Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Challenges to Intergovernmentalism: An Empirical Analysis of EU Treaty Negotiations since Maastricht

During the last 15 years the nature and process of European treaty reforms changed significantly. The underlying reasons comprise enlargement, a shift of the reform agenda beyond economic coordination and procedural innovations, in particular the invocation of the Convention on the Future of Europe. Against this background, the present article revisits two classic propositions of liberal intergovernmentalism: (1) the power of the largest member states; and (2) the irrelevance of procedural constraints. This analysis compares the positions of national governments at Amsterdam, Nice, and the Constitutional IGC along the two most prevalent dimensions of intergovernmental conflict. Locating the EU treaties in this intergovernmental conflict space, it finds that the reforms of Amsterdam and Nice reflect a sequence of equilibrium and disequilibrium. Both treaty reforms are best understood as minimum compromise between all member states, instead of a deal struck between the most powerful members. However, the Constitutional IGC reveals a slightly different picture as the unanimity win-set for reform has been almost empty. The fact that member states nevertheless signed the Constitutional Treaty hints towards the importance of procedural innovations, in particular the Convention method.
Empirical Studies of Depreciation

This paper surveys empirical research on depreciation based on an econometric model of asset prices introduced by R. E. Hall in 1971 and shows how Hall's model provides a vehicle for unifying research on constant quality price indices and depreciation. An additional objective of the paper is to illustrate the use of this research in constructing an integrated system of income, product, and wealth accounts. A system of vintage accounts, like that originated by L. R. Christensen and D. W. Jorgenson in 1973, is the key to successful integration. Copyright 1996 by Oxford University Press.
Allelic heterogeneity of molecular events in human coagulation factor IX in Asian Indians

Mutations in Factor IX gene (F9) cause X‐linked recessive bleeding disorder hemophilia B. Here, we characterized molecular events in nine North Indian hemophiliac families identifying four missense mutations (three novel), two nonsense mutations, and a deletion. We have also captured the mutational spectrum of this disease in India based on available reports and established their genotype/phenotype relationships. Indian F9 mutations data indicate the absence of an important germline mutagen in the Indian subcontinent over the last century, and are consistent with previously made conclusions that universal, presumably endogenous factors are predominant in the causation of the spontaneous mutations in F9. We also analyzed the distribution of Ala194Thr polymorphism in 1231 Asian Indians and have established that Ala variant is far more frequent and can certainly be exploited for carrier detection, contrary to earlier reports. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc
Outreach education for integration of HIV/AIDS care, antiretroviral treatment, and tuberculosis care in primary care clinics in South Africa: PALSA PLUS pragmatic cluster randomised trial

Objective To investigate whether PALSA PLUS, an on-site educational outreach programme of non-didactic, case based, iterative clinical education of staff, led by a trainer, can increase access to and comprehensiveness of care for patients with HIV/AIDS. Design Cluster randomised trial. Setting Public primary care clinics offering HIV/AIDS care, antiretroviral treatment (ART), tuberculosis care, and ambulatory primary care in Free State province, South Africa. Participants Fifteen clinics all implementing decentralisation and task shifting were randomised. The clinics cared for 400 000 general primary care patients and 10 136 patients in an HIV/AIDS/ART programme. There were 150 nurses. Intervention On-site outreach education in eight clinics; no such education in seven (control). Main outcome measures Provision of co-trimoxazole prophylaxis among patients referred to the HIV/AIDS/ART programme, and detection of cases of tuberculosis among those in the programme. Proportion of patients in the programme enrolled through general primary care consultations. Results Patients referred to the HIV/AIDS programme through general primary care at intervention clinics were more likely than those at control clinics to receive co-trimoxazole prophylaxis (41%, (2253/5523) v 32% (1340/4210); odds ratio 1.95, 95% confidence interval 1.11 to 3.40), and tuberculosis was more likely to be diagnosed among patients with HIV/AIDS/ART (7% (417/5793) v 6% (245/4343); 1.25, 1.01 to 1.55). Enrolment in the HIV/AIDS and ART programme through HIV testing in general primary care was not significantly increased (53% v 50%; 1.19, 0.51 to 2.77). Secondary outcomes were similar, except for weight gain, which was higher in the intervention group (2.3 kg v 1.9 kg, P<0.001). Conclusion Though outreach education is an effective and feasible strategy for improving comprehensiveness of care and wellbeing of patients with HIV/AIDS, there is no evidence that it increases access to the ART programme. It is now being widely implemented in South Africa. Trial registration Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN 24820584.
Productive Capacity, Product Varieties, and the Elasticities Approach to the Trade Balance

Most macroeconomic models imply that faster output growth tends to lower a country's trade balance by raising its imports with little change to its exports. Krugman (1989) proposed a model in which countries grow by producing new varieties of goods. In his model, faster-growing countries are able to export these new goods and maintain balanced trade without suffering any deterioration in their terms of trade. This paper analyzes the growth of U.S. imports from different source countries and finds strong support for Krugman's model.
A Theoretic Framework for the Analysis of Credit Union Decision Making

This paper presents a formal theoretic framework to analyze credit union interest rates on loans and savings deposits. The unique motivational and institutional features of a credit union, in particular its structure as a financial service cooperative, are used to develop the objective function. This is based on a comparison of the credit union's rates to alternatively available market rates and includes parameters to recognize the possibility of borrower-saver conflict. The principal result is that the optimal rates and reactions to exogenous changes depend critically on the preference of the organization toward financial gain to the borrowing and saving members.
Transformational Leadership of Afghans and Americans: A Study of Culture, Age and Gender

Afghans and Americans have been exposed to different leadership styles which may have influenced their orientation on leading others. Age, gender, and/or culture are possible factors for such differences in leadership orientations. This research surveyed the responses of 502 Americans and 300 Afghans to better understand their orientation toward transformational leadership. The Afghan respondents had significantly higher scores for transformational leadership orientation. Female American respondents had a significantly higher transformational leadership orientation than their Afghan female colleagues. Younger Afghans had a significantly higher tendency toward a transformational leadership orientation than their American counterparts. Suggestions for managers and implications for future research are presented.
The sympathetic nervous system and obstructive sleep apnea: implications for hypertension

Patients with obstructive sleep apnea experience repetitive apneic events during sleep, with consequent hypoxia and hypercapnia. Hypoxia and hypercapnia, acting via the chemoreflexes, elicit increases in sympathetic nerve activity. The sympathetic responses to hypoxia and hypercapnia are potentiated during apnea, when the sympathetic inhibitory influence of the thoracic afferent nerves is eliminated. As a consequence of the sympathetic vasoconstrictor response to apneic events, patients with obstructive sleep apnea manifest marked increases in blood pressure during sleep, especially evident at the end of the apnea. The increases in sympathetic activity and blood pressure during sleep in these patients appear to carry over into the daytime such that patients with sleep apnea have an increased prevalence of hypertension and high levels of sympathetic nerve activity. Although the mechanism underlying the persistent elevation in sympathetic activity during the daytime is not known, it is likely that the increased sympathetic drive is implicated in the higher daytime blood pressures in these patients. Whereas patients with sleep apnea have an increased prevalence of hypertension, in those patients with sleep apnea who do have hypertension, the sympathetic response to apneic events may be potentiated. This may be secondary to impaired baroreflex sensitivity, since the baroreflexes exert an inhibitory influence on the chemoreflex responses to hypoxia. Treatment with continuous positive airway pressure results in an acute reduction in blood pressure and sympathetic activity during sleep. Prolonged effective treatment of sleep apnea may also reduce daytime blood pressure levels. This review examines the physiology of the chemoreflex responses to hypoxia, hypercapnia and apnea, as well as the physiologic responses to sleep in normal humans. These physiologic responses are compared with the pathophysiologic sympathetic and hemodynamic responses that characterize obstructive sleep apnea. Increases in sympathetic activity and blood pressure in patients with obstructive sleep apnea may play a role in linking sleep apnea to hypertension and cardiac and vascular events.
Are German, Japanese and Anglo-Saxon Strategic Decision Styles Still Divergent in the Context of Globalization?

Issues of globalization and divergence in terms of national systems and cultures are equally contentious, yet equally important, in the context of increasing cross-continental co-operation. This article investigates comparative strategic decision styles in Britain, the USA, Germany and Japan. An industry at an advanced stage in terms of globalization, vehicle components manufacture, was selected in order to explore the extent of convergence and whether this has changed. Between 1989 and 1998, field case studies were made of 100 strategic investment decisions (SIDs) by manufacturers in these four countries. Longitudinal judgements were supplemented by earlier comparative strategy field research carried out in 60 suppliers between 1980 and 1983, and two longitudinal case studies, one from the UK and one from Japan, interviewed throughout both these periods and again in 2002. Two competing hypotheses, derived from rich research literatures, are investigated. The first (H1) suggests that national institutional and cultural factors exert profound differences, and should therefore be afforded more significance as globalization proceeds further. The second (H2) is apparently contradictory and emphasizes that institutions and organizations are likely to respond to convergence pressures, spurred by global capital markets and competition on the one hand, and a diffusion of 'professional management' practices on the other. Japanese firms generally, and German family firms in particular, were still found to exhibit deep-rooted differences from the Anglo-Saxon model, which appears to confirm H1. However study of German public companies reveals that their strategic approaches are far less divergent from what is now an increasingly consistent Anglo-Saxon model than they were a decade ago, which appears to confirm the competing hypothesis H2. Copyright Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2005.
Comprehensive systematic review of evidence on developing and sustaining nursing leadership that fosters a healthy work environment in healthcare

Objectives The objective of this review was to appraise and synthesise the best available evidence on the feasibility, meaningfulness and effectiveness of nursing leadership attributes that contribute to the development and sustainability of nursing leadership to foster a healthy work environment. Inclusion criteria This review considered quantitative and qualitative research papers that addressed the feasibility, meaningfulness and effectiveness of developing and sustaining nursing leadership to foster a healthy work environment in healthcare. Papers of the highest level of evidence ratings were given priority. Participants of interest were leaders and those who were affected by leadership, specifically staff and patients. Interventions of interest including positive leadership attributes, as well as system and policy constructs, that impact on the development and sustainability of nursing leadership within the healthcare environment were considered in the review. Search strategy The search strategy sought to find both published and unpublished studies and papers, limited to the English language. An initial limited search of MEDLINE and CINAHL was undertaken followed by an analysis of the text words contained in the title and abstract, and of the index terms used to describe the paper. A second extensive search was then undertaken using all identified key words and index terms. Methodological quality Each paper was assessed by two independent reviewers for methodological quality prior to inclusion in the review using an appropriate critical appraisal instrument from the System for the Unified Management, Assessment and Review of Information (SUMARI) package. Results A total of 48 papers, experimental, qualitative and textual in nature, were included in the review. The majority of papers were descriptive and examined the relationships between leadership styles and characteristics and particular outcomes, such as satisfaction. Because of the diverse nature of these papers meta‐analysis of the results was not possible. For this reason, this section of the review was presented in narrative form. The qualitative and textual papers were analysed using The Joanna Briggs Institute‐Qualitative Assessment and Review Instrument and The Joanna Briggs Institute‐Narrative, Opinion and Text Assessment and Review Instrument. The process of meta‐synthesis embodied in these programs involves the aggregation or synthesis of findings or conclusions. Eight syntheses were derived with key themes related to collaboration, education, emotional intelligence, organisational climate, professional development, positive behaviours and qualities and the need for a supportive environment. Conclusion A combination of leadership styles and characteristics was found to contribute to the development and sustainability of a healthy work environment. The current work conducted in this area provides a solid foundation for future directions in research.
Effect of heterogeneity of hydrophobic moieties on surface activity of lichenysin A, a lipopeptide biosurfactant from Bacillus licheniformis BAS50

Lichenysin A, a surface‐active lipopeptide produced by Bacillus licheniformis, strain BAS50, contains longchain beta‐hydroxy fatty acids. Regulation of the synthesis of fatty acids and beta‐hydroxy fatty acids was studied by modifying the culture medium. Addition of branched‐chain alpha‐amino acids to the medium caused similar changes to both cellular fatty acid and to beta‐hydroxy fatty acid composition in the lipophilic part of lichenysin A. Production of lichenysin A was enhanced about two‐ and four‐fold by addition of L‐glutamic acid and L‐asparagine respectively. It is suggested that these amino acids may be involved in the control of lipopeptide formation. Elucidation of the structure‐function relationship of surface‐active lipopeptides by analysis of the activities of structurally characterized compounds is discussed. Fractions of lichenysin A with branched beta‐hydroxy acids in the lipid tail demonstrated lower surface‐tension activity than the fractions of lichenysin A having straight beta‐hydroxy acids. The presence of a lichenysin A fraction with beta‐hydroxymyristic [(C14)n] acid residues appears to have an important influence on the surface activity of a mixture of lichenysins A.
Induced abortion as an independent risk factor for breast cancer: a comprehensive review and meta-analysis.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To ascertain, from the published reports to date, whether or not a significantly increased risk of breast cancer is specifically attributable to a history of induced abortion, independent of spontaneous abortion and age at first full term pregnancy (or first live birth); to establish the relative magnitude of such risk increase as may be found, and to ascertain and quantify such risk increases as may pertain to particular subpopulations of women exposed to induced abortion; in particular, nulliparous women and parous women exposed before compared with after the first full term pregnancy. INCLUDED STUDIES: The meta-analysis includes all 28 published reports which include specific data on induced abortion and breast cancer incidence. Since some study data are presented in more than one report, the 28 reports were determined to constitute 23 independent studies. Overall induced abortion odds ratios and odds ratios for the different subpopulations were calculated using an average weighted according to the inverse of the variance. An overall unweighted average was also computed for comparison. No quality criteria were imposed, but a narrative review of all included studies is presented for the reader's use in assessing the quality of individual studies. EXCLUDED STUDIES: All 33 published reports including data on abortion and breast cancer incidence but either pertaining only to spontaneous abortion or to abortion without specification as to whether it was induced or spontaneous. These studies are listed for the reader's information. RESULTS: The overall odds ratio (for any induced abortion exposure; n = 21 studies) was 1.3 (95% confidence interval of 1.2, 1.4). For comparison, the unweighted overall odds ratio was 1.4 (1.3,1.6). The odds ratio for nulliparous women was 1.3 (1.0,1.6), that for abortion before the first term pregnancy in parous women was 1.5 (1.2,1.8), and that for abortion after the first term pregnancy was 1.3 (1.1,1.5). CONCLUSIONS: The results support the inclusion of induced abortion among significant independent risk factors for breast cancer, regardless of parity or timing of abortion relative to the first term pregnancy. Although the increase in risk was relatively low, the high incidence of both breast cancer and induced abortion suggest a substantial impact of thousands of excess cases per year currently, and a potentially much greater impact in the next century, as the first cohort of women exposed to legal induced abortion continues to age.
User Goals on an Online Public Access Catalog

An ongoing thread in information retrieval research has been the exploration of user goals (or information needs, or problems) on information retrieval systems. It has been suggested that an understanding of goals and their role in the information retrieval interaction can provide insight into appropriate retrieval strategies, relevant documents, and general system design. This article reports on empirical findings concerning goals of users searching an OPAC at a northeastern United States university. These findings were generated during a large inductive and qualitative study of users' interactions with the OPAC. It was found that respondents came to the OPAC to search for a variety of course- or degree-related projects in which they were engaged. Respondent goals were not greatly modified during the course of these interactions. A set of situational elements associated with the respondent's goal was also identified. The implications of these findings for OPAC design and the training of informational professionals are discussed. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
General Education Elementary Teachers' Perceptions of Developing "Interventionist" Beliefs and Practices

This thesis investigates how “Interventionist”, “general education” (GEN) teachers, (or “core” teachers, as opposed to special educators) in the elementary stream, in Ontario, have learned inclusive beliefs and practices that have been considered effective for teaching and including children with exceptionalities in their classrooms. 10 GEN elementary teachers, consisting of 3 men and 7 women, from 2 local school boards, were interviewed to determine if they were “Interventionist” (Stanovich & Jordan, 1998). From this sample, 6 GEN teachers; 2 men and 4 women, were found to be “Interventionist”. Classroom observations and follow-up interviews were used to gain insight into the development of their beliefs and teaching practices. Effective teacher perceptions in the form of qualitative data were coded, themed, and analyzed based on the “constant comparative” method (Miles & Huberman, 1994), which gave rise to single case, and cross case analyses. Teachers’ perceptions are organized in results according to a framework based on 3 main questions: (a) what are teachers’ current practices for inclusion? ; (b) how did teachers develop inclusive practices? ; and (c) how did the Community of Practice (e.g. teachers, principals) influence and support teachers’ inclusive practices? Discussion centers on teachers’ perceptions of the development of their positive beliefs and practices, ongoing professional development, and the importance of the community of practice.
Creating Space for Participation: The Role of Organizational Practice in Structuring Youth Participation

Much of the literature on participation within youth and community development focuses on episodic experiences in which young people's input has been sought, transcribed, and represented. Within youth development, this literature focuses in particular on the power dynamics and ethical dilemmas embedded in time-bound adult-child and outsider-insider relationships. While we agree that these issues are crucial and in need of further examination in all forms of participatory practice, it is equally important to examine how outcomes are shaped by everyday practices at the organizations in and through which youth participation in community research and development often occurs (e.g., community-based organizations, schools, and municipal agencies). Drawing on experience from three summers of work in promoting youth participation in adult-led organizations of varying purpose, scale, and structure, a framework is proposed that presents participation as a spatial practice shaped by five overlapping dimensions. The framework is offered as a point of discussion and a potential tool for analysis in examining the organizational practices that shape young people's participation.
The role of education in regional innovation activities: spatial evidence from China

Using Chinese provincial data from 1997 to 2006, we examine the role of education in regional innovation activities. We test the spatial autocorrelation of provincial innovative activities and find significant support for it in the data, suggesting the need to incorporate spatial dependence in estimating the impact of education on innovation. We find that workers’ tertiary education is significantly and positively related to provincial innovative activities measured by invention patent applications per capita. The result does not vary when spatial dependence is incorporated in the estimation. Thus, we find strong and robust evidence for the prediction of the endogenous growth theory about the positive effect of human capital on innovation.