Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Party Organization in a Multi-level System: Party Organizational Change in Spain and the UK

This article investigates the link between regionalization of the structure of government, regional elections and regionalism on the one hand, and the organization of state-wide political parties in Spain and the UK on the other. It particularly looks at two aspects of the relations between the central and regional levels of party organization: integration of the regional branches in central decision making and autonomy of the regional branches. It argues that the party factors are the most crucial elements explaining party change and that party leaders mediate between environmental changes and party organization. The parties' history and beliefs and the strength of the central leadership condition their ability or willingness to facilitate the emergence of meso-level elites. The institutional and electoral factors are facilitating factors that constitute additional motives for or against internal party decentralization.
Comparison of commodity future pricing approaches with cointegration techniques

Commodity future prices are explained either by price expectations and a risk premium in the theory of normal backwardation or with the theory of storage in a cost of carry valuation. Both approaches are compared in separate equations with Johansen cointegration tests. The data sample contains five LME metals with maturities of 3–27 months and real inventory data. It is found that expected spot prices explain only short maturity future prices. But the cost of carry approach, with the inventory level-dependent convenience yield, explains prices for all maturities.
The challenges of conducting ethical research with children

The conduct of timely, ethical and reliable research in matters directly affecting children and childhood is of increasing importance to contemporary research communities. However, the challenges of seeking ways in which to include children’s perspectives requires critical deliberations and is beneficial at all stages of the research endeavour, from conceptualisation through to dissemination. This paper seeks to identify some of the ethical and methodological considerations of this type of research and propose ways in which the research process can be enhanced through the careful examination of key markers in that process.
Local Multipliers and Agglomeration Economies

This paper examines the multiplier effect in which tradable sectors generate non-tradable sector jobs through an increased demand for local goods and services using a spatial econometric model, and it analyzes whether agglomeration economies increase this multiplier effect. To distinguish tradable and non-tradable sectors, including service industries, I use the Gini index. Tradable sector jobs generate non-tradable sector jobs. The concentration and variety of industries increase this multiplier effect, but population size does not appear to increase the effect. However, the concentration of industries in neighboring regions negatively affects the creation of non-tradable sector jobs when neighboring tradable jobs increase. The feedback effect of industrial variety, in which observations in region A affect observations in region B and vice versa and in which longer paths may go from observations in region A to region B through region C and back to region A, is positive but not strong.
ECONOMIC VALUE OF ICT INVESTMENT IN NIGERIA: IS IT COMMENSURATE?

This paper explores the economic value of ICT investment in Nigeria. Data were gathered from secondary sources after which different statistical packages were used to extract relevant information. Investigation revealed that ICT investment was on the increase from 2001 when the telecoms industry in Nigeria got their liberalization. The empirical results suggest that ICT investment has a significant impact on Nigeria‘s economic growth during the period reviewed, suggesting good payoffs from the investment. R-squared result shows that a high proportion (95%) of total change in GDP is accounted by private investment in ICT, ICT contribution to GDP and number of subscribers. ICT investments made by the private sector seem to have contributed significantly to the country’s growth. However, in order to sustain economic growth leveraged against ICT, more concerted efforts need to be made to increase ICT investment diffusion in the country. Such initiatives will ensure that the value potential of ICT investments in the economy is maximized, due to greater ICT-enabled potential that can translate to economic growth.
The hidden theology of Adam Smith

This paper contests late readings of Adam Smith's ‘invisible hand’ as an essentially secular device. It is argued that Smith's social and economic philosophy is inherently theological and that his entire model of social order is logically dependent on the notion of God's action in nature. It will be shown that far from being a purely secular, materialist or evolutionist approach Smith works from the argument from design to construct a model that is teleological and securely located in the chain of being tradition. His focus upon happiness as the Final Cause of nature renders improbable any claims for proto-evolutionism in his work while his arguments about the deliberate endowment of defects in the human frame make no sense without the supposition of design and purpose in nature.
Protected areas, tourism and community livelihoods linkages: a comprehensive analysis approach

This study explores the linkages among protected areas, tourism and community livelihoods in a rural setting. The Chobe National Park and Chobe Enclave Community Trust, Botswana, provide the context for this study. Data were collected through a community asset mapping exercise, semi-structured interviews, and published and unpublished data sources. Data were analyzed and interpreted using the community capital framework (CCF) that provided a comprehensive approach. The study identified that protected areas, tourism and community livelihoods linkages have many inter-dependent community capitals relationships. The enhancement of community capitals was facilitated by a shift from government-controlled to multi-level governance arrangements that recognize community wildlife-based tourism potential co-exist with protected areas, have influence on community livelihoods and nurture positive linkages. Results also indicate that linkages are dependent on community capitals transformation or lack thereof; the linkages have an influential effect on the whole ecosystem on which protected areas, tourism and community livelihoods operate. The study provides a new methodological approach in understanding the changing relationships among tourism, conservation and community development by expanding community capitals framework. This study's findings also inform planners, managers, and policy makers to critically evaluate the processes of change and devise interventions accordingly.
Tubal abnormalities on hysterosalpingography in primary and secondary infertility.

BACKGROUND Hysterosalpingography (HSG) is an imaging modality used in assessing the fallopian tubes of patients with infertility. There have been reports suggesting that tubal pathologies may be responsible for most cases of secondary infertility. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the fallopian tube of women with infertility and to observe if there are significant differences in the tubal findings in primary and secondary infertility. METHODOLOGY One hundred and twenty (120) patients attending the outpatient fertility clinics in University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, (UITH) Nigeria were studied; Twenty-four (20%) presented with primary infertility and Ninety-six (80%) with secondary infertility. All the patients had HSG. RESULTS A total of 48(40%) patients out of the 120 studied had a tubal pathology, out of which 43 (44.8%) had secondary infertility and 5(20.8%) had primary infertility. Tubal pathology was found to be significantly associated with secondary infertility than primary infertility (P< 0.05, Odds ratio = 3, CI = 95%).
VOLUME–VOLATILITY DYNAMICS IN AN INTERTEMPORAL ASSET PRICING MODEL

This paper embeds time-varying volatility into a dynamic equilibrium model of returns and trading. The model allows us to ask how time-varying volatility might affect the relation among return autocorrelation, volatility, and trading volume, as opposed to the pairwise relations that have been studied previously. It is shown analytically that, with time-varying volatility, the relationship between volume and stock return autocorrelation is ambiguous even if agents have symmetric information, which may explain the contradictory findings in the empirical literature. In the numerical exercise, the model is simulated in a way that mimics the persistent volatility of high-frequency stock data documented in numerous empirical studies. Specially, the time-varying volatility of stock returns is approximated with a highly persistent chaotic tent map, which is known to have the same autocorrelation coefficients as an AR(1) process. The simulated data can approximate GARCH-type behavior very well. Whereas in the simulated data, no significant relation between volume and return autocorrelation can be found, there is a significantly positive relation between volume and one-step-ahead stock return volatility. The ambiguous volume–persistence and positive volume–volatility relations are confirmed empirically by using four heavily traded individual stocks. Therefore, the data simulated from the highly stylized asset pricing model with deterministic time-varying volatility can mimic well the volume–return dynamics revealed in the observed data in these two respects.
The Role of Beta and Size in the Cross-Section of European Stock Returns

This paper examines the ability of beta and size to explain cross-sectional variation in average returns in twelve European countries. We find that average stock returns are positively related to beta and negatively related to firm size. The beta premium is in part due to the fact that high beta countries outperform low beta countries. Within countries high beta stocks outperform low beta stocks only in January, not in other months. We reject the hypothesis that differences in average returns on size- and beta-sorted portfolios can be explained by market risk and exposure to the excess return of small over large stocks (SMB). Consistent with recent U.S. evidence, we find that after controlling for size, there is no association between average returns and exposure to SMB.
Giant-cell tumour of bone: THE LONG-TERM RESULTS OF TREATMENT BY CURETTAGE AND BONE GRAFT

Giant-cell tumour of bone (GCT) is a locally benign aggressive tumour. The use of adjuvant agents, such as phenol or liquid nitrogen has been recommended to destroy the remaining tumour cells after curettage, and filling of the defect with methylmethacrylate cement has been advocated. Between 1957 and 1992 we treated 92 patients with a GCT with 50% aqueous zinc chloride solution and bone grafting. Their mean age at the time of surgery was 31 years (15 to 59) and the mean follow-up was 11 years (5 to 31). Twelve (13%) had a local recurrence and one had a wound infection. Two developed degenerative changes around the knee. Eighty-six (93%) achieved good or excellent function. Three had moderate function, and three needed amputation. Our findings indicate that treatment with an aqueous solution of zinc chloride and reconstructive bone grafting after curettage gives good results.
Parameter Estimation Using Least-Squares Polynomial Smoothing

This paper considers several aspects of parameter estimation using least-squares polynomial smoothing of noisy observations. These aspects are 1) the choice of estimation times, 2) the simultaneous or independent use of data, and 3) the use of a polynomial of improper degree to fit the observations. Mathematical expressions are presented for determining the significance of these aspects for any case of interest. Examples are included which show the importance of these aspects.
Planning and the Entrepreneur: A Longitudinal Examination of Nascent Entrepreneurs in Sweden

We studied 623 nascent entrepreneurs during a six‐year period, examining how their planning decisions impact venture‐level performance. Our study is unique in that we tracked nascent ventures, examining their planning behavior, including changes to plans. Relying on the theory of legitimacy, this paper adds to the scholarly debate over the merits of business planning by examining, longitudinally, the impact of planning during a six‐year period, accounting for both pre‐emergent nascent activity and post‐emergent success factors. We found that neither formal planning nor changes in the business plan increased venture‐level performance over the six‐year study period.
Analysts' Forecasts of German Firms' Earnings: A Comparative Analysis

This paper examines analysts' forecasts of the annual earnings per share of German firms over the period of February 1987 to December 1995. The German case is particularly interesting as the accounting and institutional structures vary from those in more thoroughly researched markets such as the U.S. or U.K. The paper therefore considers the features of the German forecasting environment which distinguish it from the Anglo‐American model, and whether these might be reflected in forecasting performance. The results for Germany show that the accuracy of analysts' forecasts improves as the forecast horizon shortens, are less accurate than a naive prediction model over longer horizons, and contain a positive bias. When the results for Germany are contrasted with the results for the U.K., as reported in a recent paper, they are found to be a little less accurate but the positive bias is greater in U.K. forecasts. Taken overall the forecasting process in Germany appears to be less efficient than in the U.K., but this may be due to the distinct features of the German forecasting environment.
The Epistemic-Teleologic Model of Deliberate Self-Persuasion

Although past theory and research point to the importance of understanding deliberate self-persuasion (i.e., deliberate self-induced attitude change), there have been no empirical and theoretical efforts to model this process. This article proposes a new model to help understand the process, while comparing the process of deliberate self-persuasion with relevant theory and research. The core feature of this model is a distinction between epistemic processes, which involve attempting to form new valid attitudes, and teleologic processes, which involve self-induced attitude change but with minimal concerns for validity. The epistemic processes employ tactics of reinterpretation, reattribution, reintegration, retesting, changing comparators, and changing dimensions of comparison. The teleologic processes include suppression, preemption, distraction, and concentration. By mapping these processes, this model helps to generate many novel and testable hypotheses about the use of deliberate self-persuasion to cope with ambivalent attitudes.
Taking Another Look at the Gender/Job‐Satisfaction Paradox

Labour-market conditions are, in general, less favourable for women than for men. It is therefore paradoxical that several studies reveal that women are more satisfied at work than men. We analyse this paradox with microdata from 21 countries. It is shown that this paradox does not exist in most of the countries analysed here, and, in most cases, can be explained by the different endowments of work-role inputs (e.g., work time) and outputs (e.g., pay) between genders. In Great Britain, the United States, and Switzerland, however, this paradoxical situation remains even after controlling for differences in work-role inputs and outputs. Copyright 2000 by WWZ and Helbing & Lichtenhahn Verlag AG
The Effects of Mindfulness‐based Stress Reduction on Nurse Stress and Burnout, Part II: A Quantitative and Qualitative Study

This article is the second in a series reporting on research exploring the effects of Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction on nurses and describes the quantitative data. The third article describes qualitative data. Treatment group participants reduced scores on 2 of 3 subscales of the Maslach Burnout Inventory significantly more than wait-list controls; within-group comparisons for both groups pretreatment and posttreatment revealed similar findings. Changes were maintained as long as 3-month posttreatment. Implications of these findings are discussed.
Why, for a Class of Bribes, the Act of Giving a Bribe should be Treated as Legal

The paper puts forward a small but novel idea of how we can cut down the incidence of bribery. There are different kinds of bribes and what this paper is concerned with are bribes that people often have to give to get what they are legally entitled to. I shall call these ― “harassment bribes”. Suppose an income tax refund is held back from a taxpayer till he pays some cash to the officer. Suppose government allots subsidized land to a person but when the person goes to get her paperwork done and receive documents for this land, she is asked to pay a hefty bribe. These are all illustrations of harassment bribes. Harassment bribery is widespread in India and it plays a large role in breeding inefficiency and has a corrosive effect on civil society. The central message of this paper is that we should declare the act of giving a bribe in all such cases as legitimate activity. In other words the giver of a harassment bribe should have full immunity from any punitive action by the state. It is argued that this will cause a sharp decline in the incidence of bribery. The reasoning is that once the law is altered in this manner, after the act of bribery is committed, the interests of the bribe giver and the bribe taker will be at divergence. The bribe giver will be willing to cooperate in getting the bribe taker caught. Knowing that this will happen, the bribe taker will be deterred from taking a bribe. It should be emphasized that what is being argued in this paper is not a retrospective pardon for bribe-giving. Retrospective pardons are like amnesties. They encourage rather than discourage corrupt behavior by rewarding the corrupt. And, in the process, they corrode society‘s morals.
Capital Formation by Education

IPROPOSE to treat education as an investment in man and to treat its consequences as a form of capital. Since education becomes a part of the person receiving it, I shall refer to it as human capital. Since it becomes an integral part of a person, it cannot be bought or sold or treated as property under our institutions. Nevertheless, it is a form of capital if it renders a productive service of value to the economy. The principal hypothesis underlying this treatment of education is that some important increases in national income are a consequence of additions to the stock of this form of capital. Although it will be far from easy to put this hypothesis to the test, there are many indications that some, and perhaps a substantial part, of the unexplained increases in national income in the United States are attributable to the formation of this kind of
Teachers' Perspectives on the Standards of Learning School Reform in Virginia

Teachers’ Perspectives on the SOL School Reform in Virginia Melanie A. Bolt School of Human Sciences and Education Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Dissertation Committee Chairperson: Kusum Singh This study discussed the need for a broader public discourse on high-stakes accountability-based school reform that underscores teachers’ perspectives. Also, the study discussed the need for fuller disclosure of the possible undesirable classroom effects of the reform. To address these needs, this study described teachers’ perspectives on the Standards of Learning (SOL) school reform in Virginia, focusing upon teachers’ views on the reform’s classroom effects. The domains of interest were (1) the adequacy of curriculum and the diversity of teachers’ instructional strategies, (2) the quality of student learning, (3) teachers’ sense of professional autonomy and level of teacher tension, and (4) school quality. The study examined whether there are differences in teachers’ views based on the income level of the school locale where the teachers teach (low-, middle-, or high-income), school type (elementary, middle, or high school), and teachers’ status on whether they teach a SOL-tested subject (yes/no).
Increased AKT S 473 phosphorylation after mTORC 1 inhibition is rictor dependent and does not predict tumor cell response to PI 3 K / mTOR inhibition

Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) regulates cellular processes important for progression of human cancer. RAD001 (everolimus), an mTORC1 (mTOR/raptor) inhibitor, has broad antitumor activity in preclinical models and cancer patients. Although most tumor lines are RAD001 sensitive, some are not. Selective mTORC1 inhibition can elicit increased AKT S473 phosphorylation, involving insulin receptor substrate 1, which is suggested to potentially attenuate effects on tumor cell proliferation and viability. Rictor may also play a role because rictor kinase complexes (including mTOR/rictor) regulate AKT S473 phosphorylation. The role of raptor and rictor in the in vitro response of human cancer cells to RAD001 was investigated. Using a large panel of cell lines representing different tumor histotypes, the basal phosphorylation of AKT S473 and some AKT substrates was found to correlate with the antiproliferative response to RAD001. In contrast, increased AKT S473 phosphorylation induced by RAD001 did not correlate. Similar increases in AKT phosphorylation occurred following raptor depletion using siRNA. Strikingly, rictor down-regulation attenuated AKT S473 phosphorylation induced by mTORC1 inhibition. Further analyses showed no relationship between modulation of AKT phosphorylation on S473 and T308 and AKTsubstrate phosphorylation patterns. Using a dual pan-class I phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/mTOR catalytic inhibitor (NVP-BEZ235), currently in phase I trials, concomitant targeting of these kinases inhibited AKT S473 phosphorylation, eliciting more profound cellular responses than mTORC1 inhibition alone. However, reduced cell viability could not be predicted from biochemical or cellular responses to mTORC1 inhibitors. These data could have implications for the clinical application of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/mTOR inhibitors. [Mol Cancer Ther 2009;8(4):742–53]
The dividend policy of firms quoted on the Nigerian stock exchange: An empirical analysis

This paper utilizes the parsimonious multiple regression model developed by Musa (2005) to investigate the dividend policy of a cross-section of 53 firms quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) during the period 1993 to 2002. The model employs five metric variables-previous dividend, current earnings, cash flow, investment and net current assets, and three non-metric variables- growth, firm size and industry classification, in order to explain as well as predict the dividend policy of quoted firms in Nigeria. The empirical results reveal that the five metric variables have significant aggregate impact on the dividend policy of the quoted firms. However, three of the variables- current earnings (E), previous dividend [DIVi (t-1)] and cash flow (CF), have been found to be robust in the model. Finally, the tests find that none of the three non-metric variables provides a statistically significant improvement to the base model. Key words: Dividend policy, Nigerian stock exchange, survivorship bias.
Globalization, Growth, and Poverty Reduction in Thailand

Sustained reduction of poverty incidence in Thailand has occurred over a period of several decades. This reduction in absolute poverty has occurred in spite of an increase in inequality over the same period. The rate of reduction of poverty has been strongly related to the rate of growth of GDP but the increase in inequality has not. The long-term growth of the Thai economy has been associated with a gradual opening to international trade and investment. The paper also reviews the prospects for reducing poverty by raising minimum wages and argues that poverty cannot be reduced effectively in this way.