Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
From Tremors to Talks: Do Natural Disasters Produce Ripe Moments for Resolving Separatist Conflicts?

This article suggests that natural disasters can produce a ripe moment for conflict resolution because governments faced with the demand for effective disaster relief have incentives to offer concessions to separatist challengers. An analysis of the prevalence of new negotiations, ceasefires, and peace agreements during 12-month periods before and after natural disasters for separatist dyads 1990–2004 reveal some support for this proposition. Natural disasters increase the likelihood that parties will initiate talks or agree to ceasefires but have less effect on the signing of peace agreements. In line with the proposed mechanism, these results are particularly strong in democracies and following more severe disasters where the need to provide relief is most acute.
Comparison of Results Obtained by Testing with Three Different Agar Media and by the NCCLS M27-A Method for In Vitro Testing of Fluconazole against Candida spp

ABSTRACT Fluconazole susceptibilities of 150 Candida isolates were determined by a 25-μg fluconazole disk diffusion agar test and compared with the microdilution NCCLS M27-A method. The agar test used three different media and was read at 24 and 48 h. When only the susceptible and nonsusceptible categories were used, disk diffusion with Müeller-Hinton agar supplemented with 2% glucose and 0.5 μg of methylene blue (MHGM) per ml had a 95.37% correlation with the MIC method at 24 h, followed by RPMI 1640-2% of glucose agar (correlation, 94%) and Shadomy medium (SHDM) (correlation, 92.6%). The growth of microcolonies inside the inhibition zones was common (>63%) in the RPMI and SHDM media and minimal with MHGM (8.7%). At 48 h, MHGM and SHDM still had a >91% correlation with the MIC, while RPMI results had dropped to 75%. The best overall agreement was obtained with C. dubliniensis (100%).
Synaptic input from identified muscle afferents to neurones of the dorsal spinocerebellar tract in the cat.

Single identified group I a and I b muscle afferent fibres were injected with horseradish peroxidase in the lumbar dorsal columns of anaesthetized cats. The morphological details of the axon collaterals and terminal boutons of these muscle afferents within Clarke's column were subsequently reconstructed. The rostro‐caudal extent of synaptic terminals from a single afferent fibre within Clarke's column was found to be restricted to less than 1 mm. In the same experiments, dorsal spinocerebellar tract (d.s.c.t.) neurones were retrogradely labelled by injection of horseradish peroxidase into the cerebellum. Synaptic contacts between labelled group Ia and Ib afferent fibres and the soma and proximal dendrites of d.s. c.t. neurones were found. The synaptic contacts from both Ia and Ib fibres varied greatly in size, from 1 X 1 micron up to 'giant' synapses of 20 X 3 micron. Excitatory post‐synaptic potentials (e.p.s.p.s) were evoked in d.s. c.t. neurones by impulses in single group I muscle afferent fibres. The fluctuations in peak amplitude of each e.p.s.p. were determined from e.p.s.p. and noise recordings, using a numerical deconvolution procedure. In general, these single‐fibre e.p.s.p.s fluctuated between discrete amplitudes separated by an incremental amplitude which was approximately constant. This incremental amplitude did not depend on the average peak amplitude of the particular e.p.s.p. examined. Our anatomical observations of 'giant' boutons arising from Ia and Ib afferent fibres contacting d.s. c.t. neurones raises the possibility of multiple transmitter release sites within an individual synaptic bouton. It is proposed that synaptic transmission between group I muscle afferents and d.s. c.t. neurones occurs with discrete all‐or‐nothing e.p.s.p.s associated with transmitter release sites.
Price adaptation in export markets

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify the key factors that influence price adaptation in export markets.Design/methodology/approach – The conceptual model was tested empirically using data collected by mail questionnaire in a sample survey of 140 firms. The results were analysed using structural equation modelling and the method of estimation was maximum likelihood (ML). Various statistical tests show that the results were reliable and valid.Findings – The results reported here suggest that while controlling for the size of the firm, the degree of price adaptation is strongly influenced and conditioned by the degree of product, promotion, and distribution adaptation as well as by the differences that exist between the home and the foreign market.Originality/value – Despite calls for research on the adaptation of pricing in export markets little headway has been made in understanding the issue in the literature. This study adds to the limited empirical research work done in this area. Although.
Female self‐employment and demand for flexible, nonstandard work schedules

Motivated by the rising importance of female self-employment, this article develops and estimates a two-step empirical model to explain why married women choose self-employment over wage-salary employment. The article also develops a bounded influence regression model to estimate self employment wage equations. In sum, a woman is more likely to choose self-employment the greater her relative earnings potential as self-employed, the greater her demand for flexibility, the greater her demand for a nonstandard work week, and if her husband has health insurance. The increase in women's earnings potential as self-employed explains most of the increase in their self-employment from 1979 to 1990. Copyright 2001 by Oxford University Press.
What Is Tenure Security? Conceptual Implications for Empirical Analysis

Security of property rights, or tenure, is central to the economics of development and is recognized as important for the adoption and implementation of sustainable forest management. Despite the potential importance of tenure security, this paper shows that there is a great deal of variation in how security is defined and measured, which may be responsible for difficulties that empirical studies have had in linking tenure security with economic behavior. The objective of this paper is to clarify concepts of tenure security that will hopefully allow for improvements in empirical studies. (JEL Q15)
Liberalization of capital controls and interest rates restrictions in the EU-15: did it affect economic growth?

This article studies the effect that the process of capital controls lifting and interest rate deregulation have brought about on growth in the EU-15 over the period 1960–2001. The evidence supports the existence of a positive growth impact from the liberalization of both capital controls and interest rate restrictions. These financial liberalization measures affect growth even after controlling for other growth policies and they are robust to business cycle effects that could spuriously drive the relation. Some tentative evidence indicates that the liberalization of capital controls and the deregulation of interest rates have effected growth through the increase in the efficiency of financial intermediation.
Self-interacting Domains in the C Terminus of a Cation-Cl- Cotransporter Described for the First Time*

The first isoform of the Na+-K+-Cl- cotransporter (NKCC1), a widely distributed member of the cation-Cl- cotransporter superfamily, plays key roles in many physiological processes by regulating the ion and water content of animal cells and by sustaining electrolyte secretion across various epithelia. Indirect studies have led to the prediction that NKCC1 operates as a dimer assembled through binding domains that are distal to the amino portion of the carrier. In this study, evidence is presented that NKCC1 possesses self-interacting properties that result in the formation of a large complex between the proximal and the distal segment of the cytosolic C terminus. Elaborate mapping studies of these segments showed that the contact sites are dispersed along the entire C terminus, and they also led to the identification of a critical interacting residue that belongs to a putative forkhead-associated binding domain. In conjunction with previous findings, our results indicate that the uncovered interacting domains are probably a major determinant of the NKCC1 conformational landscape and assembly into a high order structure. A model is proposed in which the carrier could alternate between monomeric and homo-oligomeric units via chemical- or ligand-dependent changes in conformational dynamics.
Housing Market Renewal and Social Class

Housing market renewal is one of the most controversial urban policy programmes of recent years. Housing Market Renewal and Social Class critically examines the rationale for housing market renewal: to develop 'high value' housing markets in place of the so-called 'failing markets' of low-cost housing. Whose interests are served by such a programme and who loses out? Drawing on empirical evidence from Liverpool, the author argues that housing market renewal plays to the interests of the middle classes in viewing the market for houses as a field of social and economic 'opportunities', a stark contrast to a working class who are more concerned with the practicalities of 'dwelling'. Against this background of these differing attitudes to the housing market, Housing Market Renewal and Social Class explores the difficult question of whether institutions are now using the housing market renewal programme to make profits at the expense of ordinary working-class people. Reflecting on how this situation has come about, the book critically examines the purpose of current housing market renewal policies, and suggests directions for interested social scientists wishing to understand the implications of the programme.
Apolipoprotein Measurements: Is More Widespread Use Clinically Indicated?

Apolipoprotein (apo) B may be a more sensitive measure of atherogenicity than low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C) and a better index for assessing cardiovascular risk. The refined risk assessment provided by apo B may be important in patients at high cardiometabolic risk such as those with diabetes mellitus or metabolic syndrome, as these conditions are often associated with normal LDL‐C values but increased numbers of small, dense low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) particles (indicating increased levels of apo B). Although apo B is not currently a treatment target in the United States cholesterol‐lowering guidelines, a consensus conference endorsed by the American Diabetes Association and the American College of Cardiology recently recommended that apo B be added as a therapeutic target in patients at high cardiometabolic risk and in patients with clinical cardiovascular disease or diabetes. Suggested target goals are < 90 for high risk and < 80 mg/dL for highest risk patients. Current clinical data indicate that intensive statin therapy can lower apo B to meet this aggressive goal. While the proatherogenic/antiatherogenic ratio of apo B/apo A‐I is a better risk discriminator than the single proatherogenic measurement (apo B), clinical trial data are lacking regarding the impact of increasing apo A‐I and high‐density lipoprotein on outcomes. Copyright © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
IMMOBILIZATION OF STARCH PHOSPHORYLASE FROM CABBAGE LEAVES: PRODUCTION OF GLUCOSE-1-PHOSPHATE

Starch phosphorylase has been isolated from cabbage (Elephantopus scabar) leaves and partially purified using ammonium sulfate fractionation. The partially purified enzyme was desalted using Sephadex-G-25 chromatography. In the direction of polysaccharide synthesis, the enzyme showed optimum activity at pH 6.0 with two half pH optima at pH 5.3 and pH 7.1 whereas in the direction of glucose-1-phosphate formation, it showed optimum pH at pH 7.0 with half pH-optima at pH 6.4 and 7.6. The optimum temperature for the enzyme activity has been found to be 37oC with two half temperature optima at 34oC and 40oC. The partially purified enzyme has been immobilized using egg shell as solid support. The percentage retention of the enzyme on egg shell was nearly 56%. After immobilization, specific activity of the enzyme increased from 0. 0225 to 0.0452. Upon immobilization, there was a slight alkaline shift in the optimum pH when assayed in both the directions. The immobilized enzyme also displayed increased optimum temperature and thermo-stability and could be reused number of times. The increase in thermo-stability and reusability of the immobilized enzyme has been exploited for the production of glucose-1-phosphate, a cytostatic compound used in cardio-therapy. The glucose-1-phosphate produced has been purified with nearly 95% purity after adsorption chromatography on norite and ion exchange chromatography on DEAE cellulose.
[Correlation between severe ALS patient-caregiver couples' characteristics and caregivers' health related quality of life].

PURPOSE The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to examine the relationship between characteristics of severe ALS patient-caregiver couples and health related quality of life (HRQoL) in family caregivers. METHODS The participants in this study were 89 pairs of ALS patients using ventilators and a family caregiver. The characteristics of the ALS patients and caregivers, Korean-Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale-Revised, Zarit Burden Interview and SF-36 were measured in this study. The data were collected from August 2008 to April 2009. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficients, and canonical correlation were used for data analysis. RESULTS The physical component summary and mental component summary of the HRQoL score for family caregivers were 147.49±31.63 and 129.09±35.83, respectively. HRQoL for caregivers was related to characteristics of the ALS patient-caregiver couples, such as patient's gender, caregiver's age, gender, marital status, daily time spent in caregiving and burden with one significant canonical variable. The significant variate showed that the lower the age, the time spent in caregiving and the burden of caregivers, the higher the HRQoL of caregivers. CONCLUSION The support systems for caregivers considering caregiver characteristics such as demographics and burden should be implemented to improve the HRQoL of caregivers.
Pathways of Rural Stratification in Russia's European North

Abstract Employing survey data and fieldwork from the Republic of Komi, this article demonstrates that sources of stratification such as food sales, land expansion and household business, that have a significant effect in regions favourable to agricultural production, do not have a similar impact on household stratification in this forested region. The differing effects of entrepreneurial activity in Komi may be attributed to the household employment structure in which agricultural employment is a minority. As a result, the primary source of stratification is employment income, not entrepreneurship.
Understanding how consumers view green hotels: how a hotel's green image can influence behavioural intentions

As the public is increasingly concerned about environmental issues, green management is rapidly becoming a strategic tool that can enhance a hotel's competitive advantage. This study explores how to develop the image and branding of a green hotel using the concepts of cognitive, affective and overall images. The study, based on a survey of 416 hotel users, also investigates how a green hotel image can affect behavioural intentions (i.e. intention to revisit, intention to offer positive recommendations to others and willingness to pay a premium). The findings confirm that cognitive image components (namely value and quality attributes) can exert a positive influence on a green hotel's affective and overall images. The affective image is also found to positively affect a green hotel's overall image. A green hotel's overall image, in turn, can contribute to more favourable behavioural intentions. Quality attributes were found to be more powerful than value attributes. The importance of the concept of selfish altruism and obtaining a feeling of wellbeing from a purchase were shown to be very strong. A range of theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Effects of the Morphology of a ZnO Buffer Layer on the Photovoltaic Performance of Inverted Polymer Solar Cells

The influences of morphology and thickness of zinc oxide (ZnO) buffer layers on the performance of inverted polymer solar cells are investigated. ZnO buffer layers with different morphology and thickness varying from several nanometers to ≈55 nm are fabricated by adjusting the concentration of the precursor sol. The ZnO buffer layers with nearly same surface quality but with thickness varying from ≈7 to ≈65 nm are also fabricated by spinning coating for comparison. The photovoltaic performance is found to be strongly dependent on ZnO surface quality and less dependent on the thickness. The use of dense and homogenous ZnO buffer layers enhances the fill factor and short‐circuit current of inverted solar cell without sacrificing the open‐circuit voltage of device due to an improvement in the contact between the ZnO buffer layer and the photoactive layer. Inverted devices with a dense and homogenous ZnO buffer layer derived from 0.1 M sol exhibit an overall conversion efficiency of 3.3% which is a 32% increase compared to devices with a rough ZnO buffer layer made from 1 M sol, which exhibited a power conversion efficiency of 2.5%. The results indicate that the efficiency of inverted polymer solar cells can be significantly influenced by the morphology of the buffer layer.
Regionalist Parties in Western Europe

1. Introduction: Ethnoregionalist Parties as Ethnic Entrepreneurs, Huri Tursan 2. Ethnoregionalist Parties in Western Europe, Ferdinand Muller-Rommel 3. The Volksunie and the Dilemma between Policy Success and Electoral Survival in Flanders, Lieven De Winter 4. Ethnoregionalist Parties in French-speaking Belgium 5. Nationalist Parties in Catalonia, Juan Marcet and Jordi Argelaguet 6. Moderate Nationalist Parties in the Basque Country, Eusko Alkartasuna 7. The Scottish National Party, James L. Newell 8. Plaid Cymru, Thomas Christiansen 9. The Lega Nord, Marco Tarchi 10. The Sudtiroler Volkspartei, Anton Holzer and Barbara Schwegler 11. The Failure of Regionalist Party Formation in Corsica, ^Claude Olivesi 12. Co-operation Between Regionalist Parties at the Level of the European Union, Peter Lynch 13. Conclusion: A Comparative Analysis of the Electoral, Office and Policy Success of Ethnoregionalist Parties, Lieven De Winter
Attenuation of malonate toxicity in primary mesencephalic cultures using the GABA transport blocker, NO‐711

Cultured rat mesencephalic neurons were used to assess the effects of γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) transport blockers on toxicity caused by malonate, a reversible, competitive inhibitor of succinate dehydrogenase. Previous studies utilizing an ex vivo chick retinal preparation have shown that GABA release and cell swelling are early consequences of acute energy impairment and that GABA transport blockers attenuate this toxicity. The present results demonstrate that the nonsubstrate GABA transport blocker, NO‐711 (1 nM–1 μM), dose‐dependently protected cultured mesencephalic dopamine (DA) and GABA neurons from malonate‐induced toxicity. Similar protection was demonstrated with nipecotic acid (1 mM) and SKF89976A (100 nM), substrate and nonsubstrate GABA transport blockers, respectively. These compounds by themselves produced no signs of toxicity, although nipecotic acid caused a long‐term decrease in GABA uptake not associated with toxicity. Compounds which decrease intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) are protective in this model, but NO‐711 did not prevent the rise in intracellular ROS induced by malonate, indicating its protective effects were downstream of ROS production. Supplementation of malonate treated cultures with the GABAA agonist, muscimol (10 μM), increased the toxicity toward the DA and GABA neuron populations. Antagonists at the GABAA and glycine receptors provided partial protection to both the GABA and DA neurons. These findings suggest that the GABA transporter, GABAA, and/or glycine channels contribute to cell damage associated with energy impairment in this model. J. Neurosci. Res. 64:43–52, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Conceptualizing Persuasive Messages Using ELM in Social Media

Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM) assumes that consumers interpret persuasive messages by applying central and peripheral routes in a particular environment. Companies are trying to maximize the potential of social media in their marketing communication strategies. This study aims to conceptualize persuasive messages using ELM in a social media perspective, propose a conceptual framework, and systematically review and analyze extant theories and models pertinent to persuasive communications. ELM is considered a feasible and useful approach to elucidate the persuasive information process by consumers in the social media context. Findings revealed that there were an increasing number of studies using ELM in the social media context. The authors believed that this study shed light on further potential studies in ELM in the social media environment. The proposed conceptual framework underlined critical constructs and parameters of information processing so that marketers could formulate effective communication strategies in the social media environment.
Virtually Compatible or Risky Business? Investigating Consumers’ Proclivity Toward Online Banking Services

The present research examines online banking services, and it challenges the prevailing assumptions underlying the nomological validity of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). Results from 594 Taiwan respondents support a negative relationship between sub-constructs of consumers’ risk propensity and ensuing online banking services (OBS) engagement. The most important contribution is the strong empirical support that both consumers’ positive impact of perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness are positively related to the adoption of OBS. Furthermore, the results reveal that the assumptive impact of perceived risk construct is negatively associated with OBS adoption. The diminished impact of perceived risk explicitly challenges the predominant underpinnings of the TAM framework. In addition, findings reveal that the perceived risk factor consists of five underlying dimensions: financial risk, performance risk, time risk, psychological risk, and privacy risk.
Competitive Priorities in Operations Management

Identifying manufacturers' competitive priorities has long been considered a key element in manufacturing strategy research. However, relatively little effort has been devoted to measurement of these constructs in published research. In this study we develop scales for commonly accepted competitive priorities, cost importance, quality importance, delivery-time importance, and flexibility importance. We assess how well the scales capture the constructs that they represent using data collected from 114 manufacturing plants in the United States. The findings suggest that the instrument developed can provide reliable data and that the constructs measured are valid. In addition, comparisons between pairs of informants representing the same business indicate that the perceptual measures of competitive priorities are as reliable as point estimates of routine, seemingly objective information.
Distinguishing Sets for Optimal State Identification in Checking Experiments

A new concept, called distinguishing set or D-set is presented. Its use yields a considerable reduction in the length of checking sequences. Arbitrarily chosen examples have indicated a reduction of 30-50 percent. It is shown that the sequences of a distinguishing set actually constitute the optimum, i.e., minimum length, for state identification through input-output observations only.