Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Antioxidant Activity of Heracleum persicum Fruit Extract: Evidence from a Randomized Controlled Trial

ABSTRACT Oxidative stress is a unifying feature of several cardiometabolic risk factors, and has been suggested to be implicated in atherogenesis. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of supplementation with Heracleum persicum fruit—a common dietary spice—in modulating systemic biomarkers of oxidative stress in subjects undergoing coronary angiography. Twenty-seven subjects with minimal coronary artery disease (CAD; defined as < 50% obstruction in the coronary arteries) were selected for this trial and were randomly allocated to Heracleum persicum hydroalcoholic fruit extract (n = 15; 300 mg/day) or placebo (n = 12) for a period of six months. Patients were visited monthly and asked to report the adverse events during the treatment period. Serum levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and enzymatic activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) were determined at baseline and at the end of trial. Comparison of changes in the evaluated biomarkers of oxidative stress indicated a significantly greater effect of H. persicum extract versus placebo in reducing serum MDA (p = .001), and elevating GSH (p = .001), and TAC (p = .001) concentrations, as well as activities of GPx (p = .001) and CAT (p = .001). The groups were comparable with respect to changes in serum SOD activities during the course of trial (p = .255). The findings of the present randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial clearly support the efficacy of H. persicum fruit extract as a safe antioxidant supplement in subjects with minimal CAD.
Human resource management in Turkey ‐ Current issues and future challenges

In Turkey’s dynamic economy, HRM is recognized as one of the most important tools in maintaining organizational effectiveness and competitiveness. However, there are a number of barriers to the design and implementation of effective systems. The first part discusses the ways in which environmental forces influence HRM practices. In the second part, the administration of the key HR functions in Turkish organizations is described. Finally, future directions are discussed.
Empirical Matching Functions: Estimation and Interpretation Using Disaggregate Data

In this paper, we estimate matching functions using disaggregate data. We find strong support for the matching approach, with most specifications implying slightly increasing returns to scale. This finding does not appear to arise from our inclusion of additional controls or from the level of disaggregation, and so we conclude that earlier findings of constant returns in the US may be due to the various approximations needed to construct an aggregate time series. We also find evidence of endogenous job competition between the employed and nonemployed, so that the estimated parameters from a matching function cannot be interpreted as structural parameters.
The international classification of functioning, disability and health and its application to cognitive disorders

Purpose: This paper describes the conceptual foundation and systematic framework of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) as a mechanism for understanding the course and consequences of various health related states. The specific application of the ICF with persons with cognitive dysfunction is also presented. Method: A comprehensive literature review related to the conceptualization of the ICF, its classification scheme and coding process is presented. Information on cognitive disorders including prevalence, functional manifestations and the assessment of a person's cognitive functioning and the applicability of the ICF's holistic classification and coding of cognitive dysfunction within the components of body structure and function, activity and participation, and environmental attributes is also reviewed. Conclusion: The ICF has the potential to classify and interpret cognitive deficits on a global level and thereby reflects upon the overall health and functioning of the individual in major life activities. The coding system systematically organizes measures related to the person's cognitive status and the resulting functional outcomes. The ICF focuses on individuals' performance of activities in all aspects of life and validates the independence and well-being of persons with disabilities making it an important instrument to be used by rehabilitation professionals.
Innovation, Human Capabilities, and Democracy: Towards an Enabling Welfare State

All governments strive to develop and implement policies that contribute to innovation. Both in academic research and policy circles, the concept of National Innovation Systems has represented a significant approach to industrial policy, research and development, and innovation. This book will review the development and implementation of this approach, and its strengths and weakness by considering the experience of Finland, widely regarded as a model of the information society, high-quality equal education, and systemic innovation policy amongst the Nordic welfare states, which themselves have increasingly topped the lists in national competitiveness. The first part of the book analyzes the foundations, emergence, and development of the National Innovation System approach and its adoption in Finnish science and technology policy throughout the 1990s and 2000s. In the second part of the book an alternative viewpoint to innovation and welfare policy is outlined, based on the idea of capability cultivating institutions as a key foundation, both for national welfare and competitiveness. The development of the Finnish comprehensive school and its special education system is studied in order to clarify the nature of institutional change and learning, and the conditions of governing and developing the enabling services. The concept of an enabling welfare state is developed to answer the challenges of the Nordic model of welfare in a globalizing knowledge-driven economy.
Local changes in neurosteroid levels in the substantia nigra reticulata and the ventral tegmental area alter chronic ethanol withdrawal severity in male withdrawal seizure-prone mice.

BACKGROUND Allopregnanolone (ALLO) is a potent positive modulator of γ-aminobutyric acidA receptors (GABAA Rs) that affects ethanol (EtOH) withdrawal. Finasteride (FIN), a 5α-reductase inhibitor that blocks the formation of ALLO and other GABAergic neurosteroids, alters EtOH sensitivity. Recently, we found that Withdrawal Seizure-Prone mice from the first genetic replicate (WSP-1) exhibited behavioral tolerance to the anticonvulsant effect of intrahippocampal ALLO during EtOH withdrawal and that intrahippocampal FIN significantly increased EtOH withdrawal severity. The purpose of this study was to determine whether neurosteroid manipulations in the substantia nigra reticulata (SNR) and ventral tegmental area (VTA) produced effects during EtOH withdrawal comparable to those seen with intrahippocampal ALLO and FIN. METHODS Male WSP-1 mice were surgically implanted with bilateral guide cannulae aimed at the SNR or VTA at 2 weeks prior to EtOH vapor or air exposure for 72 hours. Initial studies examined the anticonvulsant effect of a single ALLO infusion (0, 100, or 400 ng/side) at a time corresponding to peak withdrawal in the air- and EtOH-exposed mice. Separate studies examined the effect of 4 FIN infusions (0 or 10 μg/side/d) during the development of physical dependence on the expression of EtOH withdrawal. RESULTS ALLO infusion exerted a potent anticonvulsant effect in EtOH-naïve mice, but a diminished anticonvulsant effect during EtOH withdrawal. Administration of FIN into the SNR exerted a delayed proconvulsant effect in EtOH-naïve mice, whereas infusion into the VTA increased EtOH withdrawal duration. CONCLUSIONS Activation of local GABAA Rs in the SNR and VTA via ALLO infusion is sufficient to exert an anticonvulsant effect in naïve mice and to produce behavioral tolerance to the anticonvulsant effect of ALLO infusion during EtOH withdrawal. Thus, EtOH withdrawal reduced sensitivity of GABAA Rs to GABAergic neurosteroids in 2 neuroanatomical substrates within the basal ganglia in WSP-1 male mice.
Does Finance Play a Role in Exporting for Service Firms? Evidence from India

The importance of finance for exporting goods is well understood in the literature. Yet, despite the growing magnitude and importance of service exports, the question whether service firms rely on external finance for exporting remains unanswered by the existing literature. We address this overlooked area by studying whether long- and short-term borrowing matters for the exporting decisions and the levels exported by Indian service firms. To this end, we use an unbalanced panel of service firms for the years 1999–2007 from the Prowess data set compiled by the Centre for Monitoring the Indian Economy. In contrast to some findings for the manufacturing industry, we found that finance is not a significant determinant of Indian service firms' exporting activity. Possibly, the different nature of costs associated with the exports of services restrains the impact of finance on exporting. Interestingly, in line with previous research on goods exports, we found that some nonfinancial variables such as firm size, total factor productivity and technology investments are significant factors motivating the exporting decision and the level of exports of Indian service firms.
The transformation of food retailing in Thailand 1997–2007

Prior to the economic crash of 1997, Thailand had been one of the fastest growing economies in the world. A number of foreign retailers invested in the market, which became easier to do after this date due to relaxed ownership restrictions. Rapid expansion ensued which led to complaints and attempts at regulation. This study reviews the food retail scene in Thailand, highlighting what has happened in the last decade in terms of how retailers have adapted to cultural differences in consumer behaviour, competition and government regulation.
A conceptual framework for the quality evaluation of sustainability reports

Purpose - – This paper aims to outline a conceptual framework for the quality evaluation of web-based sustainability reports (SRs) aiding managers in determining and evaluating quality criteria for the sustainability report of their company. Design/methodology/approach - – The paper reviews quality criteria in existing standards and guidelines on sustainability reporting and identifies research gaps. A conceptual framework including a multi-method approach for the quality evaluation of SRs is developed and evaluated. Findings - – Existing standards and guidelines on sustainability reporting mainly focus on the content of the reports and neglect common information systems (IS) acceptance criteria such as ease of use and visual appeal. The proposed framework directly involves different stakeholder groups and research methodologies into the quality evaluation process. Research limitations/implications - – The limitations of the research approach offer a number of starting points for future research. The proposed framework needs to be further evaluated by a larger number of test users in a more natural use setting. Practical implications - – The application of a multi-method approach as well as the direct involvement of the stakeholders allows for an in-depth quality evaluation of SRs, enabling reporting companies to meet the readers' demand for information on economic, environmental and social activities of the reporting company. Common acceptance factors from the field of IS should be integrated into existing standards and guidelines on sustainability reporting. Coaching of the users through help functions, wizards, instructional videos or avatars is desirable. Originality/value - – The proposed framework applies innovative technologies such as eye-tracking and software-supported attention analysis. By applying the framework to a set of sample reports, its usefulness and applicability are demonstrated.
Earnings Management of Acquiring Firms in Stock-for-Stock Takeovers in the Telecommunications Industry

This article investigates whether acquiring telecommunications firms managed their earnings by means of discretionary accruals prior to the announcement of stock-for-stock takeovers in the U.S. telecommunications industry during the period of 1990 to 2006. The results show that acquiring telecommunications firms manage earnings upward prior to stock-for-stock takeovers. In addition, this article finds that there is a negative short-term wealth effect over the days surrounding stock-for-stock takeover announcements, and there is an inverse relation between earnings management and short-term wealth.
Stock Market Reaction to Anticipated versus Surprise Rating Changes

I examine whether bond rating changes can be anticipated by investors and test whether the stock price reaction to the eventual change varies as a result. All else equal, the market reaction to changes that could have been easily predicted should be significantly smaller than the reaction to changes that are largely a surprise. Although rating upgrades prove difficult to predict, approximately 20% of downgrades can be correctly predicted using a relatively small number of publicly available variables. There is no significant difference between the stock price reaction to anticipated versus unanticipated rating changes. 2007 The Southern Finance Association and the Southwestern Finance Association.
Indoor Risk Factors for Asthma in a Prospective Study of Adolescents

Background. The risk of asthma associated with pets and other indoor exposures has been examined in both cross-sectional and prospective studies of younger children. However, there has been little investigation of the effect of the indoor environment on incident asthma in adolescents. Methods. Risk factors for the development of asthma were examined in a cohort of 3535 Southern California school children with no history of asthma at 1993 entry into the study, who were followed for up to 5 years. Newly diagnosed cases of asthma were identified by yearly interview report. A total of 265 children reported a new diagnosis of asthma during the follow-up period; 163 of these had reported no history of wheeze at baseline. The risk associated with indoor exposures assessed by questionnaire at entry into the study was examined using Cox proportional hazards models. Results. In children with no history of wheezing, an increased risk of developing asthma was associated with a humidifier (relative risk [RR] = 1.7; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.2–2.4), any pet (RR = 1.6; 95% CI = 1.0–2.5), or specifically a dog (RR = 1.4; 95% CI = 1.0–2.0) in the home. An estimated 32% of new asthma cases could be attributed to pets. Conclusions. We conclude that furry pets are a common and potentially remediable risk factor for new onset asthma in adolescents. Our results suggest that a humidifier in the home may contribute to the onset of asthma in this age group.
Willingness to Pay for Domestic Water Service Improvements in Selangor, Malaysia: A Choice Modeling Approach

Abstract: The tasks and responsibilities of domestic water service management in Malaysia are handled by various government agencies. Sufficient water service and resources management is required for sustainable water resources conservation. In order to realized water resource conservation, economic effectiveness of water utilization (consumers), maintenance of water quality supply (source of water supply) and efficiency in allocating water resources (agencies) needs to be addressed. The objective of the study is to assess community preferences and values relating to alternative water service management with particular concentration on water service improvement. This study has applied Choice Experiment (CE) to investigate the current policies and potential alternative of water service management in Selangor. The studies are based on 230 respondents in Subang Jaya that were randomly interviewed for data collection in October to December 2008. The findings indicates that respondents are willing to pay higher for drinking water as compared to the current rate with improved in water quality (WQ), reduced the frequency of water interruption (WI) and increases in the consumer trust to tap water (CT). The finding of this study is very important in order to assists and recommends the policy makers towards efficiency of domestic water service management in Malaysia. Key words: Choice experiment; Water conservation; Consumer preference; Choice modelling; Willingness to pay
School Construction Strategies for Universal Primary Education in Africa: Should Communities Be Empowered to Build Their Schools?

This book examines the scope of the infrastructure challenge in Sub-Saharan Africa and the constraints to scaling up at an affordable cost. It assesses the experiences of African countries with school planning, school facility designs, construction technologies, and construction management over the past thirty years, and draws lessons on promising approaches to enable African countries to scale up the facilities required to achieve the Education for All (EFA) goals and Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of complete quality primary education for all children at the lowest marginal cost. The book is organized along the following lines. Chapter one reviews the nature and scope of the primary school infrastructure challenges. Chapter two reviews the experience of African countries with school planning and resource allocation norms and how they have affected the volume, functionality, and distribution of primary school facilities. Chapters three, four, and five examine the impact of construction technology and approaches to construction management on the cost of school infrastructure and the ability to scale up. Chapter six delves more deeply into how to set up one of the most cost- effective approaches to school provision the community-based approach. Chapter seven looks at maintenance issues. Chapter eight deals with corruption and chapter nine with donors. Chapter ten provides an estimate of the infrastructure cost of the EFA challenge and recommendation for countries and donors to improve the efficiency of the resources spent for school construction.
Cost of Water Delivery Systems: Specification and Ownership Effects

Three cost models of water delivery systems are replicated as alternative specifications of a general form. A dual cost function methodology is followed, usin g firm-specific data and ownership proxies, to trace the effects that numerous technical constraints and variable specifications have on t he relative efficiency of firms by ownership type. Results show that apparent overall efficiency differences reduce to insignificance as s pecification improves. This partly explains why past studies of overa ll efficiency of ownership forms have yielded mixed, and in some inst ances, unreliable results. The partial efficiency results point to fu ture public-private research methods. Copyright 1987 by MIT Press.
Policy Towards Gender Equality in Science and Research

The following article summarizes the meta-analysis of policies towards gender equality in science and research across Europe spanning the years 1980 to 2008. Observed overarching trends in the research literature are summarized, including the impact of higher education restructuring on gender equality in science and research and measures for advancing women's science careers. The article closes by stressing three key challenges: first, the integration of gender policy assessment with theories of social change; second, the gendering of innovation policy; and third, re-addressing the question of power and political struggle in relation to policy.
Prader‐Willi Syndrome: Effect of Group Home Placement on Obese Patients With Diabetes

Morbid obesity and type II diabetes, common complications of Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), are difficult to manage in the home setting. We assessed the effect of specialized group home placement on these complications in eight individuals with PWS, all of whom were obese and four of whom had type II diabetes. The group home provided diet restriction and control, a monitored exercise program, and a structured environment. Twelve months after admission, average weight loss in the eight individuals was 17.0 kg. Of the four with diabetes, all achieved euglycemia, and insulin and oral hypoglycemic doses were greatly reduced or discontinued. For individuals with PWS who are obese and have type II diabetes, placement in specialized group homes can be highly effective in controlling weight and diabetes.
Does contingent reward reduce negotiation anchoring

This article examines the role of contingent reward in reducing negotiation anchoring. A case study approach was adopted in the investigation undertaken. Five residencies were offered for sale and university students were assigned the task of negotiating the sales price of one of the houses. The results showed that where no asking price was given the settlement price was consistently lower than for those of incongruously high asking price. It is felt that these results are less biased than previous studies as a system of rewards was offered as the study was a step towards a real life setting.
Fertility breeding values in New Zealand, the next generation

The reproductive performance of cows in New Zealand (NZ) is generally higher than most nonseasonal dairying countries with conception rates of around 60% being commonly reported (Xu and Burton, 1996) compared to about 50% in countries with predominantly non-seasonally calving herds (e.g. Royal et al., 2000). The better reproductive performance of NZ cows is due to differences in management, milk production, nutrition, heat detection accuracy and breed composition including crossbreeding.
Reliability of Systems with Markov Transfer of Control

Software/hardware systems are considered which can be decomposed into a finite number of modules. It is assumed that control of the system is transferred among the modules according to a Markov process. Each module has an associated reliability which gives the probability that the module will operate correctly when called and will transfer control successfully when finished. The system will eventually either fail or complete its task successfully and enter a terminal state. The reliability of the system is studied in terms of the module reliabilities and the transition probabilities. Improved methods of predicting system reliability, allocating module reliability, and determining module sensitivity are developed. Special branching and sequential systems are studied in detail. >
A Legal Basis for the Firm

Fifty years after the publication of Ronald Coase's seminal deliberations on the subject, economists have yet to reach a consensus on the nature of the firm. While many continue to regard the firm as a distinct institution, usually ascribing to it some superior control, information, or adaptive properties, others reject the notion that any unique governance advantages accrue to integration, noting that neither human nature nor technology or information are altered by the purely nominal act of "internalization. " For the latter, the word firm is merely descriptive, a collective noun denoting a particular cluster of otherwise ordinary contractual relationships. The purpose of this article is not to offer another theory of vertical integration but rather to explore in more depth the logically antecedent question of whether it even makes sense to talk about the firm as a distinct organizational form. Specifically, is there a basis for associating special properties with internal organization, or is the designation firm really just descriptive of a set of commonly observed but otherwise unexceptional contractual relationships? After briefly reviewing key elements of the controversy, I argue that the answer to this question lies in an examination of the broader legal and po-