Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
CULTURAL DETERMINANTS OF NEW PUBLIC MANAGEMENT REFORMS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY

The purpose of the present paper is twofold. Firstly, it proposes, on the basis of existing approaches, a synthesising model of public management reforms. Secondly, it examines a central question related to the proposed model. Namely, it seeks to decide whether the typical organisational culture of government administration is “responsible” for cross-country differences in NPM patterns. This is done based on a comparative case study of the administrative cultures of the Australian (Queensland) and the Hungarian governmental administration. The basic finding of the study is that the culture profiles of the two administrative (sub-)systems are surprisingly similar. This finding is used to conclude that (i) the organisational level of administrative culture is unlikely to play a significant role in shaping NPM reforms; (ii) alternative explanations - e.g. directing attention towards the role of national culture - seem to offer a promising direction for future research.
Not‐For‐Profit Ratios for Financial Resilience and Internal Accountability: A Study of Australian International Aid Organisations

Not-for-profit (NFP) financial ratio research has focused primarily on organisational efficiency measurements for external stakeholders. Ratios that also capture information about stability, capacity (liquidity), gearing and sustainability, enable an assessment of financial resilience. They are thus valuable tools that can provide a framework of internal accountability between boards and management. The establishment of an Australian NFP regulator highlights the importance of NFP sustainability, and affirms the timeliness of this paper. We propose a suite of key financial ratios for use by NFP boards and management, and demonstrate its practical usefulness by applying the ratios to financial data from the 2009 reports of ACFID (Australian Council for International Development)-affiliated international aid organisations.
The effect of product market strategies on the financial and ownership structures of firms

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to test whether product market strategies have any effect on managerial shareholdings, leverage usage and firm diversification. Design/methodology/approach - The paper focuses on a sample of US manufacturing firms and defines variables to proxy for product quality, ownership, financing and diversification. Regressions were run to test hypotheses. Findings - A positive relation was found between product quality and managerial ownership and a negative relation between product quality and use of leverage. Also, controlling for firm size, it was found that firm focus is concave in managerial shareholdings. Research limitations/implications - Although the paper provides a path towards understanding intra-industry variations in corporate capital structures, it is recognized that additional research on such variations is warranted. Practical implications - The paper provides an explanation for the evidence that all-equity firms are distinguished by large management shareholdings. In fact, one such firm, Microsoft Corporation, provides one of the best examples of the paper's argument on why concentrated managerial shareholdings and financial slack facilitate an aggressive approach to protect a firm's margins. Originality/value - This paper contributes to the literature, which relates product market competition to corporate capital structure and uses a different regression model than used in prior research. Specifically, the quasi-likelihood approach for fractional variables was used. Ownership variables are fractional variables that are not censored or logistic normally distributed, as presumed in some prior literature.
The NEI-VFQ-25 in people with long-term type 1 diabetes mellitus: the Wisconsin Epidemiologic Study of Diabetic Retinopathy.

OBJECTIVES To examine the association of the 25-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ-25) overall and specific scale scores with visual acuity, diabetic retinopathy, and other characteristics, in a cohort of persons with type 1 diabetes. DESIGN Population-based cohort study. SETTING An 11-county area in southern Wisconsin. PARTICIPANTS Six hundred two persons with diabetes whose conditions were diagnosed when they were younger than 30 years and who were currently taking insulin participated in baseline, 4-year, 10-year, and 14-year follow-up examinations. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES An interview that consisted of the 25-item NEI-VFQ was completed. Visual acuity was measured by the Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) protocol and the presence and severity of retinopathy and macular edema were detected by masked grading of stereoscopic color fundus photographs using the modified Airlie House classification and the ETDRS retinopathy severity scheme. RESULTS Univariate analyses revealed that the total NEI-VFQ-25 score was lower in persons who were older, had a longer duration of diabetes, higher glycosylated hemoglobin, were in renal failure, had a history of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, or amputation of a lower limb, had poorer visual acuity, more severe diabetic retinopathy, macular edema, glaucoma, cataract, abnormalities in tactile sensation or temperature sensitivity, smoked more total pack-years, led a more sedentary lifestyle, and had poor peak expiratory flow. In multivariate analyses, while controlling for the physical and mental component scores from the Medical Outcomes Survey 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey as measures of comorbidity, lower total NEI-VFQ-25 scores were independently associated with poorer visual acuity, more severe retinopathy, older age, history of loss of tactile sensation, and more total pack-years of cigarettes smoked. CONCLUSIONS In this cross-sectional study, the 25-item NEI-VFQ seems to be strongly associated with vision, independent of severity of retinopathy and other complications associated with type 1 diabetes. It may be a useful measure of health-related quality of life as it relates to vision in epidemiological studies and clinical trials in persons with diabetes.
The talent deal and journey

Purpose – An organisation’s management of talent is central to its opportunity to benefit from human capital (HC). Closer examination of the impact of strategic talent management (STM) on the psychological contract (PC) and employee organisation relationship of talented employees is imperative if STM is to achieve intended organisational performance outcomes. Conceptualising the talented-employee perception of exchange as the “talent deal” and experience of STM over time as the “talent journey”, an empirical research model is introduced. The paper aims to discuss these issue. Design/methodology/approach – The model examines employee perceptions of STM, locating the employee response to STM within the wider SHRM-performance linkage. Findings – The research model theorises the PC of talented employees is modified by talent identification and STM is experienced through a series of significant career events. Research limitations/implications – Further developing theory within the emerging field of STM, the paper extends STM, SHRM and organisational behaviour literatures by considering the employee’s psychological response to STM. Empirical study considerations are presented. Practical implications – The “talent deal” and “talent journey” illustrate the employee experience of STM, drawing management attention to the consequences of talent identification including potential risk of altered expectations. Originality/value – Considering the employee centrally in STM, the model theorises the impact of STM on the talented employee’s PC and their relationship. Introducing the talent deal and talent journey provides a lens to examine the attitudes of talented employees relative to the broader workforce. The model frames future multi-level research of the association between the “Talent Deal” and performance outcomes.
Analysis of mosquito bloodmeals by DNA profiling

Abstract. Human specific genetic markers have been used to profile the human DNA found within a mosquito bloodmeal. In this technique, variable numbers of tandem repeat (VNTR) sequences are employed to prime amplification of human DNA in the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the radiolabeled products are analysed by high resolution denaturing gel electrophoresis. Matching of DNA profiles allows identification of the individual human host.
Portfolio management of development projects in Danish municipalities

Purpose – Danish municipalities are undergoing continuous changes. An important part of these changes are the introduction and implementation of a wide range of development projects. The purpose of this paper is to focus on the challenges of initiation and implementation of development projects in municipalities. Design/methodology/approach – The focus is on development projects, which are defined as projects undertaken to improve the workflow and processes of administrative functions in municipalities. The empirical component is based on two pilot interviews in two municipalities and a quantitative questionnaire distributed to all Danish municipalities. Findings – Extant literature contains limited contributions regarding the overall management of development projects in municipalities. There seems to be an awareness of the importance of developing working procedures to ensure greater efficiency in Danish municipalities, but this development is often not prioritised relative to operational tasks. The abs.
Search for virus nucleic acid sequences in postmortem human brain tissue using in situ hybridization technology with cloned probes: Some solutions and results on progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy and subacute sclerosing panencephalitis tissue

In order to obtain a useful and readily applicable in situ hybridization (ISH) protocol for progressive central nervous system (CNS) diseases of unknown etiology that are possibly due to persistent viral infection, known and well described diseases were studied, namely, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) and subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE). The procedures described were validated by confirming results obtained by other investigators using histology, immunocytochemistry, electron microscopy, and ISH. A number of frequently encountered problems of tissue preparation are addressed as well as techniques to reduce autoradiography exposure times. A multi‐staged specific, sensitive, reliable, and valid procedure for detection of viral genomes, mRNA and proteins is approached.
Serodiagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection in childhood

Sera from 100 children (ages, 6 to 16 years) presenting with upper gastrointestinal symptoms were examined for antibodies to Helicobacter pylori by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) based on crude, loosely cell-associated antigens and a partially purified urease antigen preparation. All children underwent endoscopy, and 20 children were shown to have H. pylori infection by histology or direct culture. Serum anti-H. pylori immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels (crude antigen) were clearly raised in the infected group, particularly after preabsorption of sera against a Campylobacter jejuni antigen preparation, while IgM and IgA ELISA determinations did not discriminate between infected and H. pylori-negative patients. Only 14 children in the infected group had raised anti-urease IgG levels. Two patients in whom the organism was not demonstrated or cultured had raised specific IgG levels against both crude and urease antigens and pathological features consistent with H. pylori disease. Immunoblotting studies did not reveal any single protein antigen or simple combination of antigens that could be considered as a candidate for a more defined serodiagnostic reagent. Anti-H. pylori antibody determinations (crude antigen) performed on posttreatment samples from children in whom the organism could no longer be demonstrated suggested that sustained IgG levels may not be a reliable index of treatment failure. An IgG ELISA based on crude, loosely cell-associated antigens of H. pylori can be used for the serodiagnosis of H. pylori infection in childhood.
Extended C termini of CPC-LIKE MYB proteins confer functional diversity in Arabidopsis epidermal cell differentiation

The CAPRICE (CPC) gene encodes a R3-type MYB transcription factor that promotes differentiation of root hair cells in Arabidopsis thaliana. Here, we have compared the functions of five CPC-homologous genes for epidermal cell differentiation using CPC promoter-driven transgenic plants. Our results show that TRIPTYCHON (TRY) and ENHANCER OF TRY AND CPC2 (ETC2) were less effective in root hair cell differentiation and were unstable in root epidermal cells when compared with CPC, ETC1 or CPC LIKE MYB3 (CPL3). The deletion of the extended C-terminal domain of TRY and ETC2 enhanced protein stability and conferred the ability to induce root hair cell differentiation on them. Treatment with MG132, a proteasome inhibitor, also led to the accumulation of TRY, indicating that TRY proteolysis is mediated by the proteasome-dependent pathway. Our results indicate that the CPC family includes relatively stable (CPC, ETC1 and CPL3) and unstable (TRY and ETC2) proteins that might be degraded by the proteasome. Our findings provide new insights into the regulatory mechanism of CPC family proteins that mediate root hair cell differentiation and should be useful in understanding epidermal development. Summary: The Arabidopsis CPC-LIKE MYB family, which regulates root hair cell differentiation, includes highly unstable proteins whose proteolysis might be mediated by the ubiquitin/proteasome-dependent pathway.
Weak-form market efficiency and nonlinearity: evidence from Middle East and African stock indices

This study examines the existence of nonlinear serial dependence in five stock markets in the Middle East and Africa. The results from the application of a battery of nonlinearity tests reveal that after removing all short-term linear dependence, the stock returns still contain predictable nonlinearities that contradict the unpredictable criterion of weak-form efficient markets hypothesis.
A Guide to Public Debt Equations

This document is a practical guide to the main equations describing and related to Public Debt. We derive all the equations presented and highlight their mathematical meaning. An application of these equations is in Cafiso (2012) for some EU countries.This is the 3rd version of this document (November 2012). The main novelty with respect to the previuos version (January 2012) is the introduction of section 3 which considers the case of foreign-currency denominated debt.
Clinical trial to assess the relative efficacy of fluorouracil and leucovorin, fluorouracil and levamisole, and fluorouracil, leucovorin, and levamisole in patients with Dukes' B and C carcinoma of the colon: results from National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project C-04.

PURPOSE To compare the efficacy of leucovorin-modulated fluorouracil (FU+LV) with that of fluorouracil and levamisole (FU+LEV) or with the combination of FU+LV and levamisole (FU+LV+LEV). PATIENTS AND METHODS Between July 1989 and December 1990, 2,151 patients with Dukes' B (stage II) and Dukes' C (stage III) carcinoma of the colon were entered onto National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowl Project protocol C-04. Patients were randomly assigned to receive FU+LV (weekly regimen), FU + LEV, or the combination of FU+LV+LEV. The average time on study was 86 months. RESULTS A pairwise comparison between patients treated with FU+LV or FU+LEV disclosed a prolongation in disease-free survival (DFS) in favor of the FU+LV group (65% v 60%; P =.04); there was a small prolongation in overall survival that was of borderline significance (74% v 70%; P =.07). There was no difference in the pairwise comparison between patients who received FU+LV or FU+LV+LEV for either DFS (65% v 64%; P =.67) or overall survival (74% v 73%; P =.99). There was no interaction between Dukes' stage and the effect of treatment. CONCLUSION In patients with Dukes' B and C carcinoma of the colon, treatment with FU+LV seems to confer a small DFS advantage and a borderline prolongation in overall survival when compared with treatment with FU+LEV. The addition of LEV to FU+LV does not provide any additional benefit over and above that achieved with FU+LV. These findings support the use of adjuvant FU+LV as an acceptable therapeutic standard in patients with Dukes' B and C carcinoma of the colon.
The Cultural Diversity of European Unity: Findings, Explanations and Reflections from the European Values Study

* Country differences in sex-role attitudes: Cultural and economic explanations (Kalmijn) * Cross-national differences in public consent to divorce: Effects of cultural, structural and compositional factors (Gelissen) * Religious and moral pluralism in contemporary Europe (Draulans, Halman) * Unity produces diversity: The economics of Europe's social capital (Bovenberg) * European identity and inter-religious dialogue (Hirsch Ballin) * One European world of welfare or many: The role of values, behavior and institutions (Muffels) * European surrogate (Berns) * He who tears down also builds up. Literature and the debate on norms and values (Goedegebuure) * Europe: A question onto itself? (Loose)
School accountability reforms and the use of special education

This paper analyses the relationship between Norwegian school reform implementation and the use of special education. After the introduction of the national reform programme called the ‘Kunnskapsløftet’ (‘Knowledge promotion’) in 2006, the use of special education has increased dramatically in Norway. As part of the national reform, municipalities were encouraged to implement accountability elements in their governing systems. There is evidence that the municipalities have implemented the reform to varying degrees and at different points in time. I exploit these variations in timing to investigate whether the growth in the use of special education reflects the degree of reform implementation in these municipalities. The variation in the timing of reform implementation is exploited by means of the application of a Jacobsen, Lalonde, and Sullivan [1993. “Earning Losses of Displaced Workers. ” The American Economic Review 83 (4): 685–709] strategy. I find that increases in the proportion of special-education placements are significantly smaller in municipalities with a high degree of reform implementation.
A Markov Switching Vector Error Correction Model on Oil Price and Gold Price Effect on Stock Market Returns

Stock market index represent a country growth and always as an interest for economist and statisticians. In this paper, the effect of oil price and gold price on stock market index on Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia are investigated and a two-regime Markov Switching Vector Error Correction model is used to examine the nonlinear properties model. Moreover, a two regime mean adjusted Markov Switching Vector Error Correction model is used in the study to capture the filtered and smoothed probabilities of the time series sequence in the economic model. Results found that the oil price and gold price affect the movement of the Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia stock market index and there is an asymmetric cycle since 97% of the total sample size is recorded in the growth state.
‘Nothing about us without us’: considerations for research involving young people

Research development in the adolescent health arena is increasingly called for, given the relative lack of robust data on the health of young people. However, specific issues need to be considered when researching this age group. Such issues include participation of young people in the research process, availability of adolescent-specific data, developmental considerations and the interface between paediatric and adult-orientated healthcare. The aim of this paper is to highlight the importance of participation of young people in research and to discuss the key areas for consideration for practitioners when conducting research involving young people.
A contribution for the evaluation of the territorial impact of transport infrastructures in the early stages of the EIA: application to the Huelva (Spain)–Faro (Portugal) rail link

The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) procedure should predict and identify the major impacts of a project development that may cause specific spatial and temporal effects. Early in the EIA, the scoping stage provides all the relevant information on the impacts of the project alternatives. In particular, potential effects on the territorial network such as habitat connectivity loss and accessibility improvements should be taken into account in the various proposed layout alternatives when evaluating transport infrastructure projects. However, several authors have identified deficiencies in practice. The aim of this article is to provide a methodology for the assessment of these territorial impacts using adequate indicators in the early stages of the EIA procedure. The proposed method is based on a comparison of a range of alternative layouts for a railway line linking two population centres, using indicators calculated with geographic information systems. The methodology was applied to a case study – the rail link between Huelva (Spain) and Faro (Portugal) – and the high speed rail (HSR) and conventional rail were evaluated in different layouts. The method was effective in spatially identifying significant impacts on accessibility improvements, which occurred closer to the cross border area. The conventional railway alternatives have similar accessibility values to the HSR. The results also reveal that connectivity loss is not limited to the area around the infrastructure, but extends throughout the territory. The results are at variance with the initiative proposed by Spanish and Portuguese transport decision-makers, and raise the possibility of selecting a conventional railway option. An adequate territorial evaluation methodology enables the new action to be correctly assessed, and supplies the information required to propose the most suitable alternative from a socio-economic and environmental standpoint, regardless of whether this proposal was initially included in the transport policy.