Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Formal Theory and Case-Study Methods in EU Studies

EU studies have long been dominated by case studies, although formal theories have made substantial inroads into the field over the past decade. This article examines the advantages and challenges of combining these two methods, with an analysis grounded in both the philosophy of science and research design. Looking at the philosophy of science highlights several practices and principles shared by formal theorists and case-study researchers. The logic of discovery in both methodologies prizes studies of puzzles that can be found in a single case. Both are inclined to retain a research program even in the face of acknowledged anomalies. In the area of research design, many formal hypotheses take functional forms that cannot be reduced to linear, additive models. Most of these hypotheses lend themselves easily to case-study methods. Thus, although research design has provided an avenue for applying the logic of statistical inference to qualitative research, case studies retain independent value.
Numerical Analysis of AC Loss Characteristics of Multi-Layer HTS Cable Assembled by Coated Conductors

In this paper, effects of geometrical configuration on AC loss characteristics of cable conductors assembled by multiple YBCO tape in polygonal arrangement were numerically studied. The previously developed numerical model was modified to analyze the AC loss in the HTS tape in the polygonally assembled multi-layer cable. By using the numerical model, the influences of the cable geometrical parameters, especially the effects of the tape width and the tape-to-tape gap, on AC loss properties were evaluated.
1 Mosquito Microbiome Dynamics , a Background for Prevalence and Seasonality of West Nile 1 Virus 2 3

1Biology, University of Massachusetts Boston, USA, 2Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Czech Republic, 3Biology Centre of ASCR, Institute of Parasitology, Czech Republic, 4Rowland Institute, Harvard University, USA, 5Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, USA, 6Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, USA, 7Sporometrics Inc, Canada, 8Department of Computer Science and Engineering, and Center for Microbiome Innovation, University of California San Diego, USA, 9Pediatrics, University of San Diego, USA, 10Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Canada
Detection of asymptomatic initial herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections in animals immunized with subunit HSV glycoprotein vaccines

The evaluation of herpes simplex virus (HSV) vaccine efficacy will require methods to detect asymptomatic acquisition of HSV infection and to assess the risk of recurrences in these patients. HSV-infected vaccinees should develop antibodies to HSV polypeptides not included in subunit vaccines. Sera from 57 HSV glycoprotein-vaccinated guinea pigs that had asymptomatic initial infections after genital HSV type 2 challenge were collected after vaccination but before HSV challenge and again 30 days after HSV challenge to determine the antibody response to HSV polypeptides. Antibodies to nonvaccine HSV polypeptides were detected in sera collected after viral challenge from 32 (56%) of these 57 animals. Twenty-six (81%) of the 32 animals with detectable antibody developed recurrent disease; however, recurrences also developed in 11 (44%) of the remaining 25 that did not show detectable antibody to nonvaccine HSV polypeptides. The magnitude of vaginal viral shedding during the initial disease period following challenge was significantly lower in animals that did not develop antibody to nonvaccine polypeptides compared with those that did develop antibody (area under the viral shedding curve, 5.2 +/- 3.2 versus 18.1 +/- 5.8; P less than 0.0001) . These data suggest that detection of antibody to nonvaccine HSV polypeptides will identify the majority (70%) of initially asymptomatic vaccinees that develop recurrent disease but that latency can be established even with markedly reduced levels of viral replication that did not induce a detectable antibody response.
Open Questions about the Link Between Natural Resources and Economic Growth: Sachs and Warner Revisited

What makes the work of Sachs and Warner (1995a, 1997a, 1997b, 1999) distinct from previous pessimistic arguments about the growth potential of natural resources is their reliance on econometric analysis. Our aim is to take the authors’ model specification as given, but we ask the following three questions:1. Is the negative effect of natural resource exports (as a share of GDP) sensitive to the time period used in the analysis? 2. Is this result sensitive to unknown omitted variables? 3. Is this result sensitive to endogeneity problems that afflict the traditional cross-sectional growth regressions? The main findings are that the SW result concerning the alleged negative effect of natural resource exports on growth does not pass the test of time, the NRX effect is probably due to unaccounted countryspecific effects, and dealing with endogeneity issues does not recover the SW result. However, we find that export revenue concentration does have quite a robust negative effect on economic growth. And ab out 50% of this effect is due to the negative correlation between export concentration and intraindustry trade and a positive correlation between export concentration and volatility of the real effective exchange rate.
Wages differentials in Ecuador: A regional approach with sample selection of Heckman and Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition

This paper estimates and decomposes wage differentials in Ecuador. Is corrected by self-selection bias with the two-step methodology proposed by Heckman (1979) and Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition (1973) is checked whether the differences found are due to the initial endowment of human capital or potential discrimination. On the other hand, examines the influence of geography and ethnicity in the level of wages. The data used are from the Survey of Income and Expenses of the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (INEC, 2009). Through decomposition is verified that the gender wage gap for men, job security for those with contract labor and marital status for married people are due to unobserved factors. While the ethnic wage gap by geographical area, natural areas and by economic sector are due to differences in the initial endowment of human capital.
Determinants of Tax Haven Utilization: Evidence from Australian Firms

type="main" xml:id="acfi12064-abs-0001"> This paper examines the major determinants of tax haven utilization based on a sample of 200 publicly listed Australian firms, over the 2006–2010 period (1,000 firm-years). Our regression results show that variables relating to transfer pricing, intangible assets, an interaction term between transfer pricing and intangible assets, withholding taxes, performance-based management remuneration and multinationality are positively associated with tax haven utilization. We also find that corporate governance structures are negatively associated with tax haven utilization. The magnitude and significance of the regression coefficients indicate that transfer pricing, withholding taxes, intangible assets, an interaction term between transfer pricing and intangible assets, corporate governance and multinationality are the most important drivers of tax haven utilization.
The Impact of Management Control Systems - Strategy Interaction on Performance Management: A Case Study

The Impact of Management Control Systems - Strategy Interaction on Performance Management: A Case Study We study the interaction between management control systems and strategy its impact on organisational performance considering the way in which multiple aspects of control systems and dimensions of context combine in a variety of ways to enhance performance. Our purpose is to investigate the relationship among management control systems, strategy and organisational performance in a particular company. The contribution of this study is that it upgrades the existing theory in that it does not only establish a relationship between strategy and management control systems, but also considers how this relationships impacts on organisational performance. The study shows that the combination of performance-driven behaviour and regular use of management control systems leads to improved results. The second contribution of the study is that it incorporates a wider range of controls, including informal controls as being equally important as formal controls, to provide a more comprehensive analysis, as opposed to the majority of prior studies focusing on a more limited range of controls. In this way, this paper contributes to the literature in terms of examination of the broader components of management control systems than was previously done.
3D electron tomography of brain tissue unveils distinct Golgi structures that sequester cytoplasmic contents in neurons

ABSTRACT Macroautophagy is morphologically characterized by autophagosome formation. Autophagosomes are double-membraned vesicles that sequester cytoplasmic components for further degradation in the lysosome. Basal autophagy is paramount for intracellular quality control in post-mitotic cells but, surprisingly, the number of autophagosomes in post-mitotic neurons is very low, suggesting that alternative degradative structures could exist in neurons. To explore this possibility, we have examined neuronal subcellular architecture by performing three-dimensional (3D) electron tomography analysis of mouse brain tissue that had been preserved through high-pressure freezing. Here, we report that sequestration of neuronal cytoplasmic contents occurs at the Golgi complex in distinct and dynamic structures that coexist with autophagosomes in the brain. These structures are composed of several concentric double-membraned layers that appear to be formed simultaneously by the direct bending and sealing of discrete Golgi stacks. These structures are labelled for proteolytic enzymes, and lysosomes and late endosomes are found in contact with them, leading to the possibility that the sequestered material could be degraded inside them. Our findings highlight the key role that 3D electron tomography, together with tissue rapid-freezing techniques, will have in gaining new knowledge about subcellular architecture. Summary: The power of new 3D imaging technologies, and optimal preservation of tissue samples, has helped to identify previously uncharacterized Golgi structures that sequester cytoplasmic material in neurons.
Construction of the marginal abatement cost curve: Retrofitting carbon capture and storage in Australia

Abstract Marginal abatement cost curves are a principal tool used for measuring the relative economic impact of emissions abatement mechanisms. Abatement curves can be constructed using either a top-down approach based on aggregated microeconomic models or using a bottom-up approach based on an engineering assessment that analyses different technical potentials for emission reductions. While top-down models offer simplicity and ease of interpretation, they are not as robust as the bottom-up approach, particularly for assessing the implications of new technologies such as carbon capture and storage (CCS). Using a bottom-up approach and incorporating real options analysis, this study redefines the relative abatement costs for retrofitting post-combustion CCS technology to coal-fired generators and then reconstructs the Australian marginal emissions abatement curve. The revised curve provides power generators and other industry sectors with more accurate and stable abatement cost estimates for these technologies relative to alternate abatement options.
Applications of Neural Network Radial Basis Function in Economics and Financial Time Series

In this paper we present the Radial Basis Neural Network Function. We examine some simple numerical examples of time-series in economics and finance. The forecasting performance is significant superior, especially in financial time-series, to traditional econometric modeling indicating that artificial intelligence procedure are more appropriate. Some MATLAB routines are presented for further application research.
Political Competition and Fiscal Equalisation

Most federations, including Australia, have systems of fiscal equalisation which transfer income between States. Economists have long studied the economic efficiency and equity arguments for and against such transfers. This paper concentrates instead on the political aspect; namely, it asks whether federal political parties wishing to maximise their expected votes at election time would ever support a system of equalisation, particularly one which mandates efficient transfers of the type studied by economists. The answer, found using a two-State model of a federation in which voters are mobile, is in the affirmative: the political process delivers an efficient and equitable system of equalisation. However, the result depends on certain assumptions. The implications of these assumptions are explored.
Protein 2A of grapevine fanleaf nepovirus is implicated in RNA2 replication and colocalizes to the replication site.

RNA2 of grapevine fanleaf virus is replicated in trans by the RNA1-encoded replication machinery. Full processing of the RNA2-encoded polyprotein P2 yields protein 2A of unknown function, the movement protein 2B(MP), and the coat protein 2C(CP). Analysis of a set of deletion mutants in the P2-coding sequence revealed that protein 2A is necessary but not sufficient for RNA2 replication. In addition to the 5' and 3' noncoding sequences and the 2A-coding sequence, an additional sequence coding for 2B(MP) and/or 2C(CP) or the green fluorescent protein (GFP) is necessary for RNA2 replication. When 2A fused to GFP (2AGFP) was transiently expressed in uninfected T-BY2 protoplasts, 2AGFP appeared as punctate structures evenly distributed in the cytoplasm. However, in cells cotransfected with grapevine fanleaf virus RNAs and the 2AGFP construct, 2AGFP was predominantly found in a juxtanuclear location along with 1D(pro) and 1C(VPg), two RNA1-encoded proteins involved in RNA replication. Viral RNA replication as traced by 5-bromouridine 5' triphosphate (BrUTP) incorporation into newly synthesized RNA occurred at the same location. This colocalization is consistent with the hypothesis that 2A enables RNA2 replication through its association with the replication complex assembled from RNA1-encoded proteins.
Analog and digital output lateral photodiodes fabricated by µ-Czochralski process at low temperature

We have designed and fabricated lateral photodiodes with analog and digital outputs using µ-Czochralski process. The advantage of µ-Czochralski process is crystallization of active silicon layer at low temperature using Excimer laser. In this process, predefined locations on oxide with 1µm squares, called grain filters, are formed to determine the locations of single grain silicon. Then these holes are covered by 870nm PECVD TEOS oxide at 350°C to reduce the size of holes to approximately 0. 1µm. After deposition of 250nm LPCVD amorphous silicon at 550°C, Excimer laser is irradiated on silicon at 400°C with 1500mJ/cm2 laser energy. This laser energy can give uniform square grains before ablation. It melts the silicon layer and then crystallization starts from bottom of grain filter where we have solid and un-melted silicon. This technique is suitable for stacking silicon layers to realize monolithic 3DIC. Fabricated TFTs inside single grains are comparable with SOI devices in term of high mobility and high frequency behavior characteristics. [1] The achieved motilities are 500cm2/VS for nMOS and 300cm2/VS for pMOS transistors. Figure 1 shows the schematics of this process and also SEM image of crystallized silicon. The size of grains is more sensitive to laser energy and in average they are in 6µm squares.
Predation’s Role in Life-History Evolution of a Livebearing Fish and a Test of the Trexler-DeAngelis Model of Maternal Provisioning

Populations experiencing consistent differences in predation risk and resource availability are expected to follow divergent evolutionary trajectories. For example, live-history theory makes specific predictions for how predation should drive life-history evolution, and according to the Trexler-DeAngelis model for the evolution of matrotrophy, postfertilization maternal provisioning is most likely to evolve in environments with consistent, high levels of resource availability. Using the model system of Bahamas mosquitofish (Gambusia hubbsi) inhabiting blue holes with and without the piscivorous bigmouth sleeper (Gobiomorus dormitor), we provide some of the strongest tests of these predictions to date, as resource availability does not covary with predation regime in this system, and we examine numerous (14) isolated natural populations. We found clear evidence for the expected life-history divergence between predation regimes and empirical support of the Trexler-DeAngelis model. Moreover, based on molecular and lab-rearing data, our study offers strong evidence for convergent evolution of similar life histories in similar predation regimes, largely matching previous phenotypic patterns observed in other poeciliid lineages (Brachyrhaphis spp., Poecilia reticulata), and further supports the notion that matrotrophy is most likely to evolve in stable high-resource environments.
A controlled experiment with Usability Inspection Techniques applied to Use Case Specifications: comparing the MIT 1 and the UCE techniques

A Use Case Model is composed of use cases that describe software functionalities through Use Case Specifications. The evaluation of the specifications that compose such a model can allow for an early identification of usability defects. We previously proposed MIT 1-Model Inspection Technique for Usability Evaluation that aims to support the identification of usability defects through the evaluation of use cases specifications. In this paper, we present the evaluation of this technique through a controlled experiment that measured its efficiency, effectiveness, perceived ease of use, and perceived usefulness when compared to the Use Case Evaluation (UCE) method. Our quantitative findings indicate that MIT 1 allows users to find more usability defects in less time than UCE. However, UCE was considered easiest to use and more useful than MIT 1, highlighting improvement needs for MIT 1.
Brain macrophages synthesize interleukin‐1 and interleukin‐1 mRNAs in vitro

Amoeboid microglial cells (brain macrophages) were purified from early post‐natal mouse brain cultures. The percentage of cells stained with an anti‐Mac‐1 antibody was > 95%. Stimulation of these brain macrophages by lipopolysaccharides induced the synthesis of interleukin‐1 (IL‐1), which, in part, remained associated with the cell surface and, in part, was released into the culture medium. In contrast, pure primary astrocyte cultures and cell lines of transformed or immortalised astrocytes did not synthesise significant amounts of IL‐1, demonstrating that amoeboid microglia and not astrocytes synthesise IL‐1 in vitro. These physiological data were confirmed by RNA hybridisation studies showing that, on LPS treatment, brain macrophages synthesise significant amounts of IL‐1α and IL‐1 β mRNAs.
Active Labour Market Policy and Unemployment Scarring: A Ten-year Swedish Panel Study

Abstract Previous studies have shown mixed results concerning the effects of participation in active labour market policy programmes (ALMPs) on the longer-term scars in the form of poor income development and low job stability following the end of an unemployment spell. Most previous studies, however, have been limited both in the time frame used and to particular programmes. We argue that human capital investments are long-term investments and should therefore also be investigated from a long-term perspective. ALMP training and ALMPs as subsidised employment also represent different types of human capital investments that may produce effects that are differently distributed over time. In order to handle these issues, this article uses a longitudinal register-based dataset in which all long-term (more than six months) unemployed Swedes in 1993, who had no labour market problems in 1992, were followed for ten years. We found positive effects of ALMP participation concerning both the probability of reaching pre-unemployment incomes and a reduction in the hazard of exiting the labour market, while the effect on the probability of having an unemployment-free year was mixed. The effects of the two forms of ALMPs were differently distributed over time, with ALMP employment having an immediate effect that decreased relatively quickly and ALMP training having a longer-term effect.
Public service improvement: Current developments and future research agendas

The quality of public services has become a top priority for all of the main political parties and a key election battleground in the UK. In its first term the current government launched a plethora of new initiatives designed to drive up standards in the health service, schools, the police and local government. In its second term it increased the range and reach of these policies and added large real terms increases in public spending to the mix. As part of this broader picture there has been a series of major initiatives designed to transform the politics and performance of local authorities (Martin, 2002). The first major policy, the Best Value regime, was initially conceived as a way of delivering on a manifesto promise to remove the requirement for councils to submit services to compulsory competitive tendering whilst keeping up the pressure on in-house teams. Authorities in England and Wales (the duty of Best Value was implemented in a different form in Scotland) were required to test the competitiveness of all of their functions over a five year period and to achieve annual efficiency savings of at least 2.5 per cent. However, many simply ignored these elements of the regime and, in the absence of effective monitoring of the level of efficiency savings achieved, Best Value reviews, and the associated inspections, became increasingly focused on whether service standards were improving rather than economy and efficiency.
Response to Comments by William M. Bowen

We appre ci ate the obvi ous and con struc tive care that Bill Bowen (1999 [this issue]) has taken in com ment ing on our piece. Fur ther prog ress in under stand ing envi ron mental equity depends on ana lysts of his rigor, and we join him in wel com ing more and bet ter qual ity research into these ques tions. Of course, we con fess to feel ing damned by faint praise, espe cially his assess ment that our work is “among the best in the often rather bleak larger body of empiri cal research. ” Indeed, nearly his entire cri tique is about the field as a whole. Of his three spe cific criti cisms of our piece—(a) that we offered a cur sory lit era ture review, (b) that our loca tion choice may be arbi trary and our inclu sion of non in dus trial cen sus tracts prob lem atic, and (c) that we failed to con sider spa tial depend ence—only the first is both accu rate and unique to our work. We make three cen tral points below. First, liv ing proxi mate to a known toxic release can pres ent a real risk to health and is, at best, per ceived to be a haz ard (U.S. Coun cil on Envi ron men tal Qual ity, 1980). Sec ond, although we have not dem on strated cau sal ity (and can not, given cer tain limi ta tions of the Toxic Release Inven tory [TRI] data), our evi dence does dem on strate that prox im ity to TRI releases—and hence, real and/or per ceived real risk—is dis pro por tion ately dis trib uted by race in south ern Cali for nia, thus set ting the stage for exactly the sort of cau sal ity research and for mal risk assess ment Bowen wants. Third, that race mat ters, even after con trol ling for income, resi dent job mix, indus trial land use, and popu la tion den sity, is not “largely irrele vant in terms of mak ing bet ter pol icy deci sions”; rather, the results here should at least raise pub lic pol icy flags with regard to both siting deci sions and infor ma tional flows.