Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Rediscovering “Terroir” in West African Agroforestry Parklands

The objective of this article is to examine how agricultural intensification and changing land tenure practices impact the management of two valuable parkland species: Vitellaria paradoxa and Parkia biglobosa. The article presents a conceptual framework that examines customary land tenure in an agroecological context. This required a variety of methods, including qualitative surveys on livelihoods and parkland management, surveys on land use history, and tree density measurements in farmers' fields. The research, conducted in northern Bénin, reveals that farmers historically exploited the relative sparseness of Parkia biglobosa in natural vegetation by sowing its seeds in their fields in order to distinguish them from unclaimed land. As agriculture has intensified, farmers have abandoned this practice, which is likely contributing to the decline of Parkia biglobosa in regional agricultural landscapes. The abandonment of this practice also reveals an overlooked difference in management strategies for the two species.
Is Beta dead? The role of alternative estimation methods

In this paper we test the robustness of the CAPM to two alternative estimation procedures: the Fama and MacBeth (1973) two-step methodology; and the one-step methodology due to Burmeister and McElroy (1988). For the UK stock market we find that we can clearly reject the CAPM when the two-step procedure is used, but find overwhelming support for the CAPM when we use the one-step estimator. Since, in their influential paper, Fama and French (1992) reject the CAPM for the US stock market using a variant of the two-step estimator, we believe that our results for the UK may have important implications for the 'Is Beta dead? ' debate
Managing plant turnaround maintenance in Malaysian process-based industries: a study on centralisation, formalisation and plant technology

The study examines the way how plant turnaround maintenance events in companies of process-based industries were organised and managed. It was envisaged that centralisation and formalisation have significant positive relationships towards the technology employed by the companies. The primary method employed in the data collection is the questionnaire-aided sample survey. The unit of analysis of the study is the organisation of the process-based companies in Malaysia. A total of 110 questionnaires were distributed to the companies. A total of 58 responded to the questionnaires, notching a 53% response rate. Factor analysis and reliability test were performed to check the consistency of the scales employed in measuring the constructs of centralisation and formalisation. Kruskal-Wallis test was employed to test the hypotheses. The analysis highlighted that centralisation in turnaround maintenance is generally high and has no significant relationship to the plant technology employed by the companies. On the contrary, formalisation that is designed and established to shape or influence the behaviour of the organisational members has significant positive relationship to the plant technology employed by the companies. Essentially, the level of formalisation established point towards the variations in the plant technologies employed by the companies.
The Impact of Discriminatory Climate Perceptions on the Composition of Intraorganizational Developmental Networks, Psychosocial Support, and Job and Career Attitudes of Employees with an Invisible Stigma

Recent diversity research recognizes that employees’ social identity and perceptions of diversity openness and support shape their career experience and decisions. To build further on this line of work, this study aims to advance an understanding of the impact of discriminatory climate perceptions on the social relationships at work and work-related attitudes of employees with an invisible stigma. To achieve this purpose and test hypotheses, professional lesbians and gay men were selected as a representative group of the invisible stigmatized population. This study found that perceptions of nondiscriminatory climate toward an individual's invisible stigmatized group is positively related to her/his formation of a similar developmental network, and those who perceived nondiscriminatory climate in their organization are more likely to disclose stigmatized identity and receive higher psychosocial support from their developmental network. Further, psychosocial support was found to be positively related to job and career satisfaction. Theoretical and practical implications on workplace stigmatization, developmental network, and workplace diversity are discussed.
Hydrogen sulfide in hypertension

Purpose of reviewHypertension is an important determinant of cardiovascular disease, and strict blood pressure regulation is beneficially associated with the risk for cardiovascular events or all-cause mortality. However, intensive antihypertensive treatment is not always sufficient to reach normotension. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a gaseous signalling molecule with antihypertensive properties. It is endogenously produced, but can also be exogenously administrated. The current review provides an overview on H2S research performed in the context of hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Recent findingsH2S has been increasingly found to contribute to different (patho-)physiological processes such as blood pressure regulation and scavenging of reactive oxygen species. A deficiency of H2S-producing enzymes results in hypertension, and administration of H2S donors lowers blood pressure and protects against organ damage in the experimental setting. Thiosulfate, a H2S metabolite, can act as a H2S donor, and is already clinically used for the treatment of calciphylaxis in patients with end-stage renal disease. Treatment of hypertensive rats with thiosulfate results in lower blood pressure and reduces organ damage. SummaryAlthough human data on H2S and hypertension are scarce, experimental data indicate that elevation of H2S levels using dietary sulfate or exogenous H2S (donors) could be a promising therapeutic strategy in the setting of hypertension.
Localization of UvrA and Effect of DNA Damage on the Chromosome of Bacillus subtilis

ABSTRACT We found that the nucleotide excision repair protein UvrA, which is involved in DNA damage recognition, localizes to the entire chromosome both before and after damage in living Bacillus subtilis cells. We suggest that the UvrA2B damage recognition complex is constantly scanning the genome, searching for lesions in the DNA. We also found that DNA damage induces a dramatic reconfiguration of the chromosome such that it no longer fills the entire cell as it does during normal growth. This reconfiguration is reversible after low doses of damage and is dependent on the damage-induced SOS response. We suggest that this reconfiguration of the chromosome after damage may be either a reflection of ongoing DNA repair or an active mechanism to protect the cell’s genome. Similar observations have been made in Escherichia coli, indicating that the alteration of chromosome structure after DNA damage may be a widespread phenomenon.
Body Mass Index and Body Composition Measures by Dual X-Ray Absorptiometry in Patients Aged 10 to 21 Years With Spinal Cord Injury

Abstract Background/Objective: To determine the body composition of adolescents with spinal cord injury (SCI) and to assess whether established cutoff values for obesity determined by body mass index (BMI) are valid for this population. Methods: Sixty patients, aged 10–21 years, with traumatic SCI (50 with paraplegia and 1 0 with tetraplegia) were compared with 60 gender–, age–, and BMI-matched controls (CTRL). Dual–energy x–ray absorptiometry was used to estimate regional and total bone mineral content, lean tissue mass, fat tissue mass, and body fat percentage. BMI was calculated from measured weight and stature (kg/m2) . Results: Total percent body fat was significantly higher in the paraplegia group (31.4%±1.2%; mean±SE) than in the tetraplegia and CTRL groups (25.7%±2.7% and 22.9%±1.1 %, respectively). This change in percent total body fat was associated with a reduction of lean tissue mass in the paraplegia (37.6±1.1 kg; mean±SE) and tetraplegia (32.8±2.5 kg) subjects as compared to the CTRL group (46.2±1.0 kg; P<0.001 ). Total fat mass was significantly greater in the paraplegia group (19.3±1.3 kg) than the CTRL and tetraplegia groups (14.9±1.2 kg and 11.7±3.0 kg, respectively). Regional measurements revealed thatthe greatest reduction of lean tissue mass in the SCI subjects occurred in the lower extremities, followed by the trunk. As a result of these changes in body composition, the optimal BMI for classifying obesity (trunk fat percen>0 in males and>35 in females) in subjects with SCI was 19 kg/m2 as compared to 25 kg/m2 in able–bodied subjects. Conclusions: Patients aged 10 to 21 years with SCI have significantly decreased lean tissue mass and bone mineral content, and increased fat mass. As a result, traditional BMI cutoff criteria significantly underestimate obesity in this population. New clinically applicable criteria to define obesity should be established for SCI children and adolescents with SCI.
Who buys whom: information environments and organizational boundary spanning through acquisitions

Companies extend their boundaries through acquisitions to new industries, product lines, technologies, markets and geographic locations. Diversification research has focused predominantly on boundary extensions across industries. Using data on 167 intra-industry acquisitions in the pharmaceuticals industry between 1991 and 1996, we study boundary extension in an industry, integrating existing arguments to examine how proximity in intraindustry networks, geographic location, and technological domain influences the likelihood of acquisition. As expected, the proximity of two firms in these search contexts increases the likelihood that one will acquire the other, but the contexts are partial substitutes, proximity in one search context overcoming distance in other contexts.Thus, we find that while pharmaceutical companies are more likely to acquire technologically similar foreign companies, they are more likely to acquire technologically dissimilar alliance partners. Our results contribute to an improved understanding of who buys whom and in doing so, organizational boundary spanning through acquisitions.
Conceptual Foundations of Mao Tse-Tung's Theory of Continuous Revolution

In an article commemorating the 50th anniversary in 1967 of the October Revolution there was set forth for the first time a "summary" of what was called "Chairman Mao Tse-tung's theory of continuing the revolution under the dictatorship of the proletariat. "' This summary consisted of a list of six points under which were grouped a series of quotations from Mao's writings. References to the theory of continuous revolution appeared in the press sporadically thereafter, and culminated in the publication two years later of an expanded version of the summary under the title, "Chairman Mao on Continuing the Revolution Under the Dictatorship of the Proletariat. "2
To What Extent Do Third Parties Influence Business Compliance?

Regulatory scholars have increasingly observed that it is not only public regulatory agencies and official enforcement action that motivate and enforce businesses' compliance with the law; in many situations, certain third parties may have greater capacity and power to motivate and enforce compliance with the law than do official regulatory agencies. This paper examines the extent to which businesses' worries about, and perceptions of pressure from, various third parties influence their internal compliance management activities and moral commitment in relation to complying with the objectives of competition and consumer protection law. Using data from a survey of 999 large Australian businesses, we find that businesses worry a lot about the reactions of a range of third parties including customers, shareholders, employees, and business partners to non-compliance. We find little evidence that these worries have much impact on what businesses actually do. However, perceptions of risk of complaints do influence what they do.
Cardiac growth factors in human hypertrophy. Relations with myocardial contractility and wall stress.

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether and which cardiac growth factors are involved in human hypertrophy, whether growth factor synthesis is influenced by overload type and/or by the adequacy of the hypertrophy, and the relationships between cardiac growth factor formation and ventricular function. Cardiac growth factor formation was assessed by measuring aorta-coronary sinus concentration gradient in patients with isolated aortic stenosis (n=26) or regurgitation (n=15) and controls (n=12). Gene expression and cellular localization was investigated in ventricular biopsies using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and in situ hybridization. Cardiac hypertrophy with end-systolic wall stress <90 kdyne/cm2 was associated with a selective increased formation of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I in aortic regurgitation and of IGF-I and endothelin (ET)-1 in aortic stenosis. mRNA levels for IGF-I and preproET-1 were elevated and mainly expressed in cardiomyocytes. At stepwise analysis, IGF-I formation was correlated to the mean velocity of circumferential fiber shortening (r=0.86, P<0.001) and ET-1 formation to relative wall thickness (r=0.82, P<0. 001). When end-systolic wall stress was >90 kdyne/cm2, IGF-I and ET-1 synthesis by cardiomyocytes was no longer detectable, and only angiotensin (Ang) II was generated, regardless of the type of overload. The mRNA level for angiotensinogen was high, and the mRNA was exclusively expressed in the interstitial cells. Ang II formation was positively correlated to end-systolic stress (r=0.89, P<0.001) and end-diastolic stress (r=0.84, P<0.001). Multivariate stepwise analysis selected end-systolic stress as the most predictive variable and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure as the independent variable for Ang II formation (r=0.93, P<0.001). In conclusion, the present results indicate that the course of human left ventricular hypertrophy is characterized by the participation of different cardiac growth factors that are selectively related both to the type of hemodynamic overload and to ventricular function.
20 Myths about Long-Short

Popular conceptions of long–short investing are distorted by a number of myths, many of which appear to result from viewing long–short from a conventional investment perspective. Long–short portfolios differ fundamentally from long-only portfolios in construction, in the measurement of their risk and return, and in their implementation costs. Furthermore, long–short portfolios allow greater flexibility in security selection, asset allocation, and overall plan structure.
Impact of Land Use Regulations: Evidence from India’s Cities:

Indiaâ€™s cities are characterised by strong land use controls, but their impacts on city growth and the urban poor have drawn little attention. This paper deals with strong land use regulations prevalent in Indiaâ€™s cities, which have negative impacts on urban form, the consumption of floor space and affordable housing. The impact of land use controls, such as floor area ratio and urban land ceiling, on suburbanisation in India is studied using standard econometric techniques. It is found that population suburbanises in response to a relaxation of floor area ratio norms in the suburbs. However, land use controls have no impact on the suburbanisation of jobs in Indiaâ€™s cities. The paper concludes by summarising policy implications of the research.
Managerial Incentives in Nonprofit Organizations: Evidence from Hospitals*

This paper examines the incentives of chief executive officers (CEOs) in a large sample of nonprofit hospitals. The evidence indicates that both turnover and compensation of these CEOs are significantly related to financial performance (return on assets). We find no evidence that nonprofit hospitals provide explicit incentives for their CEOs to focus on altruistic activities. The turnover/performance relation appears stronger in nonprofit hospitals than in for‐profit hospitals and other for‐profit corporations (our data do not allow us to compare compensation incentives). Past research suggests that there is little distinction between the outputs and behaviors of private nonprofit and for‐profit hospitals. Consistent with these findings, our study suggests that managers face incentives to concentrate on financial performance in both types of organizations.
MILITARY EXPENDITURES AND INEQUALITY IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA: A PANEL ANALYSIS

Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) countries have been characterized by the preponderant role of their military forces in economic matters, as demonstrated by the high levels of military spending and the growing industrial complex. While extensive research examines the relationship between military expenditure and economic growth, little attention has been paid to the effect of military expenditure on economic inequality. Studying inequality in MENA countries provides an opportunity to assess factors that shape the countries’ level of economic well-being, which has greater public policy implications in terms of how society allocates its scarce resources among competing needs. This paper examines two important issues. In the first part of the paper, we examine the relationship between military spending and inequality in MENA countries using a panel regression for country-level observations over the period 1987–2005. The empirical results indicate that military spending has a strong and negative effect on inequality. Contrary to the conventional wisdom, in MENA countries a systematic increase in military spending could reduce the level of inequality. In the second part of this paper, we examine the demand for military expenditure; we find that factors such as inequality level and per capita income negatively affect military expenditure.
Ghrelin-mediated inhibition of the TSH-stimulated function of differentiated human thyrocytes ex vivo

Ghrelin is a peptide hormone produced mainly in the gastrointestinal tract known to regulate several physiological functions including gut motility, adipose tissue accumulation and hunger sensation leading to increased bodyweight. Studies have found a correlation between the plasma levels of thyroid hormones and ghrelin, but an effect of ghrelin on the human thyroid has never been investigated even though ghrelin receptors are present in the thyroid. The present study shows a ghrelin-induced decrease in the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)-induced production of thyroglobulin and mRNA expression of thyroperoxidase in a primary culture of human thyroid cells obtained from paranodular tissue. Accordingly, a trend was noted for an inhibition of TSH-stimulated expression of the sodium-iodine symporter and the TSH-receptor. Thus, this study suggests an effect of ghrelin on human thyrocytes and thereby emphasizes the relevance of examining whether ghrelin also influences the metabolic homeostasis through altered thyroid hormone production.
An action research approach: the actualisation of the three statutory tasks: education, research and development, and regional development

Higher education institutions are traditionally seen as producers of new scientific and practical knowledge and technology. However, a repositioning is taking place due to cooperation in value networks, co-created innovations, the contributions of lead innovations and regional development that has an impact on social and global improvement. Currently, new forms of action, integration and collaboration are required for the creation of innovation in services, technology, the economy and society. This study presents the two action research cycles that address regional development within Laurea University of Applied Sciences. Both cycles include an evaluation by the Finnish Higher Education Evaluation Council. The aim of the actualisation is to continuously integrate the three statutory tasks of universities of applied sciences: education, research and development, and regional development.
Paying for grades: Impact of merit‐based financial aid on educational quality

In contrast to education reform efforts that target teachers and schools, merit-based financial aid for college increases the incentives for high school students and their families to directly affect the quality of education by investing more time and effort in schoolwork. Large-scale merit-based aid programs, such as Georgia's HOPE Scholarship, seek to improve education by encouraging students to meet higher standards, in this case by obtaining a 3.0 grade point average in high school and college. Since the HOPE program began in 1993, the number of high school graduates qualifying for the aid has steadily increased to more than 38,000 graduates in the class of 1998, or 59.5 percent of the graduating class. At the same time, the relationship between grades and achievement has remained consistent or, in some cases, improved since HOPE began. In fact, African-American males and females with a 3.1 high school core course grade point average have increased their average Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) scores by more than 20 points. This indicates that merit-based aid has improved the quality of K-12 education in Georgia and reduced racial performance disparities by motivating students and their families to commit greater effort to schooling. © 2002 by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management.
Creative Dance Improves Physical Fitness and Life Satisfaction in Older Women

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of creative dance on physical fitness and life satisfaction in older women. Methods: A total of 57 women (65–80 years old) were randomized to either an experimental group or a control group. The experimental group participated in a supervised creative dance program for 24 weeks. Physical fitness (strength, aerobic endurance, flexibility, motor ability/dynamic balance, and body composition) and life satisfaction were assessed pre- and posttreatment (at 12 and 24 weeks) by the Senior Fitness Test and the Life Satisfaction scale, respectively. Results: After the intervention, the experimental group had better physical fitness and life satisfaction when compared with the control group. Conclusion: Creative dance has a positive effect in different dimensions of functioning and has the potential to contribute to healthy aging. This could be related to the integrated mobilization of physical, cognitive, and social skills promoted by creative dance.
Employment Growth in Knowledge-Intensive Business Services in Great Britain during the 1990s — Variations at the Regional and Sub-Regional Level

This paper examines the changing geography of employment in Knowledge-Intensive Business Services (KIBS) in Britain. KIBS represent an important element of the so-called ‘knowledge economy’ and have been amongst the fastest growing employment sectors in advanced economies in recent years. However, during the 1990s in Britain, this employment growth was very unevenly distributed, both between regions and at the sub-regional level. The evidence presented in the paper suggests that KIBS growth in the 1990s was strongest in London and in a group of inter-linked local economies stretching in a broad arc to the north, west and south of the capital within the ‘Greater South East’ region. Examples of strong KIBS sector growth outside this region tend to be more isolated. There is little evidence of significant decentralisation of KIBS employment from the largest cities to smaller settlements.