Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Deconstructing policy-making and implementation issues in a caribbean context

Contemporary policy-making and implementation processes in the Caribbean reflect a confluence of issues that originate in two juxtaposing forces: policy and institutional transfer and policy and institutional resilience. The policy process is confounded further by theoretical and conceptual offerings that often do not either comprehend the essence of the policy problems or necessarily keep pace with adaptive strategies. In this paper we explore some of the pertinent themes of the policy process within the analytic frame of policy transfer, arguing that the transformative agenda, though imbued with progressive ideas, institutions and policy guidelines is constrained by structural and ideational conditions that engender tendencies towards disequilibria in the policy space. The dis equilibria become comprehensible only when investigated against the backdrop of uncertainty, vulnerability and risks that characterise the policy environments in these jurisdictions. The paper concludes with an essay of what we consider to be critical pre-conditions for achieving optimal policy results. Development of electoral and party systems in industrial societies provides the backdrop to the emergence of policy discourse as the primary medium through which politicians engage with the electorate. Seen as a 'stock of principles/ that brands the govern ment machinery, the 'policy' or 'platform' provides the basis on which the politician derives legitimate authority, making 'policy' the critical element in the democratic exchange. Policy-making is therefore, not merely a tool of political rationality but signals that social problems are soluble. By extension the existence of a 'policy' conveys 'a claim to an understanding of a problem and a solution'
The Views of Head Teachers and Teachers on Attendance Issues in Primary Schools

1 The level of attendance for primary schools was about the same as the previous year at 94.2 per cent (para. 84). 2 Attendance in secondary schools had improved slightly, with total absences of 8.3 per cent compared with 8.7 per cent in 2001/02 (para. 116). 3 Unauthorised absence rates averaged fifteen days per pupil (para. 116). 4 Procedures for monitoring and improving attendance are better than they were in secondary schools, but remain unsatisfactory in one school in twelve, often despite the best efforts of many schools. The Chief Inspector believes that a minority of parents, often with poor experience of education and low expectations of their children, do not do enough to ensure that their children attend school regularly or to support the school in taking action on truancy (OfStEd, 2004a, para. 159).
Spontaneous healing of various tympanic membrane perforations in the rat

Objectives—To investigate the spontaneous healing process of various types of perforation and the location of the epithelial generation center in the tympanic membrane of rats. Material and methods—Various types of perforation were made in the ears of 50 rats and the healing process was observed using light and electron microscopy. Results—Epithelia hyperplasia could not be seen at the edge of the perforations, but occurred in the annulus and handle of malleus regions during the early stage of healing. There was no correlation between the healing time and the size of the perforations. When one ear was perforated, no changes were observed in the intact ear on the other side. The epithelium did not migrate into the tympanic cavity in the posterior marginal perforations. All the perforations healed, although the manubria of the malleus were damaged. Conclusions—The perforations healed by means of epithelial migration. The epithelial generation center was located near the annulus and the handle of the malleus, and therefore protection of these two regions is very important in middle ear surgery.
Biomechanical evaluation of 2 insertion points for ventral screw fixation of C-2 dens fractures.

OBJECT For many type II fractures of the dens (Anderson and D'Alonzo classification), a double anterior screw fixation is performed. If screw disruption occurs, the location is most often at the anterior caudal endplate and body of the axis and not directly at the fracture line. The authors' objective was to determine the differences in primary mechanical stability at 2 insertion points used in ventral screw fixation of type II fractures of the C-2 dens. METHODS Screw fixation was performed on 16 formalin-fixed human C-2 dens specimens. The specimens were divided into 2 groups. For group 1, the screws were inserted directly at the anterior lower endplates; for group 2, the screws were inserted 2 mm dorsal to the anterior wall of the vertebral body. After a type II odontoid fracture was created with an oscillating saw, screw fixation was performed using two 3.5-mm partially threaded lag screws with washers. Subsequently, each vertebral body was continuously loaded. The criterion for breakage was reversal of the force vector. RESULTS In group 1, screw disruption occurred at the point of entry; the mean load failure was 290.5 ± 106 N. In group 2, no screw disruption occurred; the mean load failure was 574.2 ± 170.5 N. These results were significant (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS For double screw fixation of type II fractures of the dens (Anderson and D'Alonzo classification), placement of the screws as far dorsal to the anterior lower endplate as possible seems to favorably affect primary stability. In actual clinical practice, care should be taken to not damage the anterior wall of the vertebral body of the axis during screw insertion.
The Role of Investment, Financing and Dividend Decisions in Explaining Corporate Ownership Structure: Empirical Evidence from Spain

This paper analyses the determinants of ownership structure by focusing on the role played by investment, financing and dividend decisions. The use of the Generalised Method of Moments allows us to provide new evidence on this important corporate governance topic, since it controls for the endogeneity problem. Our most relevant findings show that: i) increases in debt lead insiders to limit the risk they bear by reducing their holdings; ii) monitoring by large outside owners substitutes for the disciplinary role of debt; and iii) both inside and outside owners are encouraged to increase their stakes in the firm in view of higher dividends. Our results hold after controlling for equity issues and share repurchases.
Does the framing of climate policies make a difference to public support? Evidence from UK marginal constituencies

Public support for climate policies is essential to underpin their credibility, but evidence suggests that an environmental basis for that support is not strong. It has been suggested that framing climate policies in other terms, such as energy security or job creation, will build a more sustainable political basis for bold climate policies. This approach is explored using data from a survey in 157 UK marginal constituencies. Framing does make a difference to support for the expansion of renewable energy, but not to support for policies on energy efficiency and financial assistance to developing countries. The data also show key differences in levels of support for policies between different socio-demographic and voter groups.
The characteristics of real estate assets management practice in the Malaysian Federal Government

Purpose – The management of public real estate assets by government agencies has been in place for many years as government agencies own their real estate assets in order to provide services to their communities. The management process becomes progressively complex and difficult because real estate ownership by agencies increases in amount, value and diversity over time. The purpose of this paper is to explore the current characteristics of the real estate management practice that is being implemented by the Malaysian Government agencies.Design/methodology/approach – A qualitative approach has been used for this study where the data were collected through the use of interviews. The respondents to the study were government officers who execute real estate management functions within the ministries. The collected data were subsequently analyzed through the framework analysis method.Findings – The results have shown that eight characteristics can be used to illustrate how the government's real estate assets .
Can health-related quality of life predict survival in adults with cystic fibrosis?

RATIONALE Advances in the management of cystic fibrosis have led to a significant improvement in survival, although marked differences between individuals are still observed. The value of patient-reported health-related quality of life scores in predicting survival in adults with cystic fibrosis is unknown. OBJECTIVES To evaluate whether patient-reported health-related quality of life could predict survival in cystic fibrosis. METHODS From 1996 to 1997 a consecutive series of 223 patients were recruited to evaluate the Cystic Fibrosis Quality of Life Questionnaire. Demographic (age, sex), clinical (FEV(1)% predicted, body mass index, diabetes, B. Cepacia complex, intravenous access device, nutritional and lung transplant status) and health-related quality of life variables were recorded (Cystic Fibrosis Quality of Life Questionnaire and the SF-36). These data were used as baseline measures to explore the prognostic association of health-related quality of life and subsequent survival. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS At the census date (December 31, 2006) 154 (69.1%) adults were alive, 66 (29.6%) had died, and three (1.3%) were lost to follow-up. Cox proportional hazards models and bootstrapping procedures examined if health-related quality of life domains predicted survival after adjusting for the demographic and clinical factors. The physical functioning domain of the Cystic Fibrosis Quality of Life Questionnaire and the pain domain of the Short Form-36 had the strongest statistical associations with survival. CONCLUSIONS Aspects of patient-reported quality of life serve as prognostic measures of survival beyond a number of previously known factors in cystic fibrosis. This needs to be investigated further in a larger longitudinal study.
An Innovation for Stable Real Retirement Income*

I n no area of financial planning is the problem created by inflation more acute than in providing for retirement income. The essence of the problem is that a household's needs are defined in terms of real goods and services, while conventionalprivate pension plans and contractual savings schemes offer a money-fixed stream of benefits. Although the problem is mitigated in the U.S. by Social Security provisions for a cost-of-living adjustment to retirement benefits, Social Security benefits for most households only provide a "floor" that must be supplemented at least in part with income from other retirement plans. It is no wonder, therefore, that labor unions have started to include a demand for cost-of-living escalators in pension benefits in their recent contract negotiations. In an inflationary environment, conventional money-fixed pensions and contractual savings plans are risky both as vehicles for accumulating savings and as sources of retirement benefits. This was one of the considerations that led to the development of equitybased variable annuities (VA's) in the 1950's. At that time, many experts believed that common stocks could provide a hedge against inflation, in the sense that stock prices would on average increase at at least the'same rate as the prices of consumption goods.
Economic feasibility of weed management practices in nigella (Nigella sativa L.).

A field experiment was conducted to find out the suitable and economical method of weed control in nigella. Based on two year study, it was found that besides weed free treatment, significantly higher plant height, number of primary and secondary branches, number of leaves, number of nodes and dry matter accumulation plant-1 (at 60 days after sowing (DAS), 90 DAS and at harvest) were recorded with the pre-emergence application of oxadiargyl @ 75 g ha-1 + one hand weeding at 45 DAS and pendimethalin @ 1 kg ha-1 + one hand weeding at 45 DAS. Similarly, yield attributes like number of siliqua plant-1, number of seeds siliqua-1, siliqua size and test weight as well as seed and straw yields of nigella were also higher with these two treatments. Besides weed free treatment, lower dry weight of weed at harvest, weed index with highest weed control efficiency was obtained under pre- emergence (PE) application of oxadiargyl @ 75 g ha-1 + one hand weeding at 45 DAS. The Highest gross returns and net returns were obtained in weed free treatment followed by effective control of weed with pre -emergence application of oxadiargyl @ 75 g ha-1 + one hand weeding at 45 DAS but highest B: C ratio (2.62) was recorded with preemergence application of oxadiargyl @ 75 g ha-1 + one hand weeding at 45 DAS.
The effects of total quality management and organisational learning on business performance: evidence from Taiwanese insurance industries

This research is focused on the Taiwanese insurance industry to explore the relationship among total quality management (TQM), organisational learning (OL) and business performance of insurance companies. In this study, the questionnaires are analysed and the t-test, analysis of variance, and multiple regression models are used to verify the research framework and hypotheses. The results show significant difference of gender, position, educational level and industry on TQM, OL and business performance recognition, but there is no significant difference in seniority. Using multiple regression analysis and the mediating test, the principal findings of this study are shown as follows: (1) TQM has significant and positive effects on OL, (2) Both TQM and OL have significant and positive effects on business performance, (3) OL fosters business performance and plays a mediating role between TQM and business performance, and (4) The non-life and the life insurance industries, which carry out TQM, OL and business performance, are significantly different. The results show practical implications for the insurance industry in Taiwan.
The influence of storage time and temperature on the measurement of serum, plasma and urine osmolality

Background Many clinical laboratories require that specimens for serum and urine osmolality determination be processed within 3 h of sampling or need to arrive at the laboratory on ice. This protocol is based on the World Health Organization report on sample storage and stability, but the recommendation lacks good supporting data. We studied the effect of storage temperature and time on osmolality measurements. Methods Blood and urine samples were obtained from 16 patients and 25 healthy volunteers. Baseline serum, plasma and urine osmolality measurements were performed within 30 min. Measurements were then made at 3, 6, 12, 24 and 36 h on samples stored at 4–8℃ and room temperature. We compared baseline values with subsequent measurements and used difference plots to illustrate changes in osmolality. Results At 4–8℃, serum and plasma osmolality were stable for up to 36 h. At room temperature, serum and plasma osmolality were very stable for up to 12 h. At 24 and 36 h, changes from baseline osmolality were statistically significant and exceeded the total allowable error of 1.5% but not the reference change value of 4.1%. Urine osmolality was extremely stable at room temperature with a mean change of less than 1 mosmol/kg at 36 h. Conclusions Serum and plasma samples can be stored at room temperature for up to 36 h before measuring osmolality. Cooling samples to 4–8℃ may be useful when delays in measurement beyond 12 h are anticipated. Urine osmolality is extremely stable for up to 36 h at room temperature.
International growth and volatility in historical perspective

This paper studies the relationship between the volatility and growth of real GDP using a newly constructed panel data set from twelve countries over the 1870 to 1929 period. In addition, many other variables are examined that are related to economic growth. The goal has been to uncover robust empirical regularities on this issue for the period prior to the Great Depression – a period which has been relatively neglected in previous empirical work. The main finding is that there is a robust negative partial correlation between volatility and growth, after controlling for other factors. This result is consistent with recent empirical evidence on the post-World War II period.
A Robust, One‐Pot Synthesis of Highly Mechanical and Recoverable Double Network Hydrogels Using Thermoreversible Sol‐Gel Polysaccharide

A new type of physically linked double-network hydrogel is synthesized by a simple, time-saving, facile, easily controlled, one-pot method. The resulting agar/polyacrylamide double-network hydrogels exhibit good mechanical properties, excellent recoverability, and a unique free-shapeable property, which makes them very promising hydrogels for load-bearing soft tissues.
Computing the Fréchet distance between two polygonal curves

As a measure for the resemblance of curves in arbitrary dimensions we consider the so-called Frechet-distance, which is compatible with parametrizations of the curves. For polygonal chains P and Q consisting of p and q edges an algorithm of runtime O(pq log(pq)) measuring the Frechet-distance between P and Q is developed. Then some important variants are considered, namely the Frechet-distance for closed curves, the nonmonotone Frechet-distance and a distance function derived from the Frechet-distance measuring whether P resembles some part of the curve Q.
In vivo confocal microscopy of conjunctiva-associated lymphoid tissue in healthy humans.

PURPOSE To investigate modifications with aging of the presence, distribution and morphologic features of conjunctiva-associated lymphoid tissue (CALT) in healthy human subjects using laser scanning in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM). METHODS A total of 108 (age range, 17-75 years) subjects were enrolled. In vivo confocal microscopy of the tarsal and bulbar conjunctiva, and impression cytology (IC) with CD3 (intra-epithelial T-lymphocytes) and CD20 (intra-epithelial B-lymphocytes) antibody immunofluorescence staining were performed. The main outcomes were subepithelial lymphocyte density (LyD), follicular density (FD), and follicular area (FA). The secondary outcomes were follicular reflectivity (FR), and lymphocyte density (FLyD), and CD3 and CD20 positivity. RESULTS Conjunctiva-associated lymphoid tissue was observed in all subjects (97% only superior and 3% in both superior and inferior tarsum). Lymphocyte density ranged from 7.8 to 165.8 cells/mm(2) (46.42 [18.37]; mean [SD]), FD from 0.5 to 19.4 follicles/mm(2) (5.3 [3.6]), and FA from 1110 to 96,280 mm(2) (26,440 [26,280]). All three parameters showed a highly significant inverse cubic relationship with age (P < 0.001); that is, in the first and last parameters a steep decline up to 35 years and above 65 years of age, with a plateau phase between these ages, whereas FA had a gradually decreasing rate of loss over the studied age range. CD3 and CD20 IC were consistent with these results. CONCLUSIONS In vivo confocal microscopy was effective in revealing CALT and modifications these structures undergo with aging. Aging correlated with an involution of all parameters defining lymphoid structures. These modifications may account for the decrease of mucosal immune response and increase of ocular surface diseases in the elderly.
Visualisation of metastatic oesophageal and gastric cancer and prediction of clinical response to palliative chemotherapy using 18FDG PET

Summary Aim: This study assessed the value of 18F-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) for visualisation and early metabolic response assessment in metastatic gastro-oesophageal cancer. Patients, methods: Twentysix patients who were treated for metastatic disease (20 adenocarcinomas, 6 squamous cell cancers) underwent FDG-PET before and two weeks after the onset of palliative chemotherapy with either oxaliplatin + 5-FU/LV or with docetaxel + capecitabine. PET results were validated according to clinical response based on RECIST criteria. Results: Twenty-four tumours (92%) could be visualised by FDG-PET and were also assessable by a second PET scan at 2 weeks. The 2 tumours that were not detectable by PET were both gastric cancers belonging to the non-intestinal subtype according to Lauren. Median time to progression and overall survival were not significantly different for metabolic responders and non-responders (6.3 vs 5.3 months and 14.1 vs 12.5 months, respectively). Conclusion: In this heterogeneous study population, FDG-PET had a limited accuracy in predicting clinical response. However, the metabolic response prediction was particularly good in the subgroup of patients with oesophageal squamous cell cancer. Therefore, FDG-PET and assessment of cancer therapy clearly merits further investigation in circumscribed patient populations with metastatic disease.
An analysis of industry concentration in South African manufacturing, 1972–2001

This article examines industry concentration for the South African manufacturing sector over the 1972–2001 period, for the three-digit industry classification. The article notes both the high level of industry concentration in South African manufacturing and a rising trend in concentration across a wide range of industries as measured by the Gini and Rosenbluth coefficients. The article examines the impact of concentration on investment rates using a dynamic heterogeneous panel estimation methodology. We find that increased concentration unambiguously lowers investment rates.
Selection of Advertising Appeals in Slovak Television Advertising

Abstract Purpose of the article The issue of creating advertising that is culturally congruent has been considered to be very important to experts dedicated to the field in the past years. Culture is an important internal factor of customer behavior that needs to be fully considered if the advertising campaigns aim to address its target audience effectively. The goal of this article is to contribute to existing knowledge in the area of culturally congruent advertising. More specifically, to find out what advertising appeals are preferred in Slovak television advertising. Methodology/methods Main scientific method of the present research was conceptual content analysis. The results are based on the sample of 133 TV commercials broadcasted in Slovak televisions during the 2012 in selected four segments (beer, financial services, periodicals and non-alcoholic beverages). Scientific aim Aim of this contribution is the introduction of preferences and frequency of usage of advertising appeals used in Slovak television advertising. Subsequenty, the exploration of the links between the selection of advertising appeals and cultural dimensions of Slovaks are analyzed. Findings The largest representation in analyzed television commercials in all examined segments has the appeal to relaxation. ), followed by the appeal of suitable, then the appeal of saving, the appeal to patriotism, the appeal of natural and the appeal to affiliation. In the surveyed segments the preferences of individual advertising appeals are somehow different and reflect existing influence of product category on creative strategy. The findings show the positive relation between selection of advertising appeals and Slovak cultural dimensions. Conclusions The preset contribution shows the importance of studying cultural aspects of advertising and applying findings to the field of advertising. Some limitations of the study are stated and recommendations for further research are added at the end of the article.