Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Attribution and Accountability: Voting for Roads in Ghana

Do voters in Africa use elections to hold governments accountable for their performance in office? In contexts of limited information and weak state capacity, it can be difficult for citizens to attribute the provision of public goods and services to political action. As a result, voters often have little information about government performance on which to condition their electoral support. Such contexts are frequently characterized by clientelism or ethnic politics, and there is a widespread impression that African elections are little more than contests in corruption or ethnic mobilization. Using an original panel data set containing electoral returns and detailed information on road conditions throughout Ghana, the author provides robust evidence that when a public good can be attributed to political action, as is the case with roads in Ghana, electoral support is affected by the provision of that good. The author also uses data on a variety of educational inputs to test the claim that votes are conditioned only on attributable outcomes.
d-Lactate Dehydrogenase Gene (ldhD) Inactivation and Resulting Metabolic Effects in the Lactobacillus johnsonii Strains La1 and N312

ABSTRACT Lactobacillus johnsonii La1, a probiotic bacterium with demonstrated health effects, grows in milk, where it ferments lactose to d- and l-lactate in a 60:40% ratio. Thed-lactate dehydrogenase (D-LDH) gene (ldhD) of this strain was isolated, and an in vitro-truncated copy of that gene was used to inactivate the genomic copy in two strains, La1 and N312, by gene replacement. For that, an 8-bp deletion was generated within the cloned ldhD gene to inactivate its function. The plasmid containing the altered ldhD was transferred toL. johnsonii via conjugative comobilization with Lactococcus lactis carrying pAMβ1. Crossover integrations of the plasmid at the genomic ldhD site were selected, and appropriate resolution of the cointegrate structures resulted in mutants that had lost the plasmid and in which the originalldhD was replaced by the truncated copy. These mutants completely lacked D-LDH activity. Nevertheless, the lower remaining L-LDH activity of the cells was sufficient to reroute most of the accumulating pyruvate to l-lactate. Only a marginal increase in production of the secondary end products acetaldehyde, diacetyl, and acetoin was observed. It can be concluded that inL. johnsonii D- and L-LDH are present in substantial excess for their role to eliminate pyruvate and regenerate NAD+ and that accumulated pyruvate is therefore not easily redirected in high amounts to secondary metabolic routes.
Increasing the organisational performance benefits of TQM: an approach based on organisational design

Adopting total quality management can improve firms’ organisational performance. The current work examines how firms can increase the benefits traditionally linked to this approach to management. Under the theoretical and conceptual framework of transaction cost theory, we study the economic capacity of total quality management to efficiently manage the organisational design problems arising in firms. The empirical results show that adopting total quality management in a way that is consistent with organisational design postulates increases the organisational performance benefits of TQM, because firms can exploit the complementarities between total quality management and organisational design.
Repair of articular cartilage defect by autologous transplantation of basic fibroblast growth factor gene-transduced chondrocytes with adeno-associated virus vector.

OBJECTIVE To examine the effects of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) gene-transduced chondrocytes on the repair of articular cartilage defects. METHODS LacZ gene or bFGF gene was transduced into primary isolated rabbit chondrocytes with the use of a recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector. These gene-transduced chondrocytes were embedded in collagen gel and transplanted into a full-thickness defect in the articular cartilage of the patellar groove of a rabbit. The efficiency of gene transduction was assessed according to the percentage of LacZ-positive cells among the total number of living cells. The concentration of bFGF in the culture supernatant was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to confirm the production by bFGF gene-transduced chondrocytes. At 4, 8, and 12 weeks after transplantation, cartilage repair was evaluated histologically and graded semiquantitatively using a histologic scoring system ranging from 0 (complete regeneration) to 14 (no regeneration) points. RESULTS LacZ gene expression by chondrocytes was maintained until 8 weeks in >85% of the in vitro population. LacZ-positive cells were found at the transplant sites for at least 4 weeks after surgery. The mean concentration of bFGF was significantly increased in bFGF gene-transduced cells compared with control cells (P < 0.01). Semiquantitative histologic scoring indicated that the total score was significantly lower in the bFGF-transduced group than in the control group throughout the observation period. CONCLUSION These results demonstrated that gene transfer to chondrocytes by an ex vivo method was established with the AAV vector, and transplantation of bFGF gene-transduced chondrocytes had a clear beneficial effect on the repair of rabbit articular cartilage defects.
Specimens in Whole-Blood Aspergillus fumigatus Critical Stages of Extracting DNA from

A standardized protocol for extracting DNA from Aspergillus fumigatus has been proposed by the European Aspergillus PCR Initiative (EAPCRI). Using meta-regression analysis, the EAPCRI showed certain stages of the process to be critical to providing a satisfactory analytical sensitivity. The study investigated each step of the EAPCRI protocol by elimination and monitored the inﬂuence on Aspergillus PCR performance. The European Aspergillus PCR Initiative (EAPCRI) recently published their research evaluating fungal DNA extraction and Aspergillus PCR ampliﬁcation techniques (5). The paper focused on DNA extraction from
The Relationship Between Health Management and Information Behavior Over Time: A Study of the Illness Journeys of People Living With Fibromyalgia

Background Over the course of a chronic illness, patients face many challenges, including understanding what is happening to them and developing an effective strategy for managing illness. While there is existing literature concerning how people seek health-related information and cope with chronic illnesses, there is a need for additional research on how information affects patients’ understandings of their illness, and how changes in this understanding affect their health management strategies over time. Objective This study examined how health management, information seeking, and information consumption and use processes are related throughout an illness. Methods A diversified recruitment strategy involving multiple media channels was used to recruit participants for an interview study. During the interviews, participants were asked to draw an “illness journey” timeline. The data were analyzed using a qualitative approach drawn from Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis and Grounded Theory. Results The study identified four main health management features of illness journeys: onset, progression toward diagnosis, acceptance, and development of an effective management strategy. The study then focused on how information seeking changes over illness journeys, particularly in terms of a transition from active information seeking to monitoring with intermittent focused searching. Last, the paper describes the information consumption and use processes that patients engaged in throughout their journey. Conclusions This study makes three important contributions to the field. First, it presents an integrated conceptualization of how health management and information behaviors are related on illness journeys. Second, it adds to our existing knowledge on health literacy and self-management of chronic illness. Third, the study has implications for health interface design.
The Role of Content Knowledge in Conceptions of Teaching Effectiveness in Physical Education

Physical education teachers and the programs that prepare them find themselves in the early part of the 21st century in a public policy environment that differs significantly from that of the 20th century. This policy environment is grounded in an ideology that postulates that schools and teachers, rather than social forces, should be held responsible for academic outcomes, and in turn, economic success. For the first time, physical education teachers are being held accountable for student learning in the same way as their classroom peers. Improving the effectiveness of teachers is seen as the primary mechanism for improving student learning. In discussing how teaching effectiveness has evolved, I describe a relationship among the process–product paradigm, the ecological paradigm, and a neo-ecological paradigm called the instructional core. The latter paradigm extends our understanding of teaching effectiveness in new ways by describing the dynamic and interdependent relationship among teacher, student, and content in the gymnasium. It has significant implications for the professional development of teachers and the conduct of teaching effectiveness research. I conclude by discussing why content is so critical to conceptions of teaching effectiveness.
Morningstar Ratings and Future Performance

Morningstar is one of the major ratings suppliers of Australian managed funds. Ratings are a convenient information source for investors. Over time the ratings methodology used by Morningstar in Australia has become more like its North American counterpart. However, Morningstar Australia uniquely retains a commitment to a qualitative dimension to their research. This paper explores the relationship between Morningstar, qualitative and quantitative ratings and future fund product performance. Results do not support predictive power in the ratings, in the relatively short periods available for analysis, using a range of commonly used performance measures.
INTELLECTUAL CAPITAL AND FINANCIAL RETURNS OF COMPANIES

Purpose – The purpose of the paper is to investigate the association between the intellectual capital (IC) of firms and their financial performance.Design/methodology/approach – The paper uses the Pulic framework, has an Asian focus, and draws on data from 150 publicly listed companies on the Singapore Exchange. It is an empirical study using partial least squares (PLS) for the data analysis. The paper tests four elements of IC and company performance.Findings – The findings show that: IC and company performance are positively related; IC is correlated to future company performance; the rate of growth of a company's IC is positively related to the company's performance; and the contribution of IC to company performance differs by industry.Research limitations/implications – The data sample is restricted to 150 companies listed on the Singapore Exchange between the years 2000 and 2002.Practical implications – IC is an area of interest to numerous parties, such as shareholders, institutional investors, scho.
Safety of early endarterectomy in patients with symptomatic carotid artery stenosis: an international multicenter study

Although the latest recommendations suggest that carotid endarterectomy (CEA) should be performed in symptomatic carotid artery stenosis (sCAS) patients within 2 weeks of the index event, only a minority of patients undergo surgery within the recommended time‐frame. The aim of this international multicenter study was to prospectively evaluate the safety of early CEA in patients with sCAS in everyday clinical practice settings.
Simulating Volumetric Pricing for Irrigation Water Operational Cost Recovery under Complete and Perfect Information

This study evaluated the implementation of a volumetric and cost-recovery pricing method for irrigation water under symmetric information conditions without the inclusion of implementation costs. The study was carried out in two steps. First, a cost function was estimated for irrigation water supplied by a water user association to a typical Mediterranean agricultural area, based on a translog function. Second, the economic impact of a pricing method designed according to this cost function was simulated using a mathematical programming territorial model for the same agricultural area. The outcomes were compared with those for the current pricing method. The impacts of this pricing method are discussed in terms of its neutral effects on total farm income and, conversely, the importance of the redistributive effects.
Employer and Occupational Instability in Two Cohorts of the National Longitudinal Surveys

Previous research on trends in employer and occupational stability found evidence of declines in stability among men but contradictory results for women. I provide new insights into these patterns by simultaneously analyzing employer and occupation changes, and by examining a more detailed set of transition types. I show that the patterns for women are quite similar to those of men but are masked by declines in transitions from employment to out of the labor force. Finally, I find that while some of the changes may bring increased opportunities for wage increases, they bring even greater risks of wage losses.
A population-based study of extra-cardiac anomalies in children with congenital cardiac malformations

We describe the prevalence of extra-cardiac anomalies in children with congenital cardiac malformations, and their impact on survival, compared to the outcome in children with the congenital cardiac lesions as the only recognised anomaly. Our population comprises the 3527 children born with congenital cardiac anomalies between 1990 and 1999, and registered at the largest tertiary centre for Paediatric Cardiology in Norway. Extra-cardiac anomalies were found in one-fifth of the population, with Down's syndrome accounting for nearly one-third. Survival improved for children born between 1995 and 1999 compared with those born in the period from 1990 to 1994 for all groups, except for children with additional extra-cardiac anomalies in the absence of Down's syndrome. The results were the same for children undergoing surgical treatment of their cardiac malformation. The survival in children with Down's syndrome improved in comparable fashion to those without extra-cardiac anomalies. Children with extra-cardiac anomalies in the absence of Down's syndrome represent a heterogeneous group, with varying patterns of survival. Survival did not improve in these latter patients during the period of our study.
Global climate impacts of forest bioenergy: what, when and how to measure?

Environmental impact studies of forest bioenergy systems usually account for CO2 emissions and removals and identify the so-called carbon debt of bioenergy through comparison with a reference system. This approach is based on a simple sum of fluxes and does not consider any direct physical impact or climate system response. Other recent applications go one step further and elaborate impulse response functions (IRFs) and subsequent metrics for biogenic CO2 emissions that are compatible with the life-cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. However, a thorough discussion about the role of the different metrics in the interpretation of the climate impacts of forest bioenergy systems is still missing. In this work, we assess a single LCA dataset of selected bioenergy systems using different emission metrics based on cumulative CO2 emissions, radiative forcing and global surface temperature. We consider both absolute and normalized metrics for single pulses and sustained emissions. The key challenges are the choice of end point (emissions, concentration, radiative forcing, change in temperature, etc), the type of measure (instantaneous or time-integrated) and the treatment of time. Bioenergy systems usually perform better than fossil counterparts if assessed with instantaneous metrics, including global surface temperature change, and in some cases can give a net global cooling effect in the short term. The analysis of sustained, or continuous emissions, also shows that impacts from bioenergy systems are generally reversible, while those from fossil fuels are permanent. As shown in this study, the metric choice can have a large influence on the results. The dominant role traditionally assigned to cumulative metrics in LCA studies and climate impact accounting schemes should therefore be reconsidered, because such metrics can fail to capture important time dependences unique to the biomass system under analysis (to which instantaneous metrics are well suited).
The Dynamic Response of Fractionalization to Public Policy in

This paper examines the eect of public policy on population diversity. Using U.S. city level data across decades, I find that public policy has a significant impact on ethno-racial fractionalization growth. Cities in which expenditure on public goods is higher experience a significantly lower growth of ethno-racial fractionalization. I use instrumental variables to identify the direction of causality. The negative impact of public goods spending on fractionalization growth is caused by a significant dierential reaction by race to public goods spending. Cities with higher spending on public goods experience a higher growth of the non-Hispanic White population, but a lower growth of the population of other ethno-racial groups. These findings are novel because they indicate that fractionalization is neither a static characteristic of a locality, nor it is an exogenous cause of public policy design. Treating it as endogenous, I find that fractionalization has no significant eect on public goods provision. This casts doubts on claims that fractionalization has significant negative impacts on public policy design and thereby on economic performances.
Differential expression of peroxiredoxin subtypes in human brain cell types

The peroxiredoxin (Prx) protein is expressed widely in animal tissues and serves an antioxidant function associated with removal of cellular peroxides. We have cloned two Prx genes and observed differential expression of Prx‐I and Prx‐II (formerly NKEF‐A and NKEF‐B) in purified rat brain cell cultures (Sarafian et al. [1998] Mol. Chem. Neuropathol. 34:39–51). We have examined regional and cell‐type‐specific expression of Prx‐I and Prx‐II in paraffin sections of human brain using immunohistochemical methods. These studies revealed a clear segregation of expression of these two gene products in different brain cell types. In the cerebral cortex, cerebellum, basal ganglia, substantia nigra, and spinal cord, Prx‐I was expressed primarily in astrocytes, while Prx‐II was expressed exclusively in neurons. Prx‐I was also prominently expressed in ependymal cells and subependymal matrix of substantia nigra and basal ganglia. Prx‐II was not expressed at uniform density in all neurons. In general, small neurons such as cerebellar granule neurons displayed little or no staining, while large neurons, such as hippocampal pyramidal and Purkinje neurons were heavily stained. The absence of expression of Prx‐I in neurons and the selective expression of Prx‐II in large neurons suggest that these antioxidant enzymes serve distinct functional roles that may reflect the different functions and biochemical activities of these cell types. Restricted expression of these genes may also contribute to the selective vulnerability of these cells to a wide variety of neuropathologic conditions. J. Neurosci. Res. 56:206–212, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Is There a Link between Executive Equity Incentives and Accounting Fraud?

We compare executive equity incentives of firms accused of accounting fraud by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) during the period 1996-2003 with two samples of firms not accused of fraud. We measure equity incentives in a variety of ways and employ a battery of empirical tests. We find no consistent evidence that executive equity incentives are associated with fraud. These results stand in contrast to assertions by policy makers that incentives from stock-based compensation and the resulting equity holdings increase the likelihood of accounting fraud. Copyright 2006 The Institute of Professional Accounting, University of Chicago.
Forecasting turning points in shipping freight rates: lessons from 30 years of practical effort

We argue that it is possible to explain much of the history of the world’s shipping markets since 1950 as the interaction of two balancing feedback loops: a capacity adjustment loop which creates a roughly 20-year wave, and a capacity utilization adjustment loop which generates a roughly 4year cycle. We show how this insight has been used rather successfully since the early 1980s for practical forecasting of turning points in freight rates and the “sentiment” in the shipping market 1–4 years ahead of time. The basic mechanisms in the shipping system create a strong “deterministic backbone” which is visible through the exogenous noise, and hence predictable with useful precision. Our experience leads to a number of questions concerning system dynamics best practice for future research. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Syst. Dyn. Rev. 23, 253–284, (2007)
Measurement of formal harmonisation in accounting: An exploratory study

Abstract Extant research in evaluation of accounting harmonisation has mainly focused on measurement of harmonisation and evaluation of its impact on share market indicators. Within these themes, however, researchers have been studying the impact of formal harmonisation on material harmonisation, and share prices and returns. Given the important role formal harmonisation plays in accounting harmonisation, this study introduces a methodology for the measurement of formal accounting harmony between countries. The methodology introduced in this paper can be used to identify areas of harmony or disharmony for policy-making purposes. It also provides means of gaining valuable insights into the nature of harmony or disharmony between different countries' accounting rules. Finally, it creates new grounds for examining various other aspects of accounting harmonisation.
Do Corporate Governance Motives Drive Hedge Fund and Private Equity Fund Activities?

We document empirical evidence that both hedge fund (HF) and private equity fund (PE) investments are driven by corporate governance improvements, but address different types of agency conflicts. Whereas HFs focus on firms without a controlling shareholder, in particular family shareholders, PEs invest in firms with low managerial ownership. Both appear to address free cash flow problems differently. Aiming at increasing dividends, HFs tend to use commitment devices that can be implemented over a short horizon. PEs are inclined to longer-term strategies: they target firms that are particularly well suited for leverage increases because of low expected financial distress costs.