Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Problems Associated with Designing Subannual Business Surveys

Methodological problems associated with designing continuous subannual business surveys tend to be more complex than those encountered in other surveys. The complexity is primarily due to the highly dynamic nature of the sampling frame. The purpose of this article is to highlight these problems, especially those relating to the creation of the sampling frame and to sample rotation, selection of births, and elimination of deaths. Three methods of sample rotation are described. Some practical solutions to these problems are proposed to ensure that the sample reflects the structure of the population on any occasion.
The effects of the Basle accord on bank credit: the case of Japan

This paper has documented the empirical evidence that the Basle Accord had significant effects on bank credit in Japan. The Accord reduced the ratio of the credit increase to the total asset by 0.09-0.24% for banks with the international standard, and by 0.06-0.21% for those with the domestic standard, respectively. According to the Fixed Effects Model estimates, the impacts of the regulation are in between 0.12% and 0.13% for those banks with the international standard. These estimates are smaller than the corresponding estimate with aggregate time series data, 0.40%.
Does Neighbourhood Origin Matter? A Longitudinal Multilevel Assessment of Neighbourhood Effects on Income and Receipt of Social Assistance in a Stockholm Birth Cohort

In order to assist decision‐making about the balance between area‐based policies and wider forms of intervention, this paper considers the potential strength of neighbourhood effects on two key welfare outcomes in a Stockholm birth cohort at a time when Swedish welfare policy ambitions were at a peak. Extensive longitudinal multilevel analyses indicate that prior place of residence accounts for only a small proportion of the variation in cohort members' subsequent income and receipt of social assistance. One plausible explanation for this is the success of Swedish comprehensive welfare policies. The only modest impact of the neighbourhood effect seems plausible in a society with relatively far‐reaching equality of social and economic opportunities. The observed non‐effects of neighbourhood composition in this study support the idea of a universal welfare policy that aims at combating social and economic inequality wherever people may live rather than the use of small area‐targeted interventions.
Evaluation and prioritisation of dividend payment factors in Tehran Stock Exchange: a logit model approach

The aim of the present study is to determine the factors and indices which are used in evaluating the capability of the company in dividend payment. After reviewing the related literature, a number of factors which influence the probability of dividend payment were identified, including earning, cash flow uncertainty, cash flow, agency costs, investment opportunities, and life cycle. Afterwards, the data required for a sample consisting of 141 companies accepted in Tehran Stock Exchange were compiled during an eight-year period from 2002 to 2009. This article makes an attempt to investigate dividend payment in Iran and reveal the potential differences existing between developed and developing markets. To reach that end, an estimation of logit model was applied. After four stages, the final model was attained. The final logit model which was estimated by fixed effect panel data technique, show that cash flow uncertainty, life cycle, investment opportunities, and earning have affected on dividend payment significantly. The marginal effect indicated that the life cycle and earning of a company were the most influential factors among the aforementioned factors.
Knowledge management practices in facilities organisations: a case study

Purpose – The paper's purpose is to identify the key knowledge variables within a facilities management (FM) environment and to develop an understanding of how FM knowledge is generated and utilised within FM organisations.Design/methodology/approach – The paper includes a review of literature on, underlying trends in FM, knowledge management (KM) in general, and current status of KM in FM and outcomes of three expert interviews with two academics and a practitioner who had extensive knowledge and experience with FM organisations. A case study approach was followed in order to apply the intellectual capital framework to map the knowledge variables within the FM context.Findings – This paper highlights the main findings of the literature, expert interviews and the case study. The research recognised the intellectual capital framework as the means of identifying KM variables within the FM context. It reported the current practices of the case study organisation, strengths and weaknesses in relation to manag.
Dating Violence at Three Time Periods: 1976, 1992, and 1996

Data collected over the past 10 years were used to investigate whether there have been changes in the incidence of violence when dating reported at a large university. Responses to Straus's 1979 Conflict Tactics Scale in 1986 (n = 603), 1992 (n = 414), and 1996 (n = 571) were compared. Analyzes indicated that there has been a reduction in both verbal aggression and violence scores over the 10-yr. period. In addition, the percentage of respondents who reported being in nonviolent relationships increased while the percentage of respondents in the three categories of relationship that include violence (mutual, perpetrator, and victim) decreased. These findings indicate that there may be an over-all reduction in both verbal aggression and violence between dating partners as they attempt to resolve conflicts.
Frequency Distribution of Thiopurine S-Methyltransferase Activity in Red Blood Cells of a Healthy Japanese Population

Thiopurine S-methyltransferase (TPMT), which exhibits a genetic polymorphism, plays an important role in the metabolism of thiopurine drugs such as mercaptopurine, thioguanine, and azathioprine. To determine the frequency distribution of TPMT activity in 157 Japanese subjects with different TPMT genotypes, ie, TPMT*1/*1 and TPMT*1/*3, the authors measured levels of 6-methylmercaptopurine formed from 6-mercaptopurine in red blood cells lysates by HPLC. The TPMT activities in our Japanese subjects ranged from 11.0 to 42.6 pmol/h/mgHb. Although the mean value of TPMT activities in 6 subjects with TPMT*1/*3C (20.3 ± 8.1 pmol/h/mgHb) was 25% lower than that in 151 subjects with TPMT*1/*1 (27.0 ± 5.1 pmol/h/mgHb), there was overlap. The ranges of TPMT activity in subjects with TPMT*1/*1 and those with TPMT*1/*3C were similar. The median values in TPMT*1/*3C and TPMT*1/*1 individuals were 20.1 (11.0–31.2) and 26.8 pmol/h/mgHb (15.7–42.7), respectively (Mann-Whitney U-test: median difference 6.7 pmol/h/mgHb, 95% CI 0–25.5, P < 0.05). This observation may have relevance for the use of 6-mercaptopurine and azathioprine as therapeutic agents in Japanese patients.
ANALYSING BARRIERS TO SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MODEL INNOVATIONS: INNOVATION SYSTEMS APPROACH

Business model innovations are recognised as a key to the creation of sustainable business, but their adoption by firms has been slow. Organisations can only be sustainable when the whole societal system is sustainable. Both structural and cultural changes are required to facilitate firm- and system-level sustainability. The central idea of this paper is to examine how societal transition towards sustainable business models (SBMs) can be achieved. Through a qualitative Delphi study, we assess and categorise the key structural and cultural barriers to sustainable business model innovation (SBMI). By applying the innovation system approach, we explain how to overcome existing barriers by strengthening the functions of the innovation system. We analyse how these barriers can be overcome through the activities of governments, firms, and consumers, and discuss the wider implications of our research for practitioners, policy-makers, and researchers.
The stock market reaction to stock dividends in Nigeria and their information content

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to examine whether stock dividend announcements create value for companies traded on the Nigerian stock market and to ascertain the nature of the information such announcements convey. Design/methodology/approach - A standard event study methodology, employing the market model, is applied to determine the abnormal returns both on and surrounding the stock dividend announcement date. A sample is broken down based on the timing of announcements and on the frequency with which the announcing companies' shares are traded. The authors also examine the information content of stock dividends by applying the Findings - The findings suggest that companies that choose their own announcement date outside the Nigerian stock exchange announcement window experience positive abnormal returns if their stock is more frequently traded and negative abnormal returns if their stock is less frequently traded. In addition, support is found for both the cash substitution hypothesis and the signalling hypothesis as explanations for the information stock dividends convey to shareholders. Research limitations/implications - The small number of companies in the “early announcement” group may not permit a definitive view to be established about the stock market reaction to early stock dividend announcements for this group of companies. Practical implications - The findings are of practical relevance to researchers, practitioners and investors interested in companies listed on the Nigerian stock market as they reveal the extent to which the shares reflect fundamental information from corporate announcements. Originality/value - This paper adds to the very limited academic research on the stock market reaction to stock dividend announcements in Nigeria.
Understanding perceived casino service difference among casino players

Purpose – This paper aims to investigate customers' perceptions of four service quality aspects – service environment, service delivery, game service, and food service – in the casino setting among Chinese players.Design/methodology/approach – The study examined the proposed model through a 2(gambler type: leisure versus hardcore)×2(gender: male versus female) multivariate analysis of variance of the four casino service quality aspects.Findings – Based on a sample of leisure and hardcore casino players, the results show significant differences between the two types of patrons on the four casino service dimensions. In addition, significant gender‐by‐player interaction is revealed.Research limitations/implications – This study sheds new light on the understanding of the direct and moderating roles of gender and type of casino players on service evaluation in the literature. The research findings should be interpreted with caution as the results are derived from a Vegas‐like casino in Macau among a mass‐mark.
Newcomer nurses' organisational socialisation and turnover intention during the first 2 years of employment.

AIM The aim of this study was to determine which organisational socialisation contents affect turnover intention in newcomer nurses within their first 2 years of employment. BACKGROUND Strategies to decrease turnover are a priority for improving organisational stability, reducing costs and enhancing effective nursing care. MATERIALS AND METHODS A cross-sectional design was employed, and standardised scales were used. The sample was divided into three groups: 0-6, 7-12 and 13-24 months of employment. Regression analyses were performed. RESULTS A total of 156 Italian nurses participated in this study. In the 0-6 months group (model 1), the main factors that decreased turnover intention were competence acquisition (β = -0.42, P < 0.01) and comprehension of organisational rules (β = -0.38, P < 0.01). In the 7-12 months group (model 2), workgroup integration was relevant (β = -0.33, P = 0.02) and in the second year (model 3), the main factor was opportunities for professional development (β = -0.30, P = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Newcomer nurses were sensitive to different organisational socialisation contents over time. This result supports planning different on-boarding strategies to enhance organisational socialisation success and to improve nurse retention. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT Useful strategies to improve retention include enhancing task mastery and workgroup integration at the ward level and a professional development plan at the organisational level.
Chemiluminescence and Toluidine Blue as Diagnostic Tools for Detecting Early Stages of Oral Cancer: An invivo Study.

BACKGROUND There is a need for development and use of diagnostic aids that help the dental specialist more readily identify and assess Potentially Malignant Epithelial Lesions (PMELs) and Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC). This study was done to assess the value of two such commercially available tools: chemiluminescent light kit or ViziLite and 1% toluidine blue. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES a) To detect epithelial dysplastic changes using chemiluminescene (commercially available as ViziLite) and toluidine blue staining in PMELs and OSCC patients and compare the results obtained with histopathological examination. b) To determine whether these techniques can be used to detect early epithelial dysplastic changes in clinically normal appearing oral mucosa of high risk (with habits) patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 60 patients- 25 patients with PMELs, specifically oral leukoplakia, 10 patients with clinically diagnosed OSCC and 25 high risk patients with no clinically visible lesion, were screened with ViziLite and toluidine blue staining; followed by incisional biopsy. RESULTS Sensitivity and specificity of ViziLite were calculated to be 95.45% and 84.6% respectively. ViziLite detected early epithelial dysplastic changes in one high risk patient with clinically normal appearing oral mucosa. Sensitivity and specificity of toluidine blue were calculated to be 86.36% and 76.9% respectively. CONCLUSION ViziLite was relatively reliable in screening PMELs compared to toluidine blue, and was a useful chair side diagnostic aid.
Sustaining local environmental mobilisations: Groups, actions and claims in Southern Europe

Using Tilly's definition of ‘ad hoc social movements’, this study employs protest‐case analysis in order to bring to the surface the differences and similarities between grassroots environmental activism and community‐based environmental movements as they appear in post‐dictatorial Greece, Portugal and Spain. The analysis centres on community‐group profiles, networks, action and claim repertoires concerning the source of environmental degradation, the damage created, and the wider socio‐economic and environmental impacts. Implications are drawn for the debates regarding environmental movements in Southern Europe and the future of the environmental movement.
Variable‐angle total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (VA‐TIRFM): realization and application of a compact illumination device

A novel compact illumination device in variable‐angle total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (VA‐TIRFM) is described. This device replaces the standard condensor of an upright microscope. Light from different laser sources is delivered via a monomode fibre and focused onto identical parts of a sample under variable angles of total internal reflection. Thus, fluorophores in close proximity to a cell–substrate interface are excited by an evanescent wave with variable penetration depth, and localized with high (nanometre) axial resolution. In addition to quantitative measurements in solution, fluorescence markers of the cytoplasm and the plasma membrane, i.e. calcein and laurdan, were examined using cultivated endothelial cells. Distances between the glass substrate and the plasma membrane were determined using the mathematical algorithm of a four‐layer model, as well as a Gaussian‐shaped intensity profile of the illumination spot on the samples. Distances between 0 and 30 nm in focal contacts and between 100 and 300 nm in other parts of the cell were thus determined. In addition to measurements of cell–substrate topology, the illumination device appears appropriate for numerous applications in which high axial resolution is required, e.g. experiments on endocytosis or exocytosis, as well as measurements of ion concentrations proximal to the plasma membrane. The compact illumination device is also suitable for combining TIRFM with further innovative techniques, e.g. time‐resolved fluorescence spectroscopy, fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) or fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET).
Development of the Cardiac Conduction System in Atrioventricular Septal Defect in Human Trisomy 21

In patients with atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD), the occurrence of nonsurgical AV block has been reported. We have looked for an explanation in the development of the AV conduction system. Human embryos with AVSD and trisomy 21 and normal embryos were examined (age 5–16 wk gestation). Antibodies to human natural killer cell-1 (HNK-1), muscle actin (HHF-35), and collagen VI were used to delineate the conduction system. As in normal hearts, HNK-1 transiently stains the AV conduction system, the sinoatrial node, and parts of the sinus venosus in AVSD. A large distance is present between the superior and inferior node-like part of the right AV ring bundle, comparable to 6-wk-old normal hearts. The definitive inferior AV node remains in dorsal position from 7 wk onward and does not appose to the superior node-like part as seen in normal hearts. Furthermore, in AVSD, a transient third HNK-1–positive “middle bundle” branch that is continuous with the retroaortic root branch and the superior node-like part can be identified, and thus the AV conduction system forms a figure-of-eight loop. At later stages, the AV node remains in dorsal position close to the coronary sinus ostium with a long nonbranching bundle that runs through thin fibrous tissue toward the ventricular septum. The formation of the AV node and the ventricular conduction system in AVSD and Down syndrome differs from normal development, which can be a causative factor in the development of AV conduction disturbances.
Polyamine-Blocking Therapy Reverses Immunosuppression in the Tumor Microenvironment

Hayes and colleagues report that polyamine elevation in cancer contributes significantly to tumor immunosuppression; they developed a novel polyamine-depletion strategy combining inhibitors of the polyamine transport system and ornithine decarboxylase to prevent tumor immune escape and promote antitumor immunity. Correcting T-cell immunosuppression may unleash powerful antitumor responses; however, knowledge about the mechanisms and modifiers that may be targeted to improve therapy remains incomplete. Here, we report that polyamine elevation in cancer, a common metabolic aberration in aggressive lesions, contributes significantly to tumor immunosuppression and that a polyamine depletion strategy can exert antitumor effects that may also promote immunity. A polyamine-blocking therapy (PBT) that combines the well-characterized ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) inhibitor difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) with AMXT 1501, a novel inhibitor of the polyamine transport system, blocked tumor growth in immunocompetent mice but not in athymic nude mice lacking T cells. PBT had little effect on the proliferation of epithelial tumor cells, but it increased the number of apoptotic cells. Analysis of CD45+ tumor immune infiltrates revealed that PBT decreased levels of Gr-1+CD11b+ myeloid suppressor cells and increased CD3+ T cells. Strikingly, in a model of neoadjuvant therapy, mice administered with PBT one week before surgical resection of engrafted mammary tumors exhibited resistance to subsequent tumor rechallenge. Collectively, our results indicate that therapies targeting polyamine metabolism do not act exclusively as antiproliferative agents, but also act strongly to prevent immune escape by the tumor. PBT may offer a general approach to heighten immune responses in cancer. Cancer Immunol Res; 2(3); 274–85. ©2013 AACR.
Speaker identity and spectral influences on word recognition

Listeners are quicker responding to a word the second time it is heard, but this effect is reduced when the word is repeated by a different speaker. Is this reduction related to the auditory dissimilarity between different voices, or does it result from top-down effects associated with perceived speaker changes? To investigate this, listeners were presented with words differing in their pitch and/or apparent vocal-tract length, and performed a lexicaldecision task where words were repeated at different delays between repetitions. Listeners also performed a voice-difference rating task using the same words and voices. At short delays, response-time patterns are better explained by perceived speaker-changes than by auditory dissimilarity. However, at longer delays between repetitions, response times are only affected by spectral mismatches. Results suggests that perceived speaker changes may influence the use of acoustic cues in word recognition, but only in the immediate vicinity of a perceived speaker change.
The effects of agency reform in Europe: A review of the evidence

This paper reviews the New Public Management literature on the effects of the creation and ongoing operations of agencies across European public sectors. It finds that the bulk of evidence concerns internal effects on processes/activities of agency creation and management and little evidence on outputs and outcomes. The article identifies a number of patterns across the sample and finds positive effects on improved processes and an orientation toward results and service users’ needs. Similarly, it finds improvements in transparency and accountability across various countries, but evidence in these areas is less clear. It finds that 46% of the studies included in the sample identified concerns about fragmentation, coordination or organizational stability and shows that unintended consequences are an important part of the evaluation of the effects of agencification. The paper argues that the picture of the effects of agencies is nuanced and discusses possible factors that can tip the balance for or against the success of the agency model.
IC and public sector: a structured literature review

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present a structured literature review of the public sector intellectual capital (IC) literature. It is, in part, motivated by a recent review of the IC literature by Guthrie et al. (2012, p. 74), who found that the public sector is one of the least addressed areas of IC research. Design/methodology/approach – This paper presents a structured literature review of public sector IC articles that is as up to date as possible. The authors use and update the dataset from Guthrie et al. (2012) to include another five plus years of data, including seven articles appearing in this special issue. Findings – The public sector IC has a primary research focus on central government and central government agencies, education (especially universities), Europe (especially Italy and Spain) and empirical research using case studies mainly investigating management control and strategy. It appears public sector IC researchers are firmly entrenched in performative third-stage research.