Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
How the European Central Bank decided its early monetary policy?

The main goal of this paper is to detect the mechanisms that should rationally stimulate the decision making-policies of the European Central Bank (ECB). This is carried out under the framework of theoretical principles of interest rate rules. Firstly, we deduce a set of logically advisable guidelines for the strategy actually developed by this central bank. Then we contrast a wide set of hypotheses with reference to those variables the ECB takes into account on deciding its monetary policy, with a flexible treatment regarding the number of months of advance or delay in the explanatory variables. The results lead us to the conclusion that the ECB, besides adopting a smooth strategy, especially bears in mind the expected core inflation rate, with a reaction coefficient adjusted to that initially proposed by Taylor. The economic growth rate, though it has a significant positive coefficient, matters relatively little and is backward looking. Finally, we evaluate up to what point the behaviour of the ECB is assimilative to an inflation targeting framework, solving this question affirmatively.
An Efficient Design of a Reversible Barrel Shifter

The key objective of today’s circuit design is to increase the performance without the proportional increase in power consumption. In this regard, reversible logic has become an immensely promising technology in the field of low power computing and designing. On the other hand, data shifting and rotating are required in many operations such as arithmetic and logical operations, address decoding and indexing etc. In this consequence, barrel shifters, which can shift and rotate multiple bits in a single cycle, have become a common design choice for high speed applications. For this reason, this paper presents an efficient design of a reversible barrel shifter. It has also been shown that the new circuit outperforms the previously proposed one in terms of number of gates, number of garbage outputs, delay and quantum cost.
The awarding of PhDs in the United States and Canada: war, the draft and other economic determinants

This article is concerned with the awarding of PhDs in the USA and Canada in the post-WW II period, overall, by gender and major academic discipline. The effects of the explanatory variables lagged by 6 years, to allow for time-to-degree completion, are consistent with the model. Military conscription with educational exemptions and the Vietnam War increased male PhDs in the USA, but, as expected, had no effect for US females or in Canada. This suggests that the war and draft effect for US males were not reflecting other unmeasured North American effects. Government expenditures on research and development enhanced the PhD production, especially for males and in the physical sciences. The cyclical indicator, the adult male unemployment rate, has a weak positive effect for males in both the USA and Canada, suggesting that during the post-WW II period, the positive effect on graduate-level education of the reduced opportunity cost of time due to a recession was stronger than the negative wealth effect of the recession. Other variables the same, there has been an increase over time in the female receipts of the PhD, but there is no such trend for males. While males still receive more PhDs per year than females, the gender gap has decreased over time.
Fiscal Rules at a Glance: Country Details from a New Dataset

This paper provides country-specific information on fiscal rules in use in 81 countries from 1985 to end-September 2012. It serves as background material and update of the July 2012 Working Paper Fiscal Rules in Response to the Crisis-Toward the 'Next Generation' Rules: A New Dataset and is also available in an easy accessible electronic data visualization tool. The dataset covers four types of rules: budget balance rules, debt rules, expenditure rules, and revenue rules, applying to the central or general government or the public sector. It also presents details on various characteristics of rules, such as their legal basis, coverage, escape clauses, as well as key supporting features such as independent monitoring bodies.
Envisioning the Changes in Teaching Framed by the National Science Education Standards-Teaching Standards

The National Science Education Standards (NRC, 1996) have been one of the leading reformed documents in the U.S. since its release. It has served as a foundation for all state standards and has supported the development of the newest standards documents recently released in the U.S. (i.e., Achieve Inc., 2013; NRC 2012). One of the most important contributions this document has made is in the area of teaching, as it puts forth explicit standards for teaching science grounded framed by constructivism. These standards are quite different than what has traditionally been found in U.S. schools. This article examine each of the teaching standards outlined in the NSES, 1) to better explain the bases and importance of the teaching standard and specific less/more emphasis indicators found in the Changing Emphasis table in the teaching standards, before 2) current science education research that is forming the foundations of each of the standards moving forward is shared. Finally, examination of each teaching standard in the article concludes with exemplar vignettes to provide a vision for the enactment of each standard in the context of teachersâ and studentsâ everyday classroom and school experiences.
Authority, acceptance, ability and performance‐based budgeting reforms

Performance‐based budgeting (PBB) is a prominent reform around the world, and has been in prominence in the USA for over a decade now. Evidence presented in this article suggests, however, that the reform is commonly implemented in a limited fashion. This raises the questions, “Why do few states adopt PBB meaningfully? ” and “What needs to be done to ensure meaningful adoption? ”. In addressing these questions with reference to case studies of state performance‐based budgeting, this article suggests that a three‐factor model is useful in thinking about PBB implementation. In this model authority, acceptance and ability intersect to determine the “reform space” a government has for PBB. In most governments this reform space seems rather constrained.
Community Based Tourism in Namibia: ‘Reality Show’ or ‘Window Dressing’?

Since the 1970s, the African continent has experienced exponential growth in tourism, where growth in numbers of visitors has not necessarily meant economic, social or environmental benefits for the host community. A review of the literature concerning tourism development and its effects on local communities forms the basis for the investigation of the reasons behind community based tourism (CBT) being identified as a tool for development in Namibia. An assessment of the planning and implementation phases of the CBT strategy enables consideration on the role played by international and national governments and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in laying down policies and providing proactive support for CBT related projects. This paper presents the results of an ongoing empirical research conducted since 2003 in the Kunene region of Namibia, which is an important part of the overall Namibian tourism destination, with world-renowned resources such as Etosha National Park, the Himba culture, Epupa Falls, the desert-adapted elephant and the rhino, to name just a few. By attempting an overall assessment of the Namibian current CBT situation, a set of considerations are offered with regard to its practicalities and in terms of benefits, problems and future outlooks for this sector.
Factors Driving the Growth in Fertilizer Consumption in Kenya, 1990-2005: Sustaining the Momentum in Kenya and Lessons for Broader Replicability in Sub-Saharan Africa

The objective of this study is to identify the factors responsible for the impressive growth in fertilizer use in Kenya since market liberalization in the early 1990s. Over the past 10 years, fertilizer consumption has risen by 35%. So far, it is unknown whether smallholder farmers are responsible for this growth or whether it is being driven mainly by the large-scale and/or estate sectors. Moreover, it is important for policy makers to know whether the increased fertilizer consumption is being devoted to smallholder food crops or whether industrial crops such as tea and sugarcane are responsible for this growth. This study addresses these questions using nationwide survey data on smallholder fertilizer use patterns between 1996 and 2004. The study also explores whether the growth in fertilizer use in Kenya is attributed to any particular types of fertilizer delivery supply chains. A better understanding of the types of fertilizer distribution channels fueling the growth in consumption and the sustainability of these delivery systems can be of great help in guiding future policy to replicate successful supply chain models more widely in Kenya. Finally the study is meant to guide discussions on fertilizer marketing policy in Kenya in line with the new Economic Recovery Strategy (ERS).
Supportive care needs: are patients with lung cancer a neglected population?

While the unmet supportive care needs are well documented for some groups of cancer patients, relatively little is known about the levels and types of needs of lung cancer patients. The study aims to compare the levels of lung cancer patients' psychosocial needs with those of other cancer patients. A total of 1492 consecutive patients in nine major public cancer treatment centres in New South Wales, Australia, were invited to participate in the Supportive Care Needs Study; 888 completed surveys were received. The mean number of unmet needs (out of a maximum of 59) reported by lung cancer patients was 15.6 (95% CI 12.1–19.1), compared to 10.9 (95% CI 10.0–11.8) in other cancer patients. The differences were mainly due to the fact that lung cancer patients reported a higher mean number of unmet psychological needs (7.6 versus 5.0) and physical and daily living unmet needs (2.8 versus 1.4), compared to the other cancer patients. Having a lung cancer diagnosis was an independent predictor of having a high level of psychological need (RR 2.00, 95%CI 1.13–3.56) and daily living need (RR 2.81, 95%CI 1.60–4.95), together with not being in remission, and receiving the cancer diagnosis more than two years previously. The results suggest that priority needs to be given to addressing the specific needs of this sub‐group of cancer survivors. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ambitious Entrepreneurship: A Review of Growth Aspirations, Intentions, and Expectations

In the study of entrepreneurial behavior types, “ambitious entrepreneurship” recently emerged as a new research concept. Unfortunately, a systematic overview of what is known (and not known) about this topic is missing. In particular, insights into the various definitions, measures, and antecedents of ambitious entrepreneurship are lacking. In this chapter, we offer a state-of-the-art review and analysis of extant research on ambitious entrepreneurship. We structure the literature review by providing insights into antecedents of ambitious entrepreneurship, and extensively discuss the conceptualization and operationalization of this research concept. We clarify the differences between related concepts such as growth intention, expectation, and aspiration, and argue how all these concepts fit into a unifying framework of ambitious entrepreneurship. We summarize promising future research avenues for the study of ambitious entrepreneurship, both from a methodological and a conceptual point of view.
Towards a comprehensive view of tourism governance: relationships between the corporate governance of tourism service firms and territorial governance

Tourism governance comprises different levels and has been tackled from diverse perspectives, including regional governance, destination governance and corporate governance. However, this piecemeal approach risks overlooking interdependencies. Therefore, this paper integrates the literature on the relationships between the various levels of tourism governance into a comprehensive framework and highlights a lacuna of tourism governance research on tourism service firms. To close this gap and to integrate the service firm into the overall framework of tourism governance, this paper empirically investigates the linkages between the governance of tourism service firms and the governance of destination management organisations (DMOs) in a qualitative, GABEK-supported case study. The findings suggest that destination governance influences the strength of these linkages: weak links between the governance of firms and that of DMOs may be due to specific deficiencies in destination governance. In particular, institutional incongruence is proposed to induce such weak links.
Third World Governments and Multinational Corporations: Dynamics of Host's Bargaining Power

In their economic relationships with multinational corporations, Third World countries would seem to have the critical advantage, inasmuch as they control access to their own territory. That access includes internal markets, the local labour supplies, investment opportunities, sources of raw materials, and other resources that multinational firms need or desire. In practical terms, however, this apparent bargaining advantage on the part of the host nation, in most instances, is greatly surpassed by the superior advantages of the multinationals. Multinational corporations possess the required capital, technology, managerial skills, access to world markets, and other resources that governments in the Third World need or wish to obtain for purposes of economic development. In addition to firm-specific assets technology, managerial skills, capital and access to markets the economic power of the multinationals grows out of a combination of additional factors. First, foreign investment accounts for large percentages of the total stock of local investment, local production and sales. Secondly, multinationals tend to dominate key sectors of the economy that are critical to the host states’ economic development. ’ Thirdly, multinationals usually prevail in the highly concentrated industries in the Third World petroleum, aluminium, chemicals, transportation, food products and machinery. This economic . concentration in single industries gives the multinational firms oligopoly power, allowing them to monopolize and control supply and price in a way that does not occur in more competitive industries. ’ In the first decade and a half after World War II, the multinational corporations were so powerful that they could essentially prevent any challenges to their dominance from host governments. The unique position they held as the sole source of capital, technology and managerial expertise for the Third World states gave them special negotiating advantages. Third World
Earnings Management Around Zero: A motivation to local politician signalling competence

Abstract Literature earnings management aims to determine what causes/motivates managers to disclose earnings close to zero and to use this as an instrument to influence users' decisions. However, limited research has been carried out on this subject in the public sector. Therefore, the main purpose of this paper is to evaluate whether local politicians (in Portuguese municipalities), aiming to demonstrate their high level of competence and skills, engage in earnings management in such a way as to ensure that earnings are positive but close to zero. We examined whether political competition is a determining factor of earnings management close to zero and if managers use discretionary accruals in order to do this. Results indicate that, in order to report positive net earnings close to zero, discretionary accruals are used. This study identified the overriding tendency to avoid the reporting of losses in those municipalities where political competition is greatest.
Investigating CSI: Portrayals of DNA testing on a forensic crime show and their potential effects

The popularity of forensic crime shows such as CSI has fueled debate about their potential social impact. This study considers CSI’s potential effects on public understandings regarding DNA testing in the context of judicial processes, the policy debates surrounding crime laboratory procedures, and the forensic science profession, as well as an effect not discussed in previous accounts: namely, the show’s potential impact on public understandings of DNA and genetics more generally. To develop a theoretical foundation for research on the “CSI effect,” it draws on cultivation theory, social cognitive theory, and audience reception studies. It then uses content analysis and textual analysis to illuminate how the show depicts DNA testing. The results demonstrate that CSI tends to depict DNA testing as routine, swift, useful, and reliable and that it echoes broader discourses about genetics. At times, however, the show suggests more complex ways of thinking about DNA testing and genetics.
Purification to homogeneity of pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase of barley.

An enzyme has been purified to homogeneity from barley seedlings which has ;proline dehydrogenase' and the pyrroline-5-carboxylic acid reductase activities. The purification achieved is 39,000-fold as calculated from the proline dehydrogenase activity. The subunit molecular weight of the protein is 30 kilodaltons. The native enzyme has molecular weights up to 480 kilodaltons, depending on the buffer environment. From the pH profiles, the specific activities and thermodynamic considerations, it is concluded that the plant proline dehydrogenase functions in vivo as a pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase.
Enhanced expression of interferon‐inducible protein‐10 correlates with disease activity and clinical manifestations in systemic lupus erythematosus

Our objective was to investigate the serum levels of interferon‐inducible protein‐10 (IP‐10) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and their correlation with disease activity and organ manifestations. Serum IP‐10 levels were assessed in 464 SLE patients and 50 healthy donors. Disease activity was assessed by the revised SLE Activity Measure, and the concomitant active organ manifestations, anti‐ds DNA antibody titres, complement levels and erythrocyte sedimentation rates recorded. Peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) synthesis of IP‐10 in SLE patients and controls was determined by in vitro cultures stimulated with mitogen or lipopolysaccharide. Elevated serum IP‐10 levels were observed in SLE patients, which were significantly higher in the presence of active haematological and mucocutaneous manifestations. SLE PBMCs exhibited enhanced spontaneous IP‐10 production in vitro. Serial IP‐10 levels correlated with longitudinal change in SLE activity, even at low levels where anti‐dsDNA antibody and complement levels remain unchanged. These data demonstrate that IP‐10 levels are increased in SLE and serum IP‐10 may represent a more sensitive marker for monitoring disease activity than standard serological tests.
Effect of voice training in the voice rehabilitation of patients with vocal cord polyps after surgery

The objective of the present study was to determine the effect of voice training on the vocal rehabilitation of patients with vocal cords polyps following phonomicrosurgery. A total of 60 cases of vocal cord polyps treated by laser phonomicrosurgery were randomly divided into training and control groups with 30 cases in each group. The patients were treated with laser phonomicrosurgery, routine postoperative treatment and nursing. The training group were additionally treated with vocal training, including relaxation training, breathing training, basic pronunciation training, chewing voice training and tone sandhi pronunciation training, and attention was paid to the training steps. Subjective and objective voice evaluations of the two groups were compared three months after the surgery and the differences between groups were statistically significant (P<0.05). Voice training may significantly improve the postoperative voice quality of patients with vocal cord polyps and support rehabilitation.
Extended pelvic lymphadenectomy for prostate cancer: Will the previously reported benefits be reproduced in hospitals with lower surgical volumes?

Abstract Objective. In the European Association of Urology guidelines on prostate cancer an extended pelvic lymphadenectomy (ePLND) is now recommended, instead of a dissection limited to the obturator fossae (lPLND). This recommendation relies on studies reporting that metastatic disease is identified twice as often with ePLND as with lPLND, with only moderately increased complications. However, these studies were from high-volume centres. This study investigated whether these results could be repeated in a hospital with lower surgical volume, more typical for the Nordic countries. Material and methods. From January 2002 to September 2007 172 patients underwent radical prostatectomy and PLND at the University Hospital of Lund, 108 with ePLND and 64 with lPLND. Perioperative complications and the number of lymph-node metastases found were registered. Results. A median of 17 lymph nodes was identified with ePLND compared with seven with lPLND. Metastases were identified in four out of 64 patients in the lPLND group (6%), versus 22 out of 108 in the ePLND group (20%). In the ePLND group 10 of the patients with metastases had such exclusively outside the obturator fossae. Complications were significantly more common after ePLND (p=0.007): lymphoceles (18 vs 9%), pulmonary embolism (4.6 vs 1.6%), deep venous thrombosis(1 vs 1.5%) and other (haematomas and infectious including sepsis (8 vs 0%). Conclusions. Almost half of the patients with metastases are misclassified by lPLND. Complications are significantly more common after ePLND. This implies that ePLND should be performed, but in selected patients and by high-volume surgeons only.
Effects of local application of methylprednisolone delivered by the C/GP-hydrogel on the recovery of facial nerves

Abstract Conclusions: Local administration of MP delivered by the C/GP-MP-hydrogel can improve the recovery of facial nerve following crush injury. The findings suggested that locally injected MP delivered by C/GP-hydrogel might be a promising treatment for facial nerve damage. Objectives: In this study, the aim is to assess the effectiveness of locally administrating methylprednisolone(MP) loaded by chitosan-β-glycerophosphate hydrogel (C/GP-hydrogel) on the regeneration of facial nerve crush injury. Methods: After the crush of left facial nerves, Wistar rats were randomly divided into four different groups. Then, four different therapies were used to treat the damaged facial nerves. At the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th week after injury, the functional recovery of facial nerves and the morphological changes of facial nerves were assessed. The expression of growth associated protein-43 (GAP-43) protein in the facial nucleus were also evaluated. Results: Locally injected MP delivered by C/GP-hydrogel effectively accelerated the facial functional recovery. In addition, the regenerated facial nerves in the C/GP-MP group were more mature than those in the other groups. The expression of GAP-43 protein was also improved by the MP, especially in the C/GP-MP group.