Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Need of a XXI Century Governance Paradigm for Public Administration: The Specific Case of Portugal

In recent decades, New Public Management became the hegemonic doctrine and public administration reforms strongly incorporated its ideals and premises. Currently, in the context of the global crisis, arises the question if this public administration paradigm is the one that better fits the governance challenges of the new century. Taking this context in mind, this paper looks at how the Portuguese managerial reform takes into consideration the new governance paradigm and analyses the possibility of combining the managerial reforms approach and the new governance paradigm. We conclude that it is possible to successfully make this combination. However, taking into consideration the specific context that characterises our citizenship, more developments have to be done in order to improve citizens’ behaviours regarding active citizenship.
Contextual influences on baseball ball-strike decisions in umpires, players, and controls

Abstract Baseball umpires, players, and control participants with no baseball experience were asked to call balls and strikes for video clips. In a basic judgement task, umpires and players were significantly better at calling pitches than controls. In a direct information task, borderline pitches were presented following clips of definite balls and definite strikes. Participants called target pitches closer to the strike end of the scale when viewed after definite balls than when they followed definite strikes. Similarly, when borderline pitches were shown in different pitch counts, participants called pitches more towards the strike end of the scale when there were three balls in the count (3–0, 3–2). These findings indicate that the standard for evaluation changes based on the context in which stimuli are processed. Moreover, the strength of the contextual factors is illustrated in that the effects were shown in observers with and without experience in the task. Overall, however, umpires had a greater tendency to call strikes, indicating that they may use a norm of “hastening the game”.
FOOD EXPENDITURE PATTERNS AMONG URBAN HOUSEHOLDS IN IBADAN SOUTHWEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, OYO STATE

This study examines food expenditure patterns among urban households in Ibadan South West Local Government Area of Oyo State. The primary data used for the study were obtained through structured questionnaire using random sampling technique. Descriptive statistics and least square regression model were used to analyse the data collected from respondents. Descriptive analysis showed that 82.5% of the household heads were males, 65% of them were married, and 55% fell within the age bracket of 30 and 39 years, while 65% were salary-earners. Most of the respondents (79.2%) had tertiary education and the average household size was found to be 5. Furthermore, 49.2% bought foodstuffs from the market for home consumption on a monthly basis and 52.5% spent less than N10, 000 monthly on food. The result of the least square regression model showed that the age of respondents, level of education and occupation (salary-earner or self-employed) of the household head, as well as the household income were significantly influenced by household’s monthly food expenditure in the study area. The study recommends among other things enlightenment programmes that will educate the urban dwellers on the need to eat good quality and hygienic food.
Testing exchange rate efficiency: the case of euro–dollar

This paper tests the semi‐strong efficiency of the euro–dollar currency market by introducing a simple heuristic test, based on the ‘general‐to‐specific’ methodology and meant to include as two specific sub‐cases the ‘efficient market hypothesis’ (EMH) in the currency market as well as alternative theories implying a time dependent process of propagation of information. According to the results of our nested test, the ‘efficient market hypothesis’ in the euro–dollar currency market is rejected.
Strategic human resource management: a conceptual approach

In this paper conceptual issues associated with strategic human resource management are addressed. The rapidly expanding intemationai interest in strategic human resource management is first highlighted. The article then explores some of the broader issues around the debate on SHRM that can inform thinking at a macro level. Firstly, the progress made towards understanding the meaning of SHRM is analysed, then a brief overview of the major models of SHRM to date is presented. This overview is used to highlight the key variables and interrelationships that need to be included in a model of SHRM, and a more detailed critical analysis of the contribution of the literature in each of these areas follows. A summary of the most important research questions arising out of the literature is followed by a model of the SHRM process, which attempts to remedy the major weaknesses in existing models of SHRM. The ways in which this model may be used as a basis for empirical research are then noted.
Whose Approval Matters? Reelection, Constituency Approval, and Senate Support for President George W. Bush

Debate exists concerning the impact of presidential approval on congressional support for the president. One source of this debate is that while theory specifies an electoral connection, suggesting that legislators will be responsive to approval within their reelection constituency, most research employs national approval measures. Lack of constituency-level data has forced studies to use national measures of approval, but in as much as national and district level approval differ, national approval will not provide quality estimates of district opinion on the president. This article uses SurveyUSA data from 2005–2006, which provide state-level estimates for approval as well as breakdowns by partisanship (Democrats, Republicans, Independent). Analysis finds that, with controls, state-level approval has a statistically significant, albeit marginal, impact on senator support for the president. Stronger effects on support are found for approval from the senators’ reelection constituency, defined as voters of the senators’ party. These findings suggest directions for future research.
Oil Price and Real GDP Growth in Pakistan

The objective of this study is to analyze the relationship between oil price and real GDP growth of Pakistan from 1980-2012. All the variables are found to be stationary at first difference. Therefore Johnson Co- integration and error correction method is utilized to check long-run and short-run relationship among variables. There exists both long-run and short-run relationship. The results show the oil price influence agriculture GDP negatively in Pakistan.
SOCIAL CAPITAL: WHAT IS IN IT FOR FEMINIST ECONOMICS?

The Institute of Social Studies is Europe's longest-established centre of higher education and research in development studies. Postgraduate teaching programmes range from six-week diploma courses to the PhD programme. Research at ISS is fundamental in the sense of laying a scientific basis for the formulation of appropriate development policies. The academic work of ISS is disseminated in the form of books, journal articles, teaching texts, monographs and working papers. The Working Paper series provides a forum for work in progress which seeks to elicit comments and generate discussion. The series includes the research of staff, PhD participants and visiting fellows, and outstanding research papers by graduate students.
Regional quantification of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors and β‐adrenoceptors in human airways

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs) and β‐adrenoceptors in the airways and lungs are clinically important in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. However, the quantitative and qualitative estimation of these receptors by radioligand binding approaches in human airways has not yet been reported because of tissue limitations.
Effect of Absent Immune Cell Expression of Vitamin D Receptor on Cardiac Allograft Survival in Mice

Introduction Vitamin D (VD) has immunomodulatory properties, but whether immune cell expression of the VD receptor (VDR) impacts costimulatory blockade induced cardiac allograft survival is not known. Methods To localize effects of VDR deficiency to hematopoietic cells and to avoid the metabolic consequences of systemic VDR deficiency, we produced bone marrow (BM)-chimeric mice by transplanting lethally irradiated C57BL/6 mice with congenic VDR−/− or wild type BM. After reconstitution, we characterized baseline immune profiles and transplanted chimeras with heterotopic cardiac allografts with or without costimulatory blockade using anti-CD154 (MR1) or CTLA4Ig, the latter approved for use in human kidney transplant recipients. Results Immune reconstitution occurred equivalently in chimeras with wild type and VDR−/− BM. Untreated animals rejected class II disparate and fully allogeneic cardiac transplants with similar kinetics. Compared to untreated controls, treatment with either MR1 or CTLA4Ig induced significant and equivalent prolongation of graft survival in both groups of chimeric recipients. We observed no differences in induced antidonor cellular or humoral alloimmunity between groups. Conclusions Our findings support the conclusion that absent immune cell VDR expression (a) does not impact the strength, phenotype, or kinetics of heart transplant rejection in mice and (b) does not impact the graft-prolonging effects of costimulatory blockade including that induced by clinically used CTLA4Ig.
The Effects of MIS Steering Committees on Information Technology Management Sophistication

Despite the ever increasing importance of information technology (IT) in firms, the extent to which IT management practices are applied creatively to critical tasks varies widely across firms. For over a decade, firms have employed IT steering committees to manage their IT resources. However, the impacts of such committees on the IT management function have not been examined in depth. This paper hypothesized relationships between the level of sophistication of IT steering committees and level of IT sophistication of management within firms, and tested those relationships empirically via a field survey of 213 IT managers in the financial services industry. Results of the study suggest that presence and roles of IT steering committees are significantly related to the level and nature of IT management sophistication within firms. Firms interested in achieving the most benefit from their steering committees should carefully select their preferred roles depending on the type and the level of IT management sophistication desired. The article concludes with discussion and implications for IT researchers and firms' executives.
Thinking about Imbalances in Post-catastrophe Economies: An Input–Output based Proposition

Abstract In this paper we focus on the consequences of a major catastrophe for a modern economy, where ‘major’ means that a significant part of the economy's productive capacity is lost. In the aftermath of the catastrophe, authorities have to address a great number of issues. We show, using basic principles, that input–output methodology offers a flexible set of tools to address three fundamental issues: (1) obtaining a systematic insight in the imbalances that exist in the non-affected area after the catastrophe, (2) determining the nature of these imbalances and the way they affect options in the recovery process, and (3) introducing the elements of a cost-benefit analysis in the context of prevention and precautionary policies. Our approach strongly supports the need for extensive contingency planning in the presence of major natural hazards. A numerical example accompanies the various steps of the exercise.
Maximum r-Regular Induced Subgraph Problem: Fast Exponential Algorithms and Combinatorial Bounds

We show that for a fixed $r$, the number of maximal $r$-regular induced subgraphs in any graph with $n$ vertices is upper bounded by $\mathcal{O}(c^n)$, where $c$ is a positive constant strictly less than $2$. This bound generalizes the well-known result of Moon and Moser, who showed an upper bound of $3^{n/3}$ on the number of maximal independent sets of a graph on $n$ vertices. We complement this upper bound result by obtaining an almost tight lower bound on the number of (possible) maximal $r$-regular induced subgraphs possible in a graph on $n$ vertices. Our upper bound results are algorithmic. That is, we can enumerate all the maximal $r$-regular induced subgraphs in time $\mathcal{O}(c^n n^{\mathcal{O}(1)})$. A related question is that of finding a maximum-sized $r$-regular induced subgraph. Given a graph $G=(V,E)$ on $n$ vertices, the Maximum $r$-Regular Induced Subgraph (M-$r$-RIS) problem asks for a maximum-sized subset of vertices, $R \subseteq V$, such that the induced subgraph on $R$ is $r$-re.
Notch‐Regulation upon Dll4‐Stimulation of TGFb‐Induced Apoptosis and Gene Expression in Human B‐Cell Non‐Hodgkin Lymphomas

Notch‐signalling has been implicated as a pathogenetic factor and a therapeutical target in T‐cell leukaemias and in some lymphomas of B‐cell origin. Our aim was to investigate the role of Notch‐signalling in apoptosis regulation in human non‐Hodgkin B‐cell lymphoma (B‐NHL) cell lines and in primary chronic lymhocytic leukaemia (CLL) cells using Delta‐like 4 (Dll4) ligand mediated Notch activation and gamma‐secretase inhibitor (GSI) mediated Notch inhibition in vitro. The potential cross‐talk of Notch with the transforming growth factor‐beta (TGFb) pathway in apoptosis induction was also explored, and the effect of GSI on drug‐induced apoptosis was assessed. Modulation of Notch‐signalling by itself did not change the rate of apoptosis in B‐NHL cell lines and in CLL cells. TGFb‐induced apoptosis was decreased – but not completely abolished – by GSI in TGFb‐sensitive cell lines, but resistance to the apoptotic effects of TGFb were not reversed by Notch activation or inhibition. Drug‐induced apoptosis was not modified by GSI. We identified Hairy/Enhancer of Split (HES)‐1 as a TGFb target gene in selected – TGFb‐sensitive – B‐NHL cell lines. TGFb‐induced HES‐1 was only partially Notch‐dependent in later phases. Apoptosis regulation by TGFb and GSI was not dependent on the transcriptional regulation of c‐myc. In conclusion, our data does not support a unifying role of Notch in regulating apoptosis in B‐NHL, but warns that gamma‐secretase inhibitors may actually counteract apoptosis in some cases.
Are Information Disclosure Mandates Effective? Evidence from the Credit Card Market

Consumer protection in financial markets in the form of information disclosure is high on governments agendas, despite the fact that the empirical evidence on its effectiveness is scarce. To measure the impact of Truth-in-Lending-Act-type disclosures on default and indebtedness, as well as of debiasing warning messages and social comparison information, we implement a randomized control trial in the credit card market for a large population of indebted cardholders. We find that providing salient interest rate disclosures has no effect, while social comparisons and debiasing messages have only a odest effect. Other types of disclosures discussed in the paper could have larger effects.
From developmental state to the ‘New Japan’: the strategic inflection point in Japanese business

Between 1998–2006, Japan's political economy underwent a strategic inflection point, anchored on legal changes so profound that they are irreversible. These reforms sought to enable large companies to shift from the post-war priority on sales and market share toward a new focus on profitability. The arrival of powerful low-cost Asian competitors in assembled goods, and a drastic change in the shareholder structure in Japan brought the end of the ‘developmental state’ approach and necessitated repositioning into innovative, high-margin sectors. The congruence model posits that a successful shift in critical tasks requires a realignment of formal organization, people and culture. For Japan's highly diversified companies, to compete as efficient innovators meant making clear choices what businesses to compete in, and then to restructure to focus on winning in those few businesses. For Japan as a country, the shift in formal organization came through a wholesale change in the underlying approach to law-making and regulation, as well as corporate law. The 1990s were not so much a ‘lost decade’ for Japan as one of renewal and repositioning.
High-dimensional linear state space models for dynamic microbial interaction networks

Medical researchers are increasingly interested in knowing how the complex community of micro-organisms living on human body impacts human health. Key to this is to understand how the microbes interact with each other. Time-course studies on human microbiome indicate that the composition of microbiome changes over short time periods, primarily as a consequence of synergistic and antagonistic interactions of the members of the microbiome with each other and with the environment. Knowledge of the abundance of bacteria—which are the predominant members of the human microbiome—in such time-course studies along with appropriate mathematical models will allow us to identify key dynamic interaction networks within the microbiome. However, the high-dimensional nature of these data poses significant challenges to the development of such mathematical models. We propose a high-dimensional linear State Space Model (SSM) with a new Expectation-Regularization-Maximization (ERM) algorithm to construct a dynamic Microbial Interaction Network (MIN). System noise and measurement noise can be separately specified through SSMs. In order to deal with the problem of high-dimensional parameter space in the SSMs, the proposed new ERM algorithm employs the idea of the adaptive LASSO-based variable selection method so that the sparsity property of MINs can be preserved. We performed simulation studies to evaluate the proposed ERM algorithm for variable selection. The proposed method is applied to identify the dynamic MIN from a time-course vaginal microbiome study of women. This method is amenable to future developments, which may include interactions between microbes and the environment.
Is the Association of Hypertension With Cardiovascular Events Stronger Among the Lean and Normal Weight Than Among the Overweight and Obese?: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

Previous studies that suggest the association of hypertension with cardiovascular disease (CVD) events is stronger in the lean/normal weight than in the obese have either included smokers, diabetics, or cancer patients, or did not account for central obesity. This study examines the interaction of adiposity with hypertension on CVD events using body mass index (BMI)–based definitions of overweight and obesity, as well as waist circumference (WC) to assess adiposity. In the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis, we classified 3657 nonsmoking men and women, free of baseline clinical CVD, diabetes mellitus and cancer, into 7 BMI–WC combinations defined by ethnicity-specific BMI (normal, overweight, class 1 obese, and class 2/3 obese) and ethnicity- and sex-specific WC categories (optimal or nonoptimal). Adjusted absolute event rates per 1000 person-years and relative risks (95% confidence intervals) for CVD events for hypertension (blood pressure ≥140/90 or taking medication) versus no hypertension computed within adiposity categories were 9.3 versus 1.9 and 4.96 (2.56–9.60) for normal BMI/optimal WC, 13.2 versus 4.2 and 3.13 (0.99–9.86) for normal BMI/nonoptimal WC, 9.0 versus 4.5 and 2.00 (1.19–3.36) for overweight BMI/optimal WC, 8.4 versus 5.6 and 1.50 (0.88–2.54) for overweight BMI/nonoptimal WC,14.1 versus 2.1 and 6.75 (0.69–65.57) for class 1 obese/optimal WC, 10.1 versus 3.7 and 2.69 (1.41–5.16) for class 1 obese/nonoptimal WC, and 9.9 versus 6.9 and 1.45(0.60–3.52) for class 2/3 obese/WC pooled. This study found a large relative risk of CVD events associated with hypertension for normal BMI participants and more importantly similarly high absolute risks for both normal and obese BMI with hypertension.
DEATH AS A MEASURE OF DURATION OF CONFLICT

This paper introduces a new measure of conflict duration and argues that the number of deaths in a conflict can serve as such a measure. The paper demonstrates that there are information gains to this approach. The well‐known conflict database of the International Peace Research Institute is compared with the database of the Center for Systemic Peace, which includes data on the number of deaths in addition to length of conflict. The number and distribution of conflicts vary; however, duration analysis based on the conventional measure of duration yields results that are robust over the above‐mentioned datasets. We also show that the number of deaths, as a measure of duration, challenges some of the results based on the number of years as a measure of duration. In the 1990s, the duration of conflicts is significantly different from before when the duration measure is the number of years – we do not find a statistically significant distinction when the number of deaths is used. Ethnic conflicts have a longer survival time in terms of time but not in terms of number of fatalities.
An approach to ethical communication from the point of view of management responsibilities. The importance of communication in organisations

In the so-called knowledge society, communication plays a key role in organizations. In traditional societies, the exchange of personal communication was conducted face to face. The development of new technologies has expanded the possibilities of transmitting more information within organizations and faster. Technology has brought greater opportunities for collective communication, as well as greater information management. The impact of these factors has led to some very significant changes in the business world. In these processes of change, within organizations, the role of communication is increasingly playing a critical role. This article defends the relevance of ethical communication in 21st Century leadership. It is argued that leaders will find in ethical communication the means of gaining credibility and the confidence of their most immediate collaborators, their teams, the organizations they lead and the society in which the company operates. Taking the fundamental structure between internal and external communication as a starting point, the article describes the necessary conditions for leadership to develop ethical communication. It establishes the general and common characteristics of people-centered ethical communication, both as individuals and teams. Furthermore, it identifies the conditions that must generate ethical external communication through which leaders can convey messages to their target audience. For this purpose, the article is structured into the following sections: 1. The importance of communication within organizations. 2. Two levels of communication. 3. What is required of a leader-communicator in order to communicate well? 4. The basic Q&A of communication.