Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Elasticity of Demand for Labour in Australia

The elasticity of demand for labour at the aggregate level is an important parameter for macroeconomic analysis. In particular, policy issues concerning the impact of wage falls on employment and unemployment hinge on the size of this parameter. It is argued in the present paper that previous work on the elasticity of demand for labour in Australia has been unsatisfactory in a number of ways. A new set of estimates is provided that are derived using a better methodology than before.
The role of organizational context and infrastructure practices in JIT implementation

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyze which factors determine the use of just‐in‐time (JIT) in companies. More precisely, the paper aims to study the role played by two variables of organizational context (size and age) and three infrastructure practices (advanced manufacturing technologies – AMT, quality management, and work organization). Design/methodology/approach – The hypotheses were tested using data collected from 203 manufacturing plants with at least 20 employees. Data were collected by means of personal interviews with plant managers. Regression analyses have been performed to test the hypotheses.Findings – The results reveal the existence of diversity in the factors that affect the use of the different components of JIT. Infrastructure practices are shown to be more determining than contextual factors. This happens in particular with AMT, basic quality tools and the management of the relationships with suppliers and customers.Research limitations/implications – The main limitations .
The performance effect of HRM and TQM: a study in Spanish organizations

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to look at human resource management (HRM) as a key element in the implementation of total quality management (TQM). This paper empirically tests the HRM practices that best fit this philosophy.Design/methodology/approach – The results of an empirical study of 706 companies are analyzed using structural equation methodology. The practices that are used to construct the framework for analysing approaches to HRM are based on a literature review.Findings – The results show that the alignment of the orientation towards quality and the approach to HRM is statistically significant for the utilization of the HRM system. The results also support the hypothesis that both TQM and HRM practices have a positive effect on performance.Research limitations/implications – A cross‐sectional analysis is applied, so it is necessary to be cautious in conclusions regarding causality. Single informants are used as the source of information. Although the use of single informants remains th.
Application of quality tools by the Saudi food industry

Purpose – The food industry in Saudi Arabia is continually challenged by fierce competition from giant international food processing firms. In spite of that, it constantly shows signs of growth as reflected in its exports. The competition is expected to propagate after joining the World Trade Organization. An investigation identified the readiness and quality status of the Saudi food industry to endure the new challenge and survive the free trade market. The purpose of this paper is to examine the application of the quality tools in the production setups of this industry and to explore signs of TQM to evaluate its competitiveness.Design/methodology/approach – A sample drawn from the Saudi food industry was exposed to an empirical survey supported by structured interviews to measure the quality standing of the industry. The survey results were statistically analyzed and presented.Findings – Evidence of the adoption of quality tools and an interest to exploit even more advanced quality measures indicate an .
Phentolamine Mesylate in Postmenopausal Women with Female Sexual Arousal Disorder: A Psychophysiological Study

The objective of this study was to assess the potential of phentolamine as a treatment of postmenopausal women with female arousal disorder (FSAD). Vaginal photoplethismography and a subjective questionnaire were used. Forty one women were enrolled and four treatments were tested: vaginal solutions 5 mg and 40 mg and an oral tablet each of 40 mg of phentolamine and placebo. Physiological readings were significantly different from placebo in the women using hormone replacement therapy (HRT) with 40 mg of phentolamine in vaginal solution ( p = 0.0186). Subjective reports also were significantly different from placebo with the vaginal solution 40 mg and the oral tablet of 40 mg of phentolamine among hormone replacement users. No significant differences were found among women not receiving HRT. Results indicate that phentolamine may show promise as treatment for FSAD in estrongenized postmenopausal women.
Phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase and Akt protein kinase mediate IGF‐I‐ and prosaptide‐induced survival in schwann cells

Withdrawal of trophic factors necessary for Schwann cell survival regulates Schwann cell number during development and after nerve injury. In the present study, we identified signaling pathways involved in Schwann cell survival by prosaposin, prosaptides (peptides incorporating the neurotrophic sequence of prosaposin), and insulinlike growth factor‐I (IGF‐I). When postnatal Schwann cells were placed in low serum medium, cells underwent abrupt shrinkage, condensation of nuclei occurred, and smooth rounded apoptotic bodies appeared. Dose–response studies of cell death, measured by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, demonstrated that both prosaptide TX14(A) and IGF‐I dose dependently reduced cell death in primary Schwann cells. Histone‐associated DNA fragmentation enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, showed a 10‐ and 14‐fold increase in apoptosis after 4 and 24 hr in low serum medium, respectively, that was reduced by prosaposin, TX14(A), or IGF‐I. Phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI3K) inhibitors, wortmannin or LY294002, blocked the survival effects of both TX14(A) and IGF‐I. In contrast, only TX14(A) anti‐apoptotic activity was blocked by the MEK inhbitor, PD98059, although TX14(A) and IGF‐I are potent activators of extracellular regulated kinases in Schwann cells. Phosphorylation of the PI3K signaling target, Akt, was measured; TX14(A) and IGF‐I increased Akt activity by 12‐fold and 22‐fold, respectively, that was inhibited by LY294002. These findings indicate that prosaposin and IGF‐I use the PI3K/Akt pathway to induce survival of Schwann cells. J. Neurosci. Res. 57:332–341, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Political Economy of Strategic Trade Policies

This paper applies Grossman and Helpman's (1994 ) common agency model to investigate the formation of strategic export subsidy and strategic import tariff under both Cournot competition and Bertrand competition. The results of this paper indicate that even with political pressure, the Grossman-Helpman politically-determined export policy is identical to the rent-shifting export policy, which is export subsidy (export tax) in Cournot (Bertrand) competition. The politically-determined import tariff will be higher than the optimal level. This paper highlights the possibility that lobbying can restore the level of trade intervention to a more efficient one in the absence of the benevolent dictator. Copyright © 2009 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2009 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Regul(ariz)ation of Fringe Credit: Payday Lending and the Borders of Global Financial Practice

The recent financial crisis has been punctuated by a discussion of the future of global financial governance in terms of a ‘regulation/deregulation’ formula. This paper argues for a broadening of this frame by taking seriously recent claims of performativity. To place changes associated with financial globalization in a more complicated critical context, this paper explores the ways in which global finance has often entailed a redrawing of the boundaries between the financial and the everyday. To develop this argument, the paper focuses, in particular, on practices of payday lending and on recent regulatory changes which have performed payday lending in a particular set of ways. Reading payday lending as both a repertoire of market devices and a set of dividing practices, this paper concludes that regulation performs the object it seeks to manage by invoking ambiguous, and not singular, territories of governance.
Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin Attenuates Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury in an In Vitro Model via Autophagy Activation

Background The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) on hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) induced acute kidney injury (AKI) in vitro. Material/Methods We used NRK-52E cells and H/R treatments to mimic ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) in vitro. Experimental groups were: the control group, the H/R group, the 3-methyladenine (3-MA)+H/R group, the NGAL (0.25, 0.5, and 1 ug/mL)+H/R group, and the NGAL (0.25, 0.5, 1 ug/mL)+3-MA+H/R group. After 24 hours of culture, cell proliferation was analyzed by CCK-8 assay. Expression of LC3-II was detected by immunoblot assay. Autophagy was detected by electron microscopy. Results The expression of LC3-II was increased in the H/R group compared with normoxic condition (p<0.05) and proliferation also improved. Autophagy was significantly inhibited by 3-MA, with downregulated of LC3-II, followed by decreased cell viability (p<0.05). We further detected the effect of different doses of NGAL in H/R induced injury, and found that low doses of NGAL alone slightly increased LC3-II protein accumulation, and autophagy was further induced with higher dose of NGAL treatment. Meanwhile, cell viability assays showed induced cell survival. We found that in the NGAL+3-MA group, cell viability assays revealed reduced cell damage, followed concomitantly with depressed autophagy. The formulation of autophagosomes were correlated with LC3-II protein expression in each group. Conclusions Autophagy plays a renoprotective role in H/R injury, as well in AKI. NGAL might be related to attenuated tubular epithelial cell damage via adjusting autophagy.
Identifying collaborative innovation capabilities within knowledge‐intensive environments

Purpose – This article aims to identify the capabilities supporting the development of collaborative innovation within knowledge‐intensive environments.Design/methodology/approach – Re‐considering the history of the ARPANET project as a vivid example of collaborative innovation, the article presents qualitative research from a historical case.Findings – Within this framework, the article shows that benefiting from collaboration in innovation entails that the innovative organisation is capable of achieving (at least) the following tasks: to leverage complementarities between internal and external sources of innovation (design capability); to codify, capitalise and disseminate knowledge outcomes (knowledge management capability); and to align product and organisations in a dynamic way (adaptive governance capability). Research limitations/implications – This contribution is limited by looking at a single case. On the premise that model generalization depends on extensive empirical data, the current article s.
Aneuploidy screening during pregnancy by a three‐dimensional Advanced First Trimester Screening model: Description of the AFS‐3D algorithm

A novel screening method for fetal aneuploidies was developed, in which nuchal translucency (NT), pregnancy‐associated plasma protein‐A (PAPP‐A), and free‐β human chorionic gonadotropin (free‐β hCG) are placed into a three‐dimensional scatter plot. Likelihood ratios are directly inferred from the ratio of already observed healthy and diseased fetuses. This method is called ‘Three‐dimensional Advanced First trimester Screening’ (AFS‐3D). It was aimed to develop and test a new algorithm based on the results of previous studies.
Empirical Modelling of Regional House Prices and the Ripple Effect

This paper investigates the stationarity properties and long-run relationship of Taiwan’s regional house prices from 1993Q1 to 2009Q2. It applies the recent unit-root test of the panel seemingly unrelated regressions augmented Dickey–Fuller (SURADF) test developed by Breuer et al. The empirical results illustrate that Taiwan’s regional house prices are a mixture of stationary and non-stationary processes, showing that the stationarity properties of these prices are dependent on the structure and properties of the various regions. Secondly, the findings of the cointegration test provide substantive evidence for a long-run relationship among all regions except Taipei City, implying a diffusion of regional house prices among each regional market except Taipei City. Finally, the results of the weak exogeneity test indicate that uni-directional causality relationships exist for three regions—Taipei County, Taoyuan-Hsinchu and Tainan-Kaohsiung—towards Taichung. The regional house price efficiently diffuses itself among these regions, caused by a much smaller public housing sector and the pre-sale system in Taiwan.
SVRG meets SAGA: k-SVRG - A Tale of Limited Memory

In recent years, many variance reduced algorithms for empirical risk minimization have been introduced. In contrast to vanilla SGD, these methods converge linearly on strong convex problems. To obtain the variance reduction, current methods either require frequent passes over the full data to recompute gradients---without making any progress during this time (like in SVRG), or they require memory of the same size as the input problem (like SAGA). In this work, we propose k-SVRG, an algorithm that interpolates between those two extremes: it makes best use of the available memory and in turn does avoid full passes over the data without making progress. We prove linear convergence of k-SVRG on strongly convex problems and convergence to stationary points on non-convex problems. Numerical experiments show the effectiveness of our method.
Time-varying real estate sensitivities of mortgage REITs

This study examines the linkage between mortgage Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) returns and the private real estate factor. The results show that real estate sensitivities of mortgage REITs are time varying and have been significant since 2000. Furthermore, home-financing mortgage REITs appear to be more sensitive to real estate market fluctuations than commercial-financing mortgage REITs are. This differential sensitivity is consistent with the notion that the default risk and the prepayment risk associated with residential mortgage loans are more closely related to real estate market conditions than are commercial mortgage loans.
Towards Perceptual Image Dehazing by Physics-Based Disentanglement and Adversarial Training

Single image dehazing is a challenging under-constrained problem because of the ambiguities of unknown scene radiance and transmission. Previous methods solve this problem using various hand-designed priors or by supervised training on synthetic hazy image pairs. In practice, however, the predefined priors are easily violated and the paired image data is unavailable for supervised training. In this work, we propose Disentangled Dehazing Network, an end-to-end model that generates realistic haze-free images using only unpaired supervision. Our approach alleviates the paired training constraint by introducing a physical-model based disentanglement and reconstruction mechanism. A multi-scale adversarial training is employed to generate perceptually haze-free images. Experimental results on synthetic datasets demonstrate our superior performance compared with the state-of-the-art methods in terms of PSNR, SSIM and CIEDE2000. Through training on purely natural haze-free and hazy images from our collected HazyCity dataset, our model can generate more perceptually appealing dehazing results.
Ownership structure and the likelihood of financial distress in the Netherlands

This article examines the impact of ownership structure on the likelihood of financial distress of Dutch firms listed on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange (Euronext) from 1992 to 2002. We find that firms with higher levels of managerial shareholdings are less likely to experience financial distress. This finding is consistent with the alignment hypothesis that managers with higher ownership stakes are more likely to avoid financial distress. We also find empirical evidence that large outside shareholders reduce the probability of financial distress. Monitoring incumbent management by large outside shareholders might prevent sub optimal managerial behaviour and reduce the likelihood of financial distress. Finally, we find no evidence that high levels of institutional shareholdings are associated with a lower probability of financial distress.
Ethnicity and Intergenerational Perceptions of Family Solidarity

Intergenerational interaction between matched pairs of older parents and their middle-aged offspring were explored in this research, comparing Mennonites and non-Mennonites. Middle-aged respondents replied to a mailed questionnaire, and their parents were interviewed. Five dimensions of family solidarity were compared between the generations, with the result that middle-aged offspring typically report less family solidarity than do their parents. These results are explained in terms of the concept of the “developmental stake. ”
Economic Development and Property Rights: Time Limits on Land Ownership

This article discusses the relationship between economic development and one aspect of property rights, a statute of limitations defining time limits on ownership claims. The analysis centers on property rights in land. This article argues that the available development opportunities shape the time limits on ownership claims that maximize property values, which in turn creates an inherent underlying tension among the owners of different types of property in the economy. An implication for positive analysis is that economic growth and successful development create demands for changing this dimension of property rights. Other characteristics of the economy, such as the efficiency of the legal system, the quality of the public sector bureaucracy, and corruption, also affect the value-maximizing time limitations for different types of property. This article discusses implications of these relationships for developing countries and for property redevelopment in declining U.S. central cities.
Distributing the Gains from Trade with Incomplete Information

We argue that the incomplete information which the government has about domestic agents means that tariffs become an optimal instrument to protect them from import competition. We solve for the optimal government policies. subject to the political constraint of ensuring Pareto gains from trade, the incentive compatibility constraint, and the government's budget constraint. We find that the optimal policies take the form of nonlinear tariffs, so that both buyers and sellers of the import face an effective price which exceeds its world level. We find that the tariffs are never complete, in the sense of bringing prices (or all individuals back to their initial level. Rather, it will always be possible to make some individuals strictly better off than at the initial prices, while ensuring that no persons are worse off.
The Determinants of Corporate Ownership Structure: Australian Evidence

There is growing interest in trying to explain differing corporate ownership structures in different countries. La Porta, Lopez-de-Silanes, Shleifer and Vishny (1998) find that the quality of legal protection of shareholders helps determine ownership concentration: in countries with relatively poor legal protection of investors, publicly listed companies are likely to have large blockholders. In contrast, Roe (2000) seeks to explain ownership differences in terms of politics and finds that publicly listed companies in social democracies are more likely to have concentrated ownership than their counterparts in the (non-socially democratic) United States. Bebchuk (1999a, 1999b) develops a model which predicts that the proportion of a country's publicly listed firms having a controlling shareholder depends on the size of private benefits of control in the corporate sector. Bebchuk extends his model to explain differences in ownership structure among companies in the same country. The model indicates that a company is more likely to have a large blockholder when the private benefits of control potentially available to a blockholder at that company are comparatively large. This paper examines the factors associated with ownership structure among publicly listed Australian companies. The results indicate that private benefits of control help explain the differences in ownership structure among Australian companies.
Economic voting: The effect of political context, volatility and turnout on voters’ assignment of responsibility

This study analyses macroeconomic conditions and the electoral fortune of incumbents in 21 parliamentary Western countries between 1950 and 1997 in 266 national elections. Voters’ assignment of responsibility for the state of the national economy is assumed to vary according to the context of the election. Building on previous research, the importance of the political context – clarity of responsibility and availability of alternatives – is analysed. The study also breaks new ground by introducing two new contexts of importance: volatility, seen from a systemic perspective, and the trend in turnout. The contextual hypothesis is confirmed. The universal economic effect as such is very weak indeed. However, given a favourable political and institutional environment (clear responsibility structure and availability of alternatives), an economic effect appears. Tests including the new contexts created on the basis of behavioural patterns in the electorate (system volatility and turnout trend) identify elections where the economic effects are even stronger.
Combat-Related Disorders: A Persistent Chimera

Whilst there may be some individuals who genuinely enjoy combat, for most troops it represents many emotional challenges, such as, overcoming fear and being witness to death, suffering and mutilation, as well as having to tolerate extremes of physical discomfort. At present we lack sufficiently valid and reliable methods of screening out those personnel particularly vulnerable to adverse reactions to these challenges. The authorities should aim to provide good training, an appreciative milieu, and a working climate in which those with genuine psychopathology feel confident to admit this, without censure and stigma, and to have access to evidence-based treatments. We should also remember that military life offers much to many men and women, and that surviving physically and psychologically the unavoidable brutalities of combat can often leave a legacy of positive outcomes. We must avoid becoming preoccupied with risk and psychopathology.
Assessing Trade Potential in Agricultural Sector of Iran: Application of Gravity Model

This article attempts to assess Iran's trade potential, explore over- and under-trade countries and determine factors affecting export development by using the gravity model. Seventy countries, which are considered the major markets for Iran agricultural products, are divided into 50 developing and 20 developed ones. By using panel data during the period when the export premium was submitted (2002–2005), Iran's agricultural exports were predicted. For this purpose, equations for each group of countries regressed by applying the augmented gravity model. Finally, the results were compared with actual figures. The results showed that Iran was more over-traded with developing countries relative to developed ones. This analysis helps us to determine the proper commercial direction, assess trade potential capacity and explore effective factors on export development such as export premium. Therefore, trade flows can be improved with under-trade countries and will be supported with over-trade ones through proper policies.