Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The peasantries of the twenty-first century: the commoditisation debate revisited

This article examines the re-emergence of the peasantry. It argues that farming is increasingly being restructured in a peasant-like way. This restructuring is an actively constructed response to the agrarian crisis that has grown out of five decades of state-induced modernisation and is currently being accelerated by the financial crisis and the generalised economic depression. Through a process of restructuring that is both multi-dimensional and multi-level farmers are reconstituting themselves into peasants (although important features of operating as peasants have never been completely absent), a process that is occurring as much in developed countries as in developing ones. At more or less the same time theoretical concepts of the peasantry and the peasant way of farming are being rediscovered and revisited. Earlier debates are highly relevant for understanding the current situation of a generalised crisis and the responses that are being triggered among farmers. The rediscovery of the peasant as the.
Semiautomated segmentation of bone marrow biopsies images based on texture features and Generalized Regression Neural Networks

This work presents preliminary results of a method for semi-automatic detection of fat and hematopoietic cells as well as trabecular surfaces in bone marrow biopsies, in order to calculate the percentage of each type of tissue or cell area in relation to the whole area. Experimental results using selected clinical cases are presented. Twenty six biopsies were used, presenting varied distributions of cellularity and trabeculae topography. The approach is based on Digital Image Processing techniques and a Neural Network used for classification using textural features obtained from biopsies images. Results were improved with Mathematical Morphology filters. The algorithm produces highly satisfactory results. The method was shown to be faster and more reproducible than conventional ones, like region growing, edge detection, split and merging. The results from this computer-assisted technique are compared to others obtained by visual inspection by two expert pathologists, and differences of less than 9 % are observed.
Housing and the macroeconomy in the United Kingdom

Abstract The Bank of England has always had a keen interest in the U.K. housing market and housing finance. Housing issues are relevant to all three of the Bank's core purposes: maintaining the integrity and value of the currency, maintaining the integrity of the financial system, and promoting the efficiency of U.K. financial services. This article discusses the role of house prices as a monitor of inflationary pressure, and it is argued that they are unlikely to be a good early warning of inflation in the next business cycle, even though they were in the late 1980s. Unprecedented falls in house prices have caused problems for the financial sector, but the U.K. mortgage market has responded well. Promoting efficiency and innovation in financial services entails establishing a clear and stable regulatory regime for securitization.
Measuring tourist satisfaction by attribute and motivation: The case of a nature-based resort

Measuring tourist satisfaction plays an important role in marketing tourism products and services. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between destination attribute importance and performance, travel motivation, and satisfaction. It is hypothesized that tourist satisfaction of a destination is a function of attribute importance, performance, and travel motivation. A nature-based resort, serving as a short-term family vacation destination in South-east Virginia, was used as the study site for this research. Factor analyses were employed to identify the dimensions of the destination attributes on importance and performance, as well as tourist motivations. The composite delineated factors were used as indicators to measure the overall tourist satisfaction in the regression analysis. The results revealed that friendly/quality services and lodging performance are significant factors in determining the overall satisfaction, whereas food and location are of significant importance in the satisfaction evaluation. Travel motivation, `family/friend togetherness' in particular, although not a statistical significant factor, practically explains its influence on the overall tourist satisfaction of a resort destination.
Financial flexibility and the performance during the recent financial crisis

Purpose – The objective of this study is to test whether financial flexibility has value. Using the current financial crisis, the authors investigate whether firms that built up financial flexibility over the years preceding the crisis yield superior performance during the financial crisis.Design/methodology/approach – Financial flexibility is measured along the following dimensions: cash and cash equivalents, debt (short‐term and total) and net debt. These proxies are measured as an average over the five years prior to the crisis, from September 2002 to August 2007. Firms are then sorted into ten portfolios and monthly stock returns for each portfolio are evaluated over the crisis period from September 2007 to March 2010.Findings – The authors' results show that high pre‐crisis levels of cash do not seem to have a positive impact on firm value during the crisis. However, the results provide evidence that high pre‐crisis levels of debt had a negative impact on firm value during the latest financial crisis.
The Effects of Health Insurance on Female Labor Supply by Income Class

This study investigates the effect of available health insurance on female labor supply by income group. The availability of health insurance appears to provide distinct labor force exit and entry incentives for women; it can induce women with higher incomes to leave the labor force entirely, while encouraging those with low incomes to enter. Because different women appear to make very different decisions related to work based on variables such as income, a detailed study of these decisions is necessary for appropriate and effective government policy. Using data from the March 2001 Current Population Survey, this study finds that women of both lowand higher-incomes tend to participate in the labor force more when private insurance is available, but participate less when government health coverage is provided. This reduction in labor supply is likely due to government regulations concerning income allowances and benefits. Effects of health insurance availability on hours worked is inconclusive for both groups of women. As such, policy makers could expand both government and private health insurance coverage without adversely affecting employment.
STRATEGY, STRUCTURE AND PROCESS IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR: A TEST OF THE MILES AND SNOW MODEL

We present a comprehensive empirical application of the Miles and Snow (1978) model of organizational strategy, structure and process to the public sector. We refine the model by distinguishing between strategy formulation and implementation, and applying it to 90 public service organizations. Although the empirical evidence shows that organizational strategies fit the Miles and Snow categories of prospector, defender and reactor, the relationship between these strategies and organizational structures (for example, centralization) and processes (for example, planning) is less consistent with their model. Conclusions are drawn for public management theory and practice.
The relationships between quality, innovation and business performance: an empirical study

This paper examines the relationship between product quality, product innovation and process innovation, and the relationship between these three operational performance measures and business performance in terms of sales, profitability and market share. The impetus for this study was driven by an argument that propounds quality and innovation are two elements that compete with each other, and that firms need to make a trade-off decision between them. In conjunction with this, another argument suggests that quality is increasingly being 'downgraded' into an order qualifier criteria and innovation is taking over as the order winner. Using empirical data drawn from 194 managers in Australian firms, the results indicate that there are strong and positive relationships between product quality and process innovation. Similar relationships also occur between product innovation and process innovation. However, the relationship between product quality and product innovation appears to be relatively weak, especially with respect to specific elements. Further to this, the results indicate that process innovation shows strongest relationship with business performance, followed by product innovation and product quality. At the surface level, this finding provides support for the above argument that quality is relatively inferior in its impact on business performance compared to innovation.
Are enteroviral receptors different in sporadic motor neuron disease?

Enteroviruses have been suspected to play a part in the pathogenesis of sporadic motor neuron disease (SMND). Intercellular adhesion molecule type‐1 (ICAM1) and coxsackie and adenovirus receptor (CAR) act as receptors for a number of enteroviruses. We therefore examined the viral binding domains of ICAM1 and CAR to see if any changes could be found that might predispose to enteroviral infections. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the ICAM1 viral binding domain, the adjacent intron and a region implicated in other neurological disorders, as well as the CAR viral binding regions in exons 2–5, were compared in 139 SMND patients and 139 matched controls. The distribution of the polymorphisms was similar in both groups. Therefore, based on linkage disequilibrium and genotype it is unlikely that either ICAM1 or CAR is implicated in SMND.
Bank Recapitalization and Market Concentration in Ghana’s Banking Industry: A Herfindahl-Hirschman Index Analysis

Using Concentration Ratio and Herfindahl-Hirschman Index techniques, the paper investigates the concentration levels of the banking industry in Ghana and forecasts the future concentration levels of the industry should consolidations triggered by the new bank recapitalization policy occur in the industry. The study finds that the HHI indices provide evidence for the contention that for the past eight years the banking industry in Ghana has been highly competitive with no signs of concentration. Evidence also exists to underpin the conclusion that any consolidation of four banks or less stimulated by the new bank recapitalization policy will not upset the existing market concentration. However, consolidation of five or more banks will culminate in high concentration which will be inimical to the interest of customers. The paper, therefore, recommends that, all things being equal, policy makers should permit consolidation of four or less banks if that is the only way the banks will meet the new bank recapitalization requirement.
Adjustment Dynamics and Rational Play in Games

When a strategic situation arises repeatedly, the possibility arises that equilibrium predictions can be justified by a dynamic adjustment process. We examine myopic adjustment dynamics, a class that includes replicator dynamics from evolutionary game theory, simple models of imitation, models of experimentation and adjustment, and some simple learning dynamics. We present a series of theorems showing conditions under which behavior that is asymptotically stable under some such dynamic is strategically stable (Kohlberg and Mertens [1986]). This behavior is thus as if the agents in the economy satisfied the extremely stringent assumptions that game theory traditionally makes about rationality and beliefs.
More Mortgages, Lower Growth?

In newly collected data on 46 economies over 1990–2011, we show that financial development since 1990 was mostly due to growth in credit to real estate and other asset markets, which has a negative growth coefficient. We also distinguish between growth effects of stocks and flows of credit. We find positive growth effects for credit flows to nonfinancial business but not for mortgage and other asset market credit flows. By accounting for the composition of credit stocks and for the effect of credit flows, we explain the insignificant or negative growth effects of financial development in recent times. What was true in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s when the field of empirical credit-growth studies blossomed, is no longer true in the 1990s and 2000s. New bank lending is not primarily to nonfinancial business and financial development may no longer be good for growth. These trends predate the 2008 crisis. They prompt a rethink of the role of banks in the process of economic growth. (JEL E44, O16, O40, C33)
Enhancing Nurses’ Knowledge Regarding the Complex Care of Hospitalized Patients on Insulin

A randomized controlled study assessed a self-paced, online educational course addressing the complex nursing care of hospitalized patients on basal–bolus insulin. Interactive quizzes and scenarios were used to reinforce learning. Knowledge in the intervention group increased significantly and was retained 3-months postintervention. Nursing professional development educators will find this article useful regarding methods for annual competency evaluation and for increasing staff’s knowledge as part of a system approach for safely caring for patients with diabetes.
Implications of local knowledge in the utilization of forage resources in mixed livestock systems of Eastern Tanzania

Smallholder farmers have considerable understanding of locally available resources that they normally use in crop and livestock production. This was demonstrated in a study about the utility of local knowledge in forage quality evaluation for a mixed livestock production system in Turiani division, Morogoro region, Eastern Tanzania. Participatory rural appraisal (PRA) was conducted in four villages in order to identify forages and criteria used by farmers in the description of nutritional and feeding values of local feeds for cattle. Eight to 12 farmers were convened in each village to discuss the different forage species used for cattle feeding, reasons for their preferences and local experiences related to feed resource management. Key informants interviews were also done with farmers' group leaders and some farmers. Checklists, direct observation, matrix ranking and semi-structured interviews were the major tools applied. Results indicated that criteria used for forage quality assessment were based on objectives of cattle production. These included the amount of milk produced (lactating cows), growth (calves) and general health condition of animals. Palatability of forages and animal satisfaction when fed were other criteria used. Forage grasses such as Pennisetum purpureum, Panicum maximum and Rottboellia cochinchinensis were ranked the highest, intermediate and lowest respectively according to the above criteria. These findings suggest that forage quality description derived from day to day activities is crucial for any interventions that can improve livestock productivity in smallholder production systems.
Risk management practices of Islamic banks of Brunei Darussalam

Purpose - The objective of this paper is to assess the degree to which Islamic banks in Brunei Darussalam use risk management practices (RMPs) and techniques in dealing with different types of risk. Design/methodology/approach - The researcher developed a questionnaire which covers six aspects in the first part: understanding risk and risk management, risk assessment and analysis (RAA), risk identification (RI), risk monitoring, credit risk analysis and RMPs. The second part consists of two questions based on an ordinal scale dealing with two topics: methods of RI and risk facing the sample banks. Findings - This study found that that the three most important types of risk that the Islamic banks in Brunei Darussalam facing are foreign-exchange risk, followed by credit risk and then operating risk. It also found that the Islamic banks are somewhat reasonably efficient in managing risk where RI and RAA are the most influencing variables in RMPs. Research limitations/implications - The paper's findings are limited to the RMPs of Islamic banks in Brunei Darussalam. Originality/value - The paper explores the RMPs of the Islamic banks in Brunei Darussalam. The results can be used as a valuable feed back for improvement of RMPs in the Islamic banks in Brunei and will be of value to those people who are interested in the Islamic banking system.
Stock-Split Post-Announcement Returns: Underreaction or Market Friction?

We explore the relationship between stock splits and subsequent long-term returns during the period from 1950 to 2000. We find that, contrary to much previous research, firms do not exhibit positive long-term post-split returns. Instead, we find that significant positive returns after the announcement date do not persist after the actual date of the stock split. We also observe that abnormal returns are correlated with the price-delay or market friction. We conclude that the stock-split post-announcement "drift" is only of short duration, and it is attributable to trading frictions rather than behavioral biases. Copyright 2007, The Eastern Finance Association.
An empirical investigation of the relationships among service quality, customer satisfaction and psychological commitment in a health club context

This study aimed to test the applicability of a simplified version of the service quality model, proposed by Brady & Cronin (2001) in the context of a health club, and test the degree to which service quality perceptions and customer satisfaction predict psychological commitment and word‐of‐mouth communications. One hundred and seventy five members of a private health club in Greece participated in the study, and completed: a) a service quality scale (measuring interaction quality, physical environment quality, and outcome quality); b) the Sport Commitment Scale (Scanlan et al., 1993); c) an adjusted version of Oliver's (1997) customer satisfaction scale; and d) a three‐item scale measuring word‐of‐mouth communications. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) provided support for the factorial validity of the three primary dimensions. The psychometric properties of all the scales were satisfactory. The results also revealed an adequate fit of the structural model, which accounted for 29% of the variance. The physical environment and outcome dimensions significantly influenced satisfaction, which, in turn, had a stronger influence on word‐of‐mouth communications than on psychological commitment.
Antigenic Differentiation of Mouse Hepatitis Viruses by Neutralization Test

Mouse hepatitis viruses (MHV) are members of the coronavirus group, which contain a single-stranded polyadenylated RNA genome (13, 18,20). The discovery of cell lines suitable for MHV replication and the development of assay systems have made it possible to investigate the mode of replication and other important characteristics of MHV (6,21,24). As a result, some information has become available on the molecular aspects of MHV multiplication in cultured cells (13, 17, 18,24). MHV is also known to cause hepatitis and demyelinating disease in mice. Variation in pathogenicity and organ tropism among many strains has been shown to occur (8, 16). In addition, studies of recent isolates of MHV from athymic nude mice dying with wasting disease (9) or from suckling mice with severe diarrhea (5, 10, 12) revealed some new aspects of the pathogenicity of MHV in mice (10, 11). However, despite extensive studies of MHV multiplication and many pathological examinations, little is known about the serological differences among MHV strains (5,24), though cross-reactivity of some strains of MHV with other coronaviruses has been demonstrated (16). In this communication, we report serological differences among six established and six freshly isolated strains of MHV, obtained by the neutralization test (NT) which is the only currently available method for the differentiation of closely related MHV strains. The MHV strains MHV-l (4), MHV-2 (15), MHV-3 (2), JHM (1), MHV-S (19), and MHV-A59 (14) were kindly supplied by Dr. ]. e. Parker, Microbiological Associates, Inc., Bethesda, Md. MHV-A, MHV-U, MHV-Nu66 (9), MHV-K (11), and MHV-Nu67 were isolated from the livers of nude mice with hepatitis, and MHV-D was isolated from the intestines of suckling mice with severe diarrhea (10). These viruses were propagated in DBT cells (6) which were grown in Eagle's minimal essential medium (EMEM, Nissui, Tokyo) supplemented with 10% tryptose phosphate broth (TPB, Difco, Detroit, Mich.) and 8% calf serum. The virus stock used in the NT was prepared as described previously (22). Antisera to MHV-3, JHM, and MHV-S were produced in rabbits by injection of purified viruses emulsified with Freund's complete adjuvant, as previously reported (23). For NT, a modification of the method of Dulbecco (3) was employed, which was more convenient than the original method and more sensitive than the serum
Redistribution as a Local Public Good: An Empirical Test for Flemish Municipalities

Redistribution is typically viewed as a task of the central government. However, in most federal countries local governments do have some discretion in redistribution policy. The main theoretical argument for this is that redistribution may be a local public good (Pauly 1973). Using data on Flemish municipalities, we present a first empirical test of Pauly's assumption. We find that the willingness to redistribute is negatively affected by the geographical dimension of the responsible government. We extend the notion of distance, considering also sociological, cultural, income and political distances between donors and recipients. We find that, with the exception of income, these are relevant determinants of welfare policy, though they do not always have the predicted effect.
Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Inborn Errors of Metabolism

The treatment of children with inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) is mainly based on restricted dietary intake of protein-containing foods. However, dietary protein restriction may not only reduce amino acid intake, but may be associated with low intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids as well. This review focuses on the consequences of dietary restriction in IEM on the bioavailability of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) and on the attempts to ameliorate these consequences. We were able to identify during a literature search 10 observational studies investigating LCPUFA status in patients with IEM and six randomized controlled trials (RCTs) reporting effect of LCPUFA supplementation to the diet of children with IEM. Decreased LCPUFA status, in particular decreased docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) status, has been found in patients suffering from IEM based on the evidence of observational studies. LCPUFA supplementation effectively improves DHA status without detectable adverse reactions. Further research should focus on functional outcomes of LCPUFA supplementation in children with IEM.
Motivations, Capability Handicaps, and Firm Responses in the Early Phase of Internationalization: A Study in the Indian Pharmaceutical Industry

ABSTRACT This article identifies and analyzes the experiences of Indian pharmaceutical firms in the early phase of internationalization. It discusses the motivations, forays into international markets, products selection, and capability handicaps and responses and it distinguishes between the experiences of early internationalizers and those of later internationalizers. The early internationalizers face several discontinuities vis-à-vis the experience of meeting the needs of domestic market. They need to cultivate new capabilities by leveraging on whatever is available within the firms and the external environment. The later internationalizers do not experience these handicaps. They benefit from the industry experience and congregate capabilities to move faster.