Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The ISO 9000 series as a tool for organisational change: Is there a case?

Examines a range of reasons relating to ISO 9000 series certification and the implementation of total quality management (TQM). Identifies five different types of strategies in relation to the approach taken to ISO 9000 series certification and defines their key characteristics. Also identifies and describes four different types of TQM maturity, following the achievement of ISO 9000 registration. Points out that the development of a TQM approach to managing a business is based on the emotional commitment of the chief executive officer, the understanding and knowledge of the management team about TQM, appropriate systems to stimulate, guide and direct TQM activities, and the involvement and participation of employees in the business. The findings indicate that ISO 9000 series registration can be a tool for organisational change, but only if the organisation has a plan to develop its approach to the management of quality on the principles of TQM.
The bureaucracy-democracy tango: a dual-source empirical revalidation by structural equation modelling in the Israeli public sector

The relationship between bureaucracy and democracy in modern nations has gained the attention of scholars and experts worldwide. This article uses the allegory of a tango dance to illuminate core pandemics of the bureaucracy–democracy interface. First, we propose a theoretical model that relates these arenas in the public realm. The model is then tested empirically based on four in-depth field studies of Israeli public sector organisations (in the fields of public energy, healthcare, policing and local governance). The studies were conducted simultaneously and were based on both qualitative and quantitative data collected in the intra-organisational and extra-organisational arenas. Respondents were 159 public sector personnel and 158 citizens who received services from the same organisations. Data were analysed with a structural equation modelling (SEM) technique. The findings reconfirmed a solid positive relationship between elements of an effective bureaucracy and segments of an active democracy. Moreover, strongest support was found for a mediating model where perceived performance mediated the bureaucratic–democratic relationship. Implications of the findings are discussed in both the intra- and extra-organisational context.
JAM: A Scalable Bayesian Framework for Joint Analysis of Marginal SNP Effects

Recently, large scale genome‐wide association study (GWAS) meta‐analyses have boosted the number of known signals for some traits into the tens and hundreds. Typically, however, variants are only analysed one‐at‐a‐time. This complicates the ability of fine‐mapping to identify a small set of SNPs for further functional follow‐up. We describe a new and scalable algorithm, joint analysis of marginal summary statistics (JAM), for the re‐analysis of published marginal summary stactistics under joint multi‐SNP models. The correlation is accounted for according to estimates from a reference dataset, and models and SNPs that best explain the complete joint pattern of marginal effects are highlighted via an integrated Bayesian penalized regression framework. We provide both enumerated and Reversible Jump MCMC implementations of JAM and present some comparisons of performance. In a series of realistic simulation studies, JAM demonstrated identical performance to various alternatives designed for single region settings. In multi‐region settings, where the only multivariate alternative involves stepwise selection, JAM offered greater power and specificity. We also present an application to real published results from MAGIC (meta‐analysis of glucose and insulin related traits consortium) – a GWAS meta‐analysis of more than 15,000 people. We re‐analysed several genomic regions that produced multiple significant signals with glucose levels 2 hr after oral stimulation. Through joint multivariate modelling, JAM was able to formally rule out many SNPs, and for one gene, ADCY5, suggests that an additional SNP, which transpired to be more biologically plausible, should be followed up with equal priority to the reported index.
Predicting the Effects of Market Reform in Zimbabwe: A Stated Preference Approach

A stated preference approach is used to predict likely responses to market reform in Zimbabwe. A random utility model is estimated using data on consumers' stated preferences for alternative types of maize meal. The model is used to predict demand patterns resulting from market reforms. Predicted demand is then compared with actual demand following market reforms. An analysis of the welfare effects of alternative policy scenarios shows that coupling the removal of consumer maize subsidies with improved access to a broader range of maize meal products ameliorated many of the adverse effects of subsidy removal, especially for lower-income groups. Copyright 1997, Oxford University Press.
Why do employees hold their vested stocks while they can sell them?

We proposed an integrated model of risk-balancing arguments and the emergence of psychological ownership to investigate employees' propensity of holding awarded stocks under a broad-based stock incentive plan. Analysis was conducted using a sample of 391 employees of a semiconductor foundry located in Taiwan. The results provided strong indication that psychological ownership motivation contribute to explain employees' willingness to hold vested stocks from broad-based stock plans. This study provide stimulating insight into the psychological mechanisms through which the individual's risk-aversion and wealth effects influence employees' intentions to hold vested stocks and further extends our understanding on how broad-based stock plans can develop an employees sense of ownership.
Identifying and Predicting Biological Risks Associated With Manufactured Nanoparticles in Aquatic Ecosystems

Nanotechnology has great potential for revolutionizing the treatment of disease, optimizing manufacturing processes and consumer products, and remediating polluted environments. Increased use and disposal of products containing nanoparticles will inevitably result in their accumulation in aquatic ecosystems via direct input and runoff from contaminated soils. Aquatic organisms are particularly susceptible to pollutants due to their large, fragile respiratory epithelium. This potential toxicity can be exacerbated by common stressors, such as changes in water temperature, salinity, pH, and oxygen levels, and must be considered in environmental risk assessments. The unique properties of manufactured nanoparticles present serious problems for risk assessment strategies, and there is a concern in the regulatory community that standard toxicological methods may be inadequate to address these compounds. Our capacity to detect and quantify nanoparticles is extremely limited, especially in complex biological, soil, or water samples. The distinctive chemistry and physical structure of each nanomaterial will determine its bioavailability, and these parameters can be altered over time or with changes in water chemistry. The use of advanced analytical techniques, such as functional genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, can provide a global assessment of the biological response to a novel chemical and will be important in determining the potential toxicity of nanoparticles. Industry should adopt a proactive approach to identifying potential risks to aquatic ecosystems so that the benefits of nanotechnology can be fully realized.
Reputation, Membership and Wages in Open Shop Trade Union

In Britain there is no longer statutory support for the closed shop and in the United States many states have right-to-work laws. Wages and membership determination are examined in this setting. The main findings are: (1) already established unions will not necessarily wither away with the mere passage of right-to-work laws: (2) however, they may disintegrate when faced with substantial negative demand shocks; (3) new unions will find it harder to become established; (4) greater dispersion in worker attitudes to joining unions will lower membership but not necessarily wages, which is broadly consistent with some empirical studies. Copyright 1993 by Royal Economic Society.
Risk, Implicit Contracts and the Family in Rural Areas of Low-Income Countries

Hypotheses concerning the relationship between insurance-based inco me transfers and the membership, size, and composition of households in low-income agricultural environments facing spatially-covariant incom e risks are formulated and tested using longitudinal data from India. T he influence of credit markets and inherited wealth on the ability of households to mitigate income volatility are also assessed and compared to implicit insurance-based familial transfer schemes. The results support hypotheses concerning the ex post consumption smoothing roles of hosuehold structure, and indicate as well the limitations of underdeveloped credit markets in providing income insurance in an agr icultural environment. Copyright 1988 by Royal Economic Society.
The Accountability of National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC)

The objectives of this research are to study the accountability of NBTC. (Such as legal, administrative and public accountability). The study on the use of authority, the response and the factors that affect the accountability of NBTC. To contribute and develop the knowledge of accountability for organizations in Thailand. Using the qualitative case study research to collecting the information from using the documents and the websites for the data collection, participatory observation and in-depth interviewed for triangulation rule of methodology and data (Creswell, 2007) The results were analyzed using hybrid framework of accountability (Dubnick & Romzek, 1991) (that combines the institutional and virtue framework). The findings indicated that NBTC have more focus on formal accountability (authority, legislation, rules, and regulations) rather than the public accountability. Factors that most affect the accountability of NBTC. Such as the power of political and business influence from the interest groups or stakeholders including cultural factors that reflects the attitudes, beliefs, social norms of Thai people. That affect behavior and responsiveness of NBTC. They prosecuted against journalists and scholars in defamation cases for the academic perspective about their action, but also the minority of commissioners give priority of public accountability very seriously.
SALMON STOCK VARIABILITY AND THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF THE PACIFIC SALMON TREATY

Since the mid-1970s, changes in the marine environment along the west coast of North America and in the Northeastern Pacific appear to have greatly enhanced the productivity of Alaskan salmon runs while contributing to declining runs of some salmon spawning in Washington, Oregon, and California. These inverse fluctuations in northern and southern salmon stocks may have aggravated a recent break-down in cooperation between the United States and Canada in setting harvest allocations under the Pacific Salmon Treaty. This paper examines the establishment of fishing regimes by the Pacific Salmon Commission. A game theoretic model is used to analyze the possible contribution of stock variability to the current conflict. Shifts in the parties' incentives to manage the fishery cooperatively, together with significant transaction costs, explain much of the recent difficulty in negotiating mutually acceptable fishing regimes. The paper concludes by addressing the question of whether the regime-setting process can be made more resilient to such stresses. Copyright 1996 Western Economic Association International.
Human papillomavirus type 16 E6 increases the degradation rate of p53 in human keratinocytes

The E6 proteins of the high-risk human papillomaviruses (HPVs) have been shown to form a complex with and induce the degradation of human p53 in vitro. To determine whether p53 is degraded more rapidly in cells expressing E6 in vivo, the half-life of p53 was determined by pulse-chase analysis in early-passage normal human keratinocytes and fibroblasts, human keratinocytes immortalized with HPV type 16 (HPV16) E6 plus E7, and nonimmortal keratinocytes transfected with E6. The results of these experiments indicate that (i) the half-life of newly synthesized p53 is relatively long (4 h) in early-passage human keratinocytes and fibroblasts but short in keratinocytes expressing E6 (15 to 30 min), (ii) a similar increased rate of p53 degradation was measured in lines immortalized with HPV16 E6 plus E7 and senescent cells expressing E6, indicating that this increase is not simply the result of selection in the immortalized lines, and (iii) very low levels of expression of E6 result in a greatly decreased half-life of p53, suggesting that E6 acts in a catalytic manner.
Family Transfers in a Subsistence Economy and under a High Incidence of HIV/AIDS: The Case of Rural Malawi

The paper addresses two related sets of questions. First how important is the middle generation in family transfers in subsistence economies? How intense are claims of parents children and fellow siblings (brothers and sisters) on the middle generations resources? How much does the middle generation benefit from reciprocal transfers from these relatives? Second how does their health status and that of their parents children brothers and sisters amidst the HIV/AIDS epidemic influence resource flows? Specifically does the health status of prime-age adults in light of the HIV/AIDS epidemic influence their involvement in giving receiving and giving/receiving rather than non-involvement in resource exchanges with the elderly (their parents) their brothers and sisters and their children? Quantitative and qualitative data from the Malawi Family Transfers research conducted in 1999 are used to address these questions. The quantitative data help us explain what influences peoples involvement in transfers. The qualitative data shed insight in light of the HIV/AIDS epidemic on how prime-age adults deal with the demands on their resources. (excerpt)
Applied Statistics for Business and Economics

Applied statistics in business and economics provides real meaning to the use of statistics in the real world by using real business situations and real data while​. Coupon: rent applied statistics in business and economics 4th edition ( 9780073521480) and save up to 80% on textbook rentals and 90% on used textbooks​. All the statistical procedures will be illustrated using data from management, business and economics. Applied statistics for business and economics by webster allen from flipkart. Applied statistics in business and economics provides real meaning to the use of statistics in the real world by using real business situations and real data while​. Upon the successful completion of this course, a student should be able to: demonstrate understanding of the nature of statistical analysis​. In a world where everyone is trying to do more for less, applied statistics allow​ statistical inference; economics 2900 economics and business statistics. Scope, the journal of business and economic statistics (jbes) publishes a range of articles, primarily applied statistical analyses of microeconomic,​. Applied statistics in business and economics provides real meaning to the use of statistics in the real world by using real business situations and real data while​. All the statistical procedures will be illustrated using data from management, business and economics.
Image compressive sensing using group sparse representation via truncated nuclear norm minimization

Group sparse representation (GSR) has shown great potential in image Compressive Sensing (CS) recovery, which can be considered as a low rank matrix approximation problem. The nuclear norm minimization can only minimize all the singular values simultaneously. Recent advances have suggested the truncated nuclear norm minimization (TNNM) to better approximate the matrix rank. In this paper, we connect group sparse representation with truncated nuclear norm minimization for CS image recovery. Then, an implementation of fast convergence via the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) is developed to solve the proposed problem. Moreover, an effective dictionary for each group is learned from the recovery image itself rather than a large number of natural image dataset. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed GSR-TNNM method achieves a good convergence performance and is able to improve image CS recovery quality significantly compared with the state-of-the-art methods.
The influence of firm characteristics on disclosure of financial ratios in annual reports of Turkish firms listed in the Istanbul Stock Exchange

This study extends prior research by investigating the influence of firm characteristics on voluntary disclosure of financial ratios in the annual reports of Turkish listed companies. The sample consists of industrial firms listed in the Istanbul Stock Exchange (ISE). The firms' annual reports were downloaded from their corporate websites. As methodology, content analysis was utilised to determine the financial ratio disclosure level of the firms. The findings revealed that Turkish listed firms disclose, on the average, 5.37 financial ratios in their annual reports. Count data regression models (Poisson and Negative binomial) were used to test the hypotheses. The results of multivariate analyses indicate that firm size, auditor size, profitability and ownership diffusion have significant positive association with voluntary disclosure level of financial ratios, while leverage does not.
Beliefs, Values, and Strategic Choice: U.S. Leaders’ Decisions to Engage, Contain, and Use Force in an Era of Globalization

Do ideational factors shape the strategic choices of American leaders in the realm of national security policy? If they do, what perceptions and value dispositions guide choices toward critical countries like Russia, China, Japan, and Iran? Macrotheories of international relations make assumptions about the microprocesses at the decision-making level that are rarely examined empirically. For instance, do leaders decide based on their perceptions of an adversary's intentions as neo-realists claim or do they give greater weight to their perceptions of similar and different political cultures as advocates of the democratic peace assume? If ideational factors matter at all, are they independent forces or simply determined by demographics and/or parochial interests? This project reports the results of a survey of 514 U.S. leaders designed to answer these questions. We find that military assertiveness remains related to decisions to use force as it was during the Cold War but that a new disposition—attitudes toward free trade—has emerged as an even more robust predictor of these decisions as well as decisions to engage and contain. We find support for the microfoundations of neo-realist and image theory as well as for the idea that perceived culture matters. Our study also provides individual-level evidence for a micromechanism connecting trade to pacific choices.
EXPANSION PLANNING IN ELECTRICITY MARKETS. TWO DIFFERENT APPROACHES

This paper presents two different approaches to model expansion planning in electricity markets under imperfect competitive conditions. Both approaches consider a market in which firms compete in quantity as in the Nash-Cournot game. However, the two models differ from each other in how each firm makes its expansion-planning decisions. In the first model, the key assumption that permits its formulation as a Mixed Linear Complementarity Problem (LCP) is that firms not only decide their output in a Cournot manner but also their new generating capacity. In contrast, in the second model, there is a leader firm that anticipates the reaction of the follower firms as in the Stackelberg game. The latter model is formulated as a Mathematical Program with Equilibrium Constraints (MPEC), wherein the leader firm decides its optimal new capacity subject to a set of market equilibrium constraints. Both models have been implemented in GAMS. A simple example is also presented to illustrate their comparison and application.
Brazilian caregiver version of the Apathy Scale

No Brazilian version of a specific scale for evaluating apathy in dementia is available. Objectives To introduce a translated version of the Apathy Scale (AS) for use with caregivers. Methods The instrument was formally translated and then administered to the caregivers of a small sample of dementia patients, in order to assess scale comprehensibility and make final adjustments. The scale was subsequently administered to the caregivers of a second, independent sample of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. The content validity of the scale was tested by correlating the AS scores with the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) - apathy sub-score and Disability Assessment in Dementia (DAD) total scores. Results The first sample consisted of eleven subjects with dementia, most of whom had AD. The second sample comprised twenty patients with probable or possible AD (10 with mild dementia), a mean age of 84.1±5.8 years, and 2.2±1.6 years of schooling. The AS scores correlated with both NPI-apathy sub-score (r=0.756, p=0.001) and DAD total scores (r=-0.793, p=0.0005). Conclusions The final version had good comprehensibility and correlated strongly with standardized apathy and functional activities of daily living measures.
Liquid embolization of brain arteriovenous malformation using novel detachable tip micro catheter: a technical report.

BACKGROUND AND IMPORTANCE Liquid embolization using Onyx® of brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) is sometimes limited by micro catheter retention by Onyx® cast during the disengagement process. Use of the new detachable tip micro catheter is presented in this report. CLINICAL PRESENTATION Two feeding arteries of a previously ruptured brain AVM in a 62-year-old man were embolized by Onyx 18 prior to surgery using the new Apollo™ micro catheter with the detachable-tip (30 mm) was utilized. The arterial feeders were accessed without difficulty by micro catheter, guided by 0.010" microwire. Onyx reflux around the distal end of the micro catheter was necessary for effective embolization of arteriovenous fistulous components of brain AVM. The micro catheter was successfully retracted after embolization in both feeding arteries, with distal end detachment seen in one but not the other arterial embolization. No arterial thrombosis, vasospasm, dissection, or rupture was seen at respective sites of disengagement. CONCLUSION Use of the new micro catheters with detachable-tip design allowed prolonged Onyx® injection times, safe micro catheter disengagement, without any limitations in accessing target arterial feeders.