Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Managing Organizational Change in Higher Education: Lessons From the University of Botswana

ABSTRACT Utilizing data collected from a randomly selected sample of 360 academic and managerial staff, regression analysis was performed to identify the determinants of acceptance of change among employees at the University of Botswana. The results showed moderate levels of employee acceptance of innovations and revealed that, of the four categories of substantive factors analyzed, managerial features were the most important determinants of acceptance of organizational change. It was concluded that management action is needed to boost the levels of acceptance of change and that a more participative approach to the management of the change process is necessary to guarantee the involvement of all stakeholders from the decision-making to the implementation and administration stages of the process.
A fundamental study on damping control design using PMU signals from dominant inter-area oscillation paths

This article presents a fundamental study on feedback control using different types of signals available from a dominant inter-area oscillation path; the passageway containing the highest content of the inter-area oscillations. Results from the previous studies verify the persistence and robustness of dominant path signals and suggest that using such signals, effective damping control may be achieved. To corroborate the implication, signals available from phasor measurement units (PMU) e.g. voltage phasors (magnitude and angle) from the dominant path are used as feedback inputs for a power system stabilizer (PSS) control design for damping enhancement. The corresponding performance are compared with those using generator speed, which is a commonly used signal though not available from PMUs, as inputs. Contrary to expectations found in common practice, that of speed being the one of the most effective signal for damping control, it is demonstrated here that their corresponding damping performance is inferior to those using voltage phasors as feedback inputs. A conceptualized two-area system is used to analyze damping performance throughout this study.
The costs of screening and brief intervention for risky alcohol use.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to estimate provider-incurred costs of alcohol screening and brief intervention (SBI) for risky drinking as implemented in four managed care organizations (MCOs) participating in the Cutting Back project implemented by the University of Connecticut Health Center. METHOD Each MCO provided two comparable primary care clinics in which two different SBI models were implemented: the "Practitioner" (P) model and the "Specialist" (S) model. Risky drinkers were identified based on responses to a health appraisal form. They were administered the AUDIT to determine an appropriate intervention. Using data collected from these sites, we separately estimated start-up and ongoing implementation costs of the intervention. RESULTS SBI start-up costs per MCO ranged from approximately dollars 86,000 to dollars 115,000 across the four study MCOs. Across all four study MCOs, the estimated median ongoing implementation cost of administering the health appraisal was dollars 0.25 per patient appraised, and the estimated median cost of screenings was dollars 0.42 per patient screened. The estimated median cost of performing the brief intervention across the study MCOs was dollars 2.59 per patient receiving the intervention in the S clinics and dollars 3.43 per patient receiving the intervention in the P clinics. Labor costs dominated start-up and ongoing implementation. Technical assistance costs accounted for a significant proportion of start-up costs. Implementation in the S model is less costly than in the P model, largely because of the S model's use of less expensive nonphysician labor. CONCLUSIONS Our analysis suggests that the cost of SBI is modest, and MCOs may want to consider adopting SBI as an alcohol use prevention tool. Although our results suggest that the S model is less costly than the P model, clinic-level implementation factors may affect the relative costs of the S versus P models.
Moving in and out of poverty

Although many of the debates around social exclusion and cumulative disadvantage relate to processes that occur across time, there has been relatively little research into poverty dynamics except in a few notable countries such as Britain, the USA and Germany. This neglect is almost entirely because of the absence of comparative longitudinal data on income for other countries, but it is regrettable given the central importance of this area. By studying poverty dynamics we not only get a better insight into the processes leading to patterns of disadvantage and inequality, but we can also understand better the influence of different welfare state regimes on the social risks experienced by different types of individuals and households. The extent to which different national contexts protect their citizens from poverty persistence, or vary in the factors leading to poverty persistence, tells us a great deal about the workings of their socioeconomic systems and welfare regimes. In this article we use the recent availability of five waves of the European Community Household Panel Survey to outline the nature of poverty persistence and poverty dynamics across a large number of countries. In doing so we ask three important questions. First, is poverty a more common experience when viewed longitudinally rather than cross-sectionally, and how is this affected by the income poverty line used? Second, can we identify a tendency toward poverty persistence, and does this vary in its extent across countries? Third and lastly, what types of events are more likely to lead to entry into and exit from poverty, and does the importance of these events differ between countries? The article shows that the experience of poverty is far wider than is appreciated from cross-sectional data, and also tends to be more concentrated on a particular population than would be expected from cross-sectional rates. Moreover, the pattern of poverty persistence is congruent with welfare regime theory. The importance of country institutions and welfare regimes is also underlined by the finding that social welfare and market incomes play different roles in poverty transitions across countries, and that Southern European, or residualist, welfare regimes focus poverty risks on the experience of the household's primary earner to a far greater extent than Northern European welfare states do.
Non-union employee representation in the United Kingdom : management strategies and union responses

The introduction of the European Directive on information and consultation and its implementation into United Kingdom (UK) law has increased the focus on workplace representation arrangements. However, existing research into non-union representation (NER) arrangements in the UK is limited. This research examines NER arrangements in nine UK firms and assesses their effectiveness in representing the needs of employees and employers. The research explores these issues by using a multi-variant analysis including employee surveys, interviews, focus groups, observation and internal company documentation. The research attempts to address a number of research questions. First, what are the management strategies towards and objectives of NER arrangements. Second, are NER arrangements a complement to union representation or do they act as a substitute for union-based voice arrangements. Third, how effective are NER and union arrangements perceived to be at representing the interests of and providing voice for employees. Fourth, what are the perceived workplace outcomes of both NER and union-based voice arrangements. Fifth, what are the union responses and approaches towards NER arrangements. Sixth, what are the potential implications for employers, unions and NER-based voice arrangements in the future. Overall, the evidence presented in this research questions the legitimacy of NER forms as alternatives to unions in effectively representing the interests of employees. The findings would also suggest that while trade unions may provide greater voice than NER arrangements, the strength of that voice is dependent on their responses to such arrangements and effectiveness in representing employees' interests at the workplace. And that in turn depends on the union being perceived by the workforce as both representative and able to act independently. From a management perspective, allowing influence over workplace issues and at times an acknowledgement of differing interests may also be essential conditions for more effective decision-making processes in organisations.
Parking restraint policy and urban vitality

The aim of the paper is to examine whether parking restraint policies may have impacts on the economic vitality of urban centres. Literature from empirical, attitudinal and modelling studies is reviewed within a structure based around a conceptual framework of parking impacts. The search for relevant material was undertaken both for the UK and overseas, but the discussion and conclusions were related to the UK context. Original modelling was undertaken and is reported here. This review found that as parking restraint policies have not been previously implemented with consistency or longevity, there is a lack of direct evidence, given that land-use impacts typically involve a long-term response. Furthermore, different methods of examining impacts have come to very different conclusions. Attitudinal evidence suggests that there is a high level of sensitivity to parking provision, whereas aggregate statistical studies tend to find only a weak relationship. The reasons underlying these differences are discussed. Land-use/transport models show impacts if there is sufficient change in generalized cost, although the spatial distribution of impacts, and impacts by household or employment disaggregation, vary considerably. Given the inconclusive nature of the evidence to date, only tentative policy implications can be drawn. Recommendations for further research are outlined, both for empirical study and for model enhancements.
Rennin enzyme of Endothia parasitica.

A microbiological screening program was instituted to search for an animal rennet substitute. Among 381 bacteria and 540 fungi tested, only one organism, Endothia parasitica, yielded a suitable enzyme substitute. The fungal rennin enzyme was crystallized and some of its properties were studied. It was found to be water-soluble, nondialyzable, precipitable with (NH(4))(2)SO(4) and organic solvents (e.g., acetone and isopropanol), and destroyed by heating for 5 min at 60 C. It was determined to be most stable in water at pH 4.5 and to have an isoelectric point of pH 5.5. On acid hydrolysis, it yielded: alanine, ammonia, arginine, aspartic acid, cysteic acid, cystine, glutamic acid, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tyrosine, and valine. No tryptophan was detected after alkaline hydrolysis. Its molecular weight was estimated to be in the range of 34,000 to 39,000. The milk-clotting activities of the fungal and animal rennins proved to be essentially identical in milk containing various concentrations of CaCl(2). Both rennins manifested comparable clotting activities in milk at pH 6.0 to 7.0.
Internal Promotion Competitions in Firms

Using a sample of skilled workers from a cross section of establishments in four metropolitan areas of the U.S., I present evidence suggesting that relative performance of workers determines promotions, supporting the notion of internal promotion competitions in which internal hiring policies and fixed job slots combine to create competitions among workers of a given rank in a firm. I then estimate a structural model of promotion tournaments (treating worker performance, the wage spread from promotion, and promotions as endogenous variables) that simultaneously accounts for worker and firm behavior and how the interaction of these behaviors gives rise to promotions. The results are consistent with the predictions of tournament theory that employers optimally set wage spreads to induce higher levels of performance, and that workers are motivated by larger spreads.
High density amorphous ice at room temperature

The phase diagram of water is both unusual and complex, exhibiting a wide range of polymorphs including proton-ordered or disordered forms. In addition, a variety of stable and metastable forms are observed. The richness of H2O phases attests the versatility of hydrogen-bonded network structures that include kinetically stable amorphous ices. Information of the amorphous solids, however, is rarely available especially for the stability field and transformation dynamics—but all reported to exist below the crystallization temperature of approximately 150–170 K below 4–5 GPa. Here, we present the evidence of high density amorphous (HDA) ice formed well above the crystallization temperature at 1 GPa—well inside the so-called “no-man’s land. ” It is formed from metastable ice VII in the stability field of ice VI under rapid compression using dynamic-diamond anvil cell (d-DAC) and results from structural similarities between HDA and ice VII. The formation follows an interfacial growth mechanism unlike the melting process. Nevertheless, the occurrence of HDA along the extrapolated melt line of ice VII resembles the ice Ih-to-HDA transition, indicating that structural instabilities of parent ice VII and Ih drive the pressure-induced amorphization.
The progression from voluntary to mandatory derivative instrument disclosures - look who's talking

The growth of derivative markets over the past decade suggests that many entities are using these instruments. The transparency of firms' exposures and their accounting treatment have become critical issues, particularly given the media attention to derivative-related losses by some high-profile corporations. This paper focuses on derivative instrument disclosures during a three-phase disclosure regime — pure voluntary disclosure (1992–94), coercive voluntary disclosure (1995–97) and mandatory disclosure (1998). The time frame provides an insight into firms' and regulators' responses to information demands by stakeholders. Increases in disclosure of information, even if incomplete, are particularly noticeable in 1995, the beginning of the coercive regime, and in 1998 when the disclosures became mandatory.
Long-Term Outcomes of Endoscopic Balloon Dilation for Benign Strictures in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Background/Aims Benign intestinal strictures are common complications in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This study aimed to assess the long-term prognosis of endoscopic balloon dilation (EBD) to treat benign strictures in IBD patients. Methods Patients with IBD who had benign strictures and who underwent EBD in four tertiary referral university hospitals between January 2004 and February 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. Technical success was defined as the ability to pass the scope through the stricture after balloon dilation, and clinical success was defined as improved obstructive symptoms. Results Forty-two benign strictures were identified in 30 patients (15 males and 15 females). Technical success was achieved in 26 patients (86.7%) at the first EBD attempt and in all 30 patients (100%) at the second EBD attempt. Clinical success was seen in 28 patients (93.3%). The median follow-up duration was 134.8 months (range, 10.2 to 252.0 months), and recurrence occurred in eight patients (26.7%), who required repeat EBD. The median duration to relapse was 1.7 months (range, 0.2 to 6.3 months). During repeat EBD, perforation occurred in two cases (6.7%), which were both clipped successfully. Finally, only one patient (3.3%) underwent surgery for the relief of recurrent obstructive symptoms during the follow-up period. Conclusions The experience of 10 years shows that EBD is safe and effective for the treatment of benign strictures in IBD patients. Importantly, EBD may allow long-term effective palliation of the symptoms associated with benign intestinal strictures in IBD patients.
Incremental significance of pre-specified macroeconomic factors in testing the arbitrage pricing theory: empirical evidence with Finnish data

The applications of the arbitrage pricing theory (APT) have received a lot of attention in recent financial economics literature. When testing the APT, common factors generating stock returns have been produced either by applying exploratory factor analysis on stock returns or by using pre-specified macroeconomic variables. The incremental significance of these factors has, however, received only limited attention so far. The pre-specified macroeconomic factors are shown to have incremental information content with respect to the factors produced by exploratory factor analysis on stock returns in the Finnish stock market.
The Functional and Sectoral Division of Labour between Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta: From Complementarities in Production to Competition in Producer Services?

This study examines whether regional upgrading has affected the traditional division of labour between Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta, as exemplified in the ‘front shop–back factory’ model. The location choices and investment characteristics of foreign multinational enterprises are used to derive the current status of sectoral and functional specialisation across the region and to explore the alleged competition over foreign direct investments in service functions. The results show that the complementary roles of Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta, in terms of sectoral and functional specialisation, remain largely intact. However, Guangzhou and Shenzhen appear to compete with Hong Kong by advancing their own distinctive roles as attractive locations for low-end service functions.
Gender, Social support and recovery from depressive disorders: a prospective clinical study

SYNOPSIS One hundred and thirty men and women attending psychiatric hospitals with depressive disorders were interviewed at the time of their initial contact. After a mean four month interval, 119 were reassessed in order to test the hypothesis that initial levels of social support predict clinical improvement even when other potential risk factors such as age, sex, diagnosis and severity of depression are controlled. Severity and duration of the episode emerged as the only significant background predictors of recovery. The explained variance in recovery from depression due to social support was equal in men and women, and was not diminished by the background clinical predictors. According to subset analyses however, the aspects of personal relationships and perceived support that predict recovery in men and in women appear to be different. The available multiple regression models of outcome favoured a main effect of social support and provided persuasive if inconclusive evidence for a statistical interaction effect with sex. The implications for further research and for theory are discussed.
University-Industry-Government linkages in biotech in a small transition country: the Estonian case

Estonia, a transition country being 'catching-up economy', is complementing its capacity for technology absorption with potential for diffusion and commercialisation of technology. The aim of the paper is to study key issues related to university-industry knowledge transfer within the Estonian biotech sector. Empirical research of the SME sector was carried out in two sample groups: the first were Estonian research based biotech companies with independent strategies and the second were subsidiaries of foreign companies. The gross funding structure proportions of basic research, applied research, and product or service development in the Estonian biotechnology public and private sectors together were calculated as 11 : 5 : 1, which demonstrates the strong imbalance of the sectoral innovation processes. Balancing R&D is seen as an iterative process.
Positive SOI, negative PDO and spring tides as simple indicators of the potential for extreme coastal erosion in northern NSW

The coastal Township of Kingscliff in northern NSW experienced severe erosion during 2010, resulting in the loss of 2 hectares of vegetated dune along a 200 metre length of foreshore. The catalyst for this erosion was a unique pattern of large waves from an easterly direction in early 2009 that resulted in the gradual lowering of the beach profile and led to severe erosion on spring tides in 2010. This erosion has coincided with the onset of a La Niña event and the beginning of a negative phase for the PDO. Analysis of past and current erosion events at Kingscliff shows a strong relationship between positive SOI, negative PDO, spring tides and severe erosion at Kingscliff. These indicators could act as simple indicators of the potential for extreme coastal erosion along the east coast of NSW allowing early implementation of mitigation strategies.
Molecular Mechanism Regulating 24-Hour Rhythm of Dopamine D3 Receptor Expression in Mouse Ventral Striatum

The dopamine D3 receptor (DRD3) in the ventral striatum is thought to influence motivation and motor functions. Although the expression of DRD3 in the ventral striatum has been shown to exhibit 24-hour variations, the mechanisms underlying the variation remain obscure. Here, we demonstrated that molecular components of the circadian clock act as regulators that control the 24-hour variation in the expression of DRD3. The transcription of DRD3 was enhanced by the retinoic acid–related orphan receptor α (RORα), and its activation was inhibited by the orphan receptor REV-ERBα, an endogenous antagonist of RORα. The serum or dexamethasone-induced oscillation in the expression of DRD3 in cells was abrogated by the downregulation or overexpression of REV-ERBα, suggesting that REV-ERBα functions as a regulator of DRD3 oscillations in the cellular autonomous clock. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays of the DRD3 promoter indicated that the binding of the REV-ERBα protein to the DRD3 promoter increased in the early dark phase. DRD3 protein expression varied with higher levels during the dark phase. Moreover, the effects of the DRD3 agonist 7-hydroxy-N,N-dipropyl-2-aminotetralin (7-OH-DPAT)–induced locomotor hypoactivity were significantly increased when DRD3 proteins were abundant. These results suggest that RORα and REV-ERBα consist of a reciprocating mechanism wherein RORα upregulates the expression of DRD3, whereas REV-ERBα periodically suppresses the expression at the time of day when REV-ERBα is abundant. Our present findings revealed that a molecular link between the circadian clock and the function of DRD3 in the ventral striatum acts as a modulator of the pharmacological actions of DRD3 agonists/antagonists.
Shape Invariant Modeling of Pricing Kernels and Risk Aversion

Several empirical studies reported that pricing kernels exhibit a common pattern across different markets. The main interest in pricing kernels lies in validating the presence of the peaks and their variability in location among curves. Motivated by this observation we investigate the problem of estimating pricing kernels based on the shape invariant model, a semi-parametric approach used for multiple curves with shape-related nonlinear variation. This approach allows us to capture the common features contained in the shape of the functions and at the same time characterize the nonlinear variability with a few interpretable parameters. These parameters provide an informative summary of the curves and can be used to make a further analysis with macroeconomic variables. Implied risk aversion function and utility function can also be derived. The method is demonstrated with the European options and returns values of the German stock index DAX.