Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Balancing psychological contracts: Validation of a typology

In this study, a psychological contract typology based on both content and exchange balance was developed. Content was defined along the transactional-relational dimension. Balance was assessed by comparing employees' perceptions on the number of employees' obligations relative to employer's obligations. Furthermore, the typology was related to type of employment contract (temporary versus permanent) as perhaps the most important antecedent of psychological contracts, and to various psychological consequences (job satisfaction, life satisfaction, organizational commitment, and psychological contract violation). Results were based on Belgian and German data (N = 1267). Latent Class Analyses suggested four psychological contract types which are clearly distinct with regard to content terms and exchange balance: mutual high obligations, employee over-obligation, employee under-obligation and mutual low obligations. Temporary workers were more likely to hold psychological contracts with few employer obligations, such as the mutual low obligations and the employee over-obligation type. Finally, the mutual high obligations type was most beneficial in terms of psychological outcomes. Implications for future research are discussed.
Evaluation of Anaplasma marginale from Tick Cell Culture as an Immunogen for Cattle a

ABSTRACT: Anaplasma marginale has been propagated and continuously passaged in an Ixodes scapularis cell line. Anaplasma development was characterized and cultures with a high density of rickettsiae were harvested at a predictable rate. Culture‐derived A. marginale (CAM) remained infective for cattle and was used effectively as antigen in diagnostic tests with the sensitivity to identify bovine carriers of A. marginale. This study presents results of an initial trial using the CAM as an immunogen for cattle. CAM was mechanically disrupted, frozen at −70°C, and inactivated with β‐propiolactone. Two intact yearling cattle were immunized with CAM and Freund's adjuvant, receiving 4 subcutaneous injections at 3‐4 week intervals. Two control yearling cattle received adjuvant and PBS. Serum samples were evaluated by competitive ELISA (C‐ELISA) using CAM as antigen and the standard complement fixation test (CFT). All cattle were subsequently challenged with A. marginale‐infected blood from a carrier cow. An additional intact calf was inoculated with live CAM from the same passage and screened by C‐ELISA and CFT. Sera collected from immunized cattle were negative or suspicious by CFT throughout the immunization study. The same sera were strongly positive by C‐ELISA two weeks after the first injection and throughout the study. All cattle became infected following challenge‐exposure with blood, but immunized cattle exhibited longer prepatent periods as well as lower parasitemias and percent reduction of packed cell volumes as compared with the controls. The calf receiving live CAM became infected and underwent a mild clinical reaction with positive C‐ELISA and CFT results and did not become clinically ill following blood challenge. This preliminary study suggests that the CAM antigen is highly immunogenic in cattle. Furthermore, the CFT did not identify immunized animals whereas the C‐ELISA (using CAM) was highly sensitive for detection of both immunized and infected animals.
Writing and photographing ‘little water’

Abstract The ‘average water user’ concept which informs much research into household water use neglects the beliefs, knowledges and rationalities that underpin people's water use and limits management strategies. Photo diaries and participant-led reflexive diaries supported with interviews are used as complementary research methods to critically analyse what Allon describes as ‘little water’ in residential households. The article also considers the use of ethnographic methods to explore everyday practices. Of primary importance are multiple realities that are revealed through this methodological approach about the constitutive effects of water practices in everyday life. The initial findings demonstrate that there are multiple water cultures existing within urban Auckland, contesting mainstream conceptualisations of water user and water cultures. The approach and findings demonstrates potential to transform the ways we know and manage water, and provides a richer, more complex picture of everyday water cultures.
A first look at machine-to-machine power grid network traffic

The purpose of network traffic characterization is to explore unknown patterns in different types of network communications to help improve many aspects of the network. While many previous studies have explored the characterization of many different networks (e.g., university networks), the power grid network (and other SCADA networks) characterization has not yet been studied. In this paper, we provide a characterization of the power grid network to answer questions like the following: i) how stable is the communication based on configurations? ; ii) are there different observable traffic patterns in different vendor equipment? ; iii) are there trends in the network traffic? ; iv) can information be gathered from the traffic characterization to help secure the power grid network? To address these questions, we have collected power grid network traffic in a live substation for two months and conducted an empirical study to identify network traffic behaviors in the live substation. Our empirical study shows different behaviors between the devices and vendors when they communicate with each other.
Trends in physical activity status in Catalonia, Spain (1992–2003)

Abstract Aim The promotion of a healthy and active lifestyle among the population is essential for the prevention of numerous chronic diseases. Physical activity measurement and surveillance is crucial for understanding and evaluating campaigns to promote its practice. Objective To evaluate the 10-year trends in physical activity habits in the Catalan population. Design Two cross-sectional nutritional surveys were carried out within a 10-year interval in the population of Catalonia. Data on physical activity include leisure-time physical activity, occupational physical activity and walking activity and regular stair climbing. Subject In all, 2344 individuals participated in the ENCAT 1992–93 study and 2055 individuals in the ENCAT 2002–03 survey, aged 10 to 75 years. Results Inactivity related to occupation increased (from 53% in 1992–93 to 56% in 2002–03 of the Catalan population having sedentary work-related activities). In both genders, the percentage of people who walked to work at least 30 min decreased (from 19% to 16% in men and from 25% to 19% in women). There was a decrease in the percentage of people who were completely sedentary during leisure time (from 59% to 56%), and an increase in the percentage of people who did at least 2 days of vigorous activity (from 39% to 46% in men and from 26% to 32% in women). Conclusions The physical activity related to work and transportation has decreased during the period observed. Although a slight improvement has been noted, the percentage of people who are sedentary during leisure time is still high among both men and women.
Chief executive personality and export involvement

This paper presents the results of an empirical research concerning the influence of the Chief Executive Officer’s (CEO) personality on the export behaviour and performance of 81 manufacturing firms in a small European country. Regression analysis was applied in order to determine which of the personality characteristics studied could explain the export performance of the firms. The results showed that there are several personality traits of the decision maker that can be related to export involvement, supporting the “upper echelons model” that contends that firm performance is a reflection of its top managers. Moreover, the effect of the CEO’s personality on the export performance was found to be much stronger in small enterprises than in larger ones.
PTCH Gene Mutations in Odontogenic Keratocysts

An odontogenic keratocyst (OKC) is a benign cystic lesion of the jaws that occurs sporadically or in association with nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome (NBCCS). Recently, the gene for NBCCS was cloned and shown to be the human homologue of the Drosophila segment polarity gene Patched (PTCH), a tumor suppressor gene. The PTCH gene encodes a transmembrane protein that acts in opposition to the Hedgehog signaling protein, controlling cell fates, patterning, and growth in numerous tissues, including tooth. We investigated three cases of sporadic odontogenic keratocysts and three other cases associated with NBCCS, looking for mutations of the PTCH gene. Non-radioactive single-strand conformational polymorphism and direct sequencing of PCR products revealed a deletion of 5 base pairs (bp) in exon 3 (518delAAGCG) in one sporadic cyst as well as mutations in two cysts associated with NBCCS, a nonsense (C2760A) and a missense (G3499A) alteration. This report is the first to describe a somatic mutation of PTCH in sporadic odontogenic keratocysts as well as two novel mutations in cysts associated with NBCCS, indicating a similar pathogenesis in a subset of sporadic keratocysts.
Dynamics of Fractal Networks

Random structures often exhibit fractal geometry, defined in terms of the mass scaling exponent, D, the fractal dimension. The vibrational dynamics of fractal networks are expressed in terms of the exponent d, the fracton dimensionality. The eigenstates on a fractal network are spatially localized for d less than or equal to 2. The implications of fractal geometry are discussed for thermal transport on fractal networks. The electron-fracton interaction is developed, with a brief outline given for the time dependence of the electronic relaxation on fractal networks. It is suggested that amorphous or glassy materials may exhibit fractal properties at short length scales or, equivalently, at high energies. The calculations of physical properties can be used to test the fractal character of the vibrational excitations in these materials.
Taxation of Investment and Savings in a World Economy: the Certainty Case

The equilibrium of capital and equilibrium market prices are derived for a world economy with a unified securities market, mobile capital, no uncertainty, and varying tax rates on different sources of income in each country. The paper then characterizes optimal tax rates for a small country in this setting, focusing on the peculiar incentives created when the before-tax rate of return differs among securities due to differences in their typical tax treatment. Copyright 1986 by American Economic Association.
Agency theoretic determinants of debt levels: evidence from Ghana

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between agency factors and the debt level of Ghanaian small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Design/methodology/approach – Generalized least squares model is used to estimate the regression equation. Findings – The results indicate that managerial ownership is negatively related to debt level. This suggests that SMEs with insider shareholders may prefer lower leverage to reduce the risk of insolvency. The results also show that SMEs with many shareholders are less likely to employ debt finance. Firms with many shareholders are not likely to entertain the fear of loss of control since the firm is seen as group‐owned. Originality/value – The findings of this study generally suggest that managerial ownership is important in explaining the capital structure of Ghanaian SMEs. This study extends our understanding of the agency theory and the capital structure of SMEs from the Ghanaian context.
A Novel RNA Polymerase II C-terminal Domain Phosphatase That Preferentially Dephosphorylates Serine 5*

The transcription and processing of pre-mRNA in eukaryotic cells are regulated in part by reversible phosphorylation of the C-terminal domain of the largest RNA polymerase (RNAP) II subunit. The CTD phosphatase, FCP1, catalyzes the dephosphorylation of RNAP II and is thought to play a major role in polymerase recycling. This study describes a family of small CTD phosphatases (SCPs) that preferentially catalyze the dephosphorylation of Ser5 within the consensus repeat. The preferred substrate for SCP1 is RNAP II phosphorylated by TFIIH. Like FCP1, the activity of SCP1 is enhanced by the RAP74 subunit of TFIIF. Expression of SCP1 inhibits activated transcription from a number of promoters, whereas a phosphatase-inactive mutant of SCP1 enhances transcription. Accordingly, SCP1 may play a role in the regulation of gene expression, possibly by controlling the transition from initiation/capping to processive transcript elongation.
The Impact of E-Cigarette Addiction Warnings and Health-Related Claims on Consumers’ Risk Beliefs and Use Intentions

The popularity of electronic cigarettes continues to skyrocket across the United States. Given the multitude of aggressive promotional campaigns launched by e-cigarette manufacturers, including some that have offered unsubstantiated health claims, this rapid growth is not surprising. Despite this popularity, many consumers may be unaware that some in the health care community consider e-cigarette use a serious public health issue because most e-cigarettes deliver highly addictive nicotine through vapor. Consequently, the Food and Drug Administration now requires e-cigarette manufacturers to disclose information about the highly addictive nature of their products. Results across two studies show that addiction warnings and health claims presented in e-cigarette advertising influence consumers’ risk beliefs. Although a warning statement increases consumers’ addiction risk beliefs, the concurrent presence of a health-related claim in the e-cigarette advertisement weakens the effect. Findings also suggest that addiction warnings have the potential to indirectly influence consumers’ intentions for future electronic and traditional cigarette use in the absence of an explicit health claim. Implications for both consumer health and public policy are offered.
A Multi-Theory Perspective of Board Leadership Structure: What Does the Egyptian Corporate Governance Context Tell Us?

Much of the existing research in corporate governance has been directed at examining the consequences of board leadership structure on various organizational issues, with little to say about the determinants of this structure. By exploring either agency theory or stewardship theory, researchers provide contested conclusions regarding board leadership structure. The underlying premise of both theories is that ‘one universal structure fits all’. However, the main argument of this paper is that the appropriate board leadership structure varies with some contextual variables and certain actors in a given environment. Econometric analysis demonstrates that board leadership structure varies with firm size, age and ownership structure. The implication of this result is that the assertion of both agency theory (CEO non-duality structure) and stewardship theory (CEO duality structure) may be valid under certain conditions. Thus, existing theories might need to be treated as complementary viewpoints, each of which draws upon a part of the whole picture, because depending on just one single perspective is more likely to result in misleading conclusions about the structure as a whole.
Optimal diversification across mutual funds

We evaluate a strategy that minimizes the specific risk of investing in a reasonable number of mutual funds. Our results are consistent with the previous studies, which suggest that actively managed mutual funds are not totally diversified. Our strategy behaves well in terms of diversification, not only in-sample but also out-of-sample. Using different benchmarks, minimizing idiosyncratic risk is also the best strategy for investors seeking alpha.
The Bankers' New Clothes: What's Wrong With Banking and What to Do About It

What is wrong with today's banking system? The past few years have shown that risks in banking can impose significant costs on the economy. Many claim, however, that a safer banking system would require sacrificing lending and economic growth. The Bankers' New Clothes examines this claim and the narratives used by bankers, politicians, and regulators to rationalize the lack of reform, exposing them as invalid. Admati and Hellwig argue we can have a safer and healthier banking system without sacrificing any of the benefits of the system, and at essentially no cost to society. They show that banks are as fragile as they are not because they must be, but because they want to be--and they get away with it. Whereas this situation benefits bankers, it distorts the economy and exposes the public to unnecessary risks. Weak regulation and ineffective enforcement allowed the buildup of risks that ushered in the financial crisis of 2007-2009. Much can be done to create a better system and prevent crises. Yet the lessons from the crisis have not been learned. Admati and Hellwig seek to engage the broader public in the debate by cutting through the jargon of banking, clearing the fog of confusion, and presenting the issues in simple and accessible terms. The Bankers' New Clothes calls for ambitious reform and outlines specific and highly beneficial steps that can be taken immediately.
Integrating Liquidity Risk Factor into a Parametric Value at Risk Method

Liquidity trading risk arises from the failure to recognize or address changes in market conditions that affect the ability to liquidate trading assets quickly and with minimal loss in value. Recent turmoil in financial markets endorses the need for rigorous handling and integration of liquidity trading risk into Value at Risk (VAR) models. The authors argue that liquidity risk associated with the uncertainty of liquidating multiple assets over a given holding period, particularly for thinly traded or emerging markets securities under adverse market conditions, is a key factor in formalizing and measuring overall trading risk and is thus an important component to model. This article proposes a practical framework for the quantification of liquidity trading risk management for portfolios that consist of multiple assets. We present a method whereby the holding periods are adjusted according to the specific needs of each trading portfolio. This article extends previous approaches by explicitly modeling the liquidation of trading portfolios, over the holding period, with the aid of an appropriate scaling of multiple assets9 VAR matrix. Using more than three years of daily return data (for the period 2004–2006) of emerging Gulf Cooperation Council stock markets, the authors analyze different trading portfolios and determine the risk exposure under different illiquid and adverse market conditions.
Optimal Liquidation of Assets in the Presence of Personal Taxes: Implications for Asset Pricing

WITH A TAX on realized capital gains, investors realize capital losses and defer capital gains. However, if individuals realize capital gains to consume or for other reasons (such as a cash stock merger) they may defer capital gains tax payments by hedging. The hedge produces a capital loss in one tax year and an equal capital gain in the next tax year. If the hedge is operational, capital gains tax is deferred until death and the capital gains tax is avoided entirely. ' With this idealized hedge, the effective marginal tax rate on both short-term and long-term capital gains and losses is zero. Also, investors are indifferent to changes in the actual capital gains rate. Call options and commodity futures contracts are used to construct these hedges. Without transactions costs (no bid-ask spreads and brokerage commission fees),, perfect hedges can indeed be constructed and used to defer capital gains tax, despite IRS regulations designed to discourage their use. Transactions costs may dissipate the hedge's tax benefits, and therefore hedges reduce, but do not eliminate, the capital gains tax's effect on consumption and investment. The loophole in the tax code which enables tax deferral, at least in the absence of transactions costs, arises from the institutional structure of both the options exchange and the commodity futures exchange. A contract writer is not matched with a particular contract buyer. For example, if a call price falls, the call buyer can sell the call, realize a capital loss, and immediately buy a new call. The call writer is not forced to realize a corresponding capital gain. There is a net tax gain at the government's expense. Note that the net tax gain would be zero if the buyer and writer were matched. A tax gain for the buyer would be canceled by a tax loss for the writer. With a blunted but not eliminated capital gains tax, the capital gains tax's effect on optimal investor behavior is quite complex. Under the simplifying assumption that short-term and long-term rates on capital gains and losses are equal, the optimal liquidation policy is to realize capital losses and defer capital gains. With this "lock-in" effect, it is important to study welfare effects of given
An optimal pinwheel scheduler using the single-number reduction technique

Several pinwheel schedulers have been reported previously for scheduling real-time systems in which the temporal distances between consecutive executions of tasks must be less than their respective distance constraints. The scheduler Sr has been used for task sets with real number distance constraints and execution times. Sr transforms the distance constraints in a system into harmonic values with a base of 2. The authors present a pinwheel scheduler Sr/sup b/ which is derived from Sr using any base greater than or equal to d. The schedulability condition of Sr/sup b/ is presented and its optimality is proved. They also study the performance of Sr/sup b/ by simulation and compare it with a near-optimal heuristic algorithm HSr.
Exploring alternative relationships between perceived investment in employee development, perceived supervisor support and employee outcomes

The purpose of this study was to explore alternative relationships between perceived investment in employee development (PIED), perceived supervisor support (PSS), and employee outcomes in the form of attitudes (affective commitment and turnover intention) and work performance (work effort, work quality and organisational citizenship behaviour). A cross-sectional survey among 331 employees from a Norwegian telecommunications organisation showed that the relationship between PSS and employee attitudes was partially mediated by PIED. In addition, PSS was found to moderate the relationship between PIED and three self-report measures of work performance. The form of the moderation revealed a positive relationship only for high levels of PSS. These findings suggest that line managers are of vital importance in implementing developmental HR practices, either because they influence how such practices are perceived by employees, which, in turn, affects employee attitudes, or because positive experiences with both line managers and HR practices seem to be needed in order for developmental HR practices to positively influence employee performance.