Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Be creative but not so much. Decreasing benefits of creativity in clustered firms

Several previous studies have investigated creativity as an enhancer of innovation, their results showing that there is a positive relationship between the organizational creative climate and innovation. However, no research has been conducted on whether there is a saturation point beyond which an increase in creativity makes innovation performance decrease. In this article, we question the traditional positive relationship between creativity and innovation, and suggest that such a relationship is not linear, but has instead an inverted U-shape due to a saturation effect. We have developed a conceptual model to explain innovation performance considering creativity and network centrality, and it has been tested in the ceramic industrial cluster in Spain. Empirical findings support the inverted U-shaped relationship between creativity and innovation. The implications of these results in relation to creativity and innovation theory and practices are discussed.
Mobilization Against the Left? Partisan Consequences of Voter Turnout in the Post-Communist Context

Abstract Does higher turnout support left-wing parties, as many previous studies assume? Theoretical discussions thus far have been relatively inconclusive. This study proposes three different explanatory mechanisms for examining an aggregate-level relationship between turnout and electoral support for political parties in the post-communist milieu. The conventional hypothesis, based on the assumptions of a successful re-stratification of society and the relevance of class voting, states that higher turnout benefits the left. The second hypothesis is derived from the Michigan model of party identification. In this case, political parties with less loyal electorates would be expected to profit from higher rates of electoral participation. However, this article makes the case for a third possible explanation, termed simply “mobilization against the left,” which reverses the conventional hypothesis. The idea is that the more people come to the polls, the stronger the post-communist right-wing parties will be. This analysis includes two Czech regions that can be said to be farthest away from each other in terms of their socioeconomic and political characteristics. Having analyzed the 2010 Czech parliamentary election results across 1444 electoral districts in two regions, Central Bohemia and Moravia-Silesia, we conclude that there is certain empirical evidence that supports the proposed explanatory mechanism regarding the relationship between voter turnout and share of votes for political parties.
Understanding the Innovation Impacts of Public Procurement

Public procurement accounts for a significant proportion of overall demand for goods and services and is increasingly seen as an attractive and feasible instrument for furthering the goals of innovation policy. However, public procurement is already expected to address a wide range of social goals. Much of the current debate about harnessing procurement to promote innovation draws upon a limited set of examples which are not representative of the bulk of public purchasing and tend to downplay diversity in procurement practices and in the types of goods and services procured. They also downplay diversity in the nature of innovations and in the range of ways that procurement can impact upon innovation. A one-size-fits-all model is unlikely to work across all procurement contexts yet all types of public procurement are likely to have impacts upon innovation by shaping the demand environment in which suppliers innovate and compete. We propose a framework and typology based on the nature of the goods and services procured in order to explore the potential impacts upon markets and innovation of each. We conclude that public purchasing should first and foremost remain concerned with proximate public policy goals and that, rather than trying to co-opt public procurement into the innovation policy toolbox, policy-makers should focus on promoting innovation-friendly practices across all types of procurement at all levels of governance.
Do Firms Believe in Interest Rate Parity?

Using a broad sample of international corporate bond offerings, we provide evidence that corporate borrowers make opportunistic currency choices, in that they denominate the currency of their bonds in a manner that is inconsistent with a belief in either covered or uncovered interest rate parity. Using firm-level tests, we identify a number of characteristics of firms that engage in opportunistic behavior. We observe that large issuers located in developed markets with investment-grade ratings and low cash flow characterize those firms that are responsive to covered borrowing rate differences across currencies. Corporate responsiveness to uncovered borrowing rate differences appears more general. We observe that although the gains firms achieve through opportunistic currency denomination are economically significant, the yield differential tends to systematically decline after issuance. This finding suggests that opportunistic issuance by corporations may be a primary mechanism for driving covered interest yields toward parity. Copyright 2010, Oxford University Press.
Anoxic brain injury: Clinical patterns and functional outcomes. A study of 93 cases

Background: Anoxic brain injury (ABI) is a syndrome of diverse aetiology, most case series published to date being confined to ABI of a single aetiology or to a limited numbers of patients. Methods: This study performed a retrospective analysis on all patients admitted for rehabilitation following ABI over a 14-year period. It identified 93 cases and presents a summary of their clinical patterns and functional and psychometric outcome measures. In addition a database involving 584 patients admitted for rehabilitation following traumatic brain injury (TBI) during the same time interval was used to compare demographic, functional and cognitive patterns. Conclusions: Relative to TBI, there was a peak frequency of ABI in males aged 60 years and in females in their late 20s. ABI patients were referred later for rehabilitation, had similar lengths of stay, but made slower progress, with poorer outcomes and were more likely to be transferred to residential care. Those with ABI had more severe impairments on cognitive assessment relative to those with TBI, being particularly susceptible to impairments in memory, especially visual memory or short-term memory. Neurological impairments of speech and language were present in 72 patients; visual field loss in eight and cortical blindness in 10; six suffered myoclonus and 10 late epilepsy.
Laparoscopic tubal anastomosis: reversal of sterilization

A case of laparoscopic reversal of tubal sterilization is reported. The patient was a 38 year old woman sterilized by bipolar diathermia two years earlier. Refertilization was performed by laparoscopic end to end anastomosis of one tube. Postoperatively. the patient had one menstruation and then achieved an intrauterine pregnancy. The laparoscopic method of refertilization saves expensive hospitalization costs.
Summer Temperature and Spatial Variability of all-Cause Mortality in Surat City, India

Background: Ample information is available on extreme heat associated mortality for few Indian cities, but scant literature is available on effect of temperature on spatial variability of all-cause mortality for coastal cities. Objective: To assess the effect of daily maximum temperature, relative humidity and heat index on spatial variability of all-cause mortality for summer months (March to May) from 2014 to 2015 for the urban population of Surat (coastal) city. Materials and Methods: Retrospective analysis of the all-cause mortality data with temperature and humidity was performed on a total of 9,237 deaths for 184 summer days (2014-2015). Climatic and all-cause mortality data were obtained through Tutiempo website and Surat Municipal Corporation respectively. Bivariate analysis performed through SPSS. Observations: Mean daily mortality was estimated at 50.2 ± 8.5 for the study period with a rise of 20% all-cause mortality at temperature ≥ 40°C and rise of 10% deaths per day during extreme danger level (HI: > 54°C) days. Spatial (Zone wise) analysis revealed rise of 61% all-cause mortality for Southeast and 30% for East zones at temperature ≥ 40°C. Conclusions: All-cause mortality increased on high summer temperature days. Presence of spatial variation in all-cause mortality provided the evidence for high risk zones. Findings may be helpful in designing the interventions at micro level.
IT Employee Job Satisfaction in the Public Sector

Abstract Survey questionnaires were sent to state government IT employees in the United States to analyze how job characteristics, work environment, pay satisfaction, and advancement opportunities influence IT employee job satisfaction. The study results showed that job clarity, effective communications with management, a participatory management approach, organizational support of career development, opportunities for advancement, and family-friendly policies are all significant variables affecting the job satisfaction of IT employees. The effect of pay satisfaction on IT employee job satisfaction was not significant. This study also found gender differences in factors affecting IT employee job satisfaction. Job clarity was found to have a positive effect on male IT employees'; job satisfaction, but was not significant for female IT employees. Among female IT employees, available family-friendly policies were found to have a positive effect on job satisfaction but it showed no significant effect on job satisfaction among male IT employees.
Speech Perception with Cochlear Implants as Measured Using a Roving-Level Adaptive Test Method

Aims: This paper uses a new method of speech testing where the hearing aid or cochlear implant (CI) users are tested in a more realistic listening situation. Methods: Groups of 11 subjects matched for performance with 5 different CI systems, for a total of 55 subjects, were tested with an adaptive test regime where the presentation level of the speech signal roved by ±10 or ±15 dB. Results: Speech reception thresholds varied widely between –4.8 and 17.3 dB with the ±15 dB roving condition being more difficult than the ±10 dB roving condition. We also found significant differences in speech reception threshold between groups using different devices. Conclusion: The test method used in our study, which attempts to test CI users in a more realistic listening situation, is sensitive to the effects of various subject-specific and technical parameters on everyday speech perception with CIs.
Grape Seed Extract Activates Th1 Cells In Vitro

ABSTRACT Although flavonoids manifest a diverse range of biological activities, including antitumor and antiviral effects, the molecular mechanisms underlying these activities await elucidation. We hypothesize that the flavonoid constituents of a proprietary grape seed extract (GSE) that contains procyandins exert significant antiviral and antitumor effects, by inducing production of the Th1-derived cytokine gamma interferon (IFN-γ) by peripheral blood mononuclear cells) from healthy donors. Our results show that GSE significantly induced the transcription of IFN-γ mRNA as demonstrated by reverse transcription-PCR but had no effect on the Th2-derived cytokine interleukin-6. The enhancing effect of GSE on IFN-γ expression was further supported by a concomitant increase in the number of cells with intracytoplasmic IFN-γ as well as the synthesis and secretion of IFN-γ. Our results demonstrate that the potentially beneficial immunostimulatory effects of GSE may be mediated through the induction of IFN-γ.
Influence of cryopreservation and mechanical stimulation on equine Autologous Conditioned Plasma (ACP®)

Summary Objective: To determine the influence of cryopreservation at two different temperatures on platelet concentration, growth factor (GF) levels and platelet activation parameters in equine ACP®; moreover, to determine if adding mechanical ACP® stimulation to freeze-thaw activation amplifies GF release from platelets. Material and methods: Firstly, blood from five horses was used to prepare ACP®. Platelet, platelet derived growth factor BB (PDGF-BB) and transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) concentrations as well as mean platelet volume (MPV) and mean platelet component (MPC) were determined in fresh and corresponding ACP® samples after 2 months cryopreservation at –20 °C and –80 °C, respectively. Secondly, ACP® was prepared from blood of nine horses. Half of ACP® was activated using one freeze-thaw-cycle at –20 °C, whereas the rest was first vortexed. Their PDGF-BB and TGF-β1 concentrations were subsequently determined. Results: Platelet concentration significantly decreased after –80 °C cryopreservation. PDGF-BB level augmented significantly after both storage methods, whereas TGF-β1 concentration was not significantly altered. MPV significantly increased after –20 °C cryopreservation. Both storage regimens induced a significant MPC decrease. No significant differences in GF concentrations between the vortexed and nonvortexed samples were detected. Discussion: Both cryopreservation methods induced platelet activation, but storage at –80 °C apparently harmed the platelets without generating higher GF release than –20 °C. The mechanical stimulation process could not enhance GF release in subsequently frozen-thawed ACP®. Conclusion and clinical relevance: Storage of ACP® at –20 °C could be useful in equine practice, but, before this procedure can be recommended, further qualitative tests are needed. The mechanical stimulation technique should be adjusted in order to increase platelet activation.
Testing the capacity within an extended theory of planned behaviour to reduce the commission of driving violations

The capacity within an extended theory of planned behaviour (TPB) to change young drivers’ intentions and reduce their commission of driving violations was tested using regression-based statistical simulations. Participants (N = 198) completed questionnaire measures of TPB variables, plus moral norm and anticipated regret, each with respect to 11 different driving violations. One month later, subsequent behavioural performance was measured, again using self-completion questionnaires. Statistical simulations indicated substantial capacity within the extended TPB to reduce driving violations, with maximum changes to all of the cognitive predictors generating large degrees of intention and behaviour change (i.e. d > 0.80). However, the degree of intention change that was generated was greater than the degree of behaviour change, and sensitivity analyses demonstrated that behavioural interventions need to successfully change multiple cognitive variables in order to achieve meaningful reductions in driving violations. Implications of the findings for developing behaviour change interventions are discussed.
Seasonal DXA-measured body composition changes in professional male soccer players

Abstract This work investigated changes in body composition of professional soccer players attending an Italian Serie A club across the competitive season; it is original insofar as body composition was assessed at multiple time points across the season using the accurate three-compartment model provided by Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DXA). Thirty-one players (4 goalkeepers, 13 defenders, 8 midfielders, 6 forwards) underwent DXA and anthropometry at pre-, mid- and end-season. One operator measured whole body and regional body composition (fat mass, FM; fat-free soft tissue mass, FFSTM; mineral mass). Two players were excluded from analysis due to serious injury. Data were analysed with repeated measures ANOVA; factors were season time point and playing position. Results showed that whole-body FM and %FM significantly (P < 0.001) decrease at mid-season (−11.9%; −1.3%, respectively) and end-season (−8.3%; −0.8%, respectively) whereas FFSTM significantly (P < 0.001) increase at mid-season (+1.3%) and end-season (+1.5%). Limited, but significant changes took place in bone mineral content. Some regional (upper and lower limbs, trunk) differences in the pattern of body composition changes across the season were also found. Changes were similar for all playing positions. It was concluded that professional soccer players undergo changes in their FM, FFSTM, and mineral mass across the season with some regional variations, irrespective of the playing position. Changes are mostly positive at mid-season, possibly due to difference in training between the first and second phase of the season.
Tissue factor-enriched vesicles are taken up by platelets and induce platelet aggregation in the presence of factor VIIa

Summary We investigated the interactions of vesicles containing human tissue factor (TF) with platelets and evaluated responses induced by rFVIIa using standard aggregometry, ultrastructural and flow-cytometry techniques. Washed platelets were exposed to a preparation of placental human TF (pTF) or to a relipidated formulation of recombinant humanTF (rTF). Under stirring conditions, pTF induced reversible aggregation with platelets returning to their resting state after 5 minutes. This reversible response to pTF was partially inhibited by antibodies against CD62-P, but not by antithrombin agents, and was not observed with rTF. Sequential ultrastructural studies revealed uptake of both TF preparations by platelets involving traffic of vesicles through channels of the open canalicular system (OCS). Immunocytochemical studies on cryosections identified TF in the OCS, and occasionally in the alpha-granules of the platelets. These processes were faster with pTF than with rTF, but bothTF preparations accumulated in platelets at the end of incubation periods. Flow cytometry studies revealed the presence of other cellular antigens (CD62-P, CD14 and CD45) associated to the pTF. Addition of rFVIIa to washed platelets exposed to pTF or rTF, caused a thrombin dependent irreversible platelet aggregation. Our studies demonstrate that platelets possess mechanisms to capture and incorporate TF-rich vesicles. These processes are accelerated by the presence of other cellular antigens in the vesicles. Our findings may explain the hemostatic action of rFVIIa in severely hemodiluted patients, but are also relevant for the understanding of potential implications of TF-associated to platelets in the propagation of thrombus.
Why do they fight? Explaining participation in the War in Croatia

This project explains voluntary participation in the War in Croatia, using a data set of daily interval event data and interviews with Croatian war veterans. It challenges the previous findings of macro level based research on conflict and the literature’s emphasis on material incentives as the prime motive for individual participation in war. Conversely, my findings show that the biggest influence on mass participation was the escalation of violent events. Using a generalized linear model I observe significant differences in the number of violent events in each of Croatia’s 120 municipalities and the number of individuals who enlisted in the Croat armed forces. Secondly, I show that the earliest joiners belonged to Croatia’s dissident community; however, rather than observing these individuals’ grievances as the most crucial variable in their decision to participate, I show that in fact, the first fighters joined as a result of social incentives and pressures. Finally, I test the early months of the conflict and show that the fighting was stable. I then explain why the conflict remained in equilibrium by looking at disincentives local and central elites had in reestablishing peace. In the end I reveal that while material incentives were unimportant in mobilizing individuals at the mass level, war profiteering at the elite level provides us with a better understanding of why once started, the conflict was unlikely to stop.
Evidence on the Intergenerational Persistence of Residential Segregation by Race

Despite the substantial literature devoted to examining the causes of US Black-White residential segregation by race, there is little evidence on the persistence of residential segregation outcomes across generations. This paper examines the following two questions: Do households reside in neighbourhoods with racial compositions that resemble the household head's childhood neighbourhood? Do residential segregation outcomes persist across generations, controlling for household-level determinants of residential location choice? The empirical work relies on household-level data from the US Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID) matched to the racial composition of the household's census tract of residence to estimate regression models where the dependent variable is a measure of own-race residential segregation in 1980 and 1990 for each household head in the sample. The independent variables include various contemporaneous household characteristics, characteristics of each household head's parents in 1968 and the lagged 1968 neighbourhood racial composition of the household head's childhood residence. Results from several regression models suggest that households choose to reside in neighbourhoods with racial compositions that resemble the household head's childhood neighbourhood. Observable parental characteristics, particularly measures of parental interracial contact, explain much of the intergenerational persistence in segregation among African American households. Among Whites, the intergenerational persistence of residential segregation remains even in models with an extensive set of controls. Across both racial groups, the neighbourhood social ties of parents living in more integrated neighbourhoods are shown to reduce the propensity for children to choose segregated neighbourhoods upon reaching adulthood. These findings suggest that interracial contact may reduce the persistence of residential segregation over time.