Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Modeling Both the Space and Place of Coastal Environments: Exploring an Approach for Developing Realistic Geovisualizations of Coastal Places

Effective coastal planning incorporates the variety of user needs, values, and interests associated with coastal environments. This requires understanding how people relate to coastal environments as ‘places’, imbued with values and meanings, and accordingly, tools that can capture place and connect with people’s ‘sense of place’ have the potential for supporting effective coastal management strategies. Realistic, immersive geographical visualizations, i.e., geovisualizations, theoretically hold potential to serve such a role in coastal planning; however, significant research gaps exist around this application context. Firstly, place theory and geovisualizations are rarely explicitly linked in the same studies, leaving questions around how to model ‘coastal place', as well as coastal space. Secondly, geovisualization work has focused on terrestrial environments, and research on how to realistically model coastal places is currently in its infancy. The current study addresses the research gaps by developing a coastal geovisualization under place-based considerations, and then examining its capacity as a tool for connecting with people’s sense of place. The research uses Sidney Spit in the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve (BC, Canada) as a study site, and a geovisualization was developed using a combination of ArcGIS, Adobe Photoshop, Trimble SketchUp, and Unity3D. Focus groups were assembled involving Parks Canada staff and Greater Victoria Area residents, and the geovisualization was assessed in terms of its representation of a real-world coastal place and ability for connecting with sense of place. Findings from the study indicate that the presence certain elements in coastal geovisualizations can contribute to realism and sense of place, such as people, dogs, birds, marine life, vegetation, and boats; however, simultaneously, deficiencies in numbers and varieties of these elements can detract from realism and sense of place. In addition, incorporation of soundscape and viewshed elements both demonstrated as significant to the tool’s ability to connect with sense of place, with the latter potentially being more significant among those with higher familiarity with the real-world place. Beach textures were also found to be important for the geovisualization’s ability to connect with sense of place; however, this ability can be compromised when running versions of the tool with lower graphical resolution.
Relationship between quality certification and financial & non-financial performance of organizations

At present, many countries have either embraced ISO9001 or used it as the basis of their national quality certification systems. However, few studies have been conducted to examine the benefits companies’ gain from achieving and implementing ISO9001 standards (Chikuku et al. 2012; Psomas et al. 2013; Sampaio et al. 2011a,b). Analysis has brought much more confused and uneven results across the countries. Turning to the experience of Malaysia, this country has witnessed a spectacular growth at an average rate of 9.89% per annum of ISO certificates issued to companies operating within its borders (ISO Survey 2012). While many companies rush to be ISO 9001 certified whether this brings about better benefits (both the financial and the non-financial) is still an open question. In this study, the research problems were first formulated from the literature and then a questionnaire survey was conducted to test the hypotheses. A survey was administered to chief executives officers and managers across manufacturing and service organizations in Malaysia. Multivariate analysis and SPSS macro developed by Preacher and Hayes were used as statistical techniques to the financial and non-financial benefits of ISO9001 certification. The survey instrument was a two-page questionnaire comprising three sections. The first section of the questionnaire covered the company’s profile. The second section consisted of 25 items on internal benefits and third section consisted of 7 items on external benefits measured on 1–5 Likert scale to assess the benefits of ISO9001 certification. Total 201 valid responses were received. Results of the study indicate that there was no significant direct relationship between ISO9001 certification and organizational financial performance, while strong statistical evidence was found to support the direct relationship between ISO9001 certification and non-financial performance. The findings of the study discovered that financial performance is actually directly related to two non-financial measures, namely quality performance and local and international business performance, which are directly and significantly influenced by ISO9001 certification. Therefore non-financial performance measures are involved in the mediational process. The findings will assist practitioners in taking right courses of action that make the implementation of this standard more effective. For example, the study findings study suggests that companies should put emphasize on nonfinancial factors to improve their financial performance.
Effects of university research on the geography of innovation

Del Barrio-Castro T. and García-Quevedo J. (2005) Effects of university research on the geography of innovation, Regional Studies 39 , 1217–1229. Applied studies on the relationship between geography and technological innovation for the USA, Germany, France and Italy have shown the positive effects that academic research exerts on the innovative output of firms at a spatial level. The purpose of this paper is to look for new evidence on the possible effects of university research for the case of Spanish regions. Within the framework of a Griliches–Jaffe knowledge production function, and using panel data and count models, the relationship between innovative inputs and patents is explored. The results show that university research exerts a positive influence on the regional distribution of private innovation of high-technological content.
Migration and Development in Transition Economies of Southeastern Europe

This paper introduces an issue of Eastern European Economics on migration in Kosovo and Albania. It consists of four main parts. In the first two, we sketch the background to the large-scale emigration flows: from Kosovo since the 1960s, and from Albania since 1990. We also note the equally large-scale internal migration within Albania since 1990. Next, we highlight the key findings of the three papers that compose this special issue, noting how they both support and challenge conventional wisdom on the economic rationales for migration. Finally, we make some general and speculative observations about current and future migration trends in the Kosovo-Albania region.
Evaluation of the effectiveness and compliance of intermittent preventive treatment (IPT) in the control of malaria in pregnant women in south eastern Nigeria

Abstract Controlling malaria in pregnancy has been an important component of the millennium development goal and intermittent preventive treatment (IPT) is considered an important tool in controlling malaria among pregnant women. In this study, we evaluated the level of compliance to IPT use as well as its effect on malaria infection among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in south eastern Nigeria. Peripheral blood smears and placental histology were used as diagnostic tools to determine infection rate. Our data show that compliance to IPT use was poor (33%) when compared with non-compliance (67%). Infection rate was significantly lower among IPT users (39%) than in non-users (71%) (X2 = 39·95; P<0·05). Maternal anaemia was also lower in IPT users (4%) than in non-users (18%). Taken together, IPT use appears to be important in reducing infection rate and maternal anaemia. Therefore, its adoption is highly recommended and this could be improved through public enlightenment campaign and adequate funding.
European Union immigration policy: Phantom, fantasy or fact?

Moves to complete the single European market by 1993 together with worldwide migratory pressures have forced immigration onto the European Union's political agenda. Intergovernmental co‐operation has been the preferred, but disputed method by which member states are developing a more co‐ordinated immigration and border control policy. The EC institutions have become involved despite attempts by national governments to protect sovereignty and to promote subsidiarity. The Maastricht Treaty negotiations highlighted divisions between member states and policy development has been slow. Despite introducing more restrictive immigration controls, EU states have already become countries of immigration but have yet to acknowledge this.
Local Labour Market Areas in Spain: A Case Study

CASADO-DÍAZ J. M. (2000) Local Labour Market Areas in Spain: a case study, Reg. Studies 34, 843-856. This paper presents the results of a regionalization exercise carried out in Spain following the methodology used to define Travel-to-Work Areas (TTWAs) in the UK. These areas are defined so that most jobs are filled by residents of that area and most of the resident working population work in the area. For the regionalization a set of commuting data derived from the 1991 Census of Population for the region of Valencia has been used. Due to missing data for some regions it is not possible to conduct a regionalization covering the whole of Spain. Regionalizations have been produced not only for the aggregate population but also for the different sub-groups into which the employed population has been divided in the Census, according to gender, occupation and industry. CASADO-DÍAZ J. M. (2000) Les bassins d'emplois locaux en Espagne: une étude de cas, Reg. Studies 34, 843-856. Cet article cherche à présenter les résultats provenant d'une étude de régionalisation menée en Espagne qui poursuit la méthodologie employée au Royaume-Uni afin de délimiter les zones au sein desquelles se font les déplacements pour aller au travail. Ces zones-là sont délimitées de sorte que les habitants locaux occupent la plupart des emplois et que la majorité de la population active occupée locale travaillent au sein de la zone. Quant à la régionalisation, on a employé un ensemble de données relatives aux migrations quotidiennes qui provient du recensement de la population 1991 pour la région de Valence. Vu la non-disponibilité de données pour certaines régions, il s'avère impossible d'effectuer une régionalisation qui couvre toute l'Espagne. On a fait des régionalisations non seulement de la population globale, mais aussi des sous-groupes employés dans le recensement pour catégoriser la population active en fonction du genre, de l'emploi et de l'industrie. CASADO-DÍAZ J. M. (2000) Gebiete örtlicher Arbeitsmärkte in Spanien: eine Fallstudie, Reg Studies 34, 843-856. Dieser Aufsatz stellt die Ergebnisse eines Regionalisierungsverfahrens vor, die in Spanien in Anlehnung an die im Vereinigten Königreich von Großbritannien benutzte Methodik zur Bestimmung der Arbeitweggebiete (Travel-to-Work Areas=TTWAs) verwendet wurde. Die Definition dieser Gebiete erfolgt auf der Grundlage von Arbeitsplätzen, die größenteils an im Gebiete ansässige Einwohner vergeben werden, and der ansässigen, erwerbstätigen Bevölkerung, die größenteils in diesem Gebiete arbeitet. Zur Regionalisierung wurde eine Serie Pendlerdaten herangezogen, die der Volkszählung vom Jahre 1991 in Gebiet von Valencia entnommen wurden. Mangels fehlender Daten für einige Gebiete war es nicht möglich, eine Regionaliseriung ganz Spaniens durchzuführen. Regionalisierungen sind nicht nur für Gesamtbevölkerungen, sondern auch für verschiedene Unterabteilungen, welche die Volkszählung bei der erwerbstätigen Bevölkerung berücksichtigte, nach Geschlecht, Berufstätigkeit und Industrie durchgeführt worden.
Youth Unemployment, Terrorism and Political Violence, Evidence from the Israeli/Palestinian Conflict

Abstract This paper analyzes the relationship between youth unemployment and Palestinian violence. First a qualitative explanation of the underlying mechanism is given. Eventually, empirical results suggest that there is a positive association between the growth rate of youth unemployment and the brutality and incidence of violence, proxied by the numbers of victims, and incidents. Results also show that: (i) there is a negative association between the added value in the agricultural sector and both measures of violence; (ii) there is a positive association between the share of employment in agriculture and violence; (iii) there is a negative association between manufacturing added value and brutality of incidents. Results also suggest that male youth unemployment rather than female unemployment helps to explain Palestinian violence.
Targeting CD44 in mast cell regulation

Importance of the field: Accumulating evidence suggests that mast cells are involved in a wide variety of immune responses including chronic inflammation, immune tolerance and tumor immunity. Mast cells originate from hematopoietic stem cells and undergo terminal differentiation in the tissues, in which they are ultimately resident. Heterogeneity of tissue mast cells is, therefore, one of the key concepts for a better understanding of various immune responses. Areas covered in this review: This review describes the candidate genes involved in regulation of cutaneous mast cell differentiation, with a particular attention to CD44, which is the primary receptor for hyaluronan. What the reader will gain: CD44 is involved in various aspects of cutaneous inflammation. Regarding mast cells, CD44 is upregulated upon differentiation and maturation of mast cells, and plays a critical role in regulation of cutaneous mast cell number. Since both degradation and decrease of hyaluronan are often observed upon chronic inflammation, CD44 might be involved in modulation of local immune responses through regulation of cutaneous mast cell functions. Take home message: Understanding of cutaneous immune responses should require clarification of local mast cell functions, a part of which is regulated by extracellular matrix components and their membrane receptors.
An Estimation of Residential Water Demand Using Co-Integration and Error Correction Techniques

In this paper short- and long-run price elasticities of residential water demand are estimated using co-integration and error-correction methods. Unit root tests reveal that water use series and series of other variables affecting use are non-stationary. However, a long-run co-integrating relationship is found in the water demand model, which makes it possible to obtain a partial correction term and to estimate an error correction model. Using monthly time-series observations from Seville, Spain, we find that the price-elasticity of demand is estimated as around -0.1 in the short run and -0.5 in the long run. These results are robust to the use of different specifications.
The Influence of Takeover Protection on Earnings Management

We examine the relationship between takeover protection and earnings management. Existing theories suggest two contradictory effects of takeover protection on opportunistic earnings management: entrenchment theory suggests an exacerbating effect, whereas both alignment theory and quiet life theory posit a mitigating effect. We find that takeover protection is associated with lower levels of abnormal working capital accruals, lower levels of performance-adjusted abnormal accruals and timelier recognition of losses. Further tests show that takeover protection is associated with lower firm value, which contradicts alignment theory but supports quiet life theory. The results suggest that takeover protection allows managers to enjoy the quiet life and thus mitigates earnings management. Copyright (c) 2008 The Authors Journal compilation (c) 2008 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Identification of a Pheromone Component and a Critical Synergist for the Invasive Beetle Callidiellum rufipenne (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

Abstract The invasive Asian cerambycid beetle Callidiellum rufipenne (Motschulsky), informally known as the Japanese cedar longhorned beetle, was first detected in North America in North Carolina in 1997. The beetle has since been detected in neighboring states and is expected to further expand its range. However, delineating the current distribution of C. rufipenne has been hindered by the lack of efficient sampling methods. Here, we present the results of research on the chemistry of volatile pheromones of C. rufipenne. Analyses of headspace odors revealed that males produce (R)-3-hydroxyhexan-2-one, with lesser amounts of (S)-3-hydroxyhexan-2-one, and (R)- and (S)-2-hydroxyhexan-3-one. In field bioassays conducted over several years in Connecticut, where populations of the beetle were well established, no reconstructed blend of these compounds was significantly attractive to beetles of either sex. However, during field trials in Japan that targeted another species, we discovered that adult male and female C. rufipenne were attracted to a blend of racemic 3-hydroxyhexan-2-one and a novel natural product, 1-(1H-pyrrol-2-yl)-1,2-propanedione. Attraction to (R)-3-hydroxyhexan-2-one and the pyrrole subsequently was confirmed in field trials in Connecticut. Although it is unclear why the pyrrole acts as a synergist for a species that apparently does not produce it, the serendipitous discovery that adult C. rufipenne are attracted by the blend of ketone and pyrrole provides a badly needed method for monitoring its ongoing range expansion within North America, and for detecting new introductions in other parts of the world.
Inequality, Market Imperfections, and Collective Action Problems

In this paper we analyze the effects of wealth inequality on the provision of public goods and management of common-property resources (CPR) when there are market imperfections in inputs that are complementary in production to the collective good. We show that for public goods inequality impedes efficiency, while for use of CPRs there is an inverse U-shaped relationship between inequality and efficiency. We discuss the implications of these theoretical results for redistributive policies such as land reform.
Is There a Market for Virtue?: The Business Case for Corporate Social Responsibility

The business case for corporate social responsibility has become increasingly influential. It is the central message of most books on CSR, it is widely believed by executives and many business students, and it underlies the business model of socially responsible investment funds. It is attractive to many CSR advocates, since if CSR "pays," then the profit motive will drive corporations to act increasingly responsibly. However, the business case for CSR is weak. The results of studies that seek to correlate social and financial performance are inconclusive: socially responsible investment funds perform no better than non-socially screened funds and many relatively responsible companies have not been financially successful.
Explaining the Pattern of Secured Credit

Granting collateral to secure loans is a prominent feature of the U.S. economy, but, surprisingly, we do not understand how borrowers and lenders decide whether to engage in a secured or an unsecured transaction. In this Article, Professor Mann argues that existing theories of secured lending are inadequate because the theories' predictions have not been tested against empirical data. To understand the actual pattern of secured credit, Professor Mann interviewed more than twenty borrowers and lenders in various sectors of the economy. Based on the evidence gathered in these interviews, as well as on preexisting empirical studies, this Article develops a model of the borrower's decision to grant collateral that focuses on the borrower's perceptions of the costs and benefits of secured and unsecured transactions. Granting collateral lowers the aggregate costs of a lending transaction by lowering the pre-loan perception of the risk of default. Secured credit can do this not only by increasing the lender's ability to collect the debt forcibly through liquidation of the collateral, but also in less direct ways: by decreasing the borrower's ability to obtain subsequent loans; by increasing the lender's leverage over the borrower's activities; and by repairing the loan-induced differentiation of the incentives of the borrower and the lender. Conversely, a grant of collateral can increase the costs of a lending transaction by increasing the costs of entering the transaction as well as the costs of administering the loan. In the Article's final section, Professor Mann uses the decision-based model to explain three separate aspects of the pattern of secured credit: the relatively infrequent use of secured credit by companies with strong financial records, the relation between the use of collateral and the duration of the debt, and the apparently low rate of retention of security interests by suppliers.
Globalization and Implementation of an Equity Norm in Higher Education: Admission Processes and Funding Framework Under Scrutiny

Most of today's societies are confronted with an increasing necessity to legitimate the organization of their access to higher education. Commonly used as a yardstick to compare societies, the level of access to higher education is often presented as an indicator of the level of development and the capacity to produce knowledge, as well as a workforce adapted to the economic and social development. But increasingly, the issue is shifting from the outputs of general access to higher education to the specific institutions from which students gain admission. This raises the question of the fairness of higher education systems, their ability not to duplicate society but to produce social mobility, at least in the students' influx to and within the higher education sector.
Prognostic impact of CD133 expression in gastric carcinoma.

BACKGROUND AND AIM CD133 expression in cancer cells has been recognised as a putative cancer stem cell (CSC) marker in epithelial malignancies. CD133 expression was evaluated in gastric cancer and the clinical impact of CD133-positive gastric cancer was clarified. PATIENTS AND METHODS Ninety-seven gastric cancer patients who received curative gastrectomy were enrolled. CD133 expression in cancerous tissue was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS CD133 expression positively correlated with tumour extension and the degree of nodal involvement. CD133 expression significantly affected patient postoperative outcome. Multivariate analysis revealed CD133 positivity as an independent prognostic factor superior to the depth of invasion and similar to nodal involvement in gastric cancer (p<0.05). CONCLUSION Even slight CD133 expression in gastric cancer patients may be a useful prognostic marker via CSC. Further examination of CD133 with respect to CSC markers can enable prediction of the recurrence risk of gastric cancer.
Impact of organizational learning and knowledge management factors on e‐business adoption

Purpose – To examine the impact of organizational learning factors (training available, technical expertise, and knowledge level) and knowledge management processes (knowledge acquisition, knowledge application, and knowledge sharing) on e‐business systems adoption level.Design/methodology/approach – The data from a survey of 202 IS executives in Taiwan were used empirically to test the proposed research model. Moreover, confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to examine the reliability and validity of the measurement model, and the structural equation modelling technique was used to evaluate the research model.Findings – The analytical results showed that organizational learning factors and knowledge management processes are closely related to the level of e‐business systems adoption. However, knowledge sharing did not significantly affect e‐business systems adoption level.Research limitations/implications – Future studies could seek an enhanced understanding of the impacts on the level of e‐business .