Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Drivers of the Adoption of Eco-Innovations in the Pulp, Paper, and Paper Products Industry in Brazil

ABSTRACT This study analyzes the production of knowledge in the field of eco-innovation, checking its state of the art in order to discuss topics of future research. Specifically, it assesses the pulp, paper, and paper products industry in Brazil in order to examine the drivers of the adoption of eco-innovation strategies. The study is essentially a review of the literature, with a methodology based on exploratory research, and using the documental and bibliographical qualitative method. The empirical research was based on a quantitative approach using the strategy of a cross-sectional survey by means of a self-administered online questionnaire. It was verified that the studies related to eco-innovation are still preliminary and that the subject lacks specific research with empirical data from survey and in-depth case studies. The following topics were checked for studies on innovation in environmental issues on conceptual and theoretical discussion; models and indicators for evaluating the eco-innovation; types; and political arguments for their development, with the proposition of research lines within this context. The results of the empirical research allow us to conclude that factors such as environmental regulation, the use of environmental incentives and innovation, reputation effects, top management support, technological expertise, and environmental formalization in the context of domestic enterprises are crucial to the adoption of eco-innovation. Further, the higher the extent to which companies embrace an environmental and innovative culture, the greater the internalization of eco-innovative practices.
Comparison of a radiometric and a broth-slide system for aerobic blood culture

In a comparison of the radiometric BACTEC 460 (Johnston Laboratories) and the BCB broth slide system (Roche Diagnostics Division), the latter yielded a slightly greater number of clinically significant microorganisms, as well as contaminants, from aerobic blood cultures. These differences may reflect the larger volume of blood required for and the greater amount of manipulation associated with the BCB.
Collective Bargaining and Within-firm Wage Dispersion in Spain

This paper analyses the effect of collective bargaining on within-firm wage dispersion for the case of Spain. What is relevant in the Spanish case is to compare the effect of the two basic levels of bargaining (firm and sector) on wage dispersion. By using the Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition, this paper concludes that collective agreements at firm level have a negative effect on wage dispersion. At the same time, firms that have signed these types of agreements show greater wage dispersion than those covered by agreements at the sector level, owing to the positive and compensating effect of firms' and workers' features.
Biodiversity valuation and the discount rate problem

Purpose - The aim of this paper is to demonstrate that the application of standard environmental accounting practices for estimating long-term discount rates is likely to lead to the rejection of biodiversity-sensitive projects that are in the greater societal good. Design/methodology/approach - The authors combine estimates of marginal ecosystem damages from two forestry case studies, one local, one global, with ten different term structures of discount rates taken from both the academic literature and policy choices to calculate present values. Findings - Standard environmental accounting approaches for estimating the long-term discount rate result in the under-valuation of projects that are sensitive to biodiversity conservation. Research limitations/implications - This paper is set within a full cost accounting (FCA) framework, and therefore has the limitations that generally follow from taking this approach to biodiversity problems. Recommended extensions include looking at broader ranges of biodiversity costs and benefits. Social implications - Unless environmental accountants engage with environmental economists over the issue of intergenerational discount rates, then it is likely that socially responsible managers will reject projects that are in the greater societal good. Originality/value - The paper introduces both normative discount rates and declining discount rates to estimates of shadow environmental provisions within FCA and contrasts these with current environmental accounting practices. It also provides two detailed case studies that demonstrate the extent to which biodiversity-sensitive investment choices are likely to be undervalued by managers who follow current accounting recommendations concerning the appropriate choice of discount rate.
The Leadership Discourse Amongst Female Police Leaders in Sweden

Female leaders within the police force in Sweden are in a minority. Although their numbers are increasing, little is known about their experiences. By using interviews and discourse analysis, this article aims to analyse and construct the leadership discourse articulated by female leaders within the Swedish Police. It is argued here, as in previous research, that female leaders experience a range of different aspects in their roles as leaders. The female leadership discourse within the police is constructed around five themes of discussion: (a) the leadership style of good leaders is generally a transformational one; (b) a transactional approach to leadership is visible in relation to crisis situations; (c) extensive experience as a police officer is of importance; (d) leaders need support in different ways, and (e) experiences of being a "˜token' female in a male-dominated organisation is common. Above all, this article challenges the notion that a "˜feminine leadership style' exists. It is also argued that an intersectional perspective on police leadership is preferable, and that co-workers have an impact on leadership processes.
Near-field hazard assessment of March 11, 2011 Japan Tsunami sources inferred from different methods

Tsunami source is the origin of the subsequent transoceanic water waves, and thus the most critical component in modern tsunami forecast methodology. Although impractical to be quantified directly, a tsunami source can be estimated by different methods based on a variety of measurements provided by deep-ocean tsunameters, seismometers, GPS, and other advanced instruments, some in real time, some in post real-time. Here we assess these different sources of the devastating March 11, 2011 Japan tsunami by model-data comparison for generation, propagation and inundation in the near field of Japan. This study provides a comparative study to further understand the advantages and shortcomings of different methods that may be potentially used in real-time warning and forecast of tsunami hazards, especially in the near field. The model study also highlights the critical role of deep-ocean tsunami measurements for high-quality tsunami forecast, and its combination with land GPS measurements may lead to better understanding of both the earthquake mechanisms and tsunami generation process.
THE EFFECT OF CURFEW LAWS ON MOTOR VEHICLE CRASHES

Twelve states in the U.S. have curfew laws, which prohibit young drivers from operating motor vehicles during late evening or early morning hours. The effect of such laws on motor vehicle crashes was studied in four of these states. In each state the laws were found substantially to reduce the crashes of sixteen year olds. Sixteen year old driver crash involvements during curfew hours were reduced by an estimated 69 percent in Pennsylvania, 62 percent in New York, 40 percent in Maryland, and 25 percent in Louisiana. Except in Maryland, the percentage of the sixteen year old population licensed was lower in curfew than comparison states. It is possible that curfew laws reduce early licensure, in which case reductions in crash involvements resulting from curfews are greater than shown above.
NRAS mutation status is an independent prognostic factor in metastatic melanoma

There is a need for improved prognostic markers in melanoma. In this study, the authors tested the prognostic significance and clinicopathologic correlations of v‐raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B1 (BRAF) and neuroblastoma RAS viral (v‐ras) oncogene homolog (NRAS) mutations in patients with metastatic melanoma.
Government Spending or Tax Cuts for Education in Taylor County, Texas

On February 17, 2009, President Barack Obama signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The Education sector in Taylor County, Texas, received $17,251,899 in grants over 16 months for 17 projects. This paper will model the impact of the stimulus package on Taylor County, Texas, and its effect on education, and then compare this model with an alternate tax relief model to gauge indirect and induced changes in the Education sector within the county. This paper will examine the sustainability of one time government grants versus community generated funding. These models will be compared with actual changes in the Education sector, where boom and bust spending has forced significant layoffs as funding runs out.
Parent's Bargaining Powers, Child Labour and Education

The paper examines the causal effect of child labour hours on child education using the collective model of the household. By drawing on Bangladesh National Child labour Survey data for 2002, we find that children‟s work, even in limited amounts, does adversely affect child human capital. This is reflected in reduced school attendance and age-adjusted school attendance rates. We find that parents do not have identical preferences towards boys‟ and girls‟ schooling decisions. While both, educated mother and father shifts the trade-off towards girls‟ schooling as opposed to market work, the differential impact of mother‟s education on girls is significantly larger. These conclusions persist even after allowing for sample selection into child‟s work. From a policy perspective, the results suggest that empowerment of women can have a significant effect on raising the level of schooling of girls in Bangladesh.
A Compact Mach–Zehnder Interferometer Using Composite Plasmonic Waveguide for Ethanol Vapor Sensing

The finite element method (FEM) has attracted a considerable interest in the past few decades for the analysis of a wide range of dielectric waveguides. This method can handle isotropic and anisotropic material properties and arbitrary-shaped complex dielectric discontinuities more efficiently and accurately than any other methods. A modified H-field based full-vectorial finite element method is used for a rigorous analysis of a composite plasmonic waveguide as an efficient ethanol vapor sensor where a porous ZnO (P-ZnO) layer is used as low index material in between high index silicon and silver metal layer. Enhanced field confined into low index slot is utilized for ethanol vapor sensing which has many potential applications in chemical industries. It is reported here that a high waveguide sensitivity over 0.7 per RIU could be realized with our proposed design depending on the porosity of the ZnO layer. For accurate detection of refractometric changes, a compact Mach–Zehnder interferometer is designed where maximum phase sensitivities of 0.30, 0.34, 0.38, and 0.40 are shown to be achieved for $ \sim $ 50% volume fraction of ethanol into porous ZnO layer with porosity, P = 30%, 40%, 50%, and 60%, respectively. The complete investigation has been carried out at the well-known telecommunication wavelength 1550 nm and with our in-house, accurate full-vectorial FEM code.
See the future by looking at the past: predicting divorce with premarital earnings

The effect of spouse's premarital earnings capacity on the probability of divorce is examined. This study is based on longitudinal register data on married and cohabitating couples in Sweden. We use the residuals from estimated earnings equations of men and women based on observations before their marriage in estimation of a logit model of divorce. By using information on individuals as singles, we can identify the impact of relative earnings power on the probability of divorce, per se, without the confounding effect of the marital relationship. The results indicate that differences in spouse's conditional earnings capacities increase the probability of divorce.
OXFORD HANDBOOK OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND SOCIETY

PART I: INTRODUCTION PART II: THE CHALLENGE AND ITS HISTORY PART III: SCIENCE, SOCIETY, AND PUBLIC OPINION PART IV: SOCIAL IMPACTS PART V: SECURITY PART VI: JUSTICE PART VII: PUBLICS AND MOVEMENTS PART VIII: GOVERNMENT RESPONSES PART IX: POLICY INSTRUMENTS PART X: PRODUCERS AND CONSUMERS PART XI: GLOBAL GOVERNANCE PART XII: RECONSTRUCTION
Residential Space and Collective Interest Formation in Beijing's Housing Disputes

This article investigates the interest structure that leads to collective conflicts over the protection of private property in middle-class residential compounds in Beijing. The departure from a work-unit dominated social landscape means that work and residence are now de-linked and the new private residential compounds create communities of consumers, not of producers. Individual status is formed in the context of local socialization patterns in the neighbourhoods at least as much as in the workplace. Based on fieldwork in Beijing's residential compounds in 2002 and 2003, this article highlights the importance of spatial factors in determining the formation of collective interests and argues that the enclosed residential spaces of the gated communities are providing both a catalyst for the autonomous mobilization of collective resources and new social units for the Chinese state to govern an increasingly complex society.
Endogenously Structured Boards of Directors in Banks

This paper examines the trends and endogenous determinants of boards of directors (board size, composition, and CEO duality) for a sample of 212 US bank holding companies, from 1997 to 2004. Overall, the results show that the costs and benefits of boards’ monitoring and advising roles could explain bank board structures with caveats. For example, due to the regulatory nature and comparatively intensive scrutiny of bank officers and directors, it is argued that bank managers have less control over the directors’ selection processes. Thus, bank board independence should not be the outcome of negotiation with CEOs. Consistent with this view, bank CEOs are found not to affect bank board independence. The trend analysis also provides some important results. In contrast to non-bank evidence, for instance, board size was discovered to decrease over the sample period for large and medium-sized banks, while board size remained relatively stable for small banks. These results are robust with respect to different estimation specifications. Furthermore, the study’s findings have important policy implications for bank regulators and investors.
Morbidity and Mortality of Laparoscopic Versus Open D2 Distal Gastrectomy for Advanced Gastric Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

PURPOSE The safety and efficacy of radical laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (LG) with D2 lymphadenectomy for the treatment of advanced gastric cancer (AGC) remain controversial. We conducted a randomized controlled trial to compare laparoscopic and conventional open distal gastrectomy with D2 lymph node dissections for AGC. PATIENTS AND METHODS Between September 2012 and December 2014, 1,056 patients with clinical stage T2-4aN0-3M0 gastric cancer were eligible for inclusion. They were randomly assigned to either the LG with D2 lymphadenectomy group (n = 528) or the open gastrectomy (OG) with D2 lymphadenectomy group (n = 528). Fifteen experienced surgeons from 14 institutions in China participated in the study. The morbidity and mortality within 30 days after surgery between the LG (n = 519) and the OG (n = 520) groups were compared on the basis of the modified intention-to-treat principle. Postoperative complications were stratified according to the Clavien-Dindo classification. RESULTS The compliance rates of D2 lymphadenectomy were similar between the LG and OG groups (99.4% v 99.6%; P = .845). The postoperative morbidity was 15.2% in the LG group and 12.9% in OG group with no significant difference (difference, 2.3%; 95% CI, -1.9 to 6.6; P = .285). The mortality rate was 0.4% for the LG group and zero for the OG group (difference, 0.4%; 95% CI, -0.4 to 1.4; P = .249). The distribution of severity was similar between the two groups (P = .314). CONCLUSION Experienced surgeons can safely perform LG with D2 lymphadenectomy for AGC.
Parameters Affecting Spore Recovery from Wipes Used in Biological Surface Sampling

ABSTRACT The need for the precise and reliable collection of potential biothreat contaminants has motivated research in developing a better understanding of the variability in biological surface sampling methods. In this context, the objective of this work was to determine parameters affecting the efficiency of extracting Bacillus anthracis Sterne spores from commonly used wipe sampling materials and to describe performance using the interfacial energy concept. In addition, surface thermodynamics was applied to understand and predict surface sampling performance. Wipe materials were directly inoculated with known concentrations of B. anthracis spores and placed into extraction solutions, followed by sonication or vortexing. Experimental factors investigated included wipe material (polyester, cotton, and polyester-rayon), extraction solution (sterile deionized water [H2O], deionized water with 0.04% Tween 80 [H2O-T], phosphate-buffered saline [PBS], and PBS with 0.04% Tween 80 [PBST]), and physical dissociation method (vortexing or sonication). The most efficient extraction from wipes was observed for solutions containing the nonionic surfactant Tween 80. The increase in extraction efficiency due to surfactant addition was attributed to an attractive interfacial energy between Tween 80 and the centrifuge tube wall, which prevented spore adhesion. Extraction solution significantly impacted the extraction efficiency, as determined by statistical analysis (P < 0.05). Moreover, the extraction solution was the most important factor in extraction performance, followed by the wipe material. Polyester-rayon was the most efficient wipe material for releasing spores into solution by rank; however, no statistically significant difference between polyester-rayon and cotton was observed (P > 0.05). Vortexing provided higher spore recovery in H2O and H2O-T than sonication, when all three wipe materials and the reference control were considered (P < 0.05).
β-Cell Secretory Products Activate α-Cell ATP-Dependent Potassium Channels to Inhibit Glucagon Release

Glucagon, secreted from islet α-cells, mobilizes liver glucose. During hyperglycemia, glucagon secretion is inhibited by paracrine factors from other islet cells, but in type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients, this suppression is lost. We investigated the effects of β-cell secretory products zinc and insulin on isolated rat α-cells, intact islets, and perfused pancreata. Islet glucagon secretion was markedly zinc sensitive (IC 50 = 2.7 μmol/l) more than insulin release (IC 50 = 10.7 μmol/l). Glucose, the mitochondrial substrate pyruvate, and the ATP-sensitive K + channel (K ATP channel) inhibitor tolbutamide stimulated isolated α-cell electrical activity and glucagon secretion. Zinc opened K ATP channels and inhibited both electrical activity and pyruvate (but not arginine)-stimulated glucagon secretion in α-cells. Insulin tran-siently increased K ATP channel activity, inhibited electrical activity and glucagon secretion in α-cells, and inhibited pancreatic glucagon output. Insulin receptor and K ATP channel subunit transcripts were more abundant in α- than β-cells. Transcript for the glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor was not detected in α-cells nor did GLP-1 stimulate α-cell glucagon release. β-Cell secretory products zinc and insulin therefore inhibit glucagon secretion most probably by direct activation of K ATP channels, thereby masking an α-cell metabolism secretion coupling pathway similar to β-cells.
Health Risks of Self-Employment

This study explores the impact of self-employment on health and argues that favorable aspects of autonomy and self-direction notwithstanding, the self-employed are frequently burdened by uncertainty, market fluctuations, and the threat of loss of assets. These impose considerable stress on the self-employed and induce life-styles and behaviors detrimental to health. The analysis is based on survey and medical data for a sample of men residing in urban areas in Israel. The findings revealed higher levels of behavioral and physiological risk factors among the self-employed than among salaried workers, although the opposite was true for visits to the physician and disability days. These patterns were unaltered when social and demographic composition of the groups was taken into account. Implications for the changing organization of work are considered.
Liquidity gaps in financing the SME sector in an emerging market: evidence from Poland

Purpose – Access to finance appears to be the largest challenge for entrepreneurial firms from the small to medium‐sized enterprise (SME) sector in Poland. To address this concern, the government embarked on a program to yield financial and know‐how assistance to the SME sector. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate public intervention in this area.Design/methodology/approach – The study focuses on the analysis of primary data. The sampling frame for the study consisted of 278,088 firms from the SME sector in the Warsaw region. The sample size was equal to 500 firms from the SME sector. Questionnaires from 262 respondents were included in the study, for an effective response rate of 52 percent.Findings – The study concludes that there are still pronounced liquidity gaps for firms in the SME sector in Poland and that the government programs are not effective in closing these liquidity gaps.Originality/value – Problems with access to capital continue to be a challenge to developing a vibrant SME sector i.
UNDERSTANDING THE RELATIONSHIPS OF PROGRAM SATISFACTION, PROGRAM LOYALTY AND STORE LOYALTY AMONG CARDHOLDERS OF LOYALTY PROGRAMS

Loyalty programs have increasingly attracted interest in both academic marketing research and practice. One major factor that has been increasingly discussed is loyalty. In this study we examine the influence of cardholders' satisfaction on loyalty (program loyalty and store loyalty) in a retail context, namely, in department stores and superstores. Data were collected from 400 cardholders of a retail loyalty program in Klang Valley, Malaysia via the drop-off-and-collect technique. Structural modelling techniques were applied to analyze the data. The results indicated that program satisfaction is not related to store loyalty (share-of-wallet, share-of-visit and store preference). However, loyalty to the program (program loyalty) plays a crucial intervening role in the relationship between program satisfaction and store loyalty. The study underscores the principal importance of program loyalty in the retail loyalty program.