Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Determinants of Information and Communication Technology Adoption in Municipalities

Local governments use various technologies to enhance responsiveness to citizens’ demands and to improve efficiency. However, the determinants for technology adoption may vary by the type of technology used. We separately examine the adoption of two different types of information and communication technologies (ICTs): intranet, which increases efficiencies within an organization, and e-services, which aim to increase efficiencies for the public and government agencies. Using 2012 data collected from a national random survey of the managers in 500 municipal governments with populations ranging from 25,000 to 250,000, we find that organizational centralization, work routineness, and personnel constraints are related to the adoption of both intranet and e-services, but that these relationships are mediated by an organization’s risk-taking culture. We also find that external stakeholder influence is positively related to ICT use. Governmental stakeholder influence is related to intranet adoption, and non-governmental stakeholder influence is related to the adoption of e-services. Our study highlights the importance of understanding the dynamics by which different ICTs are adopted. A main contribution lies in the finding that risk-taking culture mediates the relationship between structural constraints and ICT adoption in municipal governments.
Planning Guidance and Large-Store Development in the United Kingdom: The Search for ‘Flexibility’

An important feature of town-planning practice in Western Europe has been the attempt to control commercial-property development in order to conform with planning principles. The growth history of large stores such as hypermarkets, superstores, and retail warehouses has thus been characterised by disputes between developers and planners. In this paper we examine the responses of large-store developers to UK government planning guidance that retail developments should be of a nature and scale suited to the physical environment of town centres. This goes against some retailers' preferences for large formats which are generally unsuited to town centres. We explain these two opposed views, devoting particular attention to the retail developers' case. We then use findings from two interview surveys with selected retailers to explore how far retail developers are prepared to go in compromising their preferred models of store development in line with government policy. Finally we discuss potential effects of recent changes in government policy.
Accounting for Risk and Return in Equity Valuation

Standard valuation models forecast cash flows or earnings, add a growth rate, and discount the cash flows to their present value with a discount rate that typically reflects the cost of capital. But as the author argues, projecting the long‐term growth rate is essentially speculative; and along with uncertainty about the growth rate, analysts generally do not have a good grasp of the discount rate either. Thus, instead of reducing uncertainty, these two features effectively compound uncertainty in valuations in the sense that slight changes in the growth rate or discount rate can change the valuation considerably. In this article, the author proposes an alternative approach that views the investor's problem as one of challenging the speculations that are built into the current market price, particularly the speculation about growth. Rather than building in a speculative growth rate (and thereby treating it as if it were a certainty), the author's approach turns the problem on its head by using an accounting analysis of the firm's current earnings and cash flows that provides a basis for recognizing the speculative component of the current stock price. More specifically, the author's analysis identifies the future earnings growth path that is implied by the market price, which can then be evaluated with the question: Do I want to pay for this growth? Because growth expectations are risky, additional analysis can be used to provide an understanding of the risk and return to buying growth, and of the upside and downside if risk growth expectations are not realized. By taking such an approach, investors incorporate their understanding of risk not by increasing the discount rate, but by recognizing that the primary risk in investing is the risk of overpaying for growth.
Evaluating Informal Entrepreneurs’ Motives: Evidence from Moscow

PurposeRecently when studying mainstream (legitimate) entrepreneurs, the distinction between ‘necessity-driven’ entrepreneurs pushed into entrepreneurship because other options for work are absent or unsatisfactory, and ‘opportunity-driven’ entrepreneurs pulled into entrepreneurship to exploit some perceived business opportunity, has been transcended by commentators displaying the co-presence of opportunity and necessity in entrepreneurs’ motives and how their relative importance shifts over time. This paper evaluates critically whether this re-theorisation is also valid when considering the motives of informal entrepreneurs. MethodologyA household survey of entrepreneurship is reported conducted in Moscow during late 2005 and early 2006. In the 313 households surveyed, 81 entrepreneurs were identified who had started-up a business venture in the past 42 months, all of whom reported that they were operating wholly or partially in the informal economy.FindingsFor some 80 per cent of informal entrepreneurs, both necessity- and opportunity-drivers were co-present in their decision to start-up an enterprise. There was also a clearly identifiable shift in their motives away from necessity- and towards opportunity-drivers as their ventures became more established. Research implicationsAkin to recent literature on mainstream (legitimate) entrepreneurs’ motives, this survey thus displays the need for a less bifurcated understanding of informal entrepreneurs’ motives that recognises the co-existence of necessity- and opportunity-drivers and the temporal changes in their relative importance.Value of paperThis study reveals the need to transcend the currently dominant simplistic portrayals of informal entrepreneurs as either universally necessity-driven or universally opportunity-driven.
Demand for cigarettes in the United States: effects of prices in bordering states and contiguity with Mexico and Canada

Based on a cross-section of US states for 2004, this article estimates a demand function for cigarettes after including a proxy for prices in the bordering states and simple proxies for contiguity with Mexico and Canada and for being a major tobacco producer. One major point seems to be that the negative elasticity for within-state price is similar in magnitude to the positive elasticity for the (lowest) price in bordering states. Several additional points also seem noteworthy. First, having a border with Mexico lowers sales in the state sizably. Second, the share of Hispanic/Latino population in the state also lowers sales significantly. Third, contiguity with Canada appears to have no significant effect. Fourth, partial impact of the state being a major tobacco producer appears minor even though consumption in these states is considerably higher. Fifth, education shows the expected negative association with cigarette consumption, but its statistical significance is low. Last, income carries a weak negative parameter, perhaps reflecting the lower prevalence of smoking in higher-income households.
Profitability of Chile's Defined-Contribution-Based Pension System During the Multifund Era

This paper analyzes the profitability of Chile's retirement multifund system—funds A, B, C, D, and E—since its launch in 2002. The analysis shows that the rates of return on the funds are highly correlated across pension fund administrators (PFAs) and that risk-adjusted returns on these funds may not exceed those on domestic fixed- or variable-income indices. The paper also explores the existence of herding. Specifically, Granger causality tests show that leaders may significantly influence the benchmark in fund C, whereas PFAs' asset allocations in funds A and E are more likely to reflect past changes in the benchmark.
Real-Time Automated PCR for Early Diagnosis and Monitoring of Cytomegalovirus Infection after Bone Marrow Transplantation

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to assess the usefulness of real-time automated PCR as a quantitative, highly reproducible, and sensitive method to detect cytomegalovirus (CMV) DNA in blood specimens. Intra- and interassay precision rates were 0.89% (small number of copies [L]), 1.43% (middle number of copies [M]), and 1.12% (high number of copies [H]), and 4.46% (L), 1.51% (M), and 2.28% (H), respectively. The linearity of this assay was obtained between 10 and 107 copies/well, with a minimum detection limit of 20 copies/well. Specimens from 55 of 70 healthy subjects were found to be positive for CMV antibody, but CMV DNA was not detected in any of them. In the qualitative assessment of each specimen, the results of the CMV antigenemia assay and those of the real-time PCR assay agreed in 80% (plasma specimens), 79% (all nucleated cells), and 86% (blood) of the cases examined. For eight patients diagnosed as having CMV infection or disease, no sample was positive in the antigenemia assay earlier than in the real-time PCR assay. Furthermore, the results of this assay could be obtained within 8 h. We concluded that the real-time PCR assay is useful for rapid diagnosis of CMV infection and monitoring of clinical courses.
Induction of a DNA Nickase in the Presence of Its Target Site Stimulates Adaptive Mutation in Escherichia coli

ABSTRACT Adaptive mutation to Lac+ in Escherichia coli strain FC40 depends on recombination functions and is enhanced by the expression of conjugal functions. To test the hypothesis that the conjugal function that is important for adaptive mutation is the production of a single-strand nick at the conjugal origin, we supplied an exogenous nicking enzyme, the gene II protein (gIIp) of bacteriophage f1, and placed its target sequence near the lac allele. When both gIIp and its target site were present, adaptive mutation was stimulated three- to fourfold. Like normal adaptive mutations, gIIp-induced mutations were recA+ and ruvC+ dependent and were mainly single-base deletions in runs of iterated bases. In addition, gIIp with its target site could substitute for conjugal functions in adaptive mutation. These results support the hypothesis that nicking at the conjugal origin initiates the recombination that produces adaptive mutations in this strain of E. coli, and they suggest that nicking may be the only conjugal function required for adaptive mutation.
Genomic Approach for Analysis of Surface Proteins in Chlamydia pneumoniae

ABSTRACT Chlamydia pneumoniae, a human pathogen causing respiratory infections and probably contributing to the development of atherosclerosis and heart disease, is an obligate intracellular parasite which for replication needs to productively interact with and enter human cells. Because of the intrinsic difficulty in working with C. pneumoniae and in the absence of reliable tools for its genetic manipulation, the molecular definition of the chlamydial cell surface is still limited, thus leaving the mechanisms of chlamydial entry largely unknown. In an effort to define the surface protein organization of C. pneumoniae, we have adopted a combined genomic-proteomic approach based on (i) in silico prediction from the available genome sequences of peripherally located proteins, (ii) heterologous expression and purification of selected proteins, (iii) production of mouse immune sera against the recombinant proteins to be used in Western blotting and fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS) analyses for the identification of surface antigens, and (iv) mass spectrometry analysis of two-dimensional electrophoresis (2DE) maps of chlamydial protein extracts to confirm the presence of the FACS-positive antigens in the chlamydial cell. Of the 53 FACS-positive sera, 41 recognized a protein species with the expected size on Western blots, and 28 of the 53 antigens shown to be surface-exposed by FACS were identified on 2DE maps of elementary-body extracts. This work represents the first systematic attempt to define surface protein organization in C. pneumoniae.
Persistence and the Four-Factor Model in the Australian Funds Market: A Note

We investigate whether Australian fund managers are able to deliver persistent performance using Carhart’s (1997) four-factor model. Short- and long-term persistence is examined and the sample is also divided into unit trusts and superannuation funds. We do not find evidence of persistence in any sample of funds. We find that winner (loser) funds tend to hold past winner (loser) stocks. Winner and loser unit trusts both appear to have positive exposure to small stocks.
Economic Restructuring and Demographic Growth: Demystifying Growth and Development in Northern Song China, 960–1127

type="main"> The Northern Song period (960–1127) has been recognized as one of the most important eras in China's economic and demographic history. This study investigates the key factors and mechanisms that led to economic restructuring and wealth generating to support a growing population. By revealing state-led changes in the economy, it challenges some commonly circulated interpretations of the remarkable economic development and population growth in Northern Song China.
Board Accountability: Lessons from the Field

Accountability has become a major issue in the nonprofit sector. Numerous external and internal approaches to strengthening performance in this area exist, and many nonprofit boards expect their executives to account foruse of their organizations' resources. However, few boards apply any such expectations to themselves. Qualitative analysis of records from interviews, consultations, and meeting observations with 169 board members of thirty-four diverse nonprofit organizations revealed six sets of practices that foster board accountability. They include setting clear expectations and standards for the group and for its members, actively using policies regarding conflicts of interests, identifying and staying focused on priorities, maintaining strong two-way communications directly with constituency groups, conducting assessments of meetings and board performance, and experimenting intentionally with new approaches to their work. The experiences of these boards provide numerous examples of practical steps that others may consider when they seek to increase the value they add to their organizations as well as to strengthen public trust.
Integrity of the Mod(mdg4)-67.2 BTB Domain Is Critical to Insulator Function in Drosophila melanogaster

ABSTRACT The Drosophila gypsy insulator contains binding sites for the Suppressor of Hairy-wing [Su(Hw)] protein. Enhancer and silencer blocking require Su(Hw) recruitment of Mod(mdg4)-67.2, a BTB/POZ domain protein that interacts with Su(Hw) through a carboxyl-terminal acidic domain. Here we conducted mutational analyses of the Mod(mdg4)-67.2 BTB domain. We demonstrate that this domain is essential for insulator function, in part through direction of protein dimerization. Our studies revealed the presence of a second domain (DD) that contributes to Mod(mdg4)-67.2 dimerization when the function of the BTB domain is compromised. Additionally, we demonstrate that mutations in amino acids of the charged pocket in the BTB domain that retain dimerization of the mutated protein cause a loss of insulator function. In these cases, the mutant proteins failed to localize to chromosomes, suggesting a role for the BTB domain in chromosome association. Interestingly, replacement of the Mod(mdg4)-67.2 BTB domain with the GAF BTB domain produced a nonfunctional protein. Taken together, these data suggest that the Mod(mdg4)-67.2 BTB domain confers novel activities to gypsy insulator function.
"Mission Invisible" - Rethinking the Canadian Diaspora

ISSN 1481-0433 * Kenny Zhang is a Senior Research Analyst at the Asia Pacifi c Foundation of Canada specializing in China’s economic development. Mr. Zhang received his B.A. and M.A. degrees in economics from Fudan University, China and the Institute of Social Studies, The Netherlands, respectively. His research focus is on CanadaChina trade and investment relations, labour migration and employment of immigrants. He previously worked as associate research professor at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, and senior researcher at the Centre of Excellence on Immigration Studies at Simon Fraser University. “Mission Invisible” – Rethinking the Canadian Diaspora
Internet Use and Psychological Well-being: A Meta-Analysis

This meta-analysis examines the relationship between various Internet uses and measures of psychological well-being, including depression, loneliness, self-esteem, and life satisfaction. Forty studies represent a total sample of 21,258 participants and yield a data of 43 independent correlations. The mean correlation was -0.0504 for the fixed-effects model and r = -0.0385 for the random-effects model, indicating a small detrimental effect of Internet use on psychological well-being. According to the random-effects model, the effect of all moderators, including type of Internet use, indicator of well-being, quality of Internet use measure, and participant age and gender were insignificant. Since these moderators failed to explain the variation in the relationship between Internet use and psychological well-being, future investigations should consider the possible sources of these differences.
Partnership in Pensions? Responses to the Pensions Green Paper

The government's pensions Green Paper 'a new contract for welfare: partnership in pensions' proposes fundamental changes to the UK's retirement income system. Members of CASE and the Department of Social Policy at LSE have looked at the likely implications of the reforms for pensioner poverty, income security in old age, economic growth, the National Insurance system, tax reliefs, and women. Agulnik's analysis of redistributive effects of the State Second Pension (SSP) shows that it will result in much better benefits for low earners than would have been the case under SERPS. However, financing this improved provision through National Insurance contributions will mean that the burden of paying for the new scheme will be heaviest for those close to the upper earnings limit. Barr questions the macro-economic advantages of increasing the amount of funded pension provision via Stakeholder pensions. He finds there is no particular reason to favour the proposed balance of 60% private pension provision to 40% public provision over some other ratio. He also finds that Stakeholder pensions will not offer contributors complete income security in retirement due to uncertainties about investment returns, annuity rates and future inflation. Falkingham and Rake argue that the Government's proposals have failed to incorporate fully the needs of women. Women will be underrepresented amongst Stakeholder pensioners, and the exclusion of very low earners and carers with children over 5 from eligibility for the SSP will adversely affect women. Agulnik then looks at the proposed tax relief rules for Stakeholder pensions. While there are good reasons for the proposed £3,600 limit to tax relief on contributions, the retention of the existing rules for personal and occupational schemes is anomalous.
Identification, Classification, and Expression Analysis of GRAS Gene Family in Malus domestica

GRAS genes encode plant-specific transcription factors that play important roles in plant growth and development. However, little is known about the GRAS gene family in apple. In this study, 127 GRAS genes were identified in the apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) genome and named MdGRAS1 to MdGRAS127 according to their chromosomal locations. The chemical characteristics, gene structures and evolutionary relationships of the MdGRAS genes were investigated. The 127 MdGRAS genes could be grouped into eight subfamilies based on their structural features and phylogenetic relationships. Further analysis of gene structures, segmental and tandem duplication, gene phylogeny and tissue-specific expression with ArrayExpress database indicated their diversification in quantity, structure and function. We further examined the expression pattern of MdGRAS genes during apple flower induction with transcriptome sequencing. Eight higher MdGRAS (MdGRAS6, 26, 28, 44, 53, 64, 107, and 122) genes were surfaced. Further quantitative reverse transcription PCR indicated that the candidate eight genes showed distinct expression patterns among different tissues (leaves, stems, flowers, buds, and fruits). The transcription levels of eight genes were also investigated with various flowering related treatments (GA3, 6-BA, and sucrose) and different flowering varieties (Yanfu No. 6 and Nagafu No. 2). They all were affected by flowering-related circumstance and showed different expression level. Changes in response to these hormone or sugar related treatments indicated their potential involvement during apple flower induction. Taken together, our results provide rich resources for studying GRAS genes and their potential clues in genetic improvement of apple flowering, which enriches biological theories of GRAS genes in apple and their involvement in flower induction of fruit trees.
Analysis of Unilateral CO, Control in the European Community and OECD

Whalley and Wigle (1991b) use a static, six-region, perfect competition, general equilibrium model to explore various global carbon tax policies designed to cut CO2 emissions. Their program is used here to model unilateral carbon taxes applied by large regions such as the EC or the OECD. Sample model results suggest that a 20% unilateral cut in EC carbon-based energy consumption achieves a 0.7% cut in world consumption in equilibrium; the ECs production of energy-intensive goods falls by 8.3%; but EC welfare is hardly changed, thanks to a shift in consumption towards nonenergy-intensive goods and to cheaper carbon-based energy imports. Unilateral action, even by large economies, therefore seems to be environmentally ineffective but economically neutral overall. However, international leadership effects or induced technical progress might change these conclusions. Also, Perroni and Rutherford (1991) find less extreme results for similar policies, probably because they model world energy markets very differently.
Endogenous growth and intermediation in an 'archipelago' economy

A general equilibrium model based on the parable of an economy of many islands shows the market imperfections in the intermediation activity affect economic growth and possibly prevent take off into sustained growth. The inhabitants of different islands accumulate heterogeneous assets and transportation-type intermediation allows for better allocation of the productive resources. The development process is accompanied by a reduction in intermediation costs, which induces firms to adopt more efficient techniques and sustains economic growth. A laissez-faire economy suffers from two distortions: the existence of market imperfections and a 'thick market' externality.