Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Civil service and democracy: Questions in reforming the civil service in eastern and central Europe

The debate over public service reform is taking place at a time of flux when old models are being challenged everywhere. This article discusses issues of institutional transfer, as between western and east and central Europe, relative to civil service reform and democratisation. It presents several models to describe the place of the civil service in the democratic state and the implications of each for civil service organisation. It argues for a better balance between a legal approach, which tends to dominate advice coming from some continental European countries, and one which emphasises ‘good’ rather than just ‘correct’ relations between administration and citizens. This distinction is fundamental in so far as, under the UK Citizens Charter for example, the citizen is seen as a ‘customer’ rather than a mere ‘user’ of services he has no influence over. The article concludes that, given the differences in culture, political climate and economic situation of ‘recipient’ countries in east and central Europe, each must search for its own reforms, looking for questions rather than answers.
Samuel Slater and the Origins of the American Textile Industry, 1790–1860. By Barbara M. Tucker, Ithaca, New York: Cornell University Press, 1984, Pp. 268. $29.95

Baltimore and Philadelphia, cultivated strong ties with Hispanic America. In fact, Manuel Lucena Salmoral shows that in Venezuela the value of trade with the United States between 1807 and 1811 was greater than that with Spain. After 1810, however, American merchants quickly lost ground to the British. Also , Jesús Lorente Miguel's statistics for Louisiana reveal a dramatic rise in American commercial penetration after 1793 when the French trade connection was broken because of war in Europe. The vignettes in this anthology are just that, a series of quick illuminations on various aspects of North American trade with Hispanic America in the late eighteenth century. To the editors' credit these vignettes are remarkably well integrated. As quick views of the entrepots of Philadelphia, Baltimore, Havana, Caracas, La Guaira, Puerto Cabello, St. Lawrence Valley, and N e w Orleans, they provide brief but cogent insights into the operation of the greater American commercial system. Cuenca's and Ouelett's statistics and the interpretative essays of Barbier and Liss, meanwhile, put these vignettes into a larger macrocosm, which altogether provide a new understanding of the world economic system and a new backdrop for the wars of independence in Spanish America.
Urban social sustainability themes and assessment methods

In recent years the social dimension (or ‘social sustainability’) has gained increased recognition as a fundamental component of sustainable development. This paper explores the notion of social sustainability and its main assessment methods, together with the pioneering social sustainability framework devised by the City of Vancouver, Canada. The paper illustrates how there is no consensus on the definition of social sustainability because this concept is currently being approached from diverging study perspectives and discipline-specific criteria, making a generalised definition difficult to achieve. In addition, traditional ‘hard’ social sustainability themes such as employment and poverty alleviation are increasingly being complemented or replaced by emerging ‘soft’ and less measurable concepts such as happiness, social mixing and sense of place. Within this context, the paper looks at how Vancouver's local authorities have approached urban social sustainability and discusses the importance of the sel.
The contribution of Neil Leiper to tourism studies

Neil Leiper was an influential tourism scholar who died in February 2010. The paper provides a review of his work and his contribution to tourism studies. Four major themes are identified from the time of his first major publication in 1979 up until his death: tourism systems, partial industrialisation, tourist attraction systems and strategy. Works in the first three areas are identified as having a significant influence on tourism literature and the conceptualisation of tourism as a discipline and the manner in which it is defined for both research and educational purposes. The connections between theory and strategy are noted which led to an important tourism text as well as the development of several cases of business failures, which Leiper argues is a significant subject for tourism education. The review concludes by identifying his legacy for the study of tourism.
The Simon Newcomb Awards

We have decided to give an award for the silliest arguments against AI published each year. The Simon Newcomb Awards, as they are called, will be announced here in the AI Magazine. Winners will be presented with a small statue (informally referred to as a 'Simon') in a short ceremony at a suitable national gathering. We invite nominations for future awards.
Redefining Volunteering for the Global Context: A Measurement Matrix for Researchers

Many definitions of volunteering are used in research, creating confusion for readers and researchers alike. Further, many of these definitions are narrow and result in exclusion of a range of activities, behaviours, and sectors of society. In a more global environment, researchers need to recognise the diversity of activities that can be included under a definition of volunteering. In recognition of this diversity, a new typology or measurement matrix is proposed that delineates these differences and ensures clarity for the research community.
A Three-Level LC-Switching-Based Voltage Boost NPC Inverter

A single-stage high-voltage gain boost inverter is getting popularity in applications like solar photovoltaic, fuel cell, uninterruptible power system (UPS) systems, etc. Recently, single-stage voltage boost multilevel Z-source inverter (ZSI) and quasi-Z-source inverter (QZSI) have been proposed for dc–ac power conversion with improved power quality. Multilevel ZSI uses more number of high-power passive components in the intermediate network, which increase the system size and weight. Also, its input current is discontinuous in nature which is not desirable in some of the applications like fuel cell, UPS systems, hybrid electric vehicle, etc. In this paper, a continuous current input three-level LC-switching-based voltage boost neutral-point-clamped inverter is proposed, which uses comparatively less number of high-power passive components at the same time retains all the advantages of multilevel QZSI/ZSI. It is able to boost the input dc voltage and give required three-level ac output voltage in a single stage. Steady-state analysis of the proposed inverter is discussed to formulate the relationship between the input dc voltage and three-level ac output voltage. A unipolar pulse width modulation technique devised for the proposed inverter to eliminate first center band harmonics is also presented. The proposed converter has been verified by simulation in MATLAB Simulink as well as performing experiment with the help of a laboratory prototype.
A New Geranylated Chalcone from Andrographis Lobelioides

A new O-geranylated chalcone, 2′-hydroxy-2-methoxy-4′-O-[(E)-3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadienyl] chalcone (1), together with three known flavones, 5-hydroxy-7,2′-dimethoxyflavone (2), skullcapflavone I (3) and echioidin (4), were isolated from the leaves of Andrographis lobelioides. The structure of 1 and the known compounds (2–4) were achieved by extensive 1D and 2D NMR spectral and chemical studies.
Labouring for Leisure. Work and Industrial Relations in the Tourism Industry. Case Studies of Casinos

Abstract The introduction of casinos to Australia constitutes an important element in the new leisure and hospitality industries associated with tourism expansion. Casino work shares many of the general structural and ideological features of hospitality work, but has distinctive features of its own, derived, in part, from the characteristics of security and close control. Employer initiatives to develop a flexible workforce have produced a fragmented internal labour market which weakens union attempts to influence the organization of casino work. Casino workers are divided into a highly trained, loyal core enjoying career opportunities and an unstable periphery with little control over the labour process or work relations. These developments have been accelerated by rapid technological changes and increasing market competition at national and international levels. A comparison of recent industrial disputes in two Australian States exposes the structural divisions and contradictions of casino work and high.
Capital asset pricing model on UK securities using ARCH

This study tests conditional and unconditional versions of the CAPM using portfolios made up of security returns in the UK over the period January 1980–December 1999. The main objectives are to see if the GARCH betas differ from the unconditional betas, and to see if the market risk premium is positive. The CAPM tests are two-pass, where monthly returns are regressed on alternative beta estimates, and the time series mean of the coefficients is the average market premium. It is found that the GARCH and unconditional betas are correlated, either 0.475 or 0.575 depending on the method used. Using unconditional betas the average market premium is negative, but not statistically significant. Using conditional betas the average market premium is positive but not statistically significant. For some individual years a positive statistically significant risk premium is found. These individual years tend to correspond to periods when the stock market was particularly volatile which would tend to suggest that the model has value during periods of relatively high volatility.
Persistence of drug-resistant HIV-1 after a structured treatment interruption and its impact on treatment response

Objective: Among treated patients with drug-resistant viremia, structured treatment interruptions often result in the re-emergence of drug-susceptible HIV-1. Theoretically, this may allow for a more durable response to salvage therapy. We therefore studied the long-term treatment outcome to antiretroviral therapy in a cohort of patients who had previously interrupted therapy, focusing on the determinants of treatment success versus failure. Design: A prospective observational study of the response to antiretroviral therapy in patients resuming therapy after a treatment interruption. Virological and immunological studies were performed every month for 3 months and then every 3 months. Results: Twenty-four patients underwent a structured treatment interruption and resumed therapy after a variable period of time (median 20 weeks). The median duration of treatment after the treatment interruption was 109 weeks. A transient virological response was observed in all patients who resumed a regimen containing no drug to which their pre-interruption virus was fully susceptible. Virus isolated during virological failure was genotypically and phenotypically identical to the pre-interruption virus, exhibited reduced replicative capacity, and replicated in vivo at levels similar to the pre-interruption baseline. In contrast, durable viral suppression (< 200 copies/ml) was observed in patients who initiated a regimen containing only one drug to which their pre-interruption virus was fully susceptible. Despite viral suppression, the pre-interruption drug-resistant virus population remained detectable in two patients. Conclusion: Although drug-resistant HIV-1 persists at low levels during and after the interruption of therapy, durable suppression of this virus population may be achieved with a combination regimen containing only one fully active agent.
The substitution of information technology for other factors of production: a Firm Level Analysis

Fueled by its constant technological and price improvements, information technology IT is displacing other inputs in the production of goods and services. By 1994, IT accounts for over 15% of fixed investments by the U.S. private sector, and the ratio of new IT investments to labor costs is approaching 5% 1990 dollar basis. The ability to take advantage of improvements in IT is determined in part by the substitutability of IT for other factors of production. This paper builds on the empirical framework of Brynjolfsson and Hitt Brynjolfsson, E. , L. Hitt. 1995. Information technology as a factor of production the role of differences among firms. Econom. Innovations and New Tech.3 183-199. and extends it to jointly estimate output and substitution elasticities using the CES-translog production function. Our primary source of IT-related data is the IDG/Computerworld annual survey data on IS spending by large U.S. firms, for the period 1988 to 1992, previously analyzed by Brynjolfsson and Hitt [Brynjolfsson, E. , L. Hitt. 1995. Information technology as a factor of production the role of differences among firms. Econom. Innovations and New Tech.3 183-199. ], [Brynjolfsson, E. , L. Hitt. 1996. Paradox lost? Firm-level evidence on the returns to information systems spending. Management Sci.424 541-558. ] and Lichtenberg Lichtenberg, F. R. 1995. The output contributions of computer equipment and personnel a firm level analysis. Econom. Innovations and New Tech.3 201-217. A key result is that IT capital is a net substitute for both ordinary capital and labor, suggesting that the factor share of IT in production will grow to more significant levels over time. We confirm earlier findings of positive returns to IT investment for this data set. Further, we find excess returns on IT investment relative to labor input and some evidence of excess returns relative to ordinary capital. Taken together, these results shed new light on the productivity paradox of IT and on the growth of information intensity across the economy as firms take advantage of the continuing improvements in IT.
Quality management results in ISO 9000 certified Spanish firms

Many firms have started to realise the benefits of total quality management. In this respect, quality management improves internal and external quality management performance. This philosophy enhances customer satisfaction, employee satisfaction and increases business results. Therefore, the results of most quality management practices show that firms implementing quality systems achieve significant improvement in customer satisfaction, employee satisfaction, social impact and business results. The focus of this study was to analyse and evaluate quality management results in ISO 9000 certified firms, in order to identify the key results of TQM and to classify firms. For this purpose, we use a factor analysis and a cluster analysis.
The economic importance of major sports events: a case-study of six events

This paper reports the results of an economic impact assessment of six major sports events held in the UK in 1997. Major sports events are now regarded by many cities as a significant part of their tourism strategy. However, staging a major sports event normally involves the host city making a contribution to the costs. Whether such a contribution is justified depends on the economic benefits generated in the local economy. The results reported in this paper indicate the wide variability in such benefits as well as the difficulty sometimes encountered in predicting what these benefits will be prior to the staging of the event. An attempt is made to develop a typology of major sports events in terms of their potential to generate significant economic impact.
Progranulin A-mediated MET Signaling Is Essential for Liver Morphogenesis in Zebrafish*

The mechanism that regulates embryonic liver morphogenesis remains elusive. Progranulin (PGRN) is postulated to play a critical role in regulating pathological liver growth. Nevertheless, the exact regulatory mechanism of PGRN in relation to its functional role in embryonic liver development remains to be elucidated. In our study, the knockdown of progranulin A (GrnA), an orthologue of mammalian PGRN, using antisense morpholinos resulted in impaired liver morphogenesis in zebrafish (Danio rerio). The vital role of GrnA in hepatic outgrowth and not in liver bud formation was further confirmed using whole-mount in situ hybridization markers. In addition, a GrnA deficiency was also found to be associated with the deregulation of MET-related genes in the neonatal liver using a microarray analysis. In contrast, the decrease in liver size that was observed in grnA morphants was avoided when ectopic MET expression was produced by co-injecting met mRNA and grnA morpholinos. This phenomenon suggests that GrnA might play a role in liver growth regulation via MET signaling. Furthermore, our study has shown that GrnA positively modulates hepatic MET expression both in vivo and in vitro. Therefore, our data have indicated that GrnA plays a vital role in embryonic liver morphogenesis in zebrafish. As a result, a novel link between PGRN and MET signaling is proposed.
On the methodology of a conceptual framework for financial accounting

This is the second of two papers which examine some important questions raised by the ‘conceptual framework’ (CF) project carried out by the FASB in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The first paper provided a critique of the approach used by the FASB, by analysing the Board's methodology as it appears from key documents published by the Board, against a background of methodological insights available from studies of policy formulation (Lindblom, 1959) and of legal validity from a systems perspective (Raz, 1979). The present paper extends the analysis from a systems approach to jurisprudence (Raz, 1979), into the field of ‘soft systems’ analysis, against a historical background of developments in systems methodology during the 1970s (Rowe, 1977; Checkland, 1981). It concludes by summarizing a number of epistemological implications for accounting, both as a profession and as an intellectual discipline. The implications are that accounting as a discipline can either stagnate as a ‘folk-science’ in a vain sear.
Physicians' Choices of Specialty, Location, and Mode: A Reexamination within an Interdependent Decision Framework

In this paper, physicians' decisions regarding the specialty, community size, and mode of their first practices are analyzed in a simultaneous decision model using a nested logit specification. Physicians face a choice set consisting of eight specialties, seven community sizes, and three practice settings. Data come from the Longitudinal Survey of the Class of 1960. Income is found to be statistically significant and the average income elasticity is 1.05, which is considerably larger than previous estimates. However, the elasticity estimate is very sensitive to the assumed decision process. A series of policy simulations are then performed to estimate the effect of specified income-based policies on the predicted distribution of physicians across specialties, community sizes, and modes.
A VAR Analysis on the Determinants of FDI Inflows: The Case of Sri Lanka

Foreign direct investment in Sri Lanka has grown immensely since the initiation of economic reforms in 1977. Further escalations in FDI inflows are considered an integral component of the current Sri Lankan Government’s intentions to foster economic growth. This paper examines the long-run effects on Sri Lanka’s FDI inflows from changes in key macroeconomic variables of interest. Findings indicate that, of the five variables considered, the wage rate is the most important determinant of inbound FDI to Sri Lanka. However, other major economic indicators such as GDP, exchange rates, interest rates, and the level of external trade should also be given due consideration in policies designed to attract FDI inflows.
Decision Bias in Capacity Allocation Games with Uncertain Demand

Existing studies on capacity allocation games have demonstrated that the standard Nash theory exaggerates retailers' tendency of ordering more than they need in the situation of supply shortage. Adding to the results in the literature, our experimental study with consideration of demand uncertainty demonstrates that the standard Nash theory also exaggerates retailers' tendency of telling the truth in their ordering strategy. To account for these systematic biases, based on the quantal response equilibrium framework, we develop a behavioral model with different mental weights on the underage and overage costs to characterize a retailer's perception bias regarding a critical fractile. Based on the parameter estimates, we show that retailers perceive the critical fractile as being closer to 0.5 than it is, and the perceived critical fractile increases over time. Such empirical evidence of retailers' behavior in capacity allocation games can be valuable, for example, in the mechanism design of coordination and in improving supply chain performance.
Merger failure and merger profitability: an alternative to the Hviid and Prendergast model

In this paper the effect of failed mergers on the profitability of the bidder and the target is investigated. It is demonstrated that when firms produce differentiated products in Bertrand competition, the post-rejection expected profitability of both firms is adversely affected by the information revealed through the rejection. This is a reversal of the Hviid and Prendergast finding that the post-offer increase in the profitability of the target firms is further boosted by the information made available through the rejection. This reversal is the direct result of using upward sloping reaction curves, which are usually found in price-setting games. The prediction for the bidder firm remains unchanged; this will experience a fall in its profits in the case of merger failure, the degree of which will be even more extensive if the failed bid was hostile because of the information transmission involved.
Birth and Fortune: The Impact of Numbers on Personal Welfare

In this influential work, Richard A. Easterlin shows how the size of a generation-the number of persons born in a particular year-directly and indirectly affects the personal welfare of its members, the make-up and breakdown of the family, and the general well being of the economy. "[Easterlin] has made clear, I think unambiguously, that the baby-boom generation is economically underprivileged merely because of its size. And in showing this, he demonstrates that population size can be as restrictive as a factor as sex, race, or class on equality of opportunity in the U.S."-Jeffrey Madrick, "Business Week"