Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Rising Wages in the Expanding U.K. Nonprofit Sector From 1997 to 2007

Since 1997, the U.K. Government has sought to expand the provision of public services by supporting the independent nonprofit sector. With policies to build the capacity of the sector, public spending on voluntary organizations has grown from £2 billion in 1996/1997 to £6.88 billion in 2005/2006. Theory suggests that the comparative advantage of nonprofits lies in the mission motivation of workers, and predicts that motivated workers will accept lower wages. We examine sector wage differentials in time series to show that growth in voluntary sector wages for males has outpaced the private and public sectors, while relative female wages have remained static.
Information Diversity and Market Behavior: A Reply

PROFESSOR MINASSIAN HAS RAISED technical points regarding my paper which, for the most part, seem to be well-founded, though not crucial to the basic results. In this reply, my objective will be to discuss what these mean in the context of the model and to offer slightly revised statements of Theorems 1 and 3 to eliminate the problems. Equation (1), which duplicates Equation (9) in [1] gives the following expression for the expected profits earned by trader i from trading in a pure speculative market:
Facilitation of the presynaptic calcium current at an auditory synapse in rat brainstem

1 The presynaptic calcium current (IpCa) was recorded from the calyx of Held in rat brainstem slices using the whole‐cell patch clamp technique. 2 Tetanic activation of IpCa by 1 ms depolarizing voltage steps markedly enhanced the amplitude of IpCa. Using a paired pulse protocol, the second (test) response was facilitated with inter‐pulse intervals of less than 100 ms. The facilitation was greater at shorter intervals and was maximal (about 20 %) at intervals of 5–10 ms. 3 When the test pulse duration was extended, the facilitation was revealed as an increased rate of IpCa activation. From the current‐voltage relationship measured at 1 ms from onset, facilitation could be described by a shift in the half‐activation voltage of about −4 mV. 4 I pCa facilitation was not attenuated when guanosine‐5′‐O‐(3‐thiotriphosphate) (GTPγS) or guanosine‐5′‐O‐(2‐thiodiphosphate) (GDPβS) was included in the patch pipette, suggesting that G‐proteins are not involved in this phenomenon. 5 On reducing [Ca2+]o, the magnitude of facilitation diminished proportionally to the amplitude of IpCa. Replacement of [Ca2+]o by Ba2+ or Na+, or buffering of [Ca2+]i with EGTA or BAPTA attenuated IpCa facilitation. 6 We conclude that repetitive presynaptic activity can facilitate the presynaptic Ca2+ current through a Ca2+‐dependent mechanism. This mechanism would be complementary to the action of residual Ca2+ on the exocytotic machinery in producing activity‐dependent facilitation of synaptic responses.
A New Way to Link Development to Institutions, Policies and Geography

The paper aims to examine the role of institutions relative to economic policy and geography in explaining the diff erential level of development across countries over time. To that end, it att empts to construct a Development Quality Index (DQI) and an Institutional Quality Index (IQI) using multivariate statistical method of principal components. It shows that (i) higher level of IQI along with economic policy and geography factors lead to a positive improvement in the level of DQI; and that (ii) results remain robust for IQI and relatively robust for economic policy and geography even when it is compared across cross-section and panel data estimation for a set of 102 countries over 1980 to 2004. The results strongly indicate that institutions matt er in the context of specifi c economic policy mixes and geography-related factors illustrated by disease burden, etc. It demonstrates that relative infl uence of institutions varies across stages of development.
Intellectual assets based management for innovation: Lessons from experiences in Japan

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to make clear why innovation matters now, how intellectual asset based management is related to it, how innovation and excellent management contribute to the world economy and what is necessary from now on, taking Japanese experiences into account.Design/methodology/approach – This paper summarizes the current status on innovation and intellectual asset based management, analyzes the expected function of them, and extracts implications from it.Findings – This paper finds that intellectual asset based management has a close logical relation with innovation, and could be a solution for challenges caused by globalization.Practical implications – International cooperation on promoting innovation through intellectual asset based management could save the world economy.Originality/value – This paper illustrates the implications of increasing interests in intellectual assets from various points of view, especially in relation to innovation.
Using time to gain competitive advantage: a framework and analysis of propositions

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to develop and justify a theoretical framework for analyzing the relationship between manufacturing strategy, business strategy, time-based manufacturing competence, capability and competitiveness and their impact on firm performance for firms operating in the manufacturing sector. Many executives and scholars have argued that time is an important component for developing a brilliant strategy to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage for the firm. Design/methodology/approach – This paper provides a theoretical framework primarily concerned with the relationship between time-based manufacturing competence, competitive priorities and firm performance. The framework suggests that firms focusing on time as a strategic factor at both strategic levels – business strategy and manufacturing strategy – can achieve a multi-competitive advantage, and, in turn, high performance. Findings – To realize the level of performance associated with time-based manufacturing competen.
Equality through exposure to imports? International trade and the racial wage gap

A key implication of Becker’s (1957) work on discrimination is that greater product market competition can reduce employment discrimination generally, and discriminatory wage gaps in particular. Using US data on manufacturing wages and import exposure, we explore whether increased competition, in the form of a heightened exposure to imports, reduces the racial wage gap. Our findings support Becker’s contention. We find that import exposure helped narrow the racial wage gap by about 1.4 percentage points between 1983 and 1993. The effect is especially pronounced among the most disadvantaged: unskilled Southern workers. For them, import exposure helped reduce racial wage disparities by 2.2 percentage points.
Search upon UML repositories with text matching techniques

As the quantity of software artifacts, mainly source code and software models, stored in repositories increases, the need for their efficient search becomes more important. In this paper we propose content-based query (a.k.a query-by-example) approach for searching software model repositories, in order to retrieve significant models or model fragments. The query-by-example search conveys the user need in form of a model or pattern specified in a coarse way. Our approach incorporates analysis and indexing of models using textual information retrieval techniques, which exploit the knowledge of the metamodel the models conform to. This allows us to explore different segmentation granularities on models and different indexing techniques ranging from simple bag of words, to index structures which integrate metamodel information. We detail the proposed theoretical framework, the implementation of the method upon open-source architectures, and we discuss the results of our experiments upon a public dataset of UML models.
Strategic evaluation and selection of R&D projects

The most important families of R&D project evaluation and selection methodologies and associated techniques are briefly reviewed. For each family, generally one or two methods were chosen to be analysed from the point of view of the integration with the strategy. But, first some definitions and some aspects of the new strategic role of the evaluation and selection of R&D projects, which were in mind during the interviews, are presented. Finally, some empirical results of the use of these methodologies in France and Japan are presented. The strong and weak points of the most prevalent methods are described as they are considered by the users.
A Practitioner's Guide to Mortgage Regulation

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to provide a practitioner's guide to mortgage regulation. Design/methodology/approach - The paper explores the mortgage code and the road to statutory regulation. Findings - It was found that the future of mortgage regulation rests partly with those policy makers who decide that change is needed and partly with those who work in the industry. Good firms who strive to run better businesses and deliver improving service to their customers have little to fear from rising regulatory standards as they will always be at least one step ahead of the regulator. What is required is a weather-eye on the changing market and economic conditions, a strong, unifying voice to campaign on behalf of the industry and a clear commitment to work for the good of the customer. That way, whilst some times will be good, and others will be less so, there will still be business to be done. Originality/value - The paper offers practitioners a guide to mortgage regulation, advising on what firms need to do, key issues for mortgage intermediaries and the need to manage the sector's reputation.
Using social exchange theory to predict the effects of high-performance human resource practices on corporate entrepreneurship: Evidence from China

Using the foundation of social exchange theory, we examined underlying mechanisms linking the relationship of high-performance human resource practices and corporate entrepreneurship (CE). Specifically, we explore why and under what conditions these two concepts are related. A multilevel analysis of data from biotechnology pharmaceutical enterprises in the People's Republic of China revealed that employees' perceived organizational support (POS) mediated the relationship between high-performance human resource practices and CE. Further, organizational culture moderates the relationship between high-performance human resource practices and employees' POS. The implications of these findings for both management theory and practice are discussed. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The complexities of the manufacturing strategy formation process in practice

This paper describes case study research undertaken in six small manufacturing companies aimed at advancing the understanding of the manufacturing strategy formation process. Concepts and methods more commonly used in corporate strategy research are used to overcome the limited view of the manufacturing strategy process taken in existing operations management literature. The research concludes that manufacturing strategy is formed in a complex process involving a combination of deliberate and emergent actions and decisions. A unique set of internal and external contextual factors influences the manufacturing strategy process for each company. In particular, the interpretative processes of managers, individually and collectively, under the influence of individual managerial, cultural and political factors significantly affect the manufacturing strategy formation process.
The Two-Tier Labor Market in Urban China: Occupational Segregation and Wage Differentials between Urban Residents and Rural Migrants in Shanghai

Abstract China had separate rural and urban labor markets for about 40 years until the late 1980's when the restrictions on rural–urban migration were gradually eased. By the end of the 1980's and in the early 1990's, the number of rural migrants working in the urban areas began to increase dramatically. However, rural migrants are treated differently from their urban counterparts in terms of occupational attainment and wages. This paper utilizes two comparable survey data sets to analyze the degree to which the segregation between rural migrants and urban residents has occurred from the point of view of occupational segregation and wage differentials. A significant difference in occupational attainment and wages exists between rural migrants and urban residents. Most of the difference cannot be explained by productivity-related differences between the two groups, implying that urban residents are favorably treated while their migrant counterparts are discriminated against. J. Comp. Econ. , September 2001, 29 (3), pp. 485–504. Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia; Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T. , Hong Kong, China. Copyright 2001 Academic Press. Journal of Economic Literature Classification Numbers: J71, J40, O15, P23.
Peripheral chemoreceptors and cardiorespiratory coupling: a link to sympatho‐excitation

What is the topic of this review? Chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH), as observed in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea, is associated with the development of sympathetically mediated arterial hypertension. Nevertheless, the mechanisms underpinning the augmented sympathetic outflow in CIH still remain under investigation. What advances does it highlight? In this report, I present experimental evidence supporting the hypothesis that changes in the function of the respiratory network and coupling with the sympathetic nervous system may be considered as a novel and relevant mechanism for the increase in baseline sympathetic outflow in animals submitted to CIH.
The Role of Economic Variables and CO2 Emissions in Examining the Efficiency of National Transportation Systems

ABSTRACT This article examines multi-year transportation efficiency of OECD countries using data envelopment analysis to determine efficiency scores. Both economic variables, freight hauled, value added, and economic contribution; and ecological variables, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, are included in the model. Also presented are the calculations of economic and ecological indices used to evaluate economic performance relative to CO2 emissions and success in controlling emissions relative to economic performance, respectively. The results indicate a strong tradeoff between economic and emissions inclusive efficiency and that both types of efficiency are difficult to develop and maintain over time.
Analysing Profits and Economic Behaviour of Organic and Conventional Dutch Arable Farms

This paper uses a micro-econometric model to analyse differences in variable profits and economic behaviour between organic and conventional arable farms. Insight in factors underlying these differences is essential in designing policy measures that aim at encouraging the transition to a more sustainable farming practice. The framework is applied to a rotating panel of Dutch conventional and organic arable farms over the period 1990-1999. The results show that the, on average larger variable profit of organic farms is mainly associated with the use of land and technological changes. The shadow price of labour suggests over-use of labour on organic arable farms. Demand for pesticides and supply of output are generally more elastic on organic farms. Furthermore, organic farmers that increase the size of their farm are found to become more dependent on the use of pesticides and are found to increase the intensity of the use of land.
Convertibles in Spain: An Example of 'Back Door' Equity Financing

Spanish convertible bonds are different from the American convertible bonds. First, the conversion price is not fixed in pesetas, but is defined as a percentage discount off the average share price over a number of days before conversion. Second, the conversion option can be exercised only at a few (usually two or three) different dates. Third, the first conversion opportunity is usually only two or three months after the subscription (issue) date. These characteristics allow us to say that convertible bonds in Spain have been used for "Back Door" equity financing. In fact, more than 80% of the convertibles were converted. In the period 1984 to 1996, 290 issues of convertibles accounted for $20 billion. In this period, companies issued more convertibles than new shares ($19 billion). Several formulas to value Spanish convertible bonds are derived using option theory. Convertibles have been undervalued by an average of 21.6% on average. The expropriation effect in the period 1984 to 1995 accounts for $1.15 billion.
Participation in Physical Activity and Government Spending on Parks and Recreation

"Physical inactivity is considered a major public health problem. We analyze participation in physical activity using data from a nationally representative sample of individuals in 1998 and 2000 augmented with additional state-level data on government spending on parks and recreation. We find considerable variation in participation and time spent in physical activity across different groups of physical activity. Spending on parks and recreation increases participation in group sports but reduces participation, and time spent, in walking for exercise, suggesting that parks and recreation spending may not be an effective policy tool for increasing physical activity. " ("JEL" I200, I120, I180, L830) Copyright 2007 Western Economic Association International.
Constitutive Expression of B7-1 on B Cells Uncovers Autoimmunity toward the B Cell Compartment in the Nonobese Diabetic Mouse1

The NOD mouse is an invaluable model for the study of autoimmune diabetes. Furthermore, although less appreciated, NOD mice are susceptible to other autoimmune diseases that can be differentially manifested by altering the balance of T cell costimulatory pathways. In this study, we show that constitutively expressing B7-1 on B cells (NOD-B7-1B-transgenic mice) resulted in reduced insulitis and completely protected NOD mice from developing diabetes. Furthermore, B7-1 expression led to a dramatic reduction of the B cell compartment due to a selective deletion of follicular B cells in the spleen, whereas marginal zone B cells were largely unaffected. B cell depletion was dependent on B cell specificity, mediated by CD8+ T cells, and occurred exclusively in the autoimmune-prone NOD background. Our results suggest that B cell deletion was a consequence of the specific activation of autoreactive T cells directed at peripheral self Ags presented by maturing B cells that expressed B7-1 costimulatory molecules. This study underscores the importance of B7 costimulatory molecules in controlling the amplitude and target of autoimmunity in genetically prone individuals and has important implications in the use of costimulatory pathway antagonists in the treatment of human autoimmune diseases.
[An analysis of islet beta-cell function in hyperuricemia].

OBJECTIVE To study the islet beta-cell function in patients with simple hyperuricemia (HUA) and to explore the relationship between the level of serum uric acid and insulin resistance. METHODS The first and second phases of insulin secretion of beta-cell were observed after L-arginine stimulation test and oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in 56 hyperuricemic patients and 40 healthy controls. RESULTS The peak value of insulin secretion in both groups was at the 2nd min and it began to decrease at the 4th min after L-arginine stimulation. However, the peak value in the HUA group was significantly higher than that in the control group (t = 3.71, P < 0.01). Fasting plasma insulin, 120-min plasma glucose and 120-min insulin during OGTT as well as modified beta-cell function index and Homa-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) in the HUA group were obviously higher than those in the control group (t = 2.46-5.56, P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Multiple step regression analysis showed that serum uric acid was positively correlated with low density lipoprotein-cholesterol, HOMA-IR, male sex, mean arterial pressure and creatinine (t = 2.15-3.60, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION The islet beta-cell function in hyperuricemic patients increases compensatively and the serum uric acid level is positively correlated with insulin resistance.
The servant-leadership role of selected Catholic high school principals

The purpose of this study was to explore the servant-leadership role of selected Catholic high school principals, and to investigate how this leadership ideal is manifest in their daily professional lives. I employed a qualitative case study design, using the constructivist paradigm. The data gathering methods consisted of several interviews with each of the six participants, and extended field observation engagements with two of the principals. For the participants of this study, family background, professional and extracurricular experiences, and priests, were important sources of their notions of servantleadership. Participants perceived Faith in Jesus Christ, and the positive outcomes of their Faith-informed professional practice as progenitive of their notions of servant-leadership. The culminating framework from this study identified faith in Jesus Christ as the foundation of participants’ servant-leadership. According to this framework, respondents’ childhood experiences, mental models, passions, motivations, and professional convictions, served as antecedents to their identity formation which, in turn, propelled them towards servant-leadership. This framework delineated five aspects of servantleadership: faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, community-inspired vision, relational credibility, sustained trust, and service. Service was identified as the culminating dimension, with the understanding that servant-leadership is established and strengthened in the very act of rendering service (through the day-to-day characteristics of servantleadership), without which servant-leadership for Catholic school principals was considered meaningless.
Real Exchange Rate Volatility and U.S. Bilateral Trade: A VAR Approach

This paper uses VAR models to investigate the impact of real exchange rate volatility on U.S. bilateral imports from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan and Canada. The VAR systems include U.S. and foreign macro variables, and are estimated separately for each country. The major results suggest that the effect of volatility on imports is weak, although permanent shocks to volatility do have a negative impact on this measure of trade, and those effects are relatively more important over the flexible rate period. Copyright 1989 by MIT Press.
Labor Negotiations, Misperceptions, and Repeated Prisoner's Dilemma: Some Extensions and Afterthoughts

Extending previous work of three of the authors [3], this study assumes that parties playing tit-for-tat in labor negotiations (modeled as Repeated Prisoner’s Dilemma) may have different probabilities of misperceiving one another’s moves. Also, the probability of misperceiving a friendly move may be greater than that of misperceiving an unfriendly move. Through simulation, greater perceptive ability by a player is shown to convey no competitive advantage although it may raise joint payoffs. Further, as the probability of misperceiving an unfriendly move as friendly converges to zero, average returns to the players become negligible. These results’ behavioral implications are explored. In labor negotiations, two parties (labor and management) face one another in repeated rounds of negotiations. Further, each round can be modeled as a game of Prisoner’s Dilemma [1]. One commonly employed strategy for dealing with games of repeated Prisoner’s Dilemma is called “tit-for-tat. ” The strategy requires that a party initially offer to cooperate with the other for mutual gain, but subsequently to replicate the opponent’s move. For example, if management is cooperative in one round of negotiations, then labor would be cooperative in