Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
What Drives the Institutionalization of Performance Measurement Systems in Indonesian Local Government?

Objective - The objective of this paper is to explore and understand the motivators of institutionalization of Performance Measurement Systems (PMS) in the Indonesian Local Government (ILG), particularly in the Batu municipality presenting the performance paradoxes. Performance accountability issues have been encouraging the Batu municipality to implement PMS since the beginning of the 2000s. Methodology/Technique - The theoretical framework and interpretation of this study are adopted from the institutional theory (coercive, mimetic, normative, and allomorphism) which is used to analyze the phenomenon. The researchers employ a single case study to scrutinize the motivators of institutionalization by elaborating on document analysis conducted from the interviews of 10 employees in a different range of management levels (top, middle, and lower). Findings - The results of this study reveal that exogenous (coercive, mimetic and normative) and endogenous (allomorphism) drivers encourage the institutionalization of PMS in the Batu municipality with coercive pressure as a major driver and allomorphism as a mere ceremonial driver (rather than an instrument). Novelty - The practical implications of this study can be used to improve the PMS process and the quality of performance reporting in the Batu municipality and in other local governments. This paper is also expected to fill the gap in existing literature on the implementation of PMS within a developing country (in this case, Indonesia). Type of Paper: Empirical Paper. Keywords: Performance Measurement Systems; Institutional Theory; Indonesian Local Government; Batu Municipality. JEL Classification: P47, M48, P49. DOI: https://doi.org/10.35609/jber.2019. 4.1(3)
Happiness with rural experience: Exploring the role of tourist mindfulness as a moderator

The present study aims to analyze (i) the effect of mindfulness as a moderator on the relationship between rural experience economy and happiness and (ii) the influence of rural experience, specifically agritourism, on behavioral intentions through happiness and memory creation. The relationships hypothesized in the model are informed by a literature review and tested using partial least squares approach and bootstrapping procedure. Data are collected in Dalmatia (Croatia) from nearby rural tourists who stayed at agritourism accommodations. The results suggest that (i) rural tourism experience dimensions are positively and significantly associated with happiness; (ii) mindfulness does not fully influence the strength or direction of the relationship between the rural experience and happiness; and (iii) happiness and memory can act as mediators, at least partially, between rural tourism experience and happiness. The findings provide theoretical and managerial implications for tourism and hospitality.
Immigrants and exports: Firm‐level evidence from Canada

We examine how immigrant employment enhances trade at the firm level using unique administrative matched employer-employee data from Canada. We augment a standard model of firmsâ€™ export market entry and sales decisions with trade costs that depend on destination-specific immigrant employment at the firm level. We estimate simple structural equations derived from the model that relate destination-specific exporting decisions to immigrant employment. We develop a method to deal with the potential endogeneity of immigrant employment that exploits the optimality conditions associated with the firmâ€™s employment decision. We find positive and statistically significant effects of firm level immigrant employment on exporting. These effects vary with product type and immigrant employee characteristics in ways consistent with the idea that immigrant employees alleviate information barriers to trade.
Resilience in Talcahuano, Chile: appraising local disaster response

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present the findings of a qualitative and exploratory study aimed at learning more about the local forms of resilience that emerged in two localities (one rural and one urban locality) in Talcahuano, Chile, in response to the major earthquake and devastating tsunami that hit them on February 27, 2010. Design/methodology/approach To ensure that people’s experiences remained leading throughout the study, data were collected in the field by the first author over a period of 13 months using a variety of qualitative methods. The primary methods were observation, participation and semi-structured interviews with a variety of actors, ranging from community members to local leaders and emergency professionals. For the analysis, a scheme was used that categorizes manifested resilience using two dimensions: damage and responsiveness. Since this scheme has been mostly used to evaluate tree populations, it was adapted to fit the appraisal of a social system. Findings The findings suggest that damage levels in the two communities were similar, but that the responsiveness was not. One locality revealed high levels of resilience, while the other exposed increased susceptibility to future similar events. Originality/value This research initiative was relevant because it exposed actual resilience. Also, the specificities of the findings enable insights about prevalent vulnerability, in particular the local capacity of response, and that can be used to elaborate concrete earthquake/tsunami disaster scenarios and design local disaster risk reduction interventions.
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Carriage in Hemodialysis Vicinity: Prevalence and Decolonization Approach

Hemodialysis (HD) patients are at risk for developing serious infections. Methicillin- resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is one of the most prevalent pathogens in healthcare facilities with a major threat to the medical community. We aimed to determine the prevalence of MRSA colonization among patients and medical staff members in a HD Unit and determine efficacy of mupirocin as a decolonizing agent. This cross-sectional study enrolled 250 patients and 35 health care providers of a HD unit. Nasal and hand swabs were collected to assess the prevalence of MRSA carriage. Those exhibiting MRSA phenotype were subjected to conventional Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for detection of mecA gene. Colonized patients and medical personnel with MRSA were prescribed mupirocin ointment (2%) for decolonization. The screening approach identified 54/285 (18.9%) nasal MRSA carriers (41/250 of HD patients and 13/35 of the medical staff members). Concomitant extranasal MRSA colonization of the hands was observed in 10 (18.5%) of these 54 MRSA carriers. In relation to PCR results the sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy of cefoxitin disk test were 98.2%, 75%, and 93.9% respectively and for MRSA Select II agar screening method, the sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy were 92.6%, 66.7%, and 87.9% respectively. Decolonization approach using mupirocin ointment revealed an overall success rate up to 77.8% (42/54) and failure rate of 16.7% (9/54), while 5.6% (3/54) of decolonized carriers showed recolonization. There is still high prevalence of MRSA colonization in HD vicinity. Implementation of strict infection control measures is essential in dialysis units to avoid MRSA cross-transmission and invasive infections.
Methodological challenges in studying the impact of domestic violence on children's human capital: an application to Colombia

This paper examines the effects of intimate-partner violence (IPV) against the mother on the educational outcomes of her children ages 6-14. We explore the potential non-random selection of children into situations where they are exposed to IPV using non-parametric matching methods and parametric instrumental variables methods. The analyses of Colombia's 2005 DHS (N= 21,827) indicate that mother's exposure to IPV reduces children's school attendance by 1.2 to 2.7 percentage points, depending on methodology, substantial when compared to the 6.7 percent average non-attendance rate. It reduces unconditional grade advancement by 2.1 to 2.8 percentage points, which should be compared to an average non-advancement rate of 8 percent. It reduces grade advancement conditional on staying in school by 1.5 to 1.8 percentage points, relative to an average non-advancement rate of 4.4 percent. The effect of mother's IPV on the probability of drop-out in the past year is not statistically significant, but it lowers grade attainment conditional on current attendance by 0.06 to 0.12 years and unconditional years of education completed by about 0.10 years.
Comparative Analysis between Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications and Updated Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide Climate Database in the State of Tennessee

The Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide addresses climate effects on pavement design in a comprehensive way, which allows for investigating the effect of climate on pavement performance. However, it requires detailed climate inputs, which might not be readily available for most of the state departments of transportation. The AASHTOWare Pavement Mechanistic-Empirical Design (PMED) version 2.3 (v2.3) climate database encompasses 12 weather stations in the state of Tennessee, which does not satisfactorily represent all climatic regions in the state. The terrain in Tennessee varies from flat in the west to mountainous in the east. To evaluate the effectiveness of the updated AASHTOWare PMED v2.3 climate data input, this study analyses the performance of selected pavements in the state of Tennessee using the Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications (MERRA) and the AASHTOWare PMED v2.3 databases as sources of PMED climate data inputs. A comparative analysis of the two climate data sources is conducted using eight long-term pavement performance (LTPP) sites in the state of Tennessee. The study revealed that MERRA as a climate data source for the state of Tennessee offers better geographic coverage, and therefore provides more precise distress predictions than the AASHTOWare PMED v2.3 climate database.
Energy conversion properties of ZnSiP2, a lattice-matched material for silicon-based tandem photovoltaics

ZnSiP2 demonstrates promising potential as an optically active material on silicon. There has been a longstanding need for wide band gap materials that can be integrated with Si for tandem photovoltaics and other optoelectronic applications. ZnSiP2 is an inexpensive, earth abundant, wide band gap material that is stable and lattice matched with silicon. This conference proceeding summarizes our PV-relevant work on bulk single crystal ZnSiP2, highlighting the key findings and laying the ground work for integration into Si-based tandem devices.
Effect of the spacing technique to improve balance and gait in stroke survivor: An experimental study

Background: Spacing effect is the observation that information presented using spaced repetitions is better remembered than information presented via massed repetitions (Challis, 1993). Many studies of spacing effect reported positive effect on motor learning, but there is a limited application of spacing strategies for the people with stroke which could potentially result in a significant improvement in balance and gait training for everyday functioning. The aim of this study was to determine whether spaced learning improves motor learning as regards balance and gait in people with stroke. Objectives: The aim of this study is to study the effect of spacing technique in improving balance and gait in patients with stroke. Study Design: This study is in pretest–posttest experimental study design. Methods: Thirty patients with stroke were selected and randomly assigned to Experimental and Control groups. Experimental group consists of 15 patients with 9 males and 6 females patients who received conventional therapy along with spaced exercise protocol thrice a week for 8 weeks. Control group consists of 15 patients with 12 male and 3 female patients who received conventional therapy. Tinetti Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment (TPOMA) was used as an outcome measure. Results: Statistical analysis showed that there was significant improvement in the Experimental group, measured with TPOMA on Mann–Whitney U-test where the result shows U = 14 which corresponds to P= 0.000 along with 95% confidence interval (0.000, 0.095). Conclusions: The study concluded that application of the spacing technique program with conventional therapy improves balance and gait more effectively than only with the conventional therapy. Thus, spacing effect or spaced interval practice along with conventional therapy should be considered during the management of stroke population to improve balance and gait.
Dissection of central clock function in Drosophila through cell-specific CRISPR-mediated clock gene disruption

In Drosophila, ~150 neurons expressing molecular clock proteins regulate circadian behavior. Sixteen of these clock neurons secrete the neuropeptide Pdf and have been called “master pacemakers” because they are essential for circadian rhythms. A subset of Pdf+ neurons (the morning oscillator) regulates morning activity and communicates with other non-Pdf+ neurons, including a subset called the evening oscillator. It is assumed that the molecular clock in Pdf+ neurons is required for these functions. To test this, we developed and validated Gal4-UAS based CRISPR tools for cell-specific disruption of key molecular clock components, period and timeless. While loss of the molecular clock in both the morning and evening oscillators eliminates circadian locomotor activity, the molecular clock in either oscillator alone is sufficient for circadian locomotor activity. This suggests that clock neurons do not act in a hierarchy but as a distributed network to regulate circadian activity.
Simulation model of wind turbine 3p torque oscillations due to wind shear and tower shadow

To determine the control structures and possible power quality issues, the dynamic torque generated by the blades of a wind turbine must be represented. This paper presents an analytical formulation of the generated aerodynamic torque of a three-bladed wind turbine including the effects of wind shear and tower shadow. The comprehensive model includes turbine-specific parameters such as radius, height, and tower dimensions, as well as the site-specific parameter, the wind shear exponent. The model proves the existence of a 3p pulsation due to wind shear and explains why it cannot be easily identified in field measurements. The proportionality constant between the torque and the wind speed is determined allowing direct aerodynamic torque calculation from an equivalent wind speed. It is shown that the tower shadow effect is more dominant than the wind shear effect in determining the dynamic torque, although there is a small dc reduction in the torque oscillation due to wind shear. The model is suitable for real-time wind turbine simulation or other time domain simulation of wind turbines in power systems
Agricultural Productivity and Soil Carbon Dynamics: A Bioeconomic Model

The strong link between poverty, natural resources and the environment is apparent in smallholder agriculture: farmers are making repeated land use and management decisions while facing diverse resource endowments and significant environmental constraints on production. To investigate the likely effects of changes in agricultural practices on the natural resource base and on farmer welfare, we develop a bio-economic dynamic model of agricultural households in the western Kenya highlands. Our modeling framework extends economic farm household models to incorporate the dynamic nature of natural resource management and its implications for household welfare, and to permit a meaningful interface with biophysical processes through soil carbon management. Using an eight-year panel data set, the model combines econometrically estimated production and soil carbon flow equations in a dynamic programming framework. We use the model to determine the optimal management of the farming system over time in terms of the quantity of mineral fertilizer and crop residues to apply, taking into consideration initial resource endowments and prices. Understanding how soil resources respond to the combined applications of mineral and organic resources is important for improved resource allocation at the farm level and for national agricultural policy decisions.
The importance of energy resources for Azerbaijan’s international competitiveness

The aim of this paper is to present a detailed analysis of the international competitiveness of Azerbaijani economy and, based on it, to determine the importance of energy resources and their derivatives in shaping the competitive profile of its economy in international trade during 2000-2015. In order to assess the country’s international trade competitiveness, two indicators have been applied, i.e., Balassa’s Revealed Comparative Advantages (RCA) index and the Lafay Index (LFI) of international trade specialization. The analysis conducted clearly shows that Azerbaijan’s overall international trade competitiveness is low, especially with respect to high and medium-high technology goods, while the only comparative advantages of its economy include exports of goods from the medium-low technology category, in which energy resources and their derivatives are classified. This proves the absolute key importance of these resources in the competitive profile of Azerbaijani economy, and to a large extent determines its resources-based character. This makes its further development strongly dependent on international markets for energy resources, thus increasing its susceptibility to external shocks.
Hanging on the ‘wire: a field study of an audio-only media space

The primary focus of this article is an analysis of an audio-only media space from a computer-supported cooperative work (CSCW) perspective. To explore whether audio by itself is suitable for shared media systems, we studied a workgroup using an audio-only media space. This media space, called Thunderwire, combined high-quality audio with open connec-tions to create a shared space for its users. The two-month field study provided a richly nuanced understanding of this audio spaces social use. The system afforded rich sociable interactions. As well, users were able to create a useful, usable social space; however, through an analysis of the social norms that the participants formulated, we show that they had to take into account being in an audio-only environment. Within the field study, then, audio by itself was sufficient for a usable media space and a useful social space, but users were forced to adapt to many audio-only and system conditions. The article also considers audios implications for privacy.
VITREOUS AND PLASMA CONCENTRATIONS OF APELIN AND VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR AFTER INTRAVITREAL BEVACIZUMAB IN EYES WITH PROLIFERATIVE DIABETIC RETINOPATHY

Purpose: To evaluate vitreous and plasma concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and apelin and to detect the expressions of VEGF and apelin on epiretinal fibrovascular membranes obtained during vitrectomy in eyes with proliferative diabetic retinopathy after intravitreal bevacizumab injection. Methods: Forty-four eyes of 44 patients affected by active proliferative diabetic retinopathy were investigated. The bevacizumab study group consisted of 20 eyes that received an intravitreal bevacizumab injection (1.25 mg) 7 days before pars plana vitrectomy. The control group included 24 eyes that underwent pars plana vitrectomy without previous intravitreal bevacizumab injection. Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, the concentrations of VEGF and apelin were measured in vitreous and plasma samples. The expressions of VEGF and apelin in the excised epiretinal membranes were examined by fluorescence immunostaining. Results: Vitreous and plasma concentrations of VEGF were significantly lower in the bevacizumab group than in the control group (P < 0.001 and P = 0.003, respectively), while the vitreous and plasma concentrations of apelin did not vary significantly between the 2 groups (P = 0.62 and P = 0.09, respectively). In the epiretinal fibrovascular membranes of both the groups, a colocalization of the endothelial marker CD31 with the markers for apelin was observed. Conclusion: Intravitreal bevacizumab injection may lead to a decrease in the intraocular and systemic concentrations of VEGF, suggesting a local and potentially a systemic effect on VEGF but may have no effect on apelin. Apelin may be associated with the development of epiretinal membranes in proliferative diabetic retinopathy and may not directly correlate with VEGF.
Dissecting the Information Value of Sovereign Credit Rating Reports

We examine the information value of sovereign credit rating reports issued by Moody’s in sovereign credit default swaps (CDS) markets across 62 countries from 2003 to 2013. We find that the negative linguistic tone in the reports contains new default-related information. After we categorize each sentence into six different information contents, we find that the most informative sentences are related to negative debt dynamics. Since 2009 Eurozone debt crisis, the credit market reacts little toward the financial sector related information. Overall, our study implies that the sovereign credit risk is not as homogeneous as what the prior literature has suggested.
Corporal Punishment: Parents Perception in District Malakand, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

This paper shed light on parent’s psychological perception about children corporal punishment in District Malakand, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. A total of 202 respondents (parents) were selected through simple random sampling procedure to portray information. Chi square χ2 and Gamma statistics were used to determine the level of association and strength and direction of relationship. Majority of the respondents i.e. 82.7% had opined that corporal punishment increases aggressiveness in children, it promotes depression (82.2%), fear and terror 153(75.7), eliminate confidence and damage IQ of children146 (72.3). Moreover, at bivariate level a positive (γ=.977) with significant relationship (P<0.05) was discovered between corporal punishment increases aggressiveness with corporal punishment. A positive (γ=.972) with significant relationship (P<0.05) was discovered between corporal punishment promotes depression with corporal punishment. Similarly, A positive (γ=.954) with significant relationship (P<0.05) was discovered between corporal punishment stimulate nervousness with corporal punishment. A positive (γ=.944) with significant relationship (P<0.05) was discovered between corporal punishment leads to fear and terror with corporal punishment. A positive (γ=.914) with significant relationship (P<0.05) was discovered between corporal punishment eliminate confidence with corporal punishment. A positive (γ=.913) with significant relationship (P<0.05) was discovered between corporal punishment damage IQ of children with corporal punishment. A