Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Anglo-Saxon change in a non-Anglo-Saxon cultural context: lessons from TQM application in Greek public organisations

Total Quality Management (TQM), as a new management philosophy with a set of 'soft' and 'hard' aspects, challenges public domain agendas. However, most of the studies concerning the application of TQM have been conducted in Anglo-Saxon systems. Less has been written about the specific conditions that affect the application of TQM in other national contexts. In this respect, the purpose of this article is to explore the cultural factors that seem to determine public managers' attitudes towards the adoption of TQM in non-Anglo-Saxon civil services, in this study the Greek one. Based on a combination of quantitative (survey-questionnaire) and qualitative (follow-up explanatory interviews) research methods, this study expands the theoretical understanding of the application of TQM by offering an enhanced framework under which it should be seen. There are two antithetical factors of the Greek national civil service culture that seem to affect the application of TQM: the traditional and the modern.
Eliminating the Market for Secondhand Goods: An Alternative Explanation for Leasing1

There are a number of prominent specific instances in which a durable goods manufacturer with significant market power employed a lease‐only policy: (i) United Shoe in the market for shoe machinery, (ii) IBM in the market for computers, and (iii) Xerox in the market for copiers. The obvious question that arises is, Why would such a firm prefer leasing over selling? In this article I argue that one role of the lease‐only policy was to eliminate the market for secondhand goods. The article formally demonstrates the argument, discusses the relationship between this article and earlier literature on secondhand markets, and discusses the implications for antitrust policy.
A Descriptive Analysis on the Implementation of Balanced Scorecards in German-Speaking Countries

This paper provides systematic research-based evidence on the usage of the BSC concept in German-speaking countries. We develop three primary types of BSC usage reflecting the successive phases in the evolution of the BSC concept and of its implementation in practice. This typology ranges from the BSC's origin as a multidimensional framework for strategic performance measurement that combines financial and non-financial measures to its advanced usage as an integrated strategic management system that describes strategy by a cause-and-effect logic and that is linked to the reward system. We use this theoretical framework to analyze the spread, implementation and benefits of the different types of Balanced Scorecards. Moreover, the impact of size and industry on BSC usage is analyzed. Our sample consists of a clearly defined segment of the most important publicly traded firms in Germany, Austria and Switzerland and we achieved an overall response rate of 87%.
DETERMINANTS OF FIRM LEVEL GOVERNANCE: MALAYSIAN EVIDENCE

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide an extension of the Corporate Governance Reporting Initiative (CGI) 2004, which reports on Malaysia's first corporate governance ratings. Characteristics of firms with high and low scores in the corporate governance ratings are analysed by comparing companies based on their corporate governance ranking as reported in the CGI.Design/methodology/approach – Firms are classified into those at the top 50 percent and the bottom 50 percent of the corporate governance ratings list to examine whether there are any differences in the characteristics of firms in both classified samples. The characteristics of firms that are being examined are firms' profitability, leverage, growth, market valuation, size, age, ownership structure and countries of operation based on the Logit analysis.Findings – The result shows that firm size has a strong influence with corporate governance ratings, but not so for other variables tested.Research limitations/implications – This study .
Poor self-reported health and its association with biomarkers among Canadian Inuit

Objectives. To determine the extent to which demographic characteristics, clinical measurements and biomarkers were associated with poor self-reported health (SRH) among Inuit adults in the Canadian Arctic. Study design. Cross-sectional survey was adopted as the study design. Methods. The International Polar Year Inuit Health Survey carried out in 36 Canadian Arctic communities in 2007 and 2008 included Inuit men and women, aged 18 years or older, recruited from randomly selected households. The main outcome measure was SRH, which was dichotomized into good health (excellent, very good and good responses) and poor health (fair and poor responses). Results. Of the 2,796 eligible households, 1,901 (68%) households and 2,595 participants took part in the survey. The weighted prevalence of poor SRH was 27.8%. Increasing age was significantly associated with poor SRH. The relative risk ratios for poor SRH was 2.0 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.3–3.1) for men aged 50 years or older and 2.3 (95% CI 1.7–3.0) for women aged 50 years or older, compared with men and women aged 29 years or younger. After adjusting for age, gender and body mass index, poor SRH was significantly associated with smoking status (odds ratio [OR]=1.5; CI 1.1–2.0), at-risk fasting glucose levels (≥6.1 mmol/L) (OR=2.5; 95%; CI 1.5–4.2) and elevated hs C-reactive protein levels (>3–≤10 mg/L) (OR=2.1; 95% CI 1.4–3.1). Poor SRH was also significantly associated with a hypertriglyceridemic waist phenotype (high-risk waist circumference ≥102 cm for men and ≥88 cm for women with high triglyceride levels, ≥1.7 mmol/L), adjusted for age and gender, OR=1.6; 95% CI 1.1–2.3. Conclusions. Clinically relevant indicators of chronic disease risk were related to subjective assessment of SRH among Inuit.
Rapid detection of male‐specific DNA sequence in bovine embryos using fluorescence in situ Hybridization

An accurate, reliable, and quick (less than an hour) method for determining the sex of bovine embryos was developed using a fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), with a probe designed from a bovine Y chromosome specific DNA (BC1.2). First, to improve a protocol of FISH and evaluate an accuracy of the method, lymphocyte nuclei prepared from three bulls, two cows, and one freemartin were tested. We found that 5 min was enough for hybridization. The washing solution adequate for posthybridization was 0.5× SSC at 72°C for 5 min. The whole procedure for FISH can be accomplished in less than an hour. A male‐specific signal was detected, on average, as 97, 0.5, and 83%, respectively, of lymphocytes in males, females, and a freemartin. Using the rapid FISH protocol developed, 28 embryos were divided. According to the presence of the digoxigenin signal, 16 embryos (57.1%) were predicted as male, and 12 embryos (42.9%), predicted as female. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 51:390–394, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Local Delivery of Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers into the Kidney Passively Attenuates Inflammatory Reactions during the Early Phases of Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Nephropathy through Inhibition of Calpain Activity

Background/Aims: Inhibition of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system plays a pivotal role in the prevention and treatment of diabetic nephropathy. Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB) exert a renoprotective effect and attenuate the progression of diabetic nephropathy. However, the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms in the kidney remain to be elucidated. The present study was undertaken to focus on the effect of local angiotensin II type 1 receptor blockade on the inflammatory reaction during the early stages of diabetic nephropathy. Methods and Results: Local ARB treatment significantly reduced urinary protein excretion and serum blood urea nitrogen levels in streptozotocin-induced diabetic nephropathy. In addition, this treatment attenuated monocyte/macrophage infiltration into the glomeruli and the enhanced glomerular expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase at both the mRNA and protein levels. Immunohistochemical study revealed activation of nuclear factor (NF)-ĸB, as shown by an increase in the expression of the p65 subunit of NF-ĸB and its translocation from the cytoplasm to the nucleus in both tubular epithelial and glomerular cells of the diabetic kidney. Local ARB treatment induced an apparent reduction in p65 nuclear localization and intensity of staining. To search for a common and fundamental candidate that influences endothelial cell function and vascular inflammation, we examined glomerular calpain activity in diabetic rats with or without ARB treatment. Glomerular expression of 145/150-kDa spectrin breakdown products, a specific product of calpain activation, was dramatically increased in diabetic animals while the protein expression reverted to a normal level after ARB treatment. Conclusion: Our findings provide a conceptual basis for the development of therapeutic strategies aiming at local inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system to prevent the progression of diabetic nephropathy.
The relationship between second-year medical students' OSCE scores and USMLE Step 2 scores.

RATIONALE, AIMS AND OBJECTIVES A valid tool to measure clinical competency early in medical school could identify students who may require special educational attention. The overall aim is to assess the relationship between students' scores on an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) given in the second year of medical school and their subsequent performance on Step 2 of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE Step 2). METHODS Participants were 390 second-year medical students participating in a required OSCE; complete data (Medical College Admission Test, OSCE, USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 scores) were available for 340 students (87%). Univariate correlations and linear regression analyses were performed. RESULTS Total OSCE score was moderately correlated with USMLE Step 2 score (r = 0.395, P < 0.001), as were two skills subscores of the OSCE, differential diagnosis (r = 0.343, P < 0.001) and identification of abnormality (r = 0.322, P < 0.001). In linear regression analysis, neither OSCE total score nor any of the subscores independently predicted Step 2 scores; only Step 1 score (beta = 0.687, P < 0.001) and female sex (beta = 0.152, P < 0.001) remained independent correlates of Step 2 score. CONCLUSION OSCEs early in medical school can be useful in the early assessment of clinical competence.
Replicating minicircles : Generation of nonviral episomes for the efficient modification of dividing cells Research Article

*Correspondence: Juergen Bode, GBF, German Research Centre for Biotechnology, Mascheroder Weg 1, D-38124 Braunschweig, Germany; Tel +49(0)531 6181 5200; Fax +49(0)531 6181 5002; Juergen.Bode@helmholtz-hzi.de
Information Associated with Dividend Initiations: Firm-Specific or Industry-Wide?

We examine the intra-industry information effects of announcements of dividend initiations. Our results indicate that the stock prices of industry competitors do not react to dividend initiations. Further, analysts do not revise their earnings forecasts for nonannouncing, rival firms. These findings are not sensitive to the manner in which we estimate abnormal returns or calculate forecast revisions. Thus, the information conveyed to the market by the decision to initiate dividends contains no industry-wide component. Dividend initiation appears to be a firm-specific event.
Accuracy of magnetic resonance enterography in assessing response to therapy and mucosal healing in patients with Crohn's disease.

BACKGROUND & AIMS We assessed the accuracy of magnetic resonance enterography (MRE) in monitoring response to therapy in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) using ileocolonoscopy as a reference standard. METHODS We performed a prospective multicenter study of 48 patients with active CD and ulcers in at least one ileocolonic segment. All patients underwent ileocolonoscopy and MRE at baseline and 12 weeks after completing treatment with corticosteroids (CS) or anti-tumor necrosis factor agents. Disease activity was quantified using Crohn's Disease Endoscopic Index of Severity (CDEIS) and Magnetic Resonance Index of Activity (MaRIA). The primary analysis was to determine the accuracy of MRE in identification of healing, defined as the disappearance of ulcers in endoscopy examination. Additional analyses established the accuracy of MRE in determining endoscopic remission (a CDEIS score <3.5) and change in severity based on consideration of all segments. RESULTS MRE determined ulcer healing with 90% accuracy and endoscopic remission with 83% accuracy. The mean CDEIS and MaRIA scores significantly changed at week 12 in segments with ulcer healing, based on endoscopic examination (CDEIS: 21.28 ± 9.10 at baseline vs 2.73 ± 4.12 at 12 weeks; P < .001 and MaRIA: 18.86 ± 9.50 at baseline vs 8.73 ± 5.88 at 12 weeks; P < .001). The MaRIA score accurately detected changes in lesion severity (Guyatt score: 1.2 and standardized effect size: 1.07). MRE was as reliable as endoscopy in assessing healing; no significant changes in CDEIS or MaRIA scores were observed in segments with persistent ulcers, based on endoscopic examination (CDEIS: 26.43 ± 9.06 at baseline vs 20.77 ± 9.13 at 12 weeks; P = .18 and MaRIA: 22.13 ± 8.42 at baseline vs 20.77 ± 9.17 at 12 weeks; P = .42). The magnitude of change in CDEIS scores correlated with those in MaRIA scores (r = 0.51; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS MRE evaluates ulcer healing with a high level of accuracy when ileocolonoscopy is used as the reference standard. The MaRIA is a valid, responsive, and reliable index assessing response to therapy in patients with CD.
Appraising the functional performance characteristics of office buildings

The problem of building obsolescence and its relationship with depreciation within office investment portfolios is shown to relate to the changing characteristics and requirements of tenant organizations globally. Building appraisal techniques are introduced as powerful tools used by management to analyse the characteristics of office properties and identify potential problem areas that necessitate modernization. A methodology used for research into the functional performance characteristics of City of London office properties is illustrated as a means of collecting information suitable for the development of decision support models. Analysis of results from statistical and artificial intelligence models shows that office building design quality characteristics and tenant organization work practice typologies can be used to explain functional performance as perceived by occupiers. The paper establishes that user-based building performance data can be modelled effectively and is applicable in a range of management activities particularly those which attempt to counteract obsolescence and consequent depreciation.
The Politics of Human Rights and Development: The Challenge for Official Donors

This article examines the ‘right to development’ and ‘rights-based approaches to development’, highlighting how each defines development and the degree to which they have been adopted by official donors in their policies and programs. The article then focuses on criticisms relating to justice, participation, empowerment and agency that uncover both the conceptual limitations of the rights–development nexus and the limitations of donor capacity to engage with these ‘radical’ critiques. An approach toward resolving these criticisms, drawing on the implications of rights for the political act of public reasoning and transnational ‘citizenship’, is briefly set out in the final section of the article under the broad title of rights-based development.
The precursors and products of justice climates: Group leader antecedents and employee attitudinal consequences.

Drawing on the organizational justice, organizational climate, leadership and personality, and social comparison theory literatures, we develop hypotheses about the effects of leader personality on the development of 3 types of justice climates (e.g., procedural, interpersonal, and informational) and the moderating effects of these climates on individual-level justice–attitude relationships. Largely consistent with the theoretically derived hypotheses, the results showed that leader (a) Agreeableness was positively related to procedural, interpersonal, and informational justice climates; (b) Conscientiousness was positively related to a procedural justice climate; and (c) Neuroticism was negatively related to all 3 types of justice climates. Further, consistent with social comparison theory, multilevel data analyses revealed that the relationship between individual justice perceptions and job attitudes (e.g., job satisfaction, commitment) was moderated by justice climate such that the relationships were stronger when justice climate was high.
The occurrence of giant fibres in different muscles of two chicken genotypes

Abstract 1. The occurrence of Giant Fibres (GF) in three muscles (Pectoralis major (PM), Iliotibialis lateralis and Semimembranosus) with different types of energy metabolism was studied in slow- and fast-growing chicken strains. 2. A total of 20 one-day-old Leghorn chicks (slow-growing) and 20 broiler (Ross 508) chicks (fast-growing) were reared to 100 and 45 d, respectively. 3. A small percentage of GF was seen in pre rigor muscle samples even at 3 min post mortem in both genotypes and in all muscle types studied. 4. From 3 min to 24 h post mortem GF increased both in Leghorn and broiler chickens but to a different extent according to muscle type and genotype. 5. The highest GF 24 h post mortem value was found in the PM muscles belonging to the fast-growing broiler line. 6. It was concluded that every type of muscle can develop GF, but this phenomenon is more evident in the PM especially in animals selected for increased growth rate.
Social Norms, Social Cohesion, and Corporate Governance

Manuscript Type: Empirical. Research Question/Issue: We study the relationship between informal rules (represented by social norms and social cohesion in a community) and corporate governance. A community is a large social unit characterized by a distinct set of informal rules. Specifically, three hypotheses are tested: (1) Communities with stronger social norms will have more open firm-level corporate governance; (2) More socially cohesive communities will have more open firm-level corporate governance; and (3) The relationship between social norms and corporate governance will be mediated by social cohesion. Research Findings/Insights: Unlike previous studies, we use data from a single, culturally diverse country, Ukraine, in order to isolate the effect of informal rules. The country's provinces are used as proxies for communities. We develop our measures of social norms and social cohesion by performing a factor analysis on the measures commonly used in previous research (social capital, religiosity, total fertility, ethnic homogeneity, linguistic homogeneity, and homicide rate). All three hypotheses are supported, whether using composite or individual measures of social norms and cohesion. The mediation is partial, suggesting that the hypothesized effect of social norms on corporate governance may (1) partly come through cohesion; and (2) partly be direct. The results are highly significant and robust, and they hold very well when controlled for economic development, firm characteristics, and industry. Theoretical/Academic Implications: We contribute to the large literature on institutional determinants of corporate governance by proposing that informal rules may have a substantial impact on firm-level corporate governance. We also identify specific sources of informal rules: social norms and cohesion. Testing our insights in other countries and in cross-country settings would help to further understand what rules matter for corporate governance and whether informal rules may substitute for formal rules. Another research opportunity, perhaps best exploited through case-based research, is the deeper enquiry into the very mechanism by which informal rules may affect firm-level corporate governance. Practitioner/Policy Implications: Manipulating informal rules, such as norms and cohesion, is an unlikely option for corporate governance reform. If that is the case, the policy should consist in adjusting the governance system to fit them. As this fit will differ across communities and countries, international convergence of corporate governance appears unlikely.
A ‘Quick and Dirty’ Travel Cost Model:

This paper describes a series of Monte-Carlo simulations that investigate the accuracy of welfare estimates generated from the travel cost model (TCM). The simulations indicate that in some cases the TCM can generate reasonably accurate welfare estimates – even when researchers are unable to determine the correct price of all recreational inputs or the correct way to allocate the joint costs of multiple-site visitors. This means that in some circumstances researchers may be able to estimate a visitation equation simply, using an implied price of distance equal to one and then scaling final estimates for a range of different ‘plausible’ prices. These final estimates are neither better nor worse than other estimates, but they are considerably simpler to generate, thus saving time that can then be devoted to the many other problems attending TCM implementation.
The Impact of Organizational Justice on Employees' Pay Satisfaction, Work Attitudes and Performance in Chinese Hotels

ABSTRACT The authors have done an empirical study to investigate the relationship between pay fairness and employees' pay satisfaction in ten hotels in China. The results of data analysis indicate that employees' perception of organizational justice (distributive justice, procedural justice, interactional justice, informational justice) and managerial compliance with the labor law are important antecedents of employees' pay satisfaction (satisfaction with pay level, benefit, bonus, pay raise, pay structure and administration), and employees' perception of organizational justice has both direct and indirect impacts on their affective commitment to the hotel, work effort and performance.
Food Aid and Poverty

Barrett E. Kirwan and Margaret McMillan One of the primary objectives of food aid is poverty alleviation. This is true independent of the type of food aid (see Barrett 2007 for an excellent overview of the various types of U.S. food aid). Advocates of food aid argue: it is an effective means of reducing hunger; when used for food for work programs, it stimulates development; and by reducing the need for food imports it has prevented large cumulative deficits in poor countries. Critics of food aid argue it has increased the dependence of developing countries on food imports. The dumping of surplus production for free or nearly no cost to poorer nations means that the farmers from such countries either cannot produce at competitive prices, or lose the incentive to produce entirely (leading, over time, to the deterioration of the infrastructure of production). They also claim that food aid is inefficient – it often fails to reach the most needy and has high administrative costs. However, credible empirical evidence on the role of food aid in combating poverty is limited. Levinsohn and McMillan (2006) use nationally representative household survey data from Ethiopia to identify the relationship between household