Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Crowd disasters: a socio-technical systems perspective

We present a socio-technical systems framework and underlying principles to help understand a sample of crowd-related disasters. Our approach is founded on the premise that disasters result from complex systems failures, wherein a series of interdependent factors combine in such a way as to cause problems. We explore the explanatory power of our approach by analysing three incidents; Hillsborough football stadium disaster (1989), King's Cross underground fire (1987), and Bradford City stadium fire (1985). We find a common set of fundamental, interrelated issues and consistent violations of our socio-technical design principles. We conclude by discussing how our framework, principles and socio-technical thinking more generally, may contribute to theory and practice.
The 1993 State of U.S. Total Quality Management: A Baldrige Examiner's Perspective

This article assesses the current state of U.S. total quality management based on the author's experience evaluating 22 companies as an Examiner for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award during the last four years. The companies that apply for the award have many important strengths and these are yielding substantial improvement in customer satisfaction, employee involvement, and operational results. They also, however, have many identifiable areas which need improvement. A number of factors are limiting the development of truly comprehensive and fully integrated quality management systems.
Risk Exposures and International Diversification: Evidence from Ishares

Abstract: We examine the newly developed international diversification instruments-iShares traded on the American Stock Exchange. Given the fact that iShares can be created and redeemed at will, the daily price of an iShare is expected to be equal to the daily portfolio value of the underlying assets in the home-country market. Therefore, theoretically, iShare pricing should be influenced by the risk from the iShare's home-country market and not the risk from the US market, "per se". We evaluate the risk exposure of iShare prices to the US market (non-fundamental effect) as well as the home-country market (the fundamental effect). We find that most iShare returns are significantly influenced by and sensitive to the US market risk. Moreover, the US market appears to be the key "permanent" driving factor and the home-country market is a pronounced "transitory" driving force for iShare prices. These findings indicate the presence of limits of international arbitrage for iShares. As a result, the international diversification benefits of iShares become questionable. Copyright Blackwell Publishers Ltd, 2005.
Testing for a Flat Spectrum on Efficient Market Price Data

THIS PAPER IS CONCERNED with developing procedures to test if a sequence of estimated spectral ordinates has a flat spectrum which is derived from a generating process of independent random variables. This is a very important practical problem in applied statistics as, in the theory of efficient capital markets applied to commodity and security prices, independence is very often tested by estimating a spectrum and attempting to decide if it departs from a population spectrum which is a constant independent of frequency. The economic rationale behind this has been discussed by Samuelson [30], who argues that under certain conditions deviations from property discounted assets should vibrate randomly. Thus sequences of price changes or returns should be uncorrelated, which is consistent with the empirical evidence that many such price series often approximate a random walk and have spectra which are fairly flat. On stock prices, testing has been carried out by Granger and Morgenstern [12], Godfrey, Granger and Morgenstern [10], Granger and Morgenstern [13] and Praetz [26]. Bond prices have been studied by Granger and Rees [14] and Juttner et al. [20], interest rates by Sargent [31] and forward exchange prices by Upson [33]. On commodity price and price futures, testing using the spectrum of price changes has been executed by Labys and Granger [22], Labys et. al. [23], Cargill and Rausser [3, 4, 5, 6], Leuthold [24], Hunt [18] and Praetz [27]. The general approach has been to plot the spectral ordinates and their confidence limits, say 95%, to see how many points are outside the limits. However, when the price changes are uncorrelated, an expected 5% of spectral ordinates should lie beyond these limits on average, so a more exact method is needed which takes account of the sampling fluctuations of the estimated spectral ordinates. Evidence of nonrandomness is usually inferred when there is a cluster of points outside the limits at a peak in the spectrum, corresponding to a specific cyclic component such as a trend, seasonal or business cycle or a lot of points outside the limits possibly implying an autoregressive or moving average process might be generating the data rather than a random walk model. Leuthold decided to declare his price changes were random if all the points were within the 95% limits, not-random if there was a definite peak outside the limits and almost-random, if there were a few points outside. This is a very stringent requirement and is clearly biased against accepting the null-hypothesis
A Theoretical Framework and Methodology for Characterising National Urban Systems on the Basis of Flows of People: Empirical Evidence for France and Germany

In advanced economies, flows play an important part in connecting urban nodes. This paper sets up a framework for identifying and classifying the pattern of the urban systems from an interaction perspective. Three S-dimensions are proposed (that is, the strength of interaction, the symmetry of interaction and the structure of the network) and a set of indices that are important for characterising network configurations. Using the European long-distance mobility database (DATELINE), the framework is applied to examine the pattern of interaction between functional urban areas (FURs) in France and Germany. The analysis is carried out separately for three journey purposes: business, holiday and leisure. The results reveal that national urban systems embrace a wide variety of constellations and that considerable variation in these constellations can be observed across journey purposes and countries. Overall, the authors are confident that the proposed framework provides a useful analytical tool for characterising the configurations of urban systems.
Equity Agency Costs in Payouts, Pension Plan Manipulation and Firm Performance

Purpose - – The purpose of this paper is to present novel empirical findings regarding the shareholder-management agency problem. Design/methodology/approach - – The paper presents new evidence regarding the shareholder-management agency problem. It expands the set of factors that may cause agency problems to include both dollar value of management holdings and its fractional holdings. Findings - – First, the paper finds that this problem is better explained when management fractional holdings and management absolute equity wealth are considered simultaneously than separately. Second, it provides evidence that separation of control and ownership leads management to drive profits artificially upwards by overstating the anticipated long-term rate of return on pension plans (LTROR). The paper's findings point to the LTROR as a promising novel indicator for shareholder-management agency problem. Research limitations/implications - – Samples of 628 US firms during the period 1996-2005. Only 238 firms for pension plans as many firms do not have an internal pension fund. Practical implications - – The paper suggests practical ways to alleviate agency problems. Social implications - – The paper shows the strategic use of a change in the anticipated LTROR on pension plan assets that stems from an agency problem and affects the firm's reported net profits. The paper observes the strategic determination of LTROR in firms in which the pension funds are controlled by management. A possible social implication can be a risk for employees in firms in which the pension funds are controlled by management. Originality/value - – The paper aims to enrich the current literature using a novel indicator of the agency problem: the long-term change in the anticipated LTROR on pension plan assets.
CCR5 antagonists: a therapeutic option in HIV-1 perinatally infected children experiencing virologic failure?

Objective:The risk of virologic failure and selection of resistant strains remains a challenge in HIV-1 perinatally infected children. HIV-1 coreceptor usage was determined in HAART-failing children followed in Necker Hospital (Paris, France) in order to estimate the proportion of these patients who may benefit from CCR5-antagonists therapy. Methods:HIV-1 coreceptor usage was determined with the SVMGeno2pheno10% algorithm in 51 children with virologic failure after a median treatment exposure of 7.8 years. Results:CXCR4-tropic strains were found in 31.4% of the patients. CXCR4 usage was associated with high HIV-1 DNA (P = 0.01), old age (P = 0.02), long ART cumulative exposure (P = 0.006), and previous exposure to high number of different drugs (P = 0.03) and ART combinations (P = 0.03) in univariate analysis. Selection of resistant viruses and current exposure to a darunavir-based HAART tended to be more frequent in the CXCR4 group compared with the children infected with CCR5-tropic strains (P = 0.06). In multivariate analysis, CXCR4 usage was exclusively correlated with HIV-1 DNA (P = 0.03), which accurately reflects the cumulative exposure to viral replication over the whole duration of HIV infection. Conclusion:Two-thirds of HAART-failing children could benefit from CCR5 antagonists-based strategies, even in case of triple-class virologic failure. Such therapy should be discussed more appropriately at early stages of infection, when CCR5-tropic strains are most frequently isolated. However, before considering such strategies, further studies are needed to evaluate the efficacy and the tolerability of CCR5 antagonists in this pediatric population.
Purification and Characterization of a Cathepsin L-Like Enzyme from the Body Wall of the Sea Cucumber Stichopus japonicus

Cathepsin L-like enzyme was purified from the body wall of the sea cucumber Stichopus japonicus by an integral method involving ammonium sulfate precipitation and a series of column chromatographies on DEAE Sepharose CL-6B, Sephadex G-75, and TSK-GEL. The molecular mass of the purified enzyme was estimated to be 63 kDa by SDS–PAGE. The enzyme cleaved N-carbobenzoxy-phenylalanine-arginine 7-amido-4-methylcoumarin with K m (69.92 μM) and k cat (12.80/S) hardly hydrolyzed N-carbobenzoxy-arginine-arginine 7-amido-4-methylcoumarin and L-arginine 7-amido-4-methylcoumarin. The optimum pH and temperature for the purified enzyme were found to be 5.0 and 50 °C. It showed thermal stability below 40 °C. The activity was inhibited by sulfhydryl reagents and activated by reducing agents. These results suggest that the purified enzyme was a cathepsin L-like enzyme and that it existed in the form of its enzyme-inhibitor complex or precursor.
Could higher education programmes, culture and structure stifle the entrepreneurial intentions of students?

Purpose – This paper aims to explore and analyse the impact of higher education programmes, structures and culture on students' entrepreneurship intentions and attitudes. It investigates the relationships between education and entrepreneurship using a case study research approach.Design/methodology/approach – During the academic year 2008‐2009, a questionnaire survey was distributed to a sample of 603 first‐year and final‐year students studying business and management studies at two public HEIs in Greece. Furthermore a series of in‐depth and semi‐structured interviews was conducted with students in order to capture the integral aspects of the phenomena under investigation (i.e. a more comprehensive understanding of the students' adverse intentions towards entrepreneurship), and with faculty members in order to enter their perspective on entrepreneurship and education, as well as unveil the structure (rules and regulations) and the culture (shared beliefs and attitudes) of HEIs.Findings – The findings sugg.
Three worlds of educational welfare states? A comparative study of higher education systems across welfare states

Although education is generally considered to be an important part of the welfare state, it is largely absent in the comparative welfare state literature. This article tries to fill this void by applying the central concepts of welfare state analysis of decommodification and stratification, as proposed by Esping-Andersen, to the field of higher education. The article tests whether there are systematic differences in higher education policies across 19 developed western countries that are usually categorized in a social democratic, a liberal or a conservative welfare regime. Based on a secondary analysis of the available literature and cross-country statistics, we construct indices for decommodification and for stratification in higher education. The countries studied cluster in three groups that correspond roughly with the classical categorization. The countries in these clusters do not, however, meet all expectations regarding the level of decommodification and stratification. We conclude that countries belonging to the social democratic regime follow the principles of the prototypical social-democratic welfare regime well with respect to higher education. However, the higher education systems in liberal and conservative countries only share some of the characteristics of a prototypical conservative or liberal welfare state. We conclude that including higher education in comparative welfare states analysis might result in a less clear-cut categorization of welfare regimes than when the analysis is restricted to social protection and labour market policies.
Estimation of von Liebig Response Functions

Two distinct but related approaches for the estimation of von Liebig response functions are presented. The first approach is based upon a two-phase, ordinary least squares procedure combined with bootstrapping for computing the standard errors of the estimates. The second approach generates maximum likelihood estimates of the parameters and can be implemented according to two different parameterizations of the model. Application of the procedures to a sample of experimental data suggests a satisfactory degree of conformity of the results. A test of normality of the disturbance term based upon the estimated residuals failed to reject the null hypothesis, further supporting the maximum likelihood approach.
What help do GPs want from specialist services in managing patients with dementia?

The views of GPs about psychiatric services for dementia were obtained by questionnaire survey. Provision of adequate long term care, together with support for both family carers and healthcare workers were strongly stated needs. Other needs were rapid access to care, clear diagnosis, special needs of young patients with Alzheimer's disease, joint guidelines, and an increased role for CPNs. GPs valued the role of voluntary organisations and help given to them by Consultant Psycho‐geriatricians.
FOXP3+CD4+CD25+ Adaptive Regulatory T Cells Express Cyclooxygenase-2 and Suppress Effector T Cells by a Prostaglandin E2-Dependent Mechanism1

CD4+CD25+ regulatory T (TR) cells suppress effector T cells by partly unknown mechanisms. In this study, we describe a population of human suppressive CD4+CD25+ adaptive TR (TRadapt) cells induced in vitro that express cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) and the transcription factor FOXP3. TRadapt cells produce PGE2 and suppress effector T cell responses in a manner that is reversed by COX inhibitors and PGE2 receptor-specific antagonists. In resting CD4+CD25− T cells, treatment with PGE2 induced FOXP3 expression. Thus, autocrine and paracrine effects of PGE2 produced by COX-2-positive TRadapt cells may be responsible for both the FOXP3+ phenotype and the mechanism used by these cells to suppress effector T cells.
Characteristics and Survival of Anti–U1 RNP Antibody–Positive Patients With Connective Tissue Disease–Associated Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a severe complication of connective tissue diseases (CTDs). This study aimed to investigate the clinical and hemodynamic characteristics and survival of anti–U1 RNP–positive patients with CTD‐associated PAH, with a focus on systemic sclerosis (SSc)–associated PAH.
Do Focused Funds Offer Superior Performance in an Emerging Market? Evidence from Taiwan's Stock Market

We examine the effects of the number of stock holdings and industry concentration on Taiwan's equity fund performance. The quadratic regression model is applied to explore the optimal number of stock holdings for mutual funds. The empirical results suggest that funds with a smaller number of stock holdings and with a higher level of industry concentration achieve better performance. We also find that mutual fund performance and the number of stock holdings have an inverted U-shaped relationship, and funds that hold twenty-four to twenty-eight stocks can generate superior performance.
Strategic Consistency of Exploration and Exploitation in Family Businesses

This study advances family business research by examining how the strategic consistency with which family businesses pursue exploration and exploitation initiatives affects performance. Using panel data of 94 family businesses operating in four high-tech industries over 12 years, we find that higher strategic consistency—continuity with past exploration and exploitation strategies stemming from managerial intentionality—yields higher levels of performance. This relationship is also moderated by environmental dynamism, munificence, and organizational size, which demonstrates the contingent and complex nature of the main relationship. Furthermore, in contrast to 113 nonfamily businesses, we find that the main relationship is stronger for family businesses.
BUILDING CULTURAL CAPITAL: TRANSFORMING THE SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL

This paper looks at the role of the National Arts Festival in the socio-political transformation of South Africa from 1974 to the present. It suggests that decisions about varying the attributes of the festival in order to promote its role as a builder of new cultural capital can be aided by using a choice experiment (also called conjoint analysis). This methodology allows one to examine the relative utility levels of different aspects of the festival, their marginal rate of substitution and the market acceptability of making changes, to audiences with different racial, educational and wealth characteristics. For example, attribute trade-offs show that increasing the number of art exhibitions and the size of the craft market would increase the welfare of African-origin festival goers, but that Fringe shows are more important to European-origin people. Copyright (c) 2006 The Authors. Journal compilation (c) 2006 Economic Society of South Africa.
Does Carbon Affect European Oil Companies' Equity Values?

This paper empirically investigates the impact of E uropean Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) on oil stock companies. Our results reveal that Eur opean carbon allowance (EUA) price has a significant positive effect on equity returns. We a lso find evidence of an asymmetry in the EUA price sensitivities. In addition, we examine th e EUA price risk across four other sectors namely cement, chemicals, steel and paper chosen on the basis of their dependence on oil prices, in order to investigate if the EUA price af fects other industries in the same ways or not. We find that the EUA price impact is insignifi cant for these industries. Our findings suggest that investors should hedge EUA price risk for portfolios including European oil equities.
Effects of Fragment and Vegetation Structure on the Population Abundance of Ateles hybridus, Alouatta seniculus and Cebus albifrons in Magdalena Valley, Colombia

Many primate species currently subsist in fragmented and anthropogenically disturbed habitats. Different threats arise depending on the species' life history strategy, dietary requirements and habitat preference. Additionally, anthropogenic disturbance is far from uniform and may affect individual forest fragments in a single landscape in differing ways. We studied the effects of fragmentation on three species of diurnal primate, Cebus albifrons, Alouatta seniculus and Ateles hybridus, in Magdalena Valley, Colombia. We tested the assumption that generalist species are more resilient than specialist species to habitat degradation by examining the fragments' vegetation and spatial structure and how these affected primate presence and abundance patterns. We found C. albifrons, a generalist, to be the most abundant species in 9 of 10 forest fragments, regardless of the level of habitat disturbance. A. hybridus, a large-bodied primate with a specialist diet, was either absent or low in abundance in fragments that had experienced recent disturbances and was found only in higher-quality fragments, regardless of the fragment size. A. seniculus, a species considered to have a highly flexible diet and the ability to survive in degraded habitat, was found in intermediate abundances between those of Cebus spp. and Ateles spp. , and was more frequently found in high-quality fragments.
Production , Manufacturing and Logistics Consignment contracting : Who should control inventory in the supply chain ?

Consignment is a popular form of business arrangement where supplier retains ownership of the inventory and gets paid from the retailer based on actual units sold. The popularity of such an arrangement has come with some continued debates on who should control the supply chain inventory, the supplier or retailer. This paper aims at shedding light on these debated issues. We consider a single period supply chain model where a supplier contracts with a retailer. Market demand for the product is price-sensitive and uncertain. The supplier decides his consignment price charged to the retailer for each unit sold, and the retailer then chooses her retail price for selling the product. We study and compare two different consignment arrangements: The first allows the retailer to choose the supply chain inventory, together with her retail price, and is labeled as a Retailer Managed Consignment Inventory (RMCI) program; and the second calls for the supplier to decide the inventory, together with his consignment price, and is labeled as a Vendor Managed Consignment Inventory (VMCI) program. We show that with an RMCI program, the supply chain loses at least 26.4% of its first-best (expected) profit, while with VMCI, it loses just or no more than 26.4% of the first-best profit. Second, we demonstrate that both programs lead to an equal split of the corresponding channel profit between the supplier and the retailer. These results indicate that it is beneficial both to the supplier and to the retailer when delegating the inventory decision to the supplier rather than to the retailer in the channel. 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.