Which countries protect intellectual property? The case of software piracy

Using data on software piracy, we examine how protection of intellectual property varies across countries. Consistent with other studies, we find that intellectual property receives greater protection in developed economies; high-income countries have lower piracy rates. We also find that protection depends on cultural factors. Countries with an individualist culture have lower piracy rates than do countries with a collectivist culture. Piracy rates are also lower in countries that have strong institutions that enforce contracts and protect property from expropriation. These results suggest that national policies toward intellectual property reflect not only economic concerns but also national culture and institutions.     

Effect of ceasing creatine supplementation while maintaining resistance training in older men

The authors previously found that creatine (Cr) combined with 12 weeks of resistance training enhanced muscle strength and endurance and lean tissue mass (LTM) in older men. Their purpose in this study was to assess these variables with cessation of Cr combined with 12 weeks of reduced training (33% lower volume) in a subgroup of these men (n = 8, 73 years old) compared with 5 men (69 years old) who did not receive Cr. Strength (1-repetition maximum [1-RM]), endurance (maximum number of repetitions over 3 sets at 70-80% 1-RM), and LTM (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) were assessed before and after 12 weeks of Cr cessation combined with reduced-volume training. No changes in strength or LTM occurred. Muscle endurance was significantly reduced (7-21%; p <.05), with the rate of change similar between groups. Withdrawal from Cr had no effect on the rate of strength, endurance, and loss of lean tissue mass with 12 weeks of reduced-volume training.     

Combinatorial analysis for route first-cluster second vehicle routing

Two Route first-cluster second vehicle routing algorithms are contrasted in the first section of the paper. Next, the ‘large’ number of feasible solutions to a multiple travelling salesman problem is established given that each salesman can visit any number of customers in a stated range. An approximate expression is given for the ‘small’ fraction of this solution space searched by a route first-cluster second vehicle routing heuristic. Nevertheless, this heuristic is seen to be a very efficient means of searching its solution space.     

东亚地区粮食安全问题的讨论

针对东亚地区人口、耕地的情况,作者对中国二十二世纪粮食生产和粮食安全提出了与莱斯特&#183;布朗相反的结论,分析了中国粮食生产的历史状况,指出中国在二十一世纪实现粮食自给是可能的。中国政府必须采取合适的农业政策,包括对农业物质投入和对科研的支持、培育国内农产品市场、取消省级或地方政府对农产品进出本地区的限制,使农民了解国际农产品市场等,肯定了中国在二十一世纪不会进口大量粮食,不会冲击国际粮食市场。     

Employee attitude surveys: Their interpretation and use

This paper evaluates the uses of attitude surveys as a guide to management decision-making and identifies some of the problems of carrying out such studies and implementing the results. The concepts of attitude, value, personality, motivation, morale and job satisfaction are reviewed and their relevance discussed. A model of the determinants of attitudes is developed and used as a basis for a consideration of the problems of effecting change and increasing job satisfaction. Finally, the types of action that might be recommended on the basis of attitude survey data are considered and the roles of management and researchers in the interpretation and implementation of conclusions discussed.