Massive MIMO for Secure Transmissions Against Stealthy Eavesdroppers

Physical-layer secure transmissions require that the legitimate parties Alice and Bob have certain signal advantages over the eavesdropper Eve. Unfortunately, it is still unknown what advantages can be guaranteed realistically in practice. This letter shows that hybrid massive MIMO can be exploited to the advantage of Alice for this purpose. Specifically, it allows Alice to use large antenna arrays that stealthy eavesdroppers cannot afford in many practical situations. To realize this advantage, an efficient transmission scheme is developed with hybrid massive MIMO, random dumb antenna selection, and channel reciprocity-based signal randomization techniques. It can secure the transmission against multiple stealthy eavesdroppers. Transmission security is analyzed assuming eavesdroppers with sufficient side knowledge and channel estimation capabilities. Simulations are conducted to verify the superior performance.