Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
FRAMING AND COUNTER-FRAMING NEW PUBLIC MANAGEMENT: THE CASE OF GERMANY

In this paper I explore the conflict between managerial and bureaucratic models of public sector management from the discursive perspective in institutional theory. Taking the under-researched case of Germany, I conduct a textual analysis of seminal publications in the discourse on public sector reform and reveal the subversive framing conflict which accompanies the proliferation of private managerial models in the public sector. As the most general result, a frame which advocates the transfer of business-like managerial practices clashes with a counter-frame which opposes this managerialization. I elucidate how these competing frames are composed, which of their components are core and which are peripheral, how the frames relate to each other, and which broader discourses they exploit for legitimization purposes. The results imply that the often assumed superiority of managerial over bureaucratic control is constructed through discourse rather than being a law-like regularity.
Las relaciones organizativas como fuente de capital social.

Social capital constitutes an accurate concept to analyse how interorganizational relationships can provide a sustainable competitive advantage to the firm. In order to understand this process it is tried to deepen into sources of social capital, subsequently our aim is to identify the different dimensions or resources which conform it. This identification will allow us to progress by measuring this variable. Further the relevance acquired by interorganizational agreements, we propose there is a resource called social capital which could be critical to explain performance differences among firms.
Assessing the Economic Impact of the Fiscal Stimulus Plans with the NiGEM Model

In the last year, almost all advanced economies have launched and/or announced discretionary fiscal packages, to help mitigate the impact of the global financial and economic crisis. 1 The objective of this work is to assess the impact of these packages in the 2009-2010 period using the NiGEM model. The group of selected advanced economies includes the US, Japan, the UK and the euro area. 2 NiGEM is a multi-country macro-econometric model whose features make it particularly suitable for simulating the effects of discretionary and synchronized fiscal plans, of which the following should be highlighted: detailed structure (in particular of the government sector), options in simulation design (regarding for instance the specification of monetary policy and fiscal rules or type of forward looking behaviour) and modelling of commercial and financial linkages between countries. 3
The Politics of Sports Development: Development of Sport or Development Through Sport?

1. The origins of sports development: the 1960s to the mid 1970s 2. The mid 1970s to the early 1990s: sports development comes of age 3. The early 1990s to 1997: welfare restructuring and Major's sporting glory 4. New Labour: the reinvigoration of sport development 5. Sports development in four local authorities 6. Sports development in four national governing bodies of sport 7. Development of sport and / or development through sport?
EasiTMC: Transportation Mode Classification with a High Accuracy Trajectory Detection Method

Recently, smartphones are increasingly used in situation-aware applications, e.g. determining the way of transportation when an individual is going outside. However the existing methods of transportation mode classification often suffer from high computing complexity and unsatisfactory accuracy. In this paper we present EasiTMC, a two-stage hierarchical classification framework which consists of coarse- grained and fine-grained classifiers to automatically infer transportation modes from a GPS receiver and an accelerometer. We aim to classify different forms of transportation, including non-motorized modes such as walking, running, and biking, as well as motorized modes such as bus and car rides. The primary contributions of our work include a novel segment-based partition algorithm for achieving high accuracy with low computational complexity, a feature selection method based on overlap entropy for improving the accuracy of classification and a merge-amendment algorithm for decreasing the classification error. EasiTMC is evaluated with over 200 hours of transportation traces from seven individuals. Compared with two other segmentation methods, namely the uniform distance based and the uniform time interval based methods, the proposed partition method achieved higher degree of partition accuracy with lower computing complexity. The overall accuracy in identifying ways of transportation is about 93.3% for different users.
Identification of three species of genus Allium using DNA barcoding

DNA barcoding is a relatively new method developed to provide rapid, accurate and automatable species identification using standardized DNA sequences as tags. Species identification in this way is usually achieved by the repossession of a short DNA sequence, the “barcode” from a standard part of the genome of a given species. An experiment was conducted to identify three species of genus Allium using five barcode regions including ndhJ, rpoC1, rpoB, YCF5 and rbcL. Results indicated that A. ampeloprasum persicum was the only identified species. Barcode region of YCF5 had the highest SRSP with 93.33%. The highest interspecific diversity and intraspecific divergence with 0.8% and 0.4% were observed in region of ndhJ which was the most sufficient barcode region for species identification.
Overexpression of Activin Receptor-like Kinase 7 in Breast Cancer Cells Is Associated with Decreased Cell Growth and Adhesion.

AIM To examine the expression and function of activin receptor-like kinase 7 (ALK7) in breast cancer, its association with disease prognosis, and its impact on breast cancer cell function. PATIENTS AND METHODS A cohort of patients with breast cancer were examined for ALK7 expression in association with pathological and clinical aspects. In vitro cell assays of ALK7 were investigated using an expression plasmid. RESULTS Overall higher levels of ALK7 transcripts were seen in the breast cancer samples vs. normal tissue. However, within the cancer cohort, lower levels of ALK7 transcript were associated with poor prognosis. Patients with lower expression of ALK7 also had shorter survival. Overexpression of ALK7 reduced proliferation and adhesion of breast cancer cells in vitro. We found that overexpressed ALK7 had complex effects on the MCF-7 cell sensitivity to chemotherapy drugs. CONCLUSION Decreased expression of ALK7 in breast cancer is correlated with poor prognosis. ALK7 is a negative regulator of adhesion and proliferation of breast cancer cells. This suggests that ALK7 is a potential tumor suppressor in breast cancer.
Retinoic acid stimulates matrix calcification and initiates type I collagen synthesis in primary cultures of avian weight‐bearing growth plate chondrocytes

The effect of retinoic acid (RA) on primary cultures of growth plate chondrocytes obtained from weight‐bearing joints was examined. Chondrocytes were isolated from the tibial epiphysis of 6‐ to 8‐week‐old broiler‐strain chickens and cultured in either serum‐containing or serum‐free media. RA was administered at low levels either transiently or continuously after the cells had become established in culture. Effects of RA on cellular protein levels, alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity, synthesis of proteoglycan (PG), matrix calcification, cellular morphology, synthesis of tissue‐specific types of collagen, and level of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity were explored. RA treatment generally increased AP activity, and stimulated mineral deposition, especially if present continuously. RA also caused a shift in cell morphology from spherical/polygonal to spindle‐like. This occurred in conjunction with a change in the type of collagen synthesized: type X and II collagens were decreased, while synthesis of type I collagen was increased. There was also a marked increase in the activity of MMP. Contrasting effects of continuous RA treatment on cellular protein levels were seen: they were enhanced in serum‐containing media, but decreased in serum‐free HL‐1 media. Levels of RA as low as 10 nM significantly inhibited PG synthesis and caused depletion in the levels of PG in the medium and cell‐matrix layer. Thus, in these appendicular chondrocytes, RA suppressed chondrocytic (PG, cartilage‐specific collagens) and enhanced osteoblastic phenotype (cell morphology, type I collagen, alkaline phosphatase, and mineralization). J. Cell. Biochem. 65:209–230. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Individual Equity Return Data from Thomson Datastream: Handle with Care!

We compare individual equity return data from Thomson Datastream (TDS) for one large national equity market, the United States, to the source most often used by academics, the Center for Research in Security Prices (CRSP) for the period 1975-2002. Our purpose is not to advocate for the use of a particular source of U.S. equity data but to evaluate the suitability of TDS for use in studies involving large numbers of individual equities in markets outside the U.S. We discover important issues of coverage, classification, and data integrity and find that naive use of TDS data can have a large impact on economic inferences, particularly earlier in the period of coverage and among smaller stocks. We show that after careful screening of the TDS data that although differences still remain, inferences drawn from TDS data are similar to those drawn from CRSP. We also apply our screens to a sample of four European equity markets and show that screening the data has a measurable impact on the time series of country portfolio returns.
A Rubik's Cube Dilemma? The Implementation of European Union Waste-Management Policy in Ireland

Abstract Ireland's engagement with European Union (EU) waste-management policy has been characterized by low issue salience and an ambiguous response from the public administration system which tolerated weak regulation despite the introduction of the waste framework directive in 1975. Ireland's serial non-compliance with EU legislation eventually culminated in a significant 2005 judgement from the Court of Justice of the EU in Case 494/01 which referred to a systematic failure in the application of waste rules. This forced the Irish authorities to address the fragmented nature of waste-management implementation and adopt a more effective and coordinated enforcement system. Against this backdrop Ireland's efforts to translate EU environmental directives into action are explored through the case of the Landfill Directive 99/31/EC. Top-down and bottom-up perspectives from implementation theory are used to interpret how public administration has adapted to the challenges of formal and practical implementation. This is complemented by empirical findings drawn from a survey and interviews with officials and waste-management stakeholders. It is argued that while Ireland's performance in waste management has improved, its progress to meet the targets of the directive has been frustrated by the structural shortcomings in the design of an appropriate implementation structure.
Everyday Meanings of “Local Food”: Views from Home and Field

A “buy local” approach to food sourcing appears to provide an increasingly salient mobilizing framework for city, county, and state level governments; non-profits; and funding agencies as a response to problems in the agri-food system. One rather constant source of tension, however, has been a failure to develop shared meanings about what constitutes “local food. ” This paper critically examines the multiple ways that “local” is constructed in physical, relational, and symbolic space within the specific context of Washington State. In hopes of extending the debate beyond scholars and activists, we sought the perspectives of a broad sample of Washington citizens using farmer and consumer surveys. Open-ended questions were asked about the meaning of “local food,” as well as structured questions about the values and practical considerations associated with food production and marketing. Although a number of obstacles to using “local food” as a mobilizing construct to address systemic agricultural problems became evident, a surprising amount of agreement about the meaning of the concept was also uncovered.
Unification of the "Burst" and "Linear" Theories of Periodontal Disease Progression: A Multilevel Manifestation of the Same Phenomenon

Previously, burst and linear theories for periodontal disease progression were proposed based on different but limited statistical methods of analysis. Multilevel modeling provides a new approach, yielding a more comprehensive model. Random coefficient models were used to analyze longitudinal periodontal data consisting of repeated measures (level 1), sites (level 2), teeth (level 3), and subjects (level 4). Large negative and highly significant correlations between random linear and quadratic time coefficients indicated that subjects and teeth with greater-than-average linear change experienced decelerated variation. Conversely, subjects and teeth with less-than-average linear change experienced accelerated variation. Change therefore exhibited a dynamic regression to the mean at the tooth and subject levels. Since no equilibrium was attained throughout the study, changes were cyclical. When considered as a multilevel system, the "linear" and "burst" theories of periodontal disease progression are a manifestation of the same phenomenon: Some sites improve while others progress, in a cyclical manner.
Performance Analysis of Turkey's Transport Sector Greenhouse Gas Emissions

In order to fulfill obligations under the Kyoto Protocol, Turkey must review the conditions of each sector and make strategic plans to reduce levels of emissions to values specified in the Protocol. As of 2009, with 40.17Mt of CO2 emissions, highway transportation comprised 84.61% of the overall transportation emissions in Turkey, the primary source of the greenhouse gas emission within the transportation sector. In this study, a relative activity analysis was performed so as to identify the position of Turkey with respect to EU countries in terms of greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector using data envelopment analysis.
Modeling WiFi Traffic for White Space Prediction in Wireless Sensor Networks

Cross Technology Interference (CTI) is a prevalent phenomenon in the 2.4 GHz unlicensed spectrum causing packet losses and increased channel contention. In particular, WiFi interference is a severe problem for low-power wireless networks causing a significant degradation of the overall performance. We propose here a proactive approach based on WiFi interference modeling for accurately predicting transmission opportunities for low-power wireless networks. We leverage statistical analysis of real-world WiFi traces to learn aggregated traffic characteristics in terms of Inter-Arrival Time (IAT) that, once captured into a specific 2nd order Markov Modulated Poisson Process (MMPP(2)) model, enable accurate estimation of interference. We further use a hidden Markov model (HMM) for channeloccupancy prediction. We evaluated the performance of: i) the MMPP(2) traffic model w. r. t. real-world traces and an existing Pareto model for accurately characterizing the WiFi traffic and, ii) compared the HMM based white space prediction to random channel access. We report encouraging results for using interference modeling for white space prediction.
Comprehensive modeling of NAND flash memory reliability: Endurance and data retention

A reliability modeling solution including endurance and data retention is developed for NAND Floating Gate Flash memory. Endurance model with trap generation considers the tunneling oxide quality distribution with process effect. Electric field and tunneling current effect also have been included. The complicated trap effect on threshold voltage and Swing shift is well explained based on non-uniformly trapped charge distribution. Thermal emission with Poole-Frenkel model and tunneling from trap to substrate are included for data retention simulation. Dominant mechanisms under high and low temperature are discussed. Broaden phenomenon of threshold voltage distribution after high temperature data retention is modeled and demonstrated based on random trap variation in tunneling Oxide.
Der Einfluss des Aktivierenden Staates auf Familienpolitik in Deutschland und den Niederlanden

This dissertation investigates the influence of the political-administrative ideal of the ‘activating state’ on German and Dutch family policy. It is studied to what extent parallels can be discerned between the family policies that are pursued by these two countries. It is clarified how the aforementioned ideal is converted into family policy, whilst also offering an answer to the question whether any convergences exist in the field of family policy as pursued within the European Union. In order to be able to answer this question, an ideal model for activating family policy in different contexts has been created to facilitate a comparison between the two countries that are similarly organised from a welfare state perspective. This involves an inductive method in which the divergences and convergences of both countries have been worked out in greater detail. In view of the development of the ideal model, Bandemer’s indicators for the ideal of an ‘activating state’ are studied in combination with Kaufmann’s classic family policy goals and instruments, and Esping-Andersen’s state intervention typologies for family policy. This is followed by a specification of the relevant family policy goals and instruments based on an analysis of various documents. The goal of this investigation is to concretise the concept of an activating family policy. Additionally, it is shown which ‘activating strategies’ have been used by both countries and how they have translated the ideal of an activating state. Not only does this offer an answer to the theoretical question about the use of activating policies in areas other than the often-evaluated labour market policies, but it also provides an overview of various examples of activating policy. Using an analysis of the investigated instruments and the corresponding literature, a number of conclusions have been formulated about the convergences and divergences in the family policies that are pursued by these two countries. The dissertation ends with an assessment of the ideal’s gaps and shortcomings and a discussion about its possible further development.
Hypotheses linking neuroses with premature mortality

SYNOPSIS The death risk for psychiatric patients has decreased over the last 30 years but still remains higher than that of the general population. The death risk for patients with a diagnosis of neurosis is higher than that for the general population. Previous studies are enlisted to investigate this mortality for socio-economic characteristics, alcohol and drug abuse, psychopathy and accident proneness. Possible psychosomatic aetiology of disease and subsequent death is examined. Psychological theories for premature death are discussed and some recommendations made for future areas of enquiry.
Teenage Mothers at Age 30

This longitudinal, interpretive study explored how teen mothers experienced the self and future during a 12-year period. Sixteen families were first interviewed intensively in 1988-1989 once the teen’s infant reached age 8 to 10 months; they were reinterviewed in 1993, 1997, and 2001 (Time 4). Twenty-seven family members were reinterviewed at Time 4. The metaphor of a narrative spine is used to describe how the mothers’lives unfolded during the 12-year period. The narrative spines of some mothers were large and supported well-developed, coherent “chapters” on mothering, adult love, and work. For others, mothering provided a “backbone” for a meaningful life; however, chapters on adult love and work were less fully developed. The lives of a third group of mothers lacked a coherent narrative structure. Each pattern is presented with a paradigm case.
Molecular, neuromuscular, and recovery responses to light versus heavy resistance exercise in young men

Recent evidence suggests that resistance training with light or heavy loads to failure results in similar adaptations. Herein, we compared how both training modalities affect the molecular, neuromuscular, and recovery responses following exercise. Resistance‐trained males (mean ± SE: 22 ± 2 years, 84.8 ± 9.0 kg, 1.79 ± 0.06 m; n = 15) performed a crossover design of four sets of leg extensor exercise at 30% (light RE) or 80% (heavy RE) one repetition maximum (1RM) to repetition failure, and heavy RE or light RE 1 week later. Surface electromyography (EMG) was monitored during exercise, and vastus lateralis muscle biopsies were collected at baseline (PRE), 15 min (15mPOST), and 90 min following RE (90mPOST) for examination of molecular targets and fiber typing. Isokinetic dynamometry was also performed before (PRE), immediately after (POST), and 48 h after (48hPOST) exercise. Dependent variables were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVAs and significance was set at P ≤ 0.05. Repetitions completed were greater during light RE (P < 0.01), while EMG amplitude was greater during heavy RE (P ≤ 0.01). POST isokinetic torque was reduced following light versus heavy RE (P < 0.05). Postexercise expression of mRNAs and phosphoproteins associated with muscle hypertrophy were similar between load conditions. Additionally, p70s6k (Thr389) phosphorylation and fast‐twitch fiber proportion exhibited a strong relationship after both light and heavy RE (r > 0.5). While similar mRNA and phosphoprotein responses to both modalities occurred, we posit that heavy RE is a more time‐efficient training method given the differences in total repetitions completed, lower EMG amplitude during light RE, and impaired recovery response after light RE.
Presence or absence of TrKA protein distinguishes subsets of small sensory neurons with unique cytochemical characteristics and dorsal horn projections

Investigations into the biological actions of nerve growth factor (NGF) have shown that dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons subserving nociception require NGF for survival and maintenance of phenotype. This discovery suggests that the signaling NGF receptor, TrkA, can be used as a marker for nociceptive neurons. In this study, we have used antibodies to TrkA, in conjunction with cell biological markers that show a restricted distribution in the DRG, to further characterize subsets of DRG neurons that are dependent upon NGF. Staining for TrkA labeled small and medium‐sized neurons that composed 47% of all neurons in thoracic ganglia. Double‐labeling with antibodies to the high molecular weight neurofilament protein (NFH), a marker for neurons with myelinated axons, demonstrated that TrkA staining is found in only a small subset of myelinated neurons. Surprisingly, many DRG neurons were not labeled by either TrkA or NFH. These neurons had small soma areas, contained the intermediate filament protein peripherin, and were labeled by the lectin BSI, identifying them as neurons likely to have unmyelinated axons. In addition, small TrkA–negative neurons were extensively labeled by antibodies to the intermediate filament protein γ‐internexin, the delta isoform of protein kinase C, and by the BSI isolectin BSI‐B4. In order to assess the potential functions of TrkA–negative small neurons, we examined their projections to the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. TrkA–immunoreactivity in the spinal cord was restricted to lamina I and the outer region of lamina II (II0), similar to staining for calcitonin gene‐related peptide. In contrast, the central projections of TrkA–negative neurons, as visualized by BSI‐B4 staining, were particularly dense in lamina IIi. Our results suggest that TrkA‐expressing and non‐TrkA‐expressing small neurons compose functionally distinct populations of DRG neurons. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.