Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Why Do Social Workers Become Policy Actors?

The study examines factors related to social workers’ involvement in policy practice by examining their engagement in legislative advocacy in Israel. Based on the three components of the Policy Practice Engagement Framework—opportunity, facilitation and motivation—the study focused upon a group of social workers who were actively involved in legislative advocacy as part of their professional job. In order to learn more about their features and the circumstances of their legislative advocacy, they were asked about their testimonies and were then compared to a group of social workers who have never participated in the deliberations of legislative committees. The sample consisted of 190 social workers evenly divided between the two groups. The findings underscore that the intersect of opportunity, facilitation, and motivation created a context that encouraged the involvement of social workers in a specific form of policy practice. The study findings emphasize the opportunity and facilitation components of the framework over the motivational.
Uses of Stable Isotopes in the Assessment of Nutrient Status and Metabolism

Stable isotopes are nonradioactive and can be safely administered to humans; yet, because of the isotopic difference, can be distinguished from the unlabeled moiety and thus trace the nutrient uptake and elimination. Stable isotope applications include measurement of nutrient absorption, determination of nutrient body stores, tracing routes of nutrient metabolism, measuring nutrient fluxes through specific pathways, and measuring nutrient elimination. The ability to assess the dynamics of nutrient metabolism in vivo has been vital in the study of nutrient requirements, nutrient metabolism, mechanisms of nutrient homeostasis, and nutrient toxicity. Stable isotopes provide a window into human metabolism that is particularly valuable to the quantitative study of human nutrition.
The effect of UV therapy on immune function in patients with psoriasis

Summary Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is known to suppress some cell‐mediated immune responses to antigens encountered during or soon after exposure. Phototherapy is widely used in psoriasis, and this study was undertaken to monitor changes in a range of immunological parameters during standard courses of treatment, with the aim of ascertaining whether such modulations contribute to the effectiveness of therapy. The responses of 17 patients with psoriasis undergoing UVB therapy, and four receiving PUVA therapy, were compared with 15 patients receiving coal tar treatment and four normal subjects undergoing UVB irradiation. In each case, samples were taken before starting therapy, after 4 weeks of therapy, and 4 weeks after completion of treatment. Serum immunoglobulin isotypes and complement components were within normal ranges in most of the psoriasis patients, and remained unchanged throughout therapy. Similarly, percentages of subsets of peripheral blood monnnuclear cells (PBMC) were normal, and were unaltered by treatment. Patients who were already infected with herpes simplex virus (HSV), as demonstrated by a positive lymphoproliferation test in vitro, were monitored for asymptomatic HSV shedding and HSV recrudescences during therapy. There was little evidence that phototherapy caused reactivation of the virus. No significant alteration in lymphoproliferative response to HSV and to the mitogen concanavalin A was observed during therapy. Epidermal cells and blood adherent cells were used to present HSV to PBMC, depleted of adherent cells and enriched for T cells, in a lymphoproliferative assay. The functional antigen‐presenting ability of adherent cells remained unchanged throughout therapy, whereas that of epidermal cells was suppressed during UVB irradiation and recovered, in most instances, after UVB therapy had been completed. The epidermis of patients with psoriasis contained about three times the quantity of urocanic acid (UCA) of normal subjects, whereas the UCA concentration in suction blister fluid did not differ between the two groups. During UVB irradiation, the percentage of cis‐UCA rose in both the epidermis and suction blister fluid of all subjects, and it remained elevated in the blister fluid after therapy had finished. Tumour necrosis factor‐α was measured in suction blister fluid, and its concentration did not alter consistently as a result of therapy. Whether any of the immunological parameters measured, and the changes noted, contribute to the effectiveness of phototherapy in the treatment of psoriasis remains uncertain.
Corporate Social Responsibility Practices, Corporate Identity, and Purchase Intention: A Dual-Process Model

The relationships among corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices, corporate identity, and purchase intention were evaluated for 4 corporations: Microsoft, Nike, Philip Morris, and Wendy's. Discretionary CSR practices and moral/ethical CSR practices emerged as significant predictors of the corporate social values dimension of identity. Relational CSR practices, however, contributed mainly to the expertise dimension of corporate identity. Also, familiarity with CSR practices of a corporation had a significant effect on corporate identity, which in turn affected purchase intention. For 2 of the 4 companies, Nike and Wendy's, both corporate expertise and corporate social values were significant predictors of purchase intention. For Microsoft, only the expertise dimension was predictive of purchase intention, whereas for Philip Morris, only the corporate social values dimension was a significant predictor of purchase intention. The results are interpreted within a dual-process model of corporate identity.
Economic Policy and Wage Differentials in Latin America

This paper applies a new approach to the estimation of the impact of policy, both the levels and the changes, on wage differentials using a new high-quality data set on wage differentials by schooling level for 18 Latin American countries for the period 1977-1998. The results indicate that liberalizing policy changes overall have had a short-run disequalizing effect of expanding wage differentials, although this effect tends to fade away over time. This disequalizing effect is due to the strong impact of domestic financial market reform, capital account liberalization and tax reform. On the other hand, privatization contributed to narrowing wage differentials and trade openness had no significant effect on wage differentials. Technological progress, rather than trade flows, appears to be a channel through which policy changes are affecting inequality.
Characterization of the miRNA profile in UVB‐irradiated normal human keratinocytes

Abstract: The aim of this study was to assess the effects of ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation on microRNA (miRNA) expression in normal human keratinocytes. Global miRNA expression profiles of primary cultures of normal human keratinocytes 4 and 24 h postirradiation were studied using miRNA microarray with further confirmation by real‐time PCR. We found that upon 30 or 60 mJ/cm2 of UVB radiation, the expression of 44 miRNAs was up‐ or downregulated more than twofold compared with non‐irradiated keratinocytes. MiRNAs were either up‐ or downregulated after 4 h and then either returned to normal levels or remained affected after 24 h, resulting in four distinct patterns of miRNA expression change. It appears that acute exposure of keratinocytes to UVB radiation results in several specific patterns of miRNA response.
The effect of US individual investor sentiment on industry‐specific stock returns and volatility

Purpose – This paper examines the effect of rational and irrational investor sentiment on the stock return and volatility of US auto, finance, food, oil and utility industries.Design/methodology/approach – The American Association of Individual Investors Index (AAII) is used as a proxy for US individual investor sentiment. The US market fundamentals are regressed on investor sentiment in order to capture the effect of macroeconomic risk factors on investor sentiment. Then impulse response functions (IRFs) are generated from a VAR model to investigate the effect of unanticipated movements in US investor sentiment on both industry‐specific stock return and volatility.Findings – The results show a significant impact of investor sentiment on stock return and volatility in all the industries. We find that the positive rational component of US individual investor sentiment tends to increase the stock return in these industries. We also document that unanticipated increase in the rational component of US individ.
A Metal-Free Regioselective Multicomponent Approach for the Synthesis of Free Radical Scavenging Pyrimido-Fused Indazoles and Their Fluorescence Studies

This study deals with a new and efficient metal-free regioselective synthesis of pyrimido-fused indazoles with nitrogen ring junction motifs. We have developed a metal-free domino type reaction between 3-aminoindazole, aryl aldehydes and aceotophenones in the presence of KOH/DMF that leads to pyrimido[1,2-b]indazole analogues. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) coupled with a Box-Behnken design (BBD) were utilized for exploring the effect of base used (A), temperature of reaction (B) and (C), reaction time. This approach can allow access to a variety of pyrimidoindazole fluorophores and related compounds. The compound N,N-dimethyl-4-(2-phenylpyrimido[1,2-b]indazol-4-yl)aniline (4e) displays the maximum fluorescence intensity at 518 nm and shows a fluorescence quantum yield of 0.068. The synthesized pyramido-fused indazoles have been evaluated for their free radical scavenging activity and compound 4f showed good antioxidant activity.
The Political Participation Puzzle and Marketing

This study shows that one of the most intriguing findings on political participation—that the participation rate is higher in close elections—is due to the omission of variables, namely, the marketing activities. This relationship between closeness and participation is intriguing because (1) it implies that people participate in elections because their vote might be decisive, but (2) such an incentive to vote is unreasonable. This study presents a theoretical model that suggests that closeness does not affect the turnout rate directly but rather through the marketing activities of the parties. In other words, in equilibrium, close elections attract higher marketing spending, which in turn increases turnout. The author uses data on the 1996–2004 presidential elections in the United States to examine the model and its implications. Using structural (and nonstructural) estimation, the author finds that the data support the model and its implications. Furthermore, the effect of marketing on turnout is dramatic. For example, if the marketing activity were canceled in the 2004 elections, the number of voters would have decreased by 15 million.
Impact of aerosol–meteorology interactions on fine particle pollution during China’s severe haze episode in January 2013

In January 2013, a severe regional haze occurred over the North China Plain. An online-coupled meteorology-chemistry model was employed to simulate the impacts of aerosol–meteorology interactions on fine particles (PM2.5) pollution during this haze episode. The response of PM2.5 to meteorology change constituted a feedback loop whereby planetary boundary layer (PBL) dynamics amplified the initial perturbation of PM2.5. High PM2.5 concentrations caused a decrease of surface solar radiation. The maximal decrease in daily average solar radiation reached 53% in Beijing, thereby leading to a more stable PBL. The peak PBL height in Beijing decreased from 690 m to 590 m when the aerosol extinction was considered. Enhanced PBL stability suppressed the dispersion of air pollutants, and resulted in higher PM2.5 concentrations. The maximal increase of PM2.5 concentrations reached 140 μg m−3 in Beijing. During most PM2.5 episodes, primary and secondary particles increased simultaneously. These results imply that the aerosol–radiation interactions played an important role in the haze episode in January 2013.
MP Transparency, Communication Links and Social Media: A Comparative Assessment of 184 Parliamentary Websites

Parliamentary websites (PWs) can potentially enhance the quality of government by providing information and communication links that stimulate political awareness, deliberation and participation. This article focuses on two particular uses of PWs that can facilitate communication between constituents and their Members of Parliament: provision of MP contact and background information; and links to social media. Through a seminal empirical examination of all 184 functioning lower house and unicameral PWs around the world, this study found that although PWs in wealthy democracies generally provide more MP information, the majority of PWs are deficient in providing basic MP information to citizens and utilizing linkages to social media. By contrast, some non-democratic states and newly democratized countries, especially those with compulsory voting, display a relatively high level of MP transparency and social media connectivity.
Political Promotion, Ceo Compensation, and Their Effect on Firm Performance

We investigate the impact of CEO’s compensation-based and promotion-based incentives on firm performance in China, where the CEOs of most state-owned enterprises are government appointed and thus face dual incentives. We find that both monetary and political incentives are positively related to firm performance. More important, we pinpoint a substitution effect: the monetary compensation-based incentive is weaker when CEO incentives are heavily driven by political career concerns. Overall, the evidence suggests that, via a competitive arena in the external political job market, promotion helps mitigate weak incentives for CEOs in China. State control or political connection is not necessarily inconsistent with good economic incentives.
The South African Vascular Surgical Cardiac Risk Index (SAVS-CRI): a prospective observational study.

BACKGROUND Recent evidence suggests that application of the Revised Cardiac Risk Index (RCRI) for peri-operative cardiovascular risk stratification in vascular surgery patients may be inappropriate, necessitating the development of risk indices specific to vascular surgery patients. OBJECTIVES To identify risk factors for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in South African patients undergoing major vascular surgery, and to develop an appropriate cardiovascular risk stratification index, the South African Vascular Surgical Cardiac Risk Index (SAVS-CRI), which could be used to predict the risk of peri-operative major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in South African vascular surgery patients. METHODS We prospectively collected data related to peri-operative MACE occurrence and established risk factors for peri-operative MACEs from adult patients who underwent elective vascular surgery at a tertiary hospital in Durban, South Africa, between February 2008 and March 2011. We determined independent predictors of peri-operative MACEs in our cohort by binary logistic regression and used the identified predictors to create a risk index that stratified patients into low-, intermediate- or high-risk groups. RESULTS Six independent predictors of peri-operative MACEs were identified in the vascular surgery cohort: age >65 years, a history of ischaemic heart disease, a history of diabetes, chronic β-blockade, prior coronary revascularisation, and the vascular surgical procedure. The risk model derived from these risk factors appeared to discriminate between the three risk groups more accurately than the RCRI. CONCLUSION The RCRI is not appropriate for peri-operative cardiovascular risk stratification in vascular surgery patients. The SAVS-CRI may be preferable for risk stratification in South African vascular surgery patients, although independent validation is required.
Individual and country-level factors affecting support for foreign aid

The determinants of public opinion on foreign aid in donor countries have received little attention. This paper examines support for foreign aid with a large, multi-level, cross-national study. Hypotheses are tested with multi-level models, including both individual-level and country-level variables, to predict positive attitudes. Two datasets are used to measure attitudes in donor countries: (1) the 1995 World Values Survey, which has information from approximately 6,000 individuals in nine countries and asks a rich battery of questions at the individual level; (2) the 2002 Gallup Voice of the People survey, asks fewer questions of individuals but contains 17 donor countries. Using both surveys combines their distinct strengths and allows tests of individual- and national-level theories across disparate samples. Results generally support the predictions that attitudes toward aid are influenced by religiosity, beliefs about the causes of poverty, awareness of international affairs, and trust in people and institutions.
Service recovery, satisfaction and behaviour intentions: analysis of compensation and social comparison communication strategies

In the marketing literature, there is a great interest in learning how companies should behave after a service failure. From this perspective, different service recovery strategies have been proposed. This experimental study of the airline industry deals with this topic, indicating the benefits of carrying out, after a service failure, a financial compensation and/or an explanation based on social comparison. The results indicate when financial compensation and social comparison increase satisfaction and when they have a positive impact on different behaviour intentions (repurchase intentions, positive or negative word of mouth communication, and complaints to the company and/or third parties). There predictions on the effects of the service recovery strategies are developed on the basis of failure stability and the emotions (anger) brought on by it.
Genetic and nongenetic determinants of skeletal muscle glucose transporter 4 messenger ribonucleic acid levels and insulin action in twins.

CONTEXT Insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in skeletal muscle is mediated through translocation of the insulin-sensitive glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4)-containing vesicles to the plasma membrane. Thus, skeletal muscle GLUT4 content plays an important role in whole-body insulin sensitivity. OBJECTIVES The objectives of this study were 1) to examine the relative impact of genetic vs. environmental factors on skeletal muscle GLUT4 mRNA expression using biometric modeling, and 2) to identify factors influencing the expression of GLUT4 and insulin-stimulated whole-body metabolism. DESIGN We measured GLUT4 mRNA expression in biopsies from young and elderly monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twins before and during a 2-h hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp including 3-(3)H-tritiated glucose and indirect calorimetry. PARTICIPANTS A random sample of young (22-31 yr; n = 89) and elderly (57-66 yr; n = 69) same sex MZ and DZ twin pairs identified through the Danish Twin Register were studied. RESULTS We found a major genetic component in the control of basal and insulin-stimulated GLUT4 mRNA expression in young and elderly twins. GLUT4 gene expression increased upon insulin stimulation in both young and elderly twins. Multiple regression analysis revealed that both basal and insulin-stimulated GLUT4 mRNA expressions were positively related to birth weight and total body aerobic capacity and were higher in MZ vs. DZ twins as well as in males vs. females. Both basal and insulin-stimulated expressions of GLUT4 were independently and significantly related to whole-body in vivo insulin action, nonoxidative glucose metabolism, and glucose oxidation. CONCLUSION We show that skeletal muscle GLUT4 gene expression in twins is significantly and independently related to glucose metabolism and is determined by both genetic and nongenetic factors, including zygosity and birth weight.
Climate change disclosures: An examination of Canadian oil and gas firms

The purpose of this paper is to examine: (1) to what extent Canadian oil and gas firms have adhered to the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountant proposed guidelines respecting climate change disclosures in their annual reports, and (2) whether the disclosures of these firms can be influenced by their media visibility, the presence and operating characteristics of an environmental committee within the board of directors, their ownership structure, their audit firms, their political exposure and media visibility. The results show that the level of disclosure is very low; however, when the board of directors has an environment committee, the level of disclosure is higher. This is also the case for firms having significant political exposure and strong media visibility, and for those with a widely held ownership structure. Whether or not the audit firm is one of the Big Four, does not make any difference in the level of disclosure.
Empowerment: the key to quality

Discusses attributes of leadership that are necessary in a quality organization. Defines empowerment as a philosophy, an attitude and a way of thinking that supports the quality process. Quality is depicted as a synergetic teamwork philosophy, a group process, and a can‐do attitude that must be embraced by the organization. Clarifies the development of a quality process system and the formation of quality principles as they relate to empowerment. Explains empowerment and the manner in which it differs from the traditional power and control concept of management. Depicts delegating and accepting responsibility as a behavior that promotes and supports leadership. Provides guidance, techniques, and examples that can be used to enhance leadership and teambuilding skills. Establishes a philosophy to increase the probability for long‐term success and professional fulfillment. Includes quotes from contemporary as well as historical leaders.
Inhibition of calcium uptake during hypoxia in developing zebrafish is mediated by hypoxia-inducible factor

ABSTRACT The present study investigated the potential role of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) in calcium homeostasis in developing zebrafish (Danio rerio). It was demonstrated that zebrafish raised in hypoxic water (30 mmHg; control, 155 mmHg PO2) until 4 days post-fertilization exhibited a substantial reduction in whole-body Ca2+ levels and Ca2+ uptake. Ca2+ uptake in hypoxia-treated fish did not return to pre-hypoxia (control) levels within 2 h of transfer back to normoxic water. Results from real-time PCR showed that hypoxia decreased the whole-body mRNA expression levels of the epithelial Ca2+ channel (ecac), but not plasma membrane Ca2+-ATPase (pmca2) or Na+/Ca2+-exchanger (ncx1b). Whole-mount in situ hybridization revealed that the number of ecac-expressing ionocytes was reduced in fish raised in hypoxic water. These findings suggested that hypoxic treatment suppressed the expression of ecac, thereby reducing Ca2+ influx. To further evaluate the potential mechanisms for the effects of hypoxia on Ca2+ regulation, a functional gene knockdown approach was employed to prevent the expression of HIF-1αb during hypoxic treatment. Consistent with a role for HIF-1αb in regulating Ca2+ balance during hypoxia, the results demonstrated that the reduction of Ca2+ uptake associated with hypoxic exposure was not observed in fish experiencing HIF-1αb knockdown. Additionally, the effects of hypoxia on reducing the number of ecac-expressing ionocytes was less pronounced in HIF-1αb-deficient fish. Overall, the current study revealed that hypoxic exposure inhibited Ca2+ uptake in developing zebrafish, probably owing to HIF-1αb-mediated suppression of ecac expression. Summary: Larval zebrafish raised in hypoxic water exhibit reduced Ca2+ uptake through a reduction in the number of ecac-expressing ionocytes, and these effects are probably associated with the activation of HIF-1αb during hypoxia.