Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Inflation in Egypt: Internal or External Driven?

This paper investigates whether internal or external factors explain inflation in Egypt over the period 2003M1–2012M12. Using an autoregressive distributed lag model, results indicate that money supply and global commodity prices affect inflation in the long-run, while important short-run factors are inflation persistence, exchange rate depreciation and supply side bottlenecks. It is also shown that global commodity prices, especially energy prices, pass-through into headline inflation in Egypt with a short lag. These results take into account the different stationary characteristics of different time series variables and are robust to different model specifications. Policy recommendations include the necessity of reforming the government’s energy subsidy bill, less monetization of the deficit and gradual liberalization of the currency in order to curb inflationary pressures in Egypt and put the economy on a more sustainable path.
Including Performance Assessments in Accountability Systems: A Review of Scale-Up Efforts.

The purpose of this literature and field review is to understand previous efforts at scaling up performance assessments for use across districts and states. Performance assessments benefit students and teachers by providing more opportunities for students to demonstrate their knowledge and complex skills, by providing teachers with better information about student progress, and by encouraging schools to build professional collaborative cultures through integrating curriculum, instruction, and assessment. Despite these benefits, performance assessments in accountability systems are still relatively rare in the U.S. This review of such systems found that the main challenges facing educators interested in using performance assessments at scale, and for accountability purposes, are the technical quality of performance assessments, the sustainability of implementation through strong professional development models, and political buy-in. Through the wealth of their collective experiences, the knowledge and capacity to tackle each of the challenges exists, and those lessons should be applied to the next generation of accountability systems. Through a systematic description of seven performance assessment scale-up efforts, as well as descriptions of analogous efforts from teacher certification, medicine, and law, this review concludes with implications for future endeavors to integrate performance assessments into accountability systems. Some of these implications include: • Develop and provide schools and districts with criteria and guidelines for achieving technical quality in performance assessments. • Use external partnerships and experienced teachers to create professional development models in assessment literacy, assessment design, and scoring. • Use state and district policy incentives to support the regular collection of technical quality evidence for each assessment. • Build public and political support for including performance assessments in accountability systems.
Professional Development Programmes for Polytechnic Library Staff in Ghana: Challenges and Prospects

The study assessed professional development programmes available for Polytechnic Library staff in Ghana, and examined their prospects and challenges. The survey method was employed and quantitative approach was adopted for the study which involved only professional Library and para-professional staff of the Polytechnics in Ghana. Out of 80 copies of questionnaire sent out, 72 were retrieved representing a response rate of 90%. The study revealed that most of the staff were aware of the term “professional development”. They also confirmed that knowledge they acquired through professional development had also improved on their work performance considerably. Again, the study showed that Library staff had attended several professional development programmes which included workshops, seminars and conferences. Furthermore, the study revealed that professional development programmes were associated with challenges such as lack of finance and inadequate budget. However, the study recommends that Head Librarians should continue to allow staff to participate in workshops, seminars and training especially on the use of the electronic resources in the Library. Again, Head Librarians should liaise with the various Library committees to enforce the regulation by National Council for Tertiary Education for all tertiary libraries to benefit from 10% of the Academic Facility User Fee(AFUF) to enable them manage the libraries more effectively.
Organizing the Next Generation: Influences on Young Workers' Willingness to Join Unions in Canada

This paper argues that union attitudes and behaviour are important but neglected features of the school–work transition process. Using longitudinal panel data from a study of high school and university graduates in three Canadian cities, we examine how young people’s previous union membership, attitudes and educational, labour market and workplace experiences shape their willingness to join unions. This paper establishes that views about unions are emergent during youth, solidifying with age and experience. The implications of these findings for industrial relations, school–work transitions research and labour movement organizing are discussed.
Towards the managerialization of trade unions? Recent trends in France and Germany

This article focuses on recent changes in internal trade union organizational practices in France and Germany, drawing on interviews and internal union documents. Whereas the union renewal literature has emphasized the introduction of elements from the action repertoire of social movements into trade unions, this article finds that union officials and leaders are also transferring private sector managerial rhetoric and practices into trade unions. The extent and dynamics of this process termed ‘managerialization’ are discussed, as well as its effects on role definitions of union leaders, officials and members, comparing two trade unions: in France the Fédération Chimie Energie and in Germany the Vereinte Dienstleistungsgewerkschaft. The resulting tensions between trade unionism’s administrative and representative rationalities are highlighted.
Nonexpected Utility in Macroeconomics

This paper introduces, within the context of an infinite horizon optimal consumption problem, a parametric class of Kreps-Porteus nonexpected utility preferences—generalized isoelastic utility—which distinguishes attitudes toward risk from behavior toward intertemporal substitution. Some of the theoretical and empirical implications for macroeconomics of these state- and time-nonseparable preferences are examined.
Inhibitory effects of a fermented ginseng extract, BST204, on the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharide‐activated murine macrophages

In this study, the effects of BST204, a fermented ginseng extract, on the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and nitric oxide (NO) production are looked into. Crude ginseng extract was incubated with ginsenoside‐β‐glucosidase to prepare BST204. BST204, unlike lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and crude ginseng extract, did not affect the level of iNOS protein and NO production in unstimulated RAW 264.7 cells. However, it suppressed the level of iNOS protein and NO production in LPS‐stimulated RAW 264.7 cells but did not manifest the same effect on the iNOS mRNA level. An investigation of the activating phosphorylation of p70 S6 kinase and 4E‐BP1, which are important for translation, was conducted to investigate the suppressive mechanism of iNOS protein. LPS increased the phosphorylation of p70 S6 kinase, but not 4E‐BP1, in a time‐dependent manner, and BST204 inhibited it in a dose‐dependent manner. The expression of iNOS protein, however, was partially suppressed by rapamycin, an upstream inhibitor of p70 S6 kinase. Therefore, this paper suggests that the suppression of iNOS protein by BST204 was partially correlated with the inhibition of p70 S6 kinase activation.
Economic Determinants of Domestic Investment: A Case of Pakistan

The study intends to investigate the determinants of gross domestic investments in Pakistan from the period of 1973 to 2010. All the annual time series of data have been extracted from the valid sources like; Business Recorder and State Bank of Pakistan. In order to assess their behavior over the time, and to evaluate how these variables have either hindered or encouraged the growth of investment in Pakistanâ€™s economy. Domestic investment in Pakistan is stimulated by real GDP growth as well as with the expansion of exports of goods and services. Moreover, the flow of FDI in Pakistan is â€œcrowd inâ€ domestic investment. The development of financial sector and human capital is vital for economic escalation in country. However, the stimulation in formal credit and formation of industrial capital may lead towards promulgation in domestic investments. The Pakistanâ€™s economic environment demands massive level of domestic investments which lead towards capital formation and economic progression.
ปัจจัยที่ส่งผลต่อประสิทธิผลของโรงเรียนเอกชน ประเภทสามัญในภาคตะวันออก (FACTORS AFFECTING EFFECTIVENESS OF PRIVATE BASIC EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS IN THE EAST OF THAILAND)

บทคดยอ การวจยครงนมวตถประสงคเพอศกษาปจจยทสงผลตอประสทธผลของโรงเรยนเอกชนประเภทสามญในภาคตะวนออก และเพอสรางแบบจำลองความสมพนธโครงสรางเชงเสนของปจจยทสงผลตอประสทธผลการจดการศกษาโรงเรยนเอกชนประเภทสามญในภาคตะวนออก กลมตวอยางเปนครผสอนในระดบประถมศกษาและมธยมศกษา โรงเรยนเอกชน ประเภทสามญในภาคตะวนออก ปการศกษา 2551 จำนวน 960 คน โดยการสมแบบหลายขนตอน และตวแปรตนทศกษา ไดแก ปจจยดานพฤตกรรมการบรหารของผนำบรรยากาศของโรงเรยน วฒนธรรมของโรงเรยน คณภาพชวตในการทำงาน การสอสาร และความผกพนของคร โดยตวแปรดานประสทธผลของโรงเรยนเปนตวแปรตาม เครองมอในการรวบรวมขอมล คอ แบบสอบถาม แบบมาตราสวนประมาณคา 5 ระดบ และวเคราะหขอมลโดยใชคอมพวเตอรโปรแกรม SPSS ในการหาสถตขนพนฐาน และใชโปรแกรม LISREL Version 8.54 ในการสรางและตรวจสอบแบบจำลองปจจยทสงผลตอประสทธผลของโรงเรยนเอกชนประเภทสามญในภาคตะวนออก ผลการวจยพบวา แบบจำลองปจจยทสงผลตอประสทธผลของโรงเรยนเอกชนประเภทสามญ ในภาคตะวนออกมคาดชนความกลมกลนอยในเกณฑมาตรฐานทดและสอดคลองกบขอมลเชงประจกษ โดยพจารณาจากคา Chi-Square = 828.25, df = 428, p-value = 0.000, Relative Chi-Square = 1.94, คา GFI = 0.95, คา AGFI = 0.91, คา SRMR = 0.027, คา RMSEA = 0.034 และคา CFI = 1.00 ซงสามารถพยากรณประสทธผลของโรงเรยนไดรอยละ 60 อยางมนยสำคญทางสถต โดยปจจยทสงผลตอประสทธผลของโรงเรยนเอกชนประเภทสามญในภาคตะวนออก เรยงลำดบตามคาอทธพลจากมากไปนอยมทงหมด 6 ปจจย คอ พฤตกรรมการบรหารของผนำ ปจจยบรรยากาศของโรงเรยน ปจจยวฒนธรรมของโรงเรยน ปจจยคณภาพชวตในการทำงาน ปจจยการสอสาร และปจจยความผกพนของคร ABTRACT The purposes of this study were to analyze factors affecting the effectiveness of private basic education institutions and to develop the linear structural equation model of factors affecting the effectiveness of private basic education institutions in the east of Thailand . The sampling was done by means of multi-stage random sample, and consisted of 960 teachers from private basic education institutions in the east of Thailand in the 2008 academic year. There were seven variables; administrative behaviors of leaders, school climate, school culture, teacher’s quality of work life, communication, teachers’ commitment, and school effectiveness. The research instrument was 5 rating scale questionnaires on the theory of school effectiveness. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics by using SPSS and LISREL 8.54 to develop and validate the factors affecting the effectiveness of private basic education institutions in the east of Thailand. The findings revealed that the adjusted model was consistent with empirical data. Goodness of fit measures were found to be Chi-square = 828.25, df = 42, p-value = 0.000, Relative Chi-square = 1.94, GFI = 0.95, AGFI = 0.91, SRMR = 0.027, RMSEA = 0.034, CFI = 1.00. The variables in adjusted model could predict the effectiveness of private basic education institutions in the east of Thailand by 60 percent with statistical significance. The six variables affecting the effectiveness of private basic education institutions in the east of Thailand ranging from high to low were: leadership behaviors of Administrators, school climate, school culture, teacher’s quality of work life, communication, and teachers’ commitment.
Views of Australian and New Zealand radiation oncologists and registrars about evidence-based medicine and their access to Internet based sources of evidence.

In order to determine the views of Australian and New Zealand (ANZ) radiation oncologists and registrars about evidence-based medicine (EBM) and their access to, and use of, Internet-based EBM resources such as MEDLINE and the Cochrane Library, a self-administered postal survey was sent out in December 2000. A total of 191 of 243 practicing ANZ radiation radiation oncologists (138) and registrars (53) responded (78.6% response rate). The main outcome measures were: (i) views about EBM and its promotion; (ii) previous EBM training; (iii) extent of Internet access and level of MEDLINE use and access to online medical journals; (iv) awareness of the Cochrane Library and other EBM resources; and (v) self-assessment of common EBM technical terms. The results of the survey found that most (82.7%) indicated a positive view of themselves towards the current promotion of EBM. However, significantly fewer perceived their colleagues were as positive (chi2 = 35.2, d.f. = 1, P < 0.001). Most (84.8%) considered research findings 'useful' in day-to-day management of patients. The majority (70.2%) of respondents never had attended an EBM course; however, most indicated interest in such training. The majority (73.8%) reported having accessed MEDLINE or another bibliographic database in the previous month. Seventy-seven respondents (40.3%) reported that, in the past month, a literature search/article had influenced their practice. Only a minority (28.3%) used the Cochrane Library. Self-assessment of most of the 12 EBM terms was generally high. For radiation oncologists, past attendance at an EBM course was significantly associated with a better overall self-assessment of these 12 terms (chi2 = 10.59, d.f. = 1, P = 0.001). These findings reveal strong support for EBM among ANZ radiation oncologists and registrars with most regularly accessing the Internet for evidence. However, lack of awareness of some relevant EBM related resources, particularly the Cochrane Library, remains a challenge. Our findings invite a concerted effort by those promoting EBM to ensure clinicians have both the skills and knowledge to practice EBM.
Molecular Analyses of the Interaction of Borrelia hermsii FhbA with the Complement Regulatory Proteins Factor H and Factor H-Like Protein 1

ABSTRACT Borrelia hermsii, the primary etiological agent of tick-borne relapsing fever in North America, binds the complement regulatory protein factor H (FH) as a means of evading opsonophagocytosis and the alternative complement pathway. The ability of FH-binding protein A (FhbA) to bind FH-like protein 1 (FHL-1) has not been assessed previously. In this study, using a whole-cell absorption assay, we demonstrated that B. hermsii absorbs both FH and FHL-1 from human serum. Consistent with this, affinity ligand binding immunoblot analyses revealed that FH constructs spanning short consensus repeats 1 to 7 and 16 to 20 bind to FhbA. To investigate the molecular basis of the interaction of FhbA with FH/FHL-1, recombinant FhbA truncated proteins were generated and tested for FH/FHL-1 binding. Binding required determinants located in both the N- and C-terminal domains of FhbA, suggesting that long-range intramolecular interactions are involved in the formation and presentation of the FH/FHL-1-binding pocket. To identify specific FhbA residues involved in binding, random mutagenesis was performed. These analyses identified a loop region of FhbA that may serve as a contact point for FH/FHL-1. The data presented here expand our understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms of the relapsing fever spirochetes and of the molecular nature of the interaction between FH/FHL-1 and FhbA.
R&D DIVERSIFICATION IN MNCs: BETWEEN EARNINGS MANAGEMENT AND SHAREHOLDERS INCREASING WEALTH

This paper examines the impact of the R&D geographic diversification on the shareholders’ wealth (as measured appreciatively by the firm's market value) and on the earnings management as a mechanism of manager's entrainment. Using a sample of 460 firm‐year observations for multinational firms over the 2002--2006 period, we find that the R&D decentralization may enhance the shareholders’ wealth and increase the managers’ one. The results show that the R&D geographic diversification increases the informational asymmetry and support the emergence of the favourable conditions for the earnings management and the managers’ entrainment. It may increase the managers’ autonomy which likely allows them to manage the result in order to increase their own wealth and destruct the shareholder's one.
Wheelchair Rugby Improves Pulmonary Function in People With Tetraplegia After 1 Year of Training

Abstract Moreno, MA, Paris, JV, Sarro, KJ, Lodovico, A, Silvatti, AP, and Barros, RML. Wheelchair rugby improves pulmonary function in people with tetraplegia after 1 year of training. J Strength Cond Res 27(1): 50–56, 2013—This study investigated the effects of 1 year of regular wheelchair rugby training on the pulmonary function of subjects with tetraplegia. A total of 15 male subjects with tetraplegia participated in this study and were divided into an experimental group of rugby players (n = 8) and a control group (n = 7) of sedentary tetraplegic subjects. Both groups underwent spirometry, and the experimental group was tested before and after participating of a regular 1-year program of wheelchair rugby training. At the beginning of the training program, all the subjects presented reduced pulmonary function compared with predicted values (p < 0.05) for healthy subjects. There were a significant increase in forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expired volume after 1 second (FEV1), and maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV, p < 0.05) values after 1 year of regular wheelchair rugby training. The regression analysis between total training time and spirometric variables FVC (r2 = 0.97, p < 0.0001) and MVV (r2 = 0.58, p = 0.02) revealed that the players with longer training time had higher pulmonary function values. This study showed that regular wheelchair rugby training can improve the pulmonary function of subjects with spinal cord injuries.
The Effect of Work-Family Reconciliation Policies on First-Birth Childbearing Intentions in Poland and Sweden

Many countries in Europe have experienced fertility below replacement level for a long period of time. Population ageing and difficulties in sustaining current living standards follow low fertility levels. To be able to increase fertility levels it is necessary to give women and men in Europe opportunities to fulfil their desired life, with or without children. Work-family reconciliation policies can either prevent people from or allow them to combine a career and a family. To what extent these policies have an influence on short-term childbearing intentions in Poland and Sweden is the focus of this study. Using data from the Gender and Generation Survey, the results show that women in Poland are more likely to intend to have a first child within the next three years than are women in Sweden, despite less favourable work-family reconciliation policies, while childless men in Poland are less likely to intend to have a child in the near future than are men in Sweden. It also shows that the attitudes towards parental leave policies have an effect on first childbearing intentions, but that attitudes towards childcare systems play a minor role when intending to become a parent or not in the near future. Common to the work-family reconciliation policies is that the attitudes towards them are contextually embedded.
Private Sector Incentives and the Diffusion of Agricultural Technology: Evidence from Developing Countries

Abstract The role of intellectual property rights (IPRs) has been extensively debated in the literature on technology transfers and agricultural productivity growth in developing countries. However, few studies offer cross-country evidence on how IPRs affect yield growth by incentivising private sector investment in cultivar improvement. We address this knowledge gap by testing technology diffusion patterns for six major crops using a unique dataset for the period 1961–2010 and an Arellano–Bond linear dynamic panel-data estimation approach. Findings indicate that biological and legal forms of IPRs promote yield gap convergence between developed and developing countries, although effects vary by crop.
Fasting serum concentration of short-chain fatty acids in subjects with microscopic colitis and celiac disease: no difference compared with controls, but between genders

Abstract Background. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), particularly propionic and butyric acids, have been shown to have many positive health effects. The amount and type of SCFAs formed from dietary fibre by the colonic microbiota depends on the substrate available and is reflected in blood. The total intake and type of dietary fibre in people with gastrointestinal diseases differs considerably from healthy subjects. Objective. To compare fasting SCFA concentrations in subjects with microscopic colitis (MC), celiac disease and controls without these diseases. SCFAs were also analysed over 6.5 h in young healthy subjects, who had eaten a fibre-rich breakfast, to identify a possible peak concentration of SCFAs after a meal. Methods. SCFAs in serum were pre-concentrated using hollow fibre-supported liquid membrane extraction and gas chromatography. Results. The MC group had a higher concentration of valeric acid than the control group (p < 0.01). No significant differences in other SCFA concentrations were seen between groups, but the control group tended to have higher concentration of acetic acid (p = 0.1). Furthermore, males had higher concentrations of SCFAs (with the exception of valeric acid) than females (p < 0.05), which were independent of groups. The peaks for acetic, propionic and butyric acids came approximately 5 h, 6.5 h and 2–3 h, respectively, after breakfast. Conclusion. The fasting concentrations of SCFAs were quite similar, although the fibre intake had probably been quite different for a long time. The results might have been different if SCFAs had been recorded over a longer period.