Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
In or out: the effect of euro membership on the exercise of real business options

This empirical study of manufacturing firms (NAICS 33) in the EU15 countries goes beyond the trade statistics that have indicated only a small to negligible effect from the introduction of the Euro and shows that the introduction of the Euro has made Euro firms (firms based in one of the 12 Euro countries) more inclined than non-Euro firms (firms based in one of the three non-Euro countries: UK, Sweden, and Denmark) to undertake various forms of real actions (exercise real business options) such as to establish alliances/partnerships, to enter new markets/market segments, to switch suppliers, and to generally expand in the Euro-area. The results are important in understanding the potential long-term effects of Euro membership.
The Rewards of Nicotine: Regulation by Tissue Plasminogen Activator–Plasmin System through Protease Activated Receptor-1

Nicotine, a primary component of tobacco, is one of the most abused drugs worldwide. Approximately four million people die each year because of diseases associated with tobacco smoking. Mesolimbic dopaminergic neurons mediate the rewarding effects of abused drugs, including nicotine. Here we show that the tissue plasminogen activator (tPA)–plasmin system regulates nicotine-induced reward and dopamine release by activating protease activated receptor-1 (PAR1). In vivo microdialysis revealed that microinjection of either tPA or plasmin into the nucleus accumbens (NAc) significantly potentiated whereas plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 reduced the nicotine-induced dopamine release in the NAc in a dose-dependent manner. Nicotine-induced dopamine release was markedly diminished in tPA-deficient (tPA−/−)mice, and the defect of dopamine release in tPA−/− mice was restored by microinjection of either exogenous tPA or plasmin into the NAc. Nicotine increased tPA protein levels and promoted the release of tPA into the extracellular space in the NAc. Immunohistochemistry revealed that PAR1 immunoreactivity was localized to the nerve terminals positive for tyrosine hydroxylase in the NAc. Furthermore, we demonstrated that plasmin activated PAR1 and that nicotine-induced place preference and dopamine release were diminished in PAR1-deficient (PAR1−/−) mice. Targeting the tPA–plasmin–PAR1 system would provide new therapeutic approaches to the treatment of nicotine dependence.
Real exchange rate undervaluation, financial development and growth

This paper studies the hypothesis that real exchange rate undervaluation can alleviate the economic symptoms of financial underdevelopment, acting as a temporary substitute for institutional reform. This hypothesis is motivated by recent empirical studies that document a link between real exchange rate undervaluation and increased growth in GDP per capita in developing countries. As further motivation I present new evidence that this eect is driven by an interaction between undervaluation and financial frictions. Using panel data on value added in manufacturing sectors at the 3-digit ISIC level for 103 countries, I find that for countries with low levels of financial development, real exchange rate undervaluation is associated with stronger growth in sectors that depend more heavily on external financing. To establish a causal relationship between undervaluation, financial development and growth and evaluate its quantitative implications I build a multi-sector semi-small open economy model with limited enforcement of financial contracts. Qualitative partial equilibrium results indicate that a government policy of subsidizing the purchase of tradeable goods undervalues the real exchange rate and loosens enforcement constraints, leading to temporary increased growth on the transition to a new steady state with higher output. The magnitude of this eect is increasing in the severity of the enforcement problem. For economies with severe enforcement problems this policy increases consumption although the quantitative eect is quite small.
Structural and Frictional Unemployment in an Equilibrium Search Model with Heterogeneous Agents

We specify and estimate an equilibrium search model with between-market heterogeneity in the productivity levels. The model allows for two types of unemployment: unemployment due to search frictions and unemployment due to wage floors. Wage floors may exist, because of large unemployment benefits or a binding (mandatory) minimum wage. Using data on labor market histories for a sample of Dutch workers, we decompose the total unemployment rate in a structural and frictional unemployment rate. We also discuss the effect of changes in the minimum wage. Copyright 1995 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of Internal Market Orientation on Organizational Performance: The Case of Macao's Gaming Industry

This study examined the effect of internal market orientation (IMO) on organizational performance, including employee job satisfaction, perceived customer satisfaction, and relative competitive position. Using responses from 220 employees in the gaming industry, a factor analysis was performed to determine the underlying structure of the IMO items and path analyses were used to determine the relationships among variables. The path analysis results showed that IMO was positively related to employee job satisfaction while employee job satisfaction was positively related to perceived customer satisfaction, then to relative competitive position. Moreover, external measures, such as positive reports of corporate reputation in the mass media and positive change in market share, were found to be positively associated with perceived customer satisfaction. Based on the findings, management in the hospitality industry can realize the importance of formal and informal communications—two core elements of IMO and how they are related to organizational performance.
An analysis of employee recognition: Perspectives on human resources practices

Employee recognition is as much an organizational management issue as it is one related to the basic needs of individuals. Although it is gaining wider and wider currency in sociology and organizational psychology circles, this complex notion is still fairly vague in the management world. What exactly is employee recognition? What are its limitations and conceptual nuances? What does the act of recognition entail? These are the central questions addressed by this article. The article starts by examining the growing need for recognition expressed by today's workers. It then goes on to provide an overview of the social and organizational context surrounding the issue. Finally, it presents the various approaches and methods used to promote employee recognition, as well as the sources of this recognition within an organization. Four conceptual approaches to recognition are analyzed: the ethical perspective; the humanistic and existential view; the work psychodynamics school; and the behavioural outlook. An analysis of these different theoretical perspectives reveals that recognition takes four main forms: personal recognition; recognition of results; recognition of work practice; and recognition of job dedication. The field of recognition, meanwhile, is characterized by the presence of five types of interactions: organizational; vertical; horizontal; external and social.
Intermuscle differences in activation

The objective of this study was to investigate differences within individual subjects in the ability to activate the quadriceps, plantar flexors (PF), dorsiflexors (DF), and elbow flexors (EF) during isometric contractions. Twelve male subjects performed submaximal and maximal voluntary isometric contractions, and maximal tetanic contractions were also induced by electrical stimulation. The interpolated twitch technique was used to gauge the extent of muscle inactivation or inability to produce maximum force. Measurements included torque output, absolute and relative rate of force development (RFD), and percentage of muscle inactivation. The quadriceps exceeded all other muscle groups in voluntary and tetanic torque output, voluntary absolute RFD, and absolute and relative tetanic RFD. The quadriceps also exceeded the PF and DF in voluntary relative RFD and had greater muscle inactivation (15.5%) than the EF (5.0%), PF (5.0%), and DF (1.3%). Although the higher RFD may suggest a higher percentage of type II fibers in the quadriceps, their higher threshold of recruitment leads to greater difficulty in fully activating the quadriceps. © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Muscle Nerve 25: 236–243, 2002 DOI 10.1002/mus.10008
Distributional Implications of Environmental Taxation in Denmark

Environmental taxes have been introduced in many countries. However, few countries have reached the level of environmental taxation that is seen in Denmark today. This paper analyses the individual taxes as well as the combination of all these taxes and duties related to environmental concerns, including taxes on heating, transport fuels, electricity, water, waste, plastic bags, registration of cars, annual car use and pesticides. The distributional effect of taxes is examined in relation to household income, socio-economic class, residential location and family status. The shifting of the tax structure from high marginal income tax to consumption-based taxes, especially environmental taxes, might have distributional impacts that have not been considered part of the tax policy. The results suggest that in Denmark taxes on petrol and registration duties for cars are progressive, whereas most other environmental taxes are regressive, especially the green taxes on water, retail containers and CO2 emissions.
UDE-Based Trajectory Tracking Control of Piezoelectric Stages

The robust and precise control of piezoelectric stages is quite challenging due to the existence of strong hysteresis nonlinearity. In this paper, the dynamics of a piezoelectric stage is identified as a second-order linear system preceded by an input hysteresis characterized by the Prandtl-Ishlinskii (PI) model. Then, a control strategy based on the uncertainty and disturbance estimator (UDE) is developed to mitigate the effect of hysteresis nonlinearity and improve the performance of the positioning control of the piezoelectric stage, without the detailed model of the hysteresis except the slope information of the PI hysteresis asymptotes. Moreover, the stability analysis of the closed-loop system with the UDE-based controller is provided. Extensive experimental studies are carried out on a Physik Instrumente P-753.31c piezoelectric stage to demonstrate that the UDE-based controller can achieve excellent performance in trajectory tracking and disturbance rejection, compared to the proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller and a disturbance-observer-based controller.
Below the tip of the iceberg: the co‐evolution of formal and informal interorganizational relations in the wireless telecommunications industry

We examine how alliances-formal, contractual interorganizational relations-co-evolve with emergent, informal interorganizational relations. To form alliances, firms must acquire information on potential partners, and the acquisition of this intelligence occurs through both formal and informal channels. Here we evaluate the effects of two of these informal channels: joint participation in cooperative technical organizations (CTOs) and director interlocks. Since director interlocks connect firms through the highest managerial levels while joint CTO participation connects firms through mid-level technical personnel, we examine whether each type of informal tie contributes to alliance formation as well as whether ties at multiple levels serve as complements or substitutes for this purpose. We also examine whether all types of ties-alliances, interlocks and CTO participation-co-evolve endogenously or whether there are more direct causal relationships between and among these various types of networks. We find that both interlocks and CTO participation facilitate alliance formation, yet interlocks only facilitate alliance formation when the common director serves as an officer in one of the firms. An additional distinction between the role of interlocks and CTO participation is that the relationship between interlocks and alliance formation appears endogenous, in contrast to CTO participation, which causally precedes alliance formation. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Enzyme Immunoassays for Measurement of Cytomegalovirus Immunoglobulin M Antibody

The diagnosis of congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is often accomplished by the detection of circulating antibody directed against CMV. We devised a method for measuring CMV-specific immunoglobulin M (IgM) based on the isolation of IgM antibody by reaction with a solid phase coated with antihuman IgM. The determination of IgM antibody specific for CMV was accomplished by the subsequent addition of CMV or control antigen and enzyme-labeled CMV antibody (solid phase-IgM method). We compared the sensitivity and specificity of this method with those of a conventional form of solid-phase enzyme immunoassay in which CMV antigen is bound to the solid phase (solid phase-antigen method). Both assay systems were capable of detecting CMV-specific IgM antibody in the sera of 10 babies with documented CMV infection and in those of the mothers of 4 of these babies. The solid phase-IgM method yielded negative results in all 66 sera available from babies who did not have congenital CMV infection. On the other hand, the solid phase-antigen system yielded false-positive results in 12 (18%) of these sera. In addition, the solid phase-antigen system yielded false-positive results in 8 of 12 sera obtained from patients with demonstrable rheumatoid factor. However, the solid phase-IgM system yielded negative results for the rheumatoid sera, provided that appropriate control reactions were performed. The solid phase-IgM system is thus a specific and sensitive method for the determination of CMV IgM antibody.
Detecting trend and bursty keywords using characteristics of Twitter stream data

Twitter is a very popular online social networking and micro-blogging service that enables its users to post and share text-based messages called tweets. The numbers of active users and tweets generated daily are enormous and hence they, collectively, can give crucial clues to several interesting problems such as public opinion analysis and hot trend detection. Especially, to find out hot issues and trends from tweets, detection of popular keywords is very important. In this paper, we propose a new scheme for detecting trend and bursty keywords from Twitter stream data. Our scheme is very robust in that it can handle typical usages such as various abbreviations, minor typing errors and spacing errors that occur very frequently when writing tweets on various mobile devices. We implemented a prototype system and performed various experiments to show the effectiveness of our scheme.
Complete biological reductive transformation of tetrachloroethene to ethane

Reductive dechlorination of tetrachloroethene (perchloroethylene; PCE) was observed at 20 degrees C in a fixed-bed column, filled with a mixture (3:1) of anaerobic sediment from the Rhine river and anaerobic granular sludge. In the presence of lactate (1 mM) as an electron donor, 9 microM PCE was dechlorinated to ethene. Ethene was further reduced to ethane. Mass balances demonstrated an almost complete conversion (95 to 98%), with no chlorinated compounds remaining (less than 0.5 micrograms/liter). When the temperature was lowered to 10 degrees C, an adaptation of 2 weeks was necessary to obtain the same performance as at 20 degrees C. Dechlorination by column material to ethene, followed by a slow ethane production, could also be achieved in batch cultures. Ethane was not formed in the presence of bromoethanesulfonic acid, an inhibitor of methanogenesis. The high dechlorination rate (3.7 mumol.l-1.h-1), even at low temperatures and considerable PCE concentrations, together with the absence of chlorinated end products, makes reductive dechlorination an attractive method for removal of PCE in bioremediation processes.
The Determinants of Wage Pressure: Some Implications of a Dynamic Model

Most models of wage determination are static. This paper analyzes a simple dynamic model of collective bargaining and argues that this provides insights into the determinants of wage pressure that a static model cannot provide. In particular, it is shown how the length of labor contracts and the dynamics of the labor market affect the level of aggregate wage pressure. The policy implications of the model are very different from those traditionally put forward to moderate wage pressure. Copyright 1991 by The London School of Economics and Political Science.
An Analysis of Disclosure in the Annual Reports of U.K. and Dutch Companies

This study adopts a comparative approach to assess the comprehensive‐ness of disclosure in the 1996 annual reports of United Kingdom (U.K.) and Dutch corporations. Although the two countries exhibit some similarities, there are important differences in legal systems, capital markets, and corporate governance mechanisms. The disclosure model developed is based on the main headings specified in the Fourth and Seventh European Union Directives. Based on this model, disclosure by U.K. companies is more comprehensive than by Dutch corporations and the difference is significant (5 percent level with two‐tailed test). Most of the key areas of disclosure are found to be more comprehensive in the U.K. than in The Netherlands. This is due to more stringent regulation in the U.K. than in The Netherlands where the approach is more flexible. The model is used to establish whether disclosure is related to a number of firm‐specific characteristics using regression analysis. The impact of size is the same for both countr.
Correcting spherical aberrations in confocal light sheet microscopy: A theoretical study

In the last years, fluorescence light sheet microscopy has attracted an increasing interest among the microscopy community. One of the most promising applications of this technique is the reconstruction of macroscopic biological specimens with microscopic resolution, without physical sectioning. To this aim, light sheet microscopy is combined with clearing protocols based on refractive index matching, which render the tissue transparent. However, these protocols lead to a huge drop in the fluorescence signal, limiting their practical applicability. The reduction of signal to background ratio is commonly ascribed to chemical degradation of the fluorophores by the organic solvents used for clearing. This view however completely neglects another important factor of contrast loss, i.e., optical aberrations. In fact, commercially available objectives suitable for light sheet microscopy are not designed for the refractive index of the clearing solutions, and this mismatch introduces severe spherical aberration. Here we simulated the aberrated point spread function (PSF) of a light sheet microscope with confocal slit detection. We investigated the variation of the PSF as a function of objective numerical aperture (NA) and of imaging depth inside the clearing solution. We also explored the possibility of correcting such spherical aberration by introducing extra optical devices in the detection path. By correcting up to the second order spherical aberration, a quasi‐diffraction‐limited regime can be recovered, and image quality is restored. Microsc. Res. Tech. 77:483–491, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Integration of biomolecules and nanomaterials: Towards highly selective and sensitive biosensors

Significant efforts have been made toward the development of high‐performance biosensors for various applications. Advances in nanotechnology have resulted in the development of highly sensitive electrochemical sensing devices. It is believed that highly sensitive and selective biosensors can be realized through the integration of biomolecules and nanomaterial‐based sensor platforms. Numerous articles have described combining biomolecules as recognition elements with nanotechnology for the development of biosensors with enhanced selectivity and sensitivity. Recent advances in the development of biosensors through the integration of biomolecules with nanotechnology are reviewed in this article.
Proteomic analysis of clathrin‐coated vesicles

For more than 50 years cell biologists have embraced the concept that biochemical and enzymatic analysis of isolated subcellular fractions provides insight into the function and machineries of cellular compartments including organelles. The utility of this approach has been significantly enhanced with the advent of mass spectrometry leading to the broad application of organelle proteomics. Clathrin‐coated vesicles (CCVs) form at the plasma membrane where they select protein and lipid cargo for endocytic entry into cells. CCVs also form at the trans‐Golgi network, where they function in protein transport from the secretory pathway to the endosomal/lysosomal system. Herein we will describe how organelle proteomics of CCVs has greatly expanded our knowledge of the machineries, mechanisms and sites of clathrin‐mediated membrane trafficking.
Composite and Preferences Scales of Morningness: Reliability and Factor Invariance in Adult and University Samples

The creation and adaptation of scales or inventories assessing specific circadian typologies has been a predominant focus within the field of chronopsychology. The present study addressed the psychometric properties of two scales of morningness-eveningness: the Morningness Composite Scale (CS; Smith, Reilly, & Midkiff, 1989) and the Early/Late Preferences Scale (PS; Smith, Folkard, Schmieder, Parra, Spelten, & Almirall, 1993). Internal consistency and factor invariance of the CS and PS were analyzed in two samples: a group of 203 university students (age range = 19-30) and a group of 125 working adults (age range = 31-65). Results indicated satisfactory internal consistency for both full scales with each age group and confirmed the factor invariance across age for the two CS factors and one of the PS factors. A higher tendency in morningness on both scales was noted in the adult sample. Uno de los campos de estudio más desarrollado por la cronopsicología ha sido la creación y adaptación de escalas o inventarios para evaluar la tipología circadiana. En este estudio se presentan las propiedades psicométricas de dos escalas de evaluación de la matutinidad-vespertinidad: la Escala Compuesta de Matutinidad (CS; Smith, Reilly y Midkiff, 1989) y la Escala de Preferencias (PS; Smith, Folkard, Schmieder, Parra, Spelten y Almirall, 1993). Para cada escala, se analizó tanto la consistencia interna como la invarianza factorial en dos muestras: un grupo de 203 universitarios (edad entre 19 y 30 años) y un grupo de trabajadores adultos (edad entre 31-65 años). Los resultados indican una consistencia interna adecuada para cada una de las escalas en ambos grupos, así como una estructura factorial invariante en función de la edad para los dos factores de la CS y uno de los factores de la PS. Aparece una mayor tendencia a la matutinidad en el grupo adulto.
The Price Premium of China A‐Shares over Hong Kong H‐Shares: A Further Visit of the Liquidity Hypothesis*

I examine the price premium between A-shares and H-shares using a sample of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and Shanghai stock market intraday data in 2004. Following the market-microstructure approach, I reinvestigate the liquidity hypothesis by incorporating spread and depth. The study generates two important results. First, China A-shares on average provide better market liquidity than their Hong Kong H-share counterparts do. Second, after controlling for traditional liquidity measures and variables related to competing hypotheses, the percentage differences in quoted spread and depth between Ashares and H-shares still explain significantly the price premium. Endogeneity between spread and depth does not affect the major findings.