Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
'It's Not Community Round Here, It's Neighbourhood' : Neighbourhood Change and Cohesion in Urban Regeneration Policies

Neighbourhood has become a key spatial scale in the UK government's policies for urban regeneration and social inclusion, resuscitating the long-standing debate over the efficacy of area-based policies. The paper argues that the latter need to be sensitive to the interaction between macro-structural and local, reinforcing processes and that 'people-based' policies need to be complemented by 'people and place' ones. The complexities of `neighbourhood' definition are explored, using the distinction between `neighbourhood' and 'place-based community' to support an argument for seeing neighbourhoods as an appropriate spatial scale for understanding the operation of 'everyday life-worlds'. Drawing on research based on a specific regeneration initiative, the 'Pathways to Integration' priority of the Objective 1 Structural Funds Programme for Merseyside (1994-99), the paper goes on to explore the political and operational issues surrounding the spatial targeting of policy and some of the partnership issues surrounding `neighbourhood' and 'community'. It argues that area-based policies and spatial targeting are inherently political as well as technical exercises that need to be sensitive to the social-spatial construction of neighbourhoods and that the operational definition of policy areas should be part of an evolutionary process of community engagement.
Low volume–high intensity interval exercise elicits antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in humans

Abstract The purpose of the present study was to compare acute changes in oxidative stress and inflammation in response to steady state and low volume, high intensity interval exercise (LV-HIIE). Untrained healthy males (n = 10, mean ± s: age 22 ± 3 years; VO2MAX 42.7 ± 5.0 ml · kg−1 · min−1) undertook three exercise bouts: a bout of LV-HIIE (10 × 1 min 90% VO2MAX intervals) and two energy-matched steady-state cycling bouts at a moderate (60% VO2MAX; 27 min, MOD) and high (80% VO2MAX; 20 min, HIGH) intensity on separate days. Markers of oxidative stress, inflammation and physiological stress were assessed before, at the end of exercise and 30 min post-exercise (post+30). At the end of all exercise bouts, significant changes in lipid hydroperoxides (LOOH) and protein carbonyls (PCs) (LOOH (nM): MOD +0.36; HIGH +3.09; LV-HIIE +5.51 and PC (nmol · mg−1 protein): MOD −0.24; HIGH −0.11; LV-HIIE −0.37) were observed. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) increased post+30, relative to the end of all exercise bouts (TAC (µM): MOD +189; HIGH +135; LV-HIIE +102). Interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10 increased post+30 in HIGH and LV-HIIE only (P < 0.05). HIGH caused the greatest lymphocytosis, adrenaline and cardiovascular response (P < 0.05). At a reduced energy cost and physiological stress, LV-HIIE elicited similar cytokine and oxidative stress responses to HIGH.
Correlates of Career Decisions Among Children of Overseas Filipino Workers

Decision making is a vital part of an individual's life. It is a complicated process which involves information search and processing to understand available options (Moore, Jensen, & Hauck, 1990, in Rice & Dolgin, 2000). It is during adolescence that an individual needs to make one of the most important decisions, that of choosing a career (O’Hare, 1987, in Rice & Dolgin 2000). During their senior year in high school, students are faced with the dilemma on what they want to do right after graduation: pursue college education, learn a trade by enrolling in technical-vocational program, or work immediately. Whatever career decision the high school seniors eventually make, it is important to determine the career decision making process they undergo. It is also important to know which factors they consider or disregard in their career decisions. At stake in making the right career decision is their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Thus, it is imperative that they choose the occupation that best fits each of them. Majority of the local researches on career decisions and the factors influencing them focus on adolescents. Similarly, the literature and studies on Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) usually delve on the economic and social repercussions of overseas employment (Asis, 2004; Nicodemus, 1997). There is no available study regarding the career decisions of the adolescent children of OFWs in particular. Although a recent research on the impact of migration on Filipino families revealed the career aspirations of young children (Episcopal Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrant and Itinerant People of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, 2003, in Asis, 2004), this study, which employed adolescents, focused on their decision making process, career decisions, and the extent of relationship between the career decisions and selected internal (personal) and external (social/ environmental) factors.
African-American Concentration in Jobs

Studying the case of Atlanta shows African-American concentration in relatively “good” jobs: Majority-Black jobs are not always segregated jobs with low returns. Multivariate analysis shows that, net of other factors, majority-Black jobs in local government and the construction industry have earnings and benefits that are comparable to those in majority-White jobs. It is suggested that African-American local government political power and linkages with the construction industry provide a base for equal employment opportunity, contestWhite labor market hegemony, and open the market for “good” jobs. The importance of studying the political context of labor market outcomes is supported.
The corporate environmental disclosures on the internet: the case of IBEX 35 Spanish companies

This paper seeks to investigate the practices of corporate environmental disclosures of the IBEX 35 Spanish firms on their websites. Three areas are studied: (1) the disclosure of non-financial environmental reporting; (2) the disclosure of financial environmental reporting; and (3) the analysis of some aspects of the corporate websites that, in our opinion, could affect the availability of the corporate environmental reporting. The main findings of this paper are: (a) environmental disclosures made by firms present a slight concentration of the data; (b) the compliance of the standards of GRI guide is a key variable for non-financial environmental disclosures on the internet; (c) financial environmental reporting disclosed in the financial statements is quite limited, and (d) there is a need to link non-financial environmental reporting and financial environmental reporting, so that the user of the information can have a greater detail of the influence of environmental concerns in the management of the firm.
The Impact of Acquisitions on Operating Performance: Some Australian Evidence

This study investigates the impact of acquisitions on the operating performance of Australian firms. For a sample of 36 Australian acquisitions occurring between 1986 to 1991 inclusive, and using matched firms to control for industry and economy-wide factors, the results based on four accrual and four cash flow performance measures show that corporate acquisitions do not lead to significant improvements in post-acquisition operating performance. The consistency of the results with the agency, the hubris and the financial motivation hypotheses suggests that corporate acquisitions in Australia may be undertaken for other than synergistic reasons. The results assist in explaining inconsistent findings reported in the literature.
Quality Management in the Arabic-Speaking Countries

ABSTRACT The Arabic-speaking countries represent an important region that currently has made limited progress in quality management development. This paper briefly reviews some of the relevant geopolitical and economic factors before considering the adoption of quality management practices including the ISO 9000 series and Total Quality Management. Some factors in the adoption of quality management trends are outlined. The limited literature available on quality management in this region is reviewed. The case of Sudan is considered in more detail. General conclusions are drawn and suggestions presented as to how the Arabic-speaking countries should advance their practice in quality management.
Perceived Job Quality: Autonomy and Job Security within a Multi-Level Framework

In this study, we examine the relationship between institutions of labour market and welfare states and two central aspects of job quality: autonomy and job security. Drawing on theoretical frameworks from varieties of capitalism and a power resource approach, we examine whether macro-level features can explain country differences in perceived autonomy and job security. In multi-level analyses, we combine institutional data with data from the European Social Survey (ESS), which contains information on 13,414 employees from 19 countries. We report three main findings: first, we find high autonomy in the Nordic countries and low autonomy and job security in transition countries; second, the institutional features-union density and skill specificity-are positively associated with autonomy; third, unemployment rate is the most important factor in explaining country differences in perceived job security. Our findings suggest that the power of workers and their skill specificity are important in explaining cross-country differences in autonomy. The study shows that a multi-level approach may help explain how institutions shape employment outcomes.
What Does CEOs’ Pay-for-Performance Reveal About Shareholders’ Attitude Toward Earnings Overstatements?

If overstatements were a symptom of the agency conflict, pay-for-performance sensitivities should have increased in response to the additional penalties for misreporting imposed by SOX. Our finding of their decrease is inconsistent with the view that overstatements were an unintended consequence of incentive pay prior to 2002. To corroborate our interpretation, we show that (i) CEO pay-for-performance sensitivities are higher among firms whose shareholders stand to benefit from overstatements; (ii) this cross-sectional relationship weakens significantly after SOX; and (iii) the within-firm decrease in pay-for-performance sensitivity is most pronounced among firms with high pre-SOX shareholder benefits from overstatements.
Local Commercial and Industrial Rental Trends and Property Market Constraints

The paper assesses the differential impact of property market constraints on the long-run rental trends in each of the commercial and industrial property market sectors. The perceived view that supply constraints are very inelastic in the retail sector, less so for offices and elastic for industrial properties is reconsidered. A series of hypotheses are derived and tested by an analysis of variance technique which decomposes rental change into local and national components. The paper concludes that changes in the pattern of spatial activity and specific property market processes have resculptured the nature of supply constraints. The result is that the spectrum of supply elasticities has narrowed.
The voter says no, but nobody listens: causes and consequences of the Eurosceptic vote in the 2014 European elections

ABSTRACT The 2014 European Parliament elections saw an unprecedented surge of support for Eurosceptic parties. This article provides an overview of the ideologically highly diverse Eurosceptic camp in the European Parliament and addresses the causes and consequences of the Eurosceptic vote. Based on an analysis of aggregate election results and opinion-poll data, it argues that the electoral success of Eurosceptic parties cannot be dismissed as a mere protest vote against unpopular governments. Instead, fundamental worries about the effects of European Union (EU) policies and dissatisfaction with mainstream politics lie at the heart of the Eurosceptic success. The selection of Jean-Claude Juncker as President of the Commission, backed by overwhelming majorities in the European Council and the European Parliament, suggests that Eurosceptics, despite their considerable electoral support, will continue to be excluded from the EU's corridors of power. This strategy of exclusion provides the ideal breeding ground for an even stronger Eurosceptic backlash in five years' time.
The accuracy of parental concern expressed in the Ages and Stages Questionnaire to predict developmental delay

Whilst there have been comparisons of the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) with other gold standard developmental assessments, research concerning the free‐text comments section of the questionnaire has been limited. The objective of this paper is to assess whether parental concerns expressed in the free‐text comments section of the ASQ can accurately predict infant development.
Deferral of rectal surgery following a continued response to preoperative chemoradiotherapy (Watch and Wait) study: A phase II multicenter study in the United Kingdom.

489 Background: Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) and surgical resection are standard components of therapy for patients locally advanced rectal cancer (T3,T4 or N+) in UK. In 15%-30% of patients treated pre-operatively with CRT will develop pathological complete response (CR). The time from completion of CRT to maximal tumour response is as yet unknown. This study is the first prospective study to attempt to identify the percentage of patients who can safely omit surgery and the safety of deferred surgery in patients who achieve clinical complete response post CRT. Of the 59 patients required for the study, this provides an update on 19 patients entered. METHODS Patients with locally advanced rectal cancer requiring neoadjuvant treatment are identified in the multidisciplinary meet (MDT). Patients undergo CRT using a minimum of 50.4Gy in 28 # daily conformal CT planned CRT with concomitant Capecitabine at 825mg/m2 BD. MRI pelvis and body CT are repeated 4 weeks post CRT and rediscussed at MDT. If there is a good partial response or CR, patients are considered for Deferral of Surgery Study. Based on the pre treatment clinical staging, patients are considered for adjuvant chemotherapy as per NICE guidance. At any point of the study, if there is histology proven tumour regrowth or progression, patient undergo surgery. RESULTS 10 (53%) patients remain in CR. 6 (32%) patients underwent surgical resection with clear margin after detection of tumour regrowth at from 2-23 months post CRT. 5 out of 6 of the patients with tumour regrowth underwent PET CT as per protocol, and all tumour regrowth in those 5 patients were detected by PET CT, i.e. FDG avid disease. The pathological stages on these 6 patients were ypT2N0 CRM negative in 5 and ypT3N0 CRM negative in 1. 3 (15%) patients with tumour regrowth refused surgery. CONCLUSIONS In the 19 recruited patients, all the patients with tumour regrowth underwent surgical resection with clear margins. PET CT appears a useful tool for detecting tumour regrowth. The median time for tumour regrowth is 17.5 months post CRT. The trial will be successful if at least 11/59 patients are able to safely omit surgery. Accrual of patients continues. No significant financial relationships to disclose.
OCA cubed: Mundell in 3D

This paper intends to fill two gaps in the Optimal Currency Area literature. First of all, Mundell's original idea has very little formalmodel theoretical underpinning. Second, it almost exclusively views countries contemplating monetary unification as single economies. We question this view and expand the model to incorporate the division of an economy into three sectors. In the empirical part of the paper, we follow recent OCA empirici literature and investigate the correlation of shocks between the individual new EU member countries and the `EU-core'. Treating the whole economy as one sector this is a standard exercise. However, since the three-sector version of our model provides a natural metric on which to assess the appropriateness of unification, we are able to repeat the exercise treating each country's economy as a collection of three distinct sectors.
The impact of students' working status on academic progress: assessing the implications of policy change in Greece

The study examines whether the reduction in the timeframe for the completion of university studies in Greece will affect students of different socio-economic background disproportionally. To this intent, it assesses the influence of the status of students, defined as working and non-working, on the duration of studies but the relevance of other variables, notably students' family income, is also examined. Combining administrative and survey data, the study estimates the probability of students' graduating after 4 and 6 years, respectively. The results reveal the existence of strong income discrimination between working and nonworking students. Among the non-working students, those coming from poor families complete studies earlier than wealthier students. For the working students, there is no income effect.
Longer View: Planning for the Rebuilding of New Orleans

Problem: Catastrophic disasters like Hurricane Katrina disrupt urban systems, economies, and lives, and pose huge problems for local governments and planners trying to organize and finance reconstruction as quickly and effectively as possible. Purpose: This article aims to summarize the key planning challenges New Orleans faced following the August 29, 2005 flooding in order to identify lessons planners can apply following future disasters. Methods: In this case study we sought to observe key decisions about the recovery as they unfolded. Collectively, we spent months in New Orleans in 2005, 2006, and 2007, and interviewed leaders of all the planning efforts to date. One of us played a lead role in the design and execution of the Unified New Orleans Plan (UNOP), and all observed and/or participated in neighborhood-level planning activities. Results and conclusions: We agree with previous findings on post-disaster recovery, confirming the importance of previous plans, citizen involvement, information infrastructure, and external resources. We also observe that the recovery of New Orleans might have proceeded more effectively in spite of the inherent challenges in post-Katrina New Orleans. Many local difficulties are a result of the slow flow of federal reconstruction funding. Despite this, the city administration also could have taken a more active leadership role in planning and information management earlier; the city's Office of Recovery Management has since improved this. On the positive side, the Louisiana Recovery Authority has been a model worth emulating by other states. Takeaway for practice: Planning can inform actions as both proceed simultaneously. Had New Orleans planners not felt so compelled to complete plans quickly, they might have been more effective at providing reasoned analysis over time to support community actions and engaging a broader public in resolving difficult questions of restoration versus betterment. A center for collecting and distributing data and news would have better informed all parties; this remains an important need. Research support: We received support from the Mid-America Earthquake Center, the Public Entity Risk Institute, and the New Orleans Community Support Foundation.
Comparative Social Capital: Networks of Entrepreneurs and Venture Capitalists in China and Russia

I compare networks of entrepreneurs and venture capitalists in China and Russia by examining professional social networks of software entrepreneurs and private equity investors from the perspectives of institutional theory and culture paradigm. In the empirical study, I draw on survey data from Beijing and Moscow based on interviews of 159 software entrepreneurs and 124 venture capital decisions. I found that professional networks of the Chinese software entrepreneurs are smaller, denser and more homogeneous in educational specializations, compared with the networks of Russian entrepreneurs. Furthermore, I found that both ties and interpersonal trust in the referral tie are stronger in China than in Russia.
Does where you stand depend on where you sit? Tithing donations and self-serving beliefs

Economists and psychologists argue that individuals skew personal beliefs to accord with their own interests. To test for the presence of self-serving beliefs, we surveyed 1,200 members of the Mormon Church about tithing. A tithe is a voluntary contribution equal to 10 percent of income. Since respondents must decide privately what income items to tithe, we observe how the income definition depends on an individual's religious and financial incentives. We find surprisingly little evidence that an individual's financial situation influences beliefs about what counts as income for the tithe. However, ambiguity increases the role for self-serving biases.
Transcutaneous pollinosis immunotherapy using a solid‐in‐oil nanodispersion system carrying T cell epitope peptide and R848

Abstract Antigen‐specific immunotherapy is the only curative approach for the treatment of allergic diseases such as Japanese cedar pollinosis. Immunotherapy using a T cell epitope vaccine in combination with the adjuvant R848 is of particular interest as a safe and effective approach to treat allergic diseases. Herein, we propose a simple and easy to handle vaccine administration method using the original solid‐in‐oil (S/O) nanodispersion system that permeates through the skin. The S/O nanodispersion system is composed of nanoparticles of hydrophilic molecules surrounded with hydrophobic surfactants that are dispersed in an oil vehicle. The system has potential to carry and deliver both hydrophilic and hydrophobic bioactives. Hydrophilic T cell epitope peptide was efficiently delivered through mouse skin using the S/O nanodispersion system and lowered antigen‐specific IgE levels in pollinosis model mice. Addition of the hydrophobic adju1vant R848 significantly lowered the antibody secretion and shifted the Th1/Th2‐balance toward Th1‐type immunity in the model mice, showing the potential to alleviate Japanese cedar pollinosis.
Founding Team Capabilities and New Venture Performance: The Mediating Role of Strategic Positional Advantages

This study conceptualizes founding team human capital with three multi–item scales that are related to critical functional areas in new service ventures: marketing capabilities, market–linking capabilities, and service design capabilities. We develop and empirically test a theoretical framework linking founding team capabilities to service venture performance through two strategic positional advantages: scalability and protectability. Our results provide insight into previous inconsistent findings regarding founding teams’ impact on new venture performance, offer important managerial implications, and point to future research directions.
The Effect of Electronic Communication Among Franchisees on Franchisee Compliance

Abstract The virtual organization has emerged as a result of the availability of information technology. One business model well suited to the virtual form is franchising. Since the success of franchise organizations is highly dependent on communication effectiveness, these organizations are beginning to adopt technologynamely, private corporate networks called intranets and extranetsto support electronic communication. This paper reports the results of an empirical study on the effects of lateral electronic communicationsi.e. , the formation of virtual community among franchiseeson a strategic outcome that is important to franchisors, namely, franchisee compliance. The survey results indicate that communication frequency among franchisees increases with the existence of a lateral communication channel. Previous research suggests that electronic communication facilitates lateral communication by providing an asynchronous media choice, making communication on such channels more frequent because they are more convenient. Franchisee compliance, though expected to be higher among franchisees that had electronic communication channels available to them, was actually found to be lower.