Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Response to “Revisiting ISO 14000 Diffusion: A New ”Look“ at the Drivers of Certification”

In Corbett and Kirsch (2001), we used a simple regression in an exploratory investigation of drivers of global diffusion of ISO 14000 certification. We found that ISO 9000 certification levels, environmental treaties ratified, and exports as a proportion of GDP were the main significant variables, where the environmental measure may be moderated by GDP per capita. In his replication study, Vastag (2004, in this issue) analyzes the same data using more visual techniques, specifically regression trees, and finds support for the significance of ISO 9000 certification levels and environmental treaties ratified, but not for export‐propensity. Vastag raises a number of relevant methodological issues, to which we add some perspectives here.
First-year college student beliefs about writing embedded in online discourse: An analysis and its implications for literacy learning

Online discourse has become a common mode of communication for the TwentyFirst Century. Many businesses now use electronic networking sites such as Facebook to communicate with customers through online posts and electronic updates through Twitter. With these recent trends in electronic communication, some educators have begun implementing electronic discourse into the classroom through online discussion boards. Discussion boards available through course technology such as WebCT and eLearning offer educators opportunities to channel this heightened interest in online communication. By building electronic course sites, educators can further classroom discussions on online discussion boards, which allow students to discuss course material with each other through electronic conversations over the Internet. As language is multifaceted, ambiguous, and rich with our metaphors and symbols, this dissertation suggests that discourse analysis of an online discussion board offers a useful mode for uncovering and understanding the beliefs that first-year college students have about writing. This study used qualitative inquiry to analyze the online discourse that occurred over the period of one semester in a first-year writing course. The study sought to uncover the beliefs about writing that first-year college students bring with them to a first-year college writing course. Additionally, the study looked at how the beliefs shifted during the course of one semester. It concluded that curriculum including an online discussion board may provide college and high school educators another lens for understanding the disconnect that exists between high school and college curriculum. Additionally, the study found that the resulting discussion of the discourse analysis on a course discussion board may facilitate an understanding of the transition for first-year students from high school to college. Major findings of the study were: • When students engage in online discourse within a learning community, they begin to understand how others think and feel. This leads to an appreciation for diversity and for a greater understanding of self. • An online discussion board facilitates the formation of self, as students look at their identity within a learning community and rethink their own individual
Tune-all microstrip bandpass filter

A compact, varactor-incorporated microstrip bandpass filter of controllable center frequency and bandwidth, as well as reconfigurable response is presented. The quasi-lumped dual-mode resonator is adopted for filter compactness, and the incorporated varactors are employed for resonance perturbation and mode coupling control pertinent to frequency agility. Compared to the authors' previous design, the electrical size is significantly reduced (4 times smaller), and the largest to smallest bandwidth ratio (6:1) is greatly extended.
Ring1A is a transcriptional repressor that interacts with the Polycomb‐M33 protein and is expressed at rhombomere boundaries in the mouse hindbrain

In Drosophila, the products of the Polycomb group (Pc‐G) of genes act as chromatin‐associated multimeric protein complexes that repress expression of homeotic genes. Vertebrate Pc‐G homologues have been identified, but the nature of the complexes they form and the mechanisms of their action are largely unknown. The Polycomb homologue M33 is implicated in mesoderm patterning in the mouse and here we show that it acts as a transcriptional repressor in transiently transfected cells. Furthermore, we have identified two murine proteins, Ring1A and Ring1B, that interact directly with the repressor domain of M33. Ring1A and Ring1B display blocks of similarity throughout their sequences, including an N‐terminal RING finger domain. However, the interaction with M33 occurs through a region at the C‐terminus. Ring1A represses transcription through sequences not involved in M33 binding. Ring1A protein co‐localizes in nuclear domains with M33 and other Pc‐G homologues, such as Bmi1. The expression of Ring1A at early stages of development is restricted to the neural tube, whereas M33 is expressed ubiquitously. Within the neural tube, Ring1A RNA is located at the rhombomere boundaries of the hindbrain. Taken together, these data suggest that Ring1A may contribute to a tissue‐specific function of Pc‐G–protein complexes during mammalian development.
On the Sustainability of Collusion in a Differentiated Oligopoly with a Cartel and a Fringe

type="main"> We discuss the effects of the existence of non-colluding (fringe) firms on cartel sustainability. We obtain, using trigger strategies, that with product differentiation collusion is always more easily sustained when firms compete in prices than when firms compete in quantities. This is true basically because (i) price competition is more intense than quantity competition, and (ii) fringe firms exacerbate the fact that cartel firms have more incentives to deviate from the agreement under quantity competition. This result reverses previous findings where, in the absence of fringe firms, product differentiation plays a crucial role in determining the effectiveness of price or quantity competition in sustaining collusion.
Card sort technique as a qualitative substitute for quantitative exploratory factor analysis

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to advocate that qualitative research tools can replace and merge with quantitative ones, in order to simplify the task of gathering and processing information.Design/methodology/approach – The study demonstrates how a qualitative technique (card sort) was successfully used to replace a quantitative tool (exploratory factor analysis) for the task of construct development, saving time, funds and sample units. All the steps in the card sort technique are described and exemplified by its application to develop two constructs in a research about newspapers internal communication management.Findings – The constructs were tested through confirmatory factor analysis across a sample of 184 Brazilian newspapers, satisfying all fit indexes and other statistical requirements.Research limitations/implications – Although the card sort technique successfully substituted exploratory factor analysis in this research, such a procedure must be used carefully. Whenever exploratory fact.
Passive underwater imaging through optimized planar arrays of hydrophones

Planar arrays of acoustic sensors represent a critical component for a 3-D wideband passive imaging system. Recently, a method has been proposed for the design of planar microphone arrays that are superdirective (to provide good performance at low frequencies) and aperiodic (to avoid grating lobes at high frequencies). Robustness against dispersion in the sensor characteristics is achieved by exploiting the probability density functions of such errors. Here, such a method is used to demonstrate that 36 low-cost poorly-matched hydrophones are sufficient to populate a square aperture with a side length of 60 cm used as sensor array for an underwater passive system working from 1.5 kHz to 12 kHz.
Varieties of hierarchical capitalism: family and state market economies in East Asia

Abstract Through an examination of East Asian economies, this paper proposes two new capitalist ideal types: family market economies and state market economies. In contrast to coordinated and liberal market economy types, the new capitalist ideal types proposed here display alternative forms of hierarchical coordination. These ideal types are also genuinely novel models of capitalism because they exhibit distinct and stable institutional structures and comparative advantages.
Stress-induced Start Codon Fidelity Regulates Arsenite-inducible Regulatory Particle-associated Protein (AIRAP) Translation*

Background: Molecular mechanisms explaining stress-induced leaky scanning translation initiation regulation are poorly understood. Results: We demonstrate this relation and identify a post-translational modification on eIF1 that is stress responsive. Conclusion: Leaky scanning mediated by eIF1 phosphorylation is a stress-regulated process. Significance: Stress-induced global translation initiation can be regulated by means of leaky scanning as well as re-initiation. Initial steps in protein synthesis are highly regulated processes as they define the reading frame of the translation machinery. Eukaryotic translation initiation is a process facilitated by numerous factors (eIFs), aimed to form a “scanning” mechanism toward the initiation codon. Translation initiation of the main open reading frame (ORF) in an mRNA transcript has been reported to be regulated by upstream open reading frames (uORFs) in a manner of re-initiation. This mode of regulation is governed by the phosphorylation status of eIF2α and controlled by cellular stresses. Another mode of translational initiation regulation is leaky scanning, and this regulatory process has not been extensively studied. We have identified arsenite-inducible regulatory particle-associated protein (AIRAP) transcript to be translationally induced during arsenite stress conditions. AIRAP transcript contains a single uORF in a poor-kozak context. AIRAP translation induction is governed by means of leaky scanning and not re-initiation. This induction of AIRAP is solely dependent on eIF1 and the uORF kozak context. We show that eIF1 is phosphorylated under specific conditions that induce protein misfolding and have biochemically characterized this site of phosphorylation. Our data indicate that leaky scanning like re-initiation is responsive to stress conditions and that leaky scanning can induce ORF translation by bypassing poor kozak context of a single uORF transcript.
Two-year Follow-up of a Pragmatic Randomised Controlled Trial Examining the Effect of Adding a Carer's Skill Training Intervention in Inpatients with Anorexia Nervosa.

BACKGROUND Active family engagement improves outcomes from adolescent inpatient care, but the impact on adult anorexia nervosa is uncertain. AIM The aim of this study was to describe the 2-year outcome following a pragmatic randomised controlled trial in which a skill training intervention (Experienced Caregivers Helping Others) for carers was added to inpatient care. METHOD Patient, caregiver and service outcomes were measured for 2 years following discharge from the index inpatient admission. RESULTS There were small-sized/moderate-sized effects and consistent improvements in all outcomes from both patients and carers in the Experienced Caregivers Helping Others group over 2 years. The marked change in body mass index and carers' time caregiving following inpatient care was sustained. Approximately 20% of cases had further periods of inpatient care. CONCLUSION In this predominately adult anorexia nervosa sample, enabling carers to provide active support and management skills may improve the benefits in all symptom domains that gradually follow from a period of inpatient care.
Immunohistochemical characterisation of Fos‐positive cells in brainstem monoaminergic nuclei following intracranial self‐stimulation of the medial forebrain bundle in the rat

Fos immunostaining was used as a marker of neuronal activity following intracranial self‐stimulation (ICSS) of the medial forebrain bundle (MFB) in the rat, and was combined with immunostaining for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), serotonin (5‐HT), γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA), or NR1 (one of the glutamate N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate receptor subunits) for purposes of neurochemical identification. ICSS induced a significant but different degree of increase in the number of Fos‐immunopositive (Fos+) cells in the six brainstem monoaminergic nuclei examined, which included the ventral tegmental area (VTA), substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc), dorsal raphe nucleus (DR), median raphe nucleus (MR), locus coeruleus (LC), and A7 noradrenaline cells. Densely labelled Fos+ cells were observed in the LC following ICSS, and many of these Fos+ cells were colocalized with TH. Similarly, many of Fos+ cells in the A7 and DR/MR were colocalized with TH and 5‐HT, respectively. By contrast, a smaller number of Fos+ cells was detected in the VTA and SNc following the ICSS, and in these regions the majority of Fos+ cells were not colocalized with TH. Although results among regions quantitatively differed, the ICSS induced a significant increase in the number of double‐labelled cells (GABA+/Fos+ or NR1+/Fos+) in all of the VTA, DR, and LC, in which the ICSS produced an ipsilaterally weighted increase in Fos‐like immunoreactivity. These results suggest that ICSS of the MFB induces differential Fos expression within monoaminergic and GABAergic neurons in brainstem monoaminergic nuclei under modulation by glutamatergic afferents.
Pressure wave propagation methods: a rich history and a bright future

The pressure wave propagation (PWP) method was developed 25 years ago to study space charges in solid dielectrics. This method has been a powerful tool in this field of research but has also proved its efficiency in adjacent fields for the characterization of materials or processes. In this paper the history of this method and its principle are recalled. The pulsed electro-acoustic (PEA) method, which can be physically described in a similar way and for which data can be analyzed in an equivalent fashion, is also presented. Examples of applications and developments are given which indicate the direction which these methods might take in the future
Methodological Advances in DEA: A survey and an application for the Dutch electricity sector

We survey the methodological advances in DEA over the last 25 years and discuss the necessary conditions for a sound empirical application. We hope this survey will contribute to the further dissemination of DEA, the knowledge of its relative strengths and weaknesses, and the tools currently available for exploiting its full potential. Our main points are illustrated by the case of the DEA study used by the regulatory office of the Dutch electricity sector (Dienst Toezicht Elektriciteitswet; Dte) for setting price caps.
The Ex-Dividend Day Behavior of Option Prices

A security purchased at the opening of trade on the ex-dividend day does not include a claim to the dividend announced earlier, yet if purchased on the previous day (the last cum-dividend day) it does. Thus, the price of a security that goes exdividend is expected to drop in this time interval. The expected price drop around the ex-dividend day has been compared to the dividend per share in various past studies (Campbell and Beranek 1955; Durand and May 1960; Elton and Gruber 1970; Kalay 1982). The documented behavior of stock prices around the ex-dividend day seems to be consistent with market efficiency, that is, it provides no profit opportunities. An interesting question that arises is whether the discontinuity in the stock price carries over to call options on the stock with similar implications for market efficiency. Because call options are unprotected against payment of dividends, their pricing has to take into account the change in the value of the underlying asset around the ex-dividend day. This point has been recognized in the literature since It is well known that the price of a share of common stock is expected to drop around the ex-dividend day. Since call options written on such underlying shares are not protected against dividend payment, a question arises as to the behavior of the prices of call options around the exdividend day. Assuming a rational exercise policy on the part of investors, it can be demonstrated that the price behavior of American call options around the ex-dividend day should not be different from that on any other arbitrarily chosen day. However, our empirical analysis using both parametric and nonparametric methods indicates that, perhaps because of a "wrong" exercise policy on the part of investors, abnormal returns are observed in certain cases. This finding casts some doubt on the presumption of efficiency of the American call option market around the exdividend day. * We wish to thank John Long, Stanley Kon, Clifford Smith, Jeremy Bulow, and Harry Friedman for helpful comments on earlier drafts of this paper. We are also indebted to David Cho and Elli Kraizberg for their assistance. Finally, the financial support of the Salomon Brothers Center for the Study of Financial Institutions, New York University, is gratefully acknowledge.
Option valuation with infinitely divisible distributions

This paper develops an axiomatic framework for option valuation when option payoffs are not spanned by spot and bond prices. This framework extends the parametric ‘risk neutral valuation’ results of Rubinstein (1976) and Brennan (1979) to general distributions. The valuation relationship preserves the divisibility properties of distributions. So by using infinitely divisible distributions the theory easily extends to continuous-time processes with independent increments. This assumption guarantees the existence and uniqueness of the desired path-independent measure. Existence merely requires one of the tails of the (continuously compounded) stock return distribution to be exponentially bounded. Continuity at a single point guarantees uniqueness. This paper illustrates the valuation technique with negative-binomial and inverse-binomial generalizations of Cox et al.'s (1979) binomial model. The continuous-time (gamma and inverse Gaussian) limits of these models generalize the Black–Scholes (1973) formula by incorporating an extra skewness parameter. The continuous-time examples include an infinite variance stable process of the type used by Mandelbrot (1963, 1966) and McCulloch (1987). The valuation theory extends to American options and other path-dependent claims.
Occupational Sex Segregation--Increasing or Decreasing?

Contrary to previous findings, the new index of sex segregation derived in this study suggests that sex segregation in the Australian workforce has been increasing. A decomposition of this new index indicates that the main reason for the increase is the increasing share of employment held by females. The decomposition also considers a number of aspects of occupations including growth rates, skill levels, and gender domination. Copyright 1988 by The Economic Society of Australia.
Long range interaction of cis‐DNA elements mediated by architectural transcription factor Bach1

A central question in vertebrate transcriptional regulation is how cis‐regulatory modules, including enhancers, silencers and promoters, communicate with each other over long distances to mandate proper gene expression. In order to address this question we analysed protein/DNA interactions in the human β‐globin locus control region (LCR). One of the many proteins that are potentially implicated in LCR function is Bach1. Bach1 possesses a basic leucine zipper (bZip) domain, as well as a BTB/POZ domain that has been shown to be involved in the regulation of chromatin structure. Bach1 forms heterodimers with small Maf proteins through its leucine zipper and binds to Maf recognition elements (MARE).
Inhibition of nitric oxide synthase evokes central sympatho‐excitation in healthy humans

Animal studies have indicated that nitric oxide is a key signalling molecule involved in the tonic restraint of central sympathetic outflow from the brainstem. Extension of these findings to humans has been difficult because systemic infusion of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitors increases blood pressure due to inhibition of endothelial NOS, resulting in activation of the arterial baroreflex and subsequent inhibition of central sympathetic outflow. To overcome this confounding inhibitory influence of the baroreflex, in the current study we directly measured skin sympathetic nerve activity (SNA), which is not under baroreceptor control. Healthy, normotensive humans were studied before, during a 60 min intravenous infusion of the NOS inhibitor NG‐nitro‐l‐arginine methyl ester (l‐NAME; 4 mg kg−1), and for 120 min following the infusion (i.e. 180 min total). Skin SNA and arterial blood pressure (BP) were continuously measured. BP was increased from baseline at the end of the l‐NAME infusion (Δ14 ± 2 mmHg; P < 0.05) and remained significantly elevated for the remainder of the experiment (Δ18 ± 3 mmHg; P < 0.05). Similarly, systemic NOS inhibition produced time‐dependent increases in skin SNA, such that skin SNA was elevated at the end of the l‐NAME infusion (total activity, 200 ± 22% baseline; P= 0.08) and was further increased at the end of the study protocol (total activity, 350 ± 41% baseline; P < 0.05). Importantly, skin SNA remained unchanged during time and hypertensive (phenylephrine) control experiments. These findings indicate that pharmacological inhibition of NOS causes sympathetic activation and support a role of nitric oxide in central sympathetic control in humans.
DASH work module in workers with hand-arm vibration syndrome.

BACKGROUND The Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand work module (DASH-W) questionnaire has not previously been described in relation to hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS). AIMS To measure work-related disability in workers with HAVS using the DASH-W questionnaire and to determine how the various components of HAVS affect the DASH-W score. METHODS Workers with HAVS from a variety of industries were assessed over a 2-year period at the occupational health clinic, St Michael's Hospital, Toronto. Subjects completed the DASH-W questionnaire and were assessed by an occupational physician to determine their Stockholm sensorineural and vascular stages and upper extremity pain score measured by the Borg scale, as an indication of musculoskeletal problems associated with HAVS. The average DASH-W score was compared with the average value for the US population. Multiple linear regression was used to determine the contribution of the various components of HAVS to the DASH-W score. RESULTS There were 139 (134 men and 5 women) participants. The subjects with HAVS had a mean DASH-W score of 54.7 (95% CI: 50.3-59.1), which was considerably higher than the average for the US population (P < 0.001). Statistically significant HAVS variables in the multiple linear regression included the Stockholm sensorineural stage (P < 0.05) and the upper extremity pain score (P < 0.001) with the pain score having the highest partial R (2) value. CONCLUSIONS Workers with HAVS reported significant upper extremity work-related disability as measured by the DASH-W questionnaire, and the upper extremity pain score made the largest contribution to the DASH-W scores in these subjects.