Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Protected Areas: Reinforcing the Virtuous Circle

The conservation of  ne landscapes has, within the UK, traditionally relied on designating ‘special’ areas, and attempting to protect and enhance them through a combination of planning control, grant aid and countryside management. Landscape protection measures generally employ terms such as ‘beauty’, ‘amenity’, ‘enjoyment’ and ‘special quality’, so that policies related to aesthetics have tended to predominate over those related to communities and employment. To take a geographically extensive example, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in England and Wales have, as their principal purpose, ‘to conserve natural beauty’. Even recreation is not a purpose of designation, whilst planners are merely required to ‘take account’ of agriculture, forestry, other rural industries, and the economic and social needs of local communities. Other key landscape designations , such as the Heritage Coast, place a similar emphasis on physical qualities related to scenery, tranquillity and access. National Parks in England and Wales have a more evenly balanced policy commitment to conservation and recreation (although the former is prioritised in cases of con ict); however, their duty to foster the economic and social well-being of resident populations is subordinate and not expected to involve signi cant expenditure. This emphasis on amenity and enjoyment (primarily from the visitor’s perspective ) poses a dilemma for countryside planners. Whilst protective policies prevail and may even be necessary to satisfy internationa l environmental obligations , the British countryside is currently experiencing rapid economic and social change, and residents may perceive protectionis t strategies as having little relevance to their more pressing needs. Most obviously , the agricultural sector has undergone a series of crises in recent years (Policy Commission on the Future of Farming and Food, 2002), placing strains on the social fabric of the countryside and driving farmers to diversify their economic activities. Simultaneously, the ‘consumption’ role of the British countryside is ascending relative to its ‘production’ role (Buller, 2001), so that rural areas increasingly have to absorb activities such as tourism, recreation, amenity, residence and place-re-
An Innovative Region in China: Interaction Between Multinational Corporations and Local Firms in a High-Tech Cluster in Beijing

Abstract The literature on innovative regions has stressed the role of spatial clustering in the endogenous formation, accumulation, and sharing of knowledge in technology hubs in advanced countries. Little has been written, however, on how spatial clusters may also affect technological dynamics in developing countries where external actors, such as multinational corporations (MNCs), are the main source of new technology. Drawing on studies of innovative regions and technology transfers, we analyzed the interactive patterns between MNCs and local technology actors in China’s leading information communication technology (ICT) service cluster in Zhongguancun, Beijing. We found that the relationship between MNCs and local firms is hierarchical, but also interdependent and evolutionary. Local firms’ collaboration with MNCs provides them with vital technological and organizational training, which the local firms use strategically to develop their market networks and innovative capacity in the home market. The learning capacity of local firms is vastly improved by the presence of other related enterprises, the research and development facilities, and a developmental state in a market-oriented spatial cluster.
A study of conversion effect of international financial reporting standards: evidence from Taiwan's banking sector of financial holding company

Financial Holding Companies (FHCs) were established after Taiwan's FHC Act is signed to law in 2001, since then, FHCs have become the mainstream and dominated Taiwan's financial market, meanwhile, the Taiwan government mandated that, effective 1 January 2013, all listed banks should adopt IFRS for the compilation of financial reports. In this paper, we mainly investigate the conversion effect of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) on operational performance confronted by Taiwan's commercial banking established or joining in FHCs during first IFRS adoption. This study first employ network SBM approach to penetrate into the operating field of banks consider internal operational performance which are profitability efficiency and marketability efficiency that examine the impact of IFRS on operational efficiency of Taiwan's commercial banks joining in FHCs. The findings can serve as suggested for banking authorities, competent authorities of banks, and capital market investors.
Cellular LTE-A Technologies for the Future Internet-of-Things: Physical Layer Features and Challenges

Human-generated information has been the main interest of the wireless communication technologies designs for decades. However, we are currently witnessing the emerge of an entirely different paradigm of communication introduced by machines, and hence, the name machine type communication (MTC). Such paradigm arises as a result of the new applications included in the Internet-of-Things (IoT) framework. Among the enabling technologies of the IoT, cellular-based communication is the most promising and more efficient. This is justified by the currently well-developed and mature radio access networks, along with the large capacities and flexibility of the offered data rates to support a large variety of applications. On the other hand, several radio-access-network groups put efforts to optimize the 3GPP LTE standard to accommodate for the new challenges by introducing new communication categories paving the way to support the machine-to-machine communication within the IoT framework. In this paper, we provide a step-by-step tutorial discussing the development of MTC design across different releases of LTE and the newly introduced user equipment categories, namely, MTC category (CAT-M) and narrowband IoT category (CAT-N). We start by briefly discussing the different physical channels of the legacy LTE. Then we provide a comprehensive and up-to-date background for the most recent standard activities to specify CAT-M and CAT-N technologies. We also emphasize on some of necessary concepts used in the new specifications, such as the narrowband concept used in CAT-M and the frequency hopping. Finally, we identify and discuss some of the open research challenges related to the implementation of the new technologies in real life scenarios.
Salesperson's listening in buyer–seller service relationships

Research has consistently shown that salesperson's active listening behavior leads to strong sales performance. Yet the influence of management policies on listening has received very limited attention, and prior research linking listening to customer retention has led to mixed findings. This study examines how listening is enhanced through control systems and the influence of listening on customer retention in a service context. Dyadic data from salespeople and their customers show that a behavior-based control system (measured as a second-order construct) positively influences listening and the salesperson's customer orientation totally mediates the influence of listening on customer commitment to the salesperson and loyalty to the service company. Our findings indicate that listening is a necessary but not sufficient condition for assuring relationship development. More specifically, customer orientation is the generative mechanism through which listening is able to influence customer retention. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Athletics versus Academics? Evidence from SAT Scores

It is common in faculty discussions to degrade the value of athletics on campus. To many, athletics represents the worst side of academia. However, many institutions voluntarily continue a long tradition of intercollegiate competition on a large scale. This survivorship suggests that athletics must be contributing something to academics. On April 3, 1985, USA Today, reporting the added prestige that Villanova would enjoy following its National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) basketball championship, cited the fact that North Carolina State University had received a 40 percent increase in applications in the wake of its championship victory in 1983. Further reinforcement of this point came when Boston College received 16,200 freshman applications in 1985 compared with 12,500 applications the previous year. Boston College admissions director, Charles Nolan, gave much of the credit for this increase to Heisman Trophy winner Doug Flutie, his 1984 teammates, and the attention they brought the school (Newsweek, April 8, 1985 ["On Campus" insert], p. 14). The University of South Carolina, a school not known for its exploits on the football field, reported a 23 percent increase in applications in 1985 following the best year in its football history. The preceding stories suggest a symbiosis between athletics and academics very different from the adversary relation common in faculty club discussions. If, as these stories suggest, athletic success breeds increases in applications, then there is a link between athletic success one year and the quality of the incoming freshmen in the future. This is not to say that athletic success necessarily attracts
Higher Education and Economic Growth: A Cross-Country Analysis of Sub-Saharan Africa

This study empirically estimated the effects of education on economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa using a set of cross-country panel data from 11 countries over the period 2005-2011. The methodological procedure employed in the analysis followed the Breusch-Pagan Lagrangian Multiplier test and Hausman test techniques. Based on the Fixed Effects (FE) model, estimated results reveal that tertiary education has a positive but statistically insignificant effect on economic growth in the region. The computed R-squared indicates that nearly 41.64 percent total variation in economic growth was accounted for by primary, secondary and tertiary education during the period 2005-2011. The F-statistic (=16.44; p < 0.05) indicates that the model was statistically significant. Keywords: education, economic growth, primary, secondary, tertiary and enrolment
Genetically informed lung cancer medicine

Knowledge of tumour mutation status has become increasingly important for the prioritization of targeted therapies for cancer. We review here the major known ‘driver’ mutations with therapeutic relevance in non‐small cell lung cancer. We also discuss a variety of methods now being employed in molecular diagnostic laboratories to detect genetic alterations in lung tumours. A genetically‐informed approach to lung cancer medicine is rapidly becoming the standard of care worldwide and should lead to improved outcomes for patients. Copyright © 2010 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Novel Dengue Virus Inhibitor, BP13944, Discovered by High-Throughput Screening with Dengue Virus Replicon Cells Selects for Resistance in the Viral NS2B/NS3 Protease

ABSTRACT Dengue virus (DENV) causes disease globally, resulting in an estimated 25 to 100 million new infections per year. No effective DENV vaccine is available, and the current treatment is only supportive. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop therapeutic agents to cure this epidemic disease. In the present study, we identified a potential small-molecule inhibitor, BP13944, via high-throughput screening (HTS) of 60,000 compounds using a stable cell line harboring an efficient luciferase replicon of DENV serotype 2 (DENV-2). BP13944 reduced the expression of the DENV replicon reporter in cells, showing a 50% effective concentration (EC50) of 1.03 ± 0.09 μM. Without detectable cytotoxicity, the compound inhibited replication or viral RNA synthesis in all four serotypes of DENV but not in Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV). Sequencing analyses of several individual clones derived from BP13944-resistant RNAs purified from cells harboring the DENV-2 replicon revealed a consensus amino acid substitution (E66G) in the region of the NS3 protease domain. Introduction of E66G into the DENV replicon, an infectious DENV cDNA clone, and recombinant NS2B/NS3 protease constructs conferred 15.2-, 17.2-, and 3.1-fold resistance to BP13944, respectively. Our results identify an effective small-molecule inhibitor, BP13944, which likely targets the DENV NS3 protease. BP13944 could be considered part of a more effective treatment regime for inhibiting DENV in the future.
Weathering the storm? Multinational companies and human resource management through the global financial crisis

Purpose – This paper aims to examine the impact of the global financial crisis on human resource management (HRM) in multinational companies (MNCs) in Ireland. It focuses on four key areas of HR, namely staffing, pay and benefits, industrial relations and the HR function. Design/methodology/approach – It uses a mixed methods approach involving four major data sources combining objective information reported on the impact of the GFC on HRM with subjective perspectives on HRM practice within MNCs. Findings – Specific findings are presented in regard to staffing, pay and benefits, industrial relations and role of HR function. The authors find extensive evidence to indicate that MNCs have been in the vanguard of organisations engaging in multidimensional restructuring programmes in response to the GFC, incorporating many initiatives in the domain of HRM. These include job cuts, short-term working, reduction in training and development expenditure, pay cuts and freezes, reduced benefits and changes in industrial relations. While the authors find that HR function has played a central key role in “delivering” responses to the GFC within MNCs, they also find evidence of a reorganisation of, and financial pressure on, the HR function itself. Originality/value – This paper contributes to and develops the extant literature on the impact of economic crisis on human resource management.
GROWTH OF TERTIARY SECTOR IN CHINA'S LARGE CITIES

Abstract This study interprets the fast-growing tertiary sector in China, especially in 84 large cities, as a result of sectoral labor transition. Large cities in China mostly relied on the tertiary sector for urban job growth during the period from 1990 to 1997 and are ahead of the country in the sectoral labor transition. The tertiary labor share in a large city is not only associated with the per capita income, but also with the urbanization level within the city limit, the per capita foreign direct investment, and the history and size of the city. Compared with other parts of the world, China is more similar to developed countries (with a time lag) than to developing countries in the path of the sectoral labor transition. Yet, the sectoral labor transition (and the growth of the tertiary sector specifically) in China has been strongly influenced by government policies.
Four years of clinical experience with an adverse reaction unit for dental biomaterials.

OBJECTIVES We describe the function of, and results from, the Norwegian National Dental Biomaterials Adverse Reaction Unit after 4 years of activity from 1993 to 1997. METHODS During this period of time, 296 patients were examined at the unit, which is located at the Dental School, University of Bergen. The most prevalent age group was 40-49 years, and 70% were women. Dental amalgam was the primary reason for referral to the unit for nearly 85% of the patients, followed by metals in crowns and bridges (11%). Materials in removable dentures, resin-based filling materials and cements, endodontic materials, and others, including temporary materials, were also involved. Nearly all (96%) patients reported general subjective symptoms, such as muscle and joint pain, fatigue, and memory problems. Complaints involving the orofacial region (lips, face, temporomandibular joint) and intraoral subjective symptoms were also common. RESULTS Of the patients who were patch tested with substances in dental materials, 23% were positive to gold, 28% to nickel, 14% to cobalt, 9% to palladium, 6% to mercury, and 8% to one or more components of resin-based materials. Mercury concentrations in blood and urine were statistically higher in the patients with amalgam fillings compared with those without. CONCLUSIONS Generally, we could not establish a straightforward cause-and-effect relationship between the presence of dental biomaterials and general symptoms. Twenty patients were advised to replace restorative materials because of contact lesions. Another 20 patients were recommended replacement of materials because of allergy verified with positive patch tests. The complex nature of most of the reactions requires a multidisciplinary approach to the care taking of patients who are concerned about reactions from dental materials, particularly amalgam.
Incidence of biopsy-proven glomerulonephritis.

BACKGROUND The reported biopsy-proven glomerulonephritis incidence varies according to population characteristics, the unknown true glomerulonephritis incidence and biopsy rate. Reported glomerulonephritis incidence should be evaluated against the biopsy rate. METHODS We report here the glomerulonephritis incidence in our University Hospital (UH) consecutive biopsy material. It is compared to those from surrounding central hospitals (CH), previous single-centre studies and European biopsy registries (EBR). Biopsy rate, when reported, has been considered. RESULTS The annual biopsy rate/10(5), median (min-max), at the UHs was 25.4 (15.6-35.1). At the CHs it was 8.7 (5.1-12.6). In previous single-centre studies it has been 18.7-21.5. In the EBRs it has been between 1.0 and 6.9 when reported. The annual incidences (median, min-max) per 10(5) (1980-2000) at the UH were as follows: proliferative glomerulonephritis (9.5, 6.8-18.1), non-proliferative glomerulonephritis (6.7, 3.4-12.6), the four major glomerulonephritis groups MesGN (7.7, 4.4-15.9), ECGN/FPGN-complex (1.4, 0.5-3.2), MCGP/FSGS-complex (0.9, 0.2-2.7) and MGN (1.4, 0.5-2.4) these which findings were compatible with the single-centre studies and higher than those of the CHs and in the EBRs. Biopsy rate had a major impact on the annual glomerulonephritis incidences explaining 60% of the variation. The relative frequency of MesGN was the highest by all observers, followed by the ECGN/FPGN-complex, MGN and MCGP/FSGS-complex whose frequencies did not differ much. For every patient commencing renal replacement therapy (Finnish Renal Replacement Registry Data) due to glomerulonephritis there were about 11 subjects with biopsy-proven glomerulonephritis, a relationship compatible with previous reports. CONCLUSIONS The incidence of any glomerulonephritis of 17.6 per 10(5) population was comparable to those from the single-centre studies, but higher than in European biopsy registries, a fact largely explained by biopsy rates.
The Impact of the Rand on the Value of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange

Abstract The relationship between the foreign exchange value of the rand and the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) was put to a particularly interesting test over the period 2000 to 2003 when the rand first collapsed and then recovered. In this paper, we look at the effects of the nominal and real exchange rate changes on the nominal and real value of the overall JSE market and then in more detail at particular counters that exhibit common characteristics with respect to the rand exchange rate. These we define as either: rand hedge stocks, that is, those companies with mostly US dollar revenues and US dollar costs; rand leverage stocks, that is, those companies with predominantly US dollar revenues and rand costs; or randplays, that is, those companies that earn almost all of their profits by generating rand revenues and incurring rand costs. We report on the impact of the rand on the value of the largest 40 stocks on the JSE and classify these stocks according to the criteria mentioned above. In addition, we explain how rand plays can be expected to lose rand value as the rand weakens, despite higher inflation and an increase in the rand value of the JSE All Share index. We also note that, counter-intuitively, the foreign currency value of Richemont, a pure rand hedge company, can be influenced by the foreign exchange value of the rand, a phenomenon we attribute to an investor constituency that includes a large SA component.
Personality Traits That Lead Members of Online Brand Communities to Participate in Information Sending and Receiving

An online brand community is a powerful arena for marketers to cultivate customer relationships. The level of participation is a clear indicator when distinguishing the levels of strength and types of involvement in a brand community. However, research explaining the personality traits and motivations of online brand community members, as relevant to their participative behaviors, is lacking. By adopting the 3M model as a theoretical foundation, this study examines personality traits as the antecedents of the participative behavior of online brand community members; that is, the disposition to receive information and to send market information to others when using the online platform. Based on the results of an online survey, this paper illustrates a hierarchical structure of traits interplaying at various levels to provide a nomological net for predicting behavioral intention. The results indicate that identification with a brand community and value consciousness are key predictors that encourage participation in receiving and sending information. This study provides a more comprehensive and theoretically based perspective that emphasizes sound strategic options to influence brand community participation.
Efficient Homologous RNA Recombination and Requirement for an Open Reading Frame during Replication of Equine Arteritis Virus Defective Interfering RNAs

ABSTRACT Equine arteritis virus (EAV), the prototype arterivirus, is an enveloped plus-strand RNA virus with a genome of approximately 13 kb. Based on similarities in genome organization and protein expression, the arteriviruses have recently been grouped together with the coronaviruses and toroviruses in the newly established order Nidovirales. Previously, we reported the construction of pEDI, a full-length cDNA copy of EAV DI-b, a natural defective interfering (DI) RNA of 5.6 kb (R. Molenkamp et al., J. Virol. 74:3156–3165, 2000). EDI RNA consists of three noncontiguous parts of the EAV genome fused in frame with respect to the replicase gene. As a result, EDI RNA contains a truncated replicase open reading frame (EDI-ORF) and encodes a truncated replicase polyprotein. Since some coronavirus DI RNAs require the presence of an ORF for their efficient propagation, we have analyzed the importance of the EDI-ORF in EDI RNA replication. The EDI-ORF was disrupted at different positions by the introduction of frameshift mutations. These were found either to block DI RNA replication completely or to be removed within one virus passage, probably due to homologous recombination with the helper virus genome. Using recombination assays based on EDI RNA and full-length EAV genomes containing specific mutations, the rates of homologous RNA recombination in the 3′- and 5′-proximal regions of the EAV genome were studied. Remarkably, the recombination frequency in the 5′-proximal region was found to be approximately 100-fold lower than that in the 3′-proximal part of the genome.