Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lines, boundaries and ontologies in planning: addressing wildlife and landscape

This paper examines issues in the implementation of ecological networks in the United Kingdom (UK). These structures are intended to achieve wildlife conservation goals across the ‘wider countryside’ without a focus solely upon areas designated for their conservation value. The main issue in implementation is how stakeholders will engage with the lack of legally defined boundaries in these new structures. For the new structures to succeed, it is necessary that there should be a clear ontology—an understanding, a common and agreed structure of information in which purpose, objects, concepts and the relationships between stakeholders are firmly defined. For wildlife planning in the UK, the ontology effective since 1947 has placed designated areas of land and/or water at the heart of wildlife and conservation planning (Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), 2001), and conservation has been characterised by the distinction between protected and unprotected places. Such a distinction survives through legislative accumulation and bureaucratic structures, and by an ingrained acceptance by both landowners and naturalists (Adams, 1996). In the miasma of designations, the parties to the ‘1947 ontology’ have largely failed to agree on anything but the significance of the boundaries that demarcate the designated areas, even though these often reflect “accidents of land tenure and the financial circumstances of conservation organisations, irrelevant to natural processes and environmental problems” (Adams, 1996, p. 116). Numerous criticisms have been made of the whole concept of ‘protected area’ (see, for example, Bishop et al., 1995) and there are many instances where the agreed designation boundary has failed to achieve its purpose, for example in the damaging of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) (Adams, 1996; Shoard, 1997). Nevertheless, nature conservation has remained “largely confined to ghettos in SSSIs and other sites bearing a growing number of other impressive acronyms” (Perraton, 1999, p. 1). It is now possible to think about reversing this ghettoisation, and to look to create ‘joined-up’ nature: “conservation should be about looking forwards, not
The Impact of Privatization on Firm Performance in a Transition Economy

The Vietnamese privatization programme, launched in 1992, differs from the usual Western privatization programmes in terms of the residual percentage of shares owned by the state and the portion of shares owned by insiders. This begs the question whether these differences influence the effects of the programme on firm performance. This study measures the impact of privatization on firm performance in Vietnam by comparing the pre- and post-privatization financial and operating performance of 121 former state-owned enterprises (SOEs). We find significant increases in profitability, sales revenues, efficiency and employee income. Results of applying the 'difference-in-difference' (DID) method, wherein a control group of firms is used to pick up the influence of other determinants of firm performance, suggest that the performance improvements may indeed be associated with equitization. Regression analyses reveal that firm size, residual state ownership, corporate governance and stock market listing are key determinants of performance improvements. Copyright (c) The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, 2006.
The European Commission and EUA Prices: A High-Frequency Analysis of the EC's Decisions on Second NAPs

This paper empirically examines price formation in the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS). Our analysis shows that unexpected allocations of European Union Allowances (EUAs) lead to pronounced price reactions of the expected signs. Moreover, we find evidence that the adjustment of EUA prices to the European Commission’s decisions on second National Allocation Plans (NAPs) is not instantaneous, but takes up to six hours after the decision announcement.
Aripiprazole Facilitates Extinction of Conditioned Fear in Adolescent Rats

Anxiety disorders are the most common type of mental disorder during adolescence, which is at least partly due to the resistance to extinction exhibited at this age. The dopaminergic system is known to be dysregulated during adolescence; therefore, we aimed to facilitate extinction in adolescent rats using the dopamine receptor 2 partial agonist aripiprazole (Abilify™), and examine the behavioral and neural outcomes. Adolescent rats were conditioned to fear a tone. The next day, rats received extinction 30 min after a systemic injection of either 5 mg/kg aripiprazole or vehicle, and then were tested the following day. For the immunohistochemistry experiment, naïve and “no extinction” conditions were added and rats were perfused either on the extinction day or test day. To assess the activation of neurons receiving dopaminergic input, c-Fos, and dopamine- and cAMP-regulated neuronal phosphoprotein (DARPP-32) labeled neurons were quantified in the amygdala and the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Systemic treatment with aripiprazole at the time of extinction significantly reduced freezing at test the next day. This effect was not observed in rats that were fear conditioned but did not receive any extinction. Aripiprazole's facilitation of extinction was accompanied by increased activation of neurons in the mPFC. Taken together, aripiprazole represents a novel pharmacological adjunct to exposure therapy worthy of further examination. The effect of aripiprazole is related to enhanced activation of mPFC neurons receiving dopaminergic innervation.
The process of planning for sustainable development: dimensions, comparisons, and insights

Sustainable development has been praised as an important new planning paradigm. However, there has been little evaluation of the impact of the concept on the planning process. The purpose of this article is to provide an assessment of the key dimensions of planning for sustainable development, and to use these dimensions in a comparative assessment between communities in the USA that integrated sustainable development into their local comprehensive plan and communities that did not. Results of the analysis indicate limited impact of the concept on the planning process, though process dimensions provide measures for tracking future influence.
Firm profitability, regional unemployment and human capital in wage determination

This paper presents an analysis of wage formation in the Norwegian private sector using data for individual workers matched with firm level information and regional unemployment. A key issue is to test whether or not firm specific variables affect individual wages after controlling for individual specific factors and working conditions. The results imply positive effects of firm specific profitability and firm size. The elasticity of wages with respect to value added per worker and firm size is 5% and 3.3%, respectively. Empirical evidence of a downward sloping regional wage curve is also reported, while there is no support of the hypothesis of compensating wage differentials. Since data for three levels of aggregation are used, the OLS estimates of the standard errors are downward biased. Therefore, results using a random effects model are also reported, taking the multi-level structure of the data into account.
Was it worth it? An empirical analysis of over-education among Ph.D. recipients in Italy

This paper aims to provide an empirical examination of factors associated with overeducation among Ph.D. graduates in Italy. Our investigation is based on recently released data collected by the Italian National Institute of Statistics by means of interviews with a large sample of Ph.D. recipients, carried out a few years after they obtained their Ph.D. degree. We measured the mismatch between their current job and previous Ph.D. studies using two direct subjective evaluations of over-education, which distinguish between the usefulness of the Ph.D. title to get the current job position and to perform the current work activities. Even if the incidence of over-education varies according to the measurement applied, we found that it is highly widespread among Ph.D. recipients. Our econometric analyses are aimed at identifying factors associated with over-education and are based on the standard probit model and the bivariate probit model with sample selection which allows to control for self selection into employment. Our results show that over-education is significantly correlated with: i) a number of Ph-D. related variables, such as the scientific field of study, having attended courses or visiting periods abroad; ii) some job-related characteristics, such as working in the academia or being mainly involved in research related activities; iii) the channel of access to the job; iv) residential location. This paper contributes to the literature focusing on job-education mismatch by providing, to the best of our knowledge, the first empirical analysis of over-education among Ph.D. recipients in Italy; moreover, it provides some useful insights to evaluate the professional doctoral graduates in Italy.
ZZ/ZW sex chromosome system in an undescribed species of the genus Apareiodon (Characiformes, Parodontidae)

The chromosomes of an undescribed species of the genus Apareiodon (Characiformes, Parodontidae) from the Verde River, a headwater affluent of the Tibagi River (Paraná State, Brazil), were investigated using conventional Giemsa and Ag stainings, C-banding, CMA3 fluorescence and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) using 18S and 5S rDNA probes. The diploid chromosome number was 2n = 54, with the karyotype composed of 48 meta/submetacentric and six subtelocentric chromosomes in males, and 47 meta/submetacentric + seven subtelocentric chromosomes in females. The difference is hypothesized to be due to a ZZ/ZW heteromorphic sex chromosome system, a cytotaxonomic characteristic previously observed only in some species of the genus Parodon (family Parodontidae). The presence of similar and/or identical heteromorphic sex chromosome systems might suggest that species of the genera Parodon and Apareiodon bearing ZZ/ZW heteromorphic sex chromosomes likely constitute a monophyletic group, a hypothesis to be tested by a robust phylogeny of the family.
Creating a Warm Place Where Children Can Blossom

This paper addresses the themes of resilience, rights and responsibilities, to explore how community life, professional practice and social policy can be more attuned to the needs of vulnerable children. It considers the parts children, families, communities, professionals, government and the wider public can play in creating conditions under which children can thrive. It argues that our approach must be guided not only by an application of knowledge, but also by a sense of hope.
Housebuilder Networks and Residential Land Markets

The commercial prospects of speculative housebuilders depend crucially on successful land acquisitions. This paper presents new evidence revealing the importance housebuilders attach to networks with other important actors in securing future land supplies. Since networks depend on trust, reputation and voluntary collaboration, they indicate the importance of social relations within the industry. The paper argues that UK speculative housebuilders rely more on networks than markets to source land and that they structure those networks to enhance their own competitive positions. Reflecting Granovetter’s belief in the strength of weak ties, the paper emphasises the breadth not depth of housebuilder networks and contends that social relations within the industry are primarily dependent on pragmatic considerations of mutual self-interest.
Good governance, development theory, and aid policy: Risks and challenges of e-government in Jordan

Poor governance is among the most important causes of state failure and underdevelopment. Hence innovations and reforms in the governmental and bureaucratic apparatus are an important prerequisite for development. E-government policy initiatives have gained international validity by the donor community as a catalyst for such reforms. To be sure, the characteristics of the state model implicit in e-government applications and the economics of transition from a backward state organization to e-government are equally relevant for the success of the initiative. This study focuses on the analysis and early design of e-government solutions in a less-developed country: Jordan. It shows that implementing a general standardized ICT portfolio to support good governance proves to be a difficult task and that there are a number of risks emerging from development aid policies aimed at good governance. The paper provides suggestive evidence that e-government and the view of the minimal state put forward by international development agencies might not be conducive to rapid late development. The New Institutional Economics provides an illuminating framework for this purpose. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Factors Explaining Students' Inclination towards Entrepreneurship: Empirical Study of Ethiopian University Students

This study investigates the inclination towards entrepreneurship among university students in Ethiopia. Specifically, it aims to examine the relationship between entrepreneurship education and inclination towards entrepreneurship. The influence of demographic characteristics and family business background on university students’ inclination towards entrepreneurship is also being examined. An empirical test carried out on the data gathered from questionnaires demonstrates that two entrepreneurship education variables are found to have statistically significant relationship on the inclination towards entrepreneurship. Two demographic variables and a family business background variable have an effect on university students’ inclination towards entrepreneurship. Finally, based on the findings, the implications of the study have been
Preference Erosion Effects of Multilateral and Regional Trade Liberalisation: Simulating the EU's Trade Agreements with Mediterranean Countries

Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs) have widely spread in recent years. The World Trade Organisation (WTO) notes that 546 RTAs were notified by January 2013, whereas only 380 were notified by 2007. RTAs have been considered as a stumbling block for the slow progress of the WTO Doha Round, and multilateral liberalisation is said to cause erosion of preferences enjoyed under bilateralism. That is, third country exporters that benefit from multilateral trade liberalization increase their exports, whereas the preferential suppliers in bilateral trade agreements face a decrease of their exports, given the substitutability between export products from different countries. Preference erosion also occurs when countries take up new bilateral trade agreements that can result in “old” trade partner countries losing their preferential treatment. The European Union (EU) has granted preferential market access to a large number of countries and is by far the main trading partner of its neighbouring countries, including Mediterranean partner countries (MED countries). Following the Association Agreements with the EU, there have been efforts of enhanced engagement and co-operation, especially after the Arab spring developments, but negotiations for so called free and comprehensive trade agreements (DCFTAs) are also under way with other partner countries. The objective of this paper is to look into possible preference erosion effects from the perspective of MED countries by depicting recent EU trade agreements as well as multilateral trade liberalisation in a simulation analysis. We apply the MAGNET (Modular Applied General Equilibrium Tool) model that builds upon the GTAP (Global Trade Analysis Project) model in a recursive dynamic general equilibrium framework, with a reference scenario that reflects the economic and population growth paths via most recent projections taken from the literature.
Education and second birth rates in Denmark 1981-1994

A high educational attainment is shown to have a positive effect on second birth rates for Danish one-child mothers during the period 1981-94. We examine whether a time-squeeze is a possible explanation: due to the longer enrolment in the educational system, highly educated women have less time at their disposal in order to get the desired number of children. Also, we examine to what extent the partner's education can explain some of the positive effect. We find no evidence that the positive effect of education is due to either a time-squeeze nor to a partner effect.
Institutions and Parameter Heterogeneity

The role of institutions has taken center stage in the empirical growth literature recently, with many innovative approaches and suggestive results. Most of the previous literature has focused on the direct correlation between institutions and growth or its determinants. In this paper, I investigate the indirect effect that institutions may have on growth through parameter heterogeneity. In particular, the quality of a country's institutions could affect the relationship between growth and its other determinants, such as human and physical capital accumulation, geography, and government policies. After allowing for several types of nonlinearities, the results are generally supportive of Glaeser, La Porta, and Lopez-de-Silanes (2004) in that most of their preferred measures of institutions are not correlated with growth. However, there is some evidence that institutions do matter for policy variables, particularly those associated with trade policy.
Phylogenetic tree‐based epidemiological analysis of hepatitis C virus transmission in a region of Japan with a high prevalence of infection

Local clustering of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been demonstrated in various regions in Japan. HCV genotypes have now been compared between infected individuals from districts of Saga prefecture with either a high (H district) or low (L district) prevalence of HCV‐seropositivity. The prevalence of HCV genotype 1b was significantly higher (P<0.001) in the H district (45/50; 90%) than in the L district (19/36; 52.8%). A phylogenetic tree was constructed based on the genomic sequences of viral isolates from 20 patients infected with genotype 1b in the H district. Almost all these HCV strains clustered in the same regions of the tree. With regard to risk factors for HCV transmission, the percentage of patients with a history of surgery was significantly higher in the H district than in the L district (58 versus 33.3%; P<0.05). Of 20 patients infected with similar strains of HCV in the H district, 16 (80%) had at least one parenteral risk factor associated with medical care. These results indicate an increased transmission of similar strains of HCV in the H district as a result of nosocomial infection.
Occupational physical activities and osteoarthritis of the knee.

OBJECTIVE To assess the risk of knee osteoarthritis (OA) associated with kneeling, squatting, and other occupational activities. METHODS We compared 518 patients who were listed for surgical treatment of knee OA and an equal number of control subjects from the same communities who were matched for sex and age. Histories of knee injury and occupational activities were ascertained at interview, height and weight were measured, and the hands were examined for Heberden's nodes. Data were analyzed by conditional logistic regression. RESULTS After adjustment for body mass index (BMI), history of knee injury, and the presence of Heberden's nodes, risk was elevated in subjects who reported prolonged kneeling or squatting (odds ratio [OR] 1.9; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.3-2.8), walking >2 miles/day (OR 1.9; 95% CI 1.4-2.8), and regularly lifting weights of at least 25 kg (OR 1.7; 95% CI 1.2-2.6) in the course of their work. The risks associated with kneeling and squatting were higher in subjects who also reported occupational lifting, and appeared to interact multiplicatively with the risk conferred by obesity. People with a BMI of > or =30 kg/m2 whose work had entailed prolonged kneeling or squatting had an OR of 14.7 (95% CI 7.2-30.2), compared with subjects with a BMI <25 kg/m2 who were not exposed to occupational kneeling or squatting. CONCLUSION There is now strong evidence for an occupational hazard of knee OA resulting from prolonged kneeling and squatting. One approach to reducing this risk may lie in the avoidance of obesity in people who perform this sort of work.
Preparing to Lead an Effective Classroom: The Role of Teacher Training and Professional Development Programs.

The education research community has spent years debating the value of teacher education and professional development programs and their impact on teaching effectiveness and student achievement. These debates will no doubt intensify as Congress turns its attention this year to reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. School reformers and policy analysts are often at odds over the best means to identify talented teachers and improve teaching effectiveness. Debates rage among analysts as well as researchers over the extent to which teachers are prepared before they enter teaching and what counts in order for a new recruit to be deemed qualified and licensed to teach.
Preliminary Research Findings From a Study of the Sociocultural Effects of Tourism in Haines, Alaska

Cerveny, Lee K. 2004. Preliminary research findings from a study of the sociocultural effects of tourism in Haines, Alaska. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-612. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 144 p. This report examines the growth and development of the tourism industry in Haines, Alaska, and its effects on community life and land use. It also describes the development of cruise-based tourism and its relation to shifts in local social and economic structures and patterns of land use, especially local recreation use trends. A multisited ethnographic approach was used featuring participant observation and in-depth interviews with local residents, cruise line industry personnel, and visitors to southeast Alaska. Results show that tourism brings both positive and negative changes to Alaska communities. Data from this report can assist Forest Service planners to identify factors involved in the relation between tourism growth and community well-being. It also may assist small southeast Alaska communities in decisionmaking related to tourism development.
On intraday risk premia

This article presents a framework for analyzing the dynamic effects of anticipated large demand pressures on asset risk premia. The authors show that large institutions who can time their entry into the market will trade either at the open or during periods of unusual demand pressures. They show that if these institutions do enter later in the day, they trade in the same direction as institutions which provide liquidity continuously; institutions therefore appear to exhibit 'herding' behavior. The authors also explore how changing the uncertainty of demand pressures late in the day affects trading costs throughout the day. Copyright 1995 by American Finance Association.