Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Estimating the Indirect Costs of Resettlement due to Dam Construction: A Japanese Case Study

In order to help clarify the true costs of resettlement for dam construction, the measures taken for consensus building and livelihood rehabilitation for people affected by the Miyagase Dam, a state-of-the-art dam in Japan that started operating in 2000, were studied. An area of 490 ha was submerged and the number of displace households was 281. While the dam construction project lasted for 30 years, resettlement-related activities, such as compensation negotiations and the establishment of resettlement sites, continued for 20 years after the announcement of the dam project. ‘Direct’ compensation costs, which were included in the official project cost, include financial compensation for submerged land and property. They are estimated at about ¥24.5 billion. ‘Indirect’ compensation costs are not included in the official project cost. The largest component of the indirect compensation costs was the various projects conducted based on the Upstream Regional Stimulation Plan, amounting to a total of ¥67.9 billion. Based on the Plan, 85 projects were implemented, including slope reinforcement, village roads, waterworks and sewerage works, schools, afforestation, parks, childcare centres and waste treatment facilities. In addition to the projects, resettlement sites were offered at lower rates than the values of adjacent land, and the total difference in costs amounted to ¥3.3 billion. Moreover, ¥2.8 billion was paid as ‘gratitude money’ to people displaced by the dam. The total indirect compensation costs including personnel costs for officers devoted to the resettlement are estimated at ¥78.6 billion. The direct compensation costs amount to only 6.1% of the officially announced total project costs of ¥399.3 billion. If indirect compensation costs are also included, the total project costs would amount to ¥477.9 billion, and the total direct and indirect compensation costs of ¥103.1 billion would amount to 21.5% of total project costs.
Evidence Based Education e modelli di valutazione formativa per le scuole

Evidence Based Education and School Education Evaluation Models Evidence Based Education (EBE) is emerging as an approach focusing on the problem of reliability in educational research, on its theoretical foundations, and on the relationship between research and decision-making. On the latter, less well known are the implications resulting from it for the development of innovative school evaluation systems based on dynamic methods, and thus differing from static models based on raw data compared to general standards. We shall firstly provide a brief summary of the EBE approach as well as the main research centers and general issues in this field. Then, we will show how notions of feedback and formative assessment, currently recognized as really effective individual learning strategies, can act as reference points for school evaluation and orientation models, by introducing the New Zealand system, developed with the collaboration of John Hattie, one of the most representative of the EBE approach, which suggests to move from a static to a dynamic accountability.
A state-based fitness function for the integration testing of object-oriented programs

Testing object-oriented program is quite challenging task due to the nature of its features like inheritance and polymorphism. In practice test case generation is the most laborious and resource consuming process in software testing hence generating test data for object-oriented programs is even more challenging and effort demanding. Object-oriented evolutionary testing aims at automating test case generation process using evolutionary strategies like Genetic Algorithm. Evolutionary testing gives a helping hand to the software testers to speed up the process and to reduce the amount of project resources. The existing approaches provide sound platform to the researchers to take the work further to meet the challenges that object-oriented paradigm has introduced. One of the limitations in existing approaches is that they combine branch distance of object's state variables with local variables that leaves no guidance for the search process whether object has gained desired state or not. We propose a state-based fitness function for the evolutionary testing of object-oriented programs that can solve object's state problem by evaluating object's state as an independent segment of overall test case fitness. Our initial experiments show that by separating object's state evaluation, search gets better guidance to prevent object's state problem.
Proliferation centres in B‐cell malignant lymphoma, lymphocytic (B‐CLL): an immunophenotypic study

Proliferation centres, also known as pseudofollicles, are present in approximately 90% of lymphocytic lymphomas (B‐CLL). They consist of loosely arranged larger cells that often contain prominent nucleoli. In contrast to true B‐cell follicles, which may be found entrapped within the small lymphocytic infiltrate in sections of B‐CLL, proliferation centres are said not to contain follicular dendritic cells, although their presence has been occasionally recorded. We have carried out an immunohistochemical study of proliferation centres from 30 lymph node specimens of known cases of B‐CLL, classified according to the Kiel classification, in six of which fresh frozen in addition to paraffin embedded tissue was available. We have compared proliferation centres with the surrounding small lymphocytic infiltrate and reactive B‐cell follicles with respect to the presence of follicular dendritic cells and their associated network of IgM and complement, the cell proliferation fraction, the concentration of T‐cells and the expression of bcl‐2 protein. Most proliferation centres contained a delicate follicular dendritic cell network which was associated with IgM and complement, and showed a higher proliferation fraction than the surrounding small lymphocytic infiltrate. The proliferation centres contained more T‐cells than the surrounding infiltrate and showed decreased expression of bcl‐2 protein. Entrapped reactive B‐cell follicles contained a much denser network of follicular dendritic cells, associated with much stronger expression of IgM and complement, and exhibited a very high proliferation fraction; they contained many T‐cells and expressed very little bcl‐2 protein. These results show that proliferation centres share many properties with reactive B‐cell follicles and suggest that they may be centres of antigen driven proliferation.
On Price Recognition and Computational Complexity in a Monopolistic Model

A single seller of an indivisible good operates in a market with many consumers who differ in their ability to process information. The consumers' constraints are modeled in two submodels: the first in terms of the limits on the number of sets in the partition of the price space, and the second in terms of the limits on the complexity of the operation he can use to process a price offer. For the construction of the second submodel, the tool of a "perceptron" is borrowed from the parallel computation literature. Assuming a negative correlation between the seller's cost of supply of the good and the consumer's ability to process information, I demonstrate that the heterogeneity of consumer's abilities can be used by the seller to profitably discriminate among them.
A functional network module for Smith–Magenis syndrome

Disorders with overlapping diagnostic features are grouped into a network module. Based on phenotypic similarities or differential diagnoses, it is possible to identify functional pathways leading to individual features. We generated a Smith–Magenis syndrome (SMS)‐specific network module utilizing patient clinical data, text mining from the Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man database, and in vitro functional analysis. We tested our module by functional studies based on a hypothesis that RAI1 acts through phenotype‐specific pathways involving several downstream genes, which are altered due to RAI1 haploinsufficiency. A preliminary genome‐wide gene expression study was performed using microarrays on RAI1 haploinsufficient cells created by RNAi‐based ∼50% knockdown of RAI1 in HEK293T cells. The top dysregulated genes were involved in growth signaling and insulin sensitivity, neuronal differentiation, lipid biosynthesis and fat mobilization, circadian activity, behavior, renal, cardiovascular and skeletal development, gene expression, and cell‐cycle regulation and recombination, reflecting the spectrum of clinical features observed in SMS. Validation using real‐time quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction confirmed the gene expression profile of 75% of the selected genes analyzed in both HEK293T RAI1 knockdown cells and SMS lymphoblastoid cell lines. Overall, these data support a method for identifying genes and pathways responsible for individual clinical features in a complex disorder such as SMS.
Centralization Phenomenon as a Prognostic Factor for Chronic Low Back Pain and Disability

Study Design. Two hundred twenty-three consecutive adults with acute low back pain with or without referred spinal symptoms were treated conservatively and followed prospectively for 1 year. Objectives. To investigate the predictive value of centralization phenomenon (CP) with psychosocial variables previously identified as important risk factors for patients with acute onset of nonserious or nonspecific low back pain who subsequently develop chronic pain or disability. Summary of Background Data. Psychosocial factors have been shown to be predictors of chronic disability, but measures from physical examination rarely predict chronic behavior. The authors of the present study investigated whether dynamic assessment of changes in clinical measures during treatment could be used to classify patients and predict occurrence of chronic pain or disability. Methods. Patients with acute symptoms and no history of surgery were treated by five physical therapists trained in McKenzie evaluation/treatment methods. Seventy-three percent were receiving workers’ compensation benefits. At initial evaluation and discharge, 23 independent variables were assessed representing psychosocial, clinical, and demographic factors. Pain location changes to repeated trunk movements were assessed at every visit. Patients were placed in two groups: 1) those with pain that did not centralize and 2) those who completely centralized or demonstrated partial reduction of pain location with time. Treatment was individualized and based on McKenzie methods. Patients were contacted at 12 months after discharge, and dependent variables of pain intensity, return to work status, sick leave at work, activity interference at home, and continued use of health care were assessed. Results. Nine independent variables influenced pain symptoms or disability. Pain pattern classification (noncentralization) and leg pain at intake were the strongest predictive variables of chronicity. Conclusion. Dynamic assessment of change in anatomic pain location during treatment and leg pain at intake were predictors of developing chronic pain and disability.
Can Consumer Confidence Forecast Household Spending? Evidence from the European Commission Business and Consumer Surveys

This paper represents a first formal attempt to examine the ability of consumer confidence to forecast household spending within a multicountry framework. To this end, we use two confidence indices, namely the Consumer Confidence Indicator and the Economic Sentiment Indicator, both of which are derived from the European Commission Business and Consumer Survey. As in previous single-country investigations, we find that there is much variability in the in-sample incremental forecasting performance of the confidence indices for the countries canvassed. Further, the results of our out-of-sample tests indicate that the confidence indices considered provide limited information about the future path of household spending.
Cybersecurity and privacy issues for socially integrated mobile healthcare applications operating in a multi-cloud environment

Social media has enabled information-sharing across massively large networks of people without spending much financial resources and time that are otherwise required in the print and electronic media. Mobile-based social media applications have overwhelmingly changed the information-sharing perspective. However, with the advent of such applications at an unprecedented scale, the privacy of the information is compromised to a larger extent if breach mitigation is not adequate. Since healthcare applications are also being developed for mobile devices so that they also benefit from the power of social media, cybersecurity privacy concerns for such sensitive applications have become critical. This article discusses the architecture of a typical mobile healthcare application, in which customized privacy levels are defined for the individuals participating in the system. It then elaborates on how the communication across a social network in a multi-cloud environment can be made more secure and private, especially for healthcare applications.
THE CAUSE OF HIGHER ECONOMIC GROWTH: ASSESSING THE LONG-TERM AND SHORT-TERM RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN ECONOMIC GROWTH AND GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE

This study examines the cause of higher (5% or more) economic growth rates in countries around the world over the past 35 years. It explores the long- and short-term relationships between GDP and government expenditures in these countries. A panel data set of 60 countries over the period from 1976 to 2010 is deployed to implement pooled mean group estimation. Countries are divided into three economic growth rate groups: high, middle, and low. Panel-based/error correction models are used to estimate long-term equilibrium relationships and short-term dynamics between government expenditures and GDP growth rates. Results indicate that the hypothesis of a common long-term elasticity and a short-term dynamic relationship between GDP growth rates and government expenditures cannot be rejected for high group countries, whereas for middle group countries this is true only for the long term, not for the short term. No long-term or short-term relationship between these two variables exists for low-growth-rate countries.
Exploring The Link Between Organizational Strategy And The Employment Relationship: The Role Of Human Resources Policies

Links between organizational strategy, human resources (HR) policies, and the employment relationship are investigated through surveys of US executives and HR managers. Human resources policies are measured as both an overall philosophy (an internal to an external focus) and a series of items. the items factor into four dimensions: retention, staffing, performance and compensation. Results indicate that staffing policies are associated with organizational strategy. Retention policies are related to the employment relationship. However, the overall HR philosophy is not related to either organizational strategy or the employment relationship. the findings indicate that relationships between organizational strategy, HR and the employment relationship are more complex than previous models had indicated.
Seclusion and Restraint in Patients With Schizophrenia: Clinical and Biographical Correlates

Seclusion and restraint represent adverse experiences that cause negative attitudes against psychiatric treatment and psychopathologic sequels such as posttraumatic stress disorder. We examined 117 consecutive admissions with schizophrenia, with an average of 8.7 previous admissions. Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale and Global Assessment of Functioning were obtained at admission and discharge, and traumatic events in the biography were recorded using the Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale. Twenty-four men (42.9%) and 18 women (29.0%) had experienced seclusion or restraint in their psychiatric history. Seclusion or restraint during the present admission was best predicted in a logistic regression model by physical aggressive behavior [odds ratio (OR), 11.5] and the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale hostility item at admission (OR, 23.6). Seclusion or restraint ever in the psychiatric history, however, was mostly associated with lifetime exposure to life-threatening traumatic events (OR, 7.2). We conclude that exposure to traumatic events in the biography severely enhances the risk of revictimization and retraumatization during inpatient treatment.
Induction of the ChREBPβ Isoform Is Essential for Glucose-Stimulated β-Cell Proliferation

Carbohydrate-responsive element–binding protein (ChREBP) is a glucose-sensing transcription factor required for glucose-stimulated proliferation of pancreatic β-cells in rodents and humans. The full-length isoform (ChREBPα) has a low glucose inhibitory domain (LID) that restrains the transactivation domain when glucose catabolism is minimal. A novel isoform of ChREBP (ChREBPβ) was recently described that lacks the LID domain and is therefore constitutively and more potently active. ChREBPβ has not been described in β-cells nor has its role in glucose-stimulated proliferation been determined. We found that ChREBPβ is highly expressed in response to glucose, particularly with prolonged culture in hyperglycemic conditions. In addition, small interfering RNAs that knocked down ChREBPβ transcripts without affecting ChREBPα expression or activity decreased glucose-stimulated expression of carbohydrate response element–containing genes and glucose-stimulated proliferation in INS-1 cells and in isolated rat islets. Quantitative chromatin immunoprecipitation, electrophoretic mobility shift assays, and luciferase reporter assays were used to demonstrate that ChREBP binds to a newly identified powerful carbohydrate response element in β-cells and hepatocytes, distinct from that in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes. We conclude that ChREBPβ contributes to glucose-stimulated gene expression and proliferation in β-cells, with recruitment of ChREBPα to tissue-specific elements of the ChREBPβ isoform promoter.
Gastro-tourism as destination branding in emerging markets

Gastro-tourism, a niche that attracts billions in revenue worldwide, involves intentional pursuits of authentic memorable culinary experiences while travelling internationally, regionally or locally. For gastro-tourists, food is the motivation for travel; the locations merely functions as vehicles for gastronomic experiences (food-related-activities that involve behind-the-scenes observations, cultural/regional illuminations and often hands-on participation, culminating in partaking food or drink.) This paper identifies three phases of travel and corresponding elements essential for the creation of new gastro-tourism enterprises. It introduces the significance of shared Gastro-Tourism Brand Promises, agreed upon, cross marketed, and fulfilled by individual hosts, groups/networks, and regional/government entities. By providing basic infrastructure elements – health, safety, transportation and communication; identifying loosely organised home-grown resources and talent; creating and marketing shared brand promises; and incorporating ongoing feedback during three travel phases; emerging markets in underdeveloped countries and underdeveloped pockets in developed nations can ignite and maintain successful gastro-tourist enterprises.
Transcranial direct current stimulation: a noninvasive tool to facilitate stroke recovery

Electrical brain stimulation, a technique developed many decades ago and then largely forgotten, has re-emerged recently as a promising tool for experimental neuroscientists, clinical neurologists and psychiatrists in their quest to causally probe cortical representations of sensorimotor and cognitive functions and to facilitate the treatment of various neuropsychiatric disorders. In this regard, a better understanding of adaptive and maladaptive plasticity in natural stroke recovery over the last decade and the idea that brain polarization may modulate neuroplasticity has led to the use of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) as a potential enhancer of natural stroke recovery. We will review tDCS’s successful utilization in pilot and proof-of-principle stroke recovery studies, the different modes of tDCS currently in use, and the potential mechanisms underlying the neural effects of tDCS.
The superministry approach: Integrated governance of science, technology and innovation with contracted autonomy

Political coordination of knowledge and innovation policies in Denmark is primarily governed through a ‘superministry’ of science, technology, innovation and higher education. This outlines the evolution of this ministry, how it is organised as well as the strengths and weaknesses linked to this type of political coordination. One main feature of the current organisation of political coordination is the intensive use of new public management ideas, which has not only structured vertical relationships in knowledge and innovation policy but also internal relationships within the superministry. It is demonstrated that this mode of governance has ambiguous effects: while it creates stronger guidance capacities, it also contributes to a stronger fragmentation. Also, the concentration of forces within one superministry has complicated the coordination with other knowledge and innovation policy areas organised by other ministries. Despite new initiatives for a more encompassing coordination launched by the Globalisation Council in 2006, Denmark is still searching for a better ways to promote knowledge and innovation. Copyright , Beech Tree Publishing.
Mobilities of Disadvantage: The Housing Pathways of Low-income Australians

Mobility is often overlooked in debates about spatial disadvantage, which tend to focus on place. In this paper, the focus is on residential mobility and the ways in which it derives from, and contributes to, processes of social disadvantage. Building on David Clapham’s concept of ‘housing pathways’, mobility-based disadvantage is analysed with a focus on questions of housing quality, control over residential moves and accumulation of economic, social and cultural capital through such moves. These themes are considered in an empirical study of the housing pathways of sixty low-income households in Australia, through which four typical patterns are identified as ‘mobilities of disadvantage’: hectic private rental pathways; pathways of homelessness; pathways out of homeownership; and, repeat moves in and out of social housing. These pathways represent one neglected aspect of the ‘unfair structure’ of the Australian city, as a network of pathways rather than a mosaic of places.