Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Transformational Leadership Model on Employees’ Job Satisfaction and Performance at Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN Persero) in South Sulawesi, Indonesia

This study aims at examining the effects of transformational leadership model on employees’ job satisfaction and performance at PLN Persero in South Sulawesi Province. The population of the study consisted of 836 people. As many as 270 people took part as the sample of the study. They consisted of middle managers, first-line managers, top supervisors, middle supervisors, and first-line supervisors. Samples were taken from five PLN offices in South Sulawesi Province. These offices were (1) South Sulawesi regional office, (2) a steam power plant in Tello, (3) an office in Makassar, (4) a distributional and electrical load management office for South Sulawesi Province, and (5) a distributional management office for South Sulawesi Province. Data was collected through questionnaires and interviews. Data was analyzed quantitatively by employing a Generalized Structured Component Analysis (GSCA). The results of the study suggest that transformational leadership model positively and significantly affects employees’ job satisfaction, but this model does not significantly affect employees’ performance. Transformational leadership model indirectly affects employees’ performance through an intervening variable of job satisfaction. Job satisfaction positively and significantly affects employees’ performance. Keywords : transformational leadership, job satisfaction, performance
E-SAS : Enhanced Secure Authentication System for Healthcare Applications using Wireless Medical Sensor Networks

One of the fields where wireless sensor networks are being widely applied is the area body sensor networks for healthcare applications. As healthcare applications manage private data of patients, the security becomes one of the most critical requirements to consider. In this aspect, there have been several researches delivering security mechanisms for healthcare services. However, Yoo analyzed several of those approaches and observed that they includes serious security flaws: the scheme proposed for Khan and Kumari presents vulnerabilities to data leakage, man in the middle attack, password guessing attack, and manages insecure keys, while Shin et al.’s scheme includes vulnerabilities to data leakage, password guessing attack, replay attack, and manages insecure keys. To overcome the mentioned security issues, this work proposes an enhanced secure user authentication system for health applications. The presented scheme solves the identified security flaws and excels in terms of performance and efficiency. Key-Words: Sensor network, healthcare service, user authentication, two factor authentication, wireless body area network, cryptanalysis, BAN logic, IoT.
Epidemiology of Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease in the Population of Belgrade, Serbia

Background: The aim of this study was to determine prevalence and 15-year survival in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT). Methods: The study covers the period from 1 January 1988 to 31 December 2007 in the territory of Belgrade. Data on a number of CMT-affected persons and their basic demographic characteristics as well as data on the disease were collected from medical records. Data on the course and outcome of the disease were obtained through direct contact with patients, their families and their physicians. Results: We registered 161 patients with CMT in the population of Belgrade. The most frequent type was CMT1. The crude prevalence of CMT disease in the Belgrade population on 31 December 2007 was 9.7/100,000 for all subtypes, 7.1/100,000 for CMT1, and 2.3/100,000 for CMT2. Gender-specific prevalence was 11.2/100,000 for males and 8.3/100,000 for females. The highest age-specific prevalence was registered in the oldest age group (75+ years; 19.1/100,000), and the lowest one in patients aged 5–14 years (5.0/100,000). The cumulative probability of 15-year survival for CMT patients in Belgrade was 85.6 ± 7.8% (44.9 ± 31.8% for males and 98.2 ± 1.8% for females). Conclusions: The prevalence of CMT found in Belgrade is similar to the prevalence registered in Southern European countries.
Do the Fama-French Factors Proxy for Innovations in Predictive Variables?

The Fama–French factors HML and SMB are correlated with innovations in variables that describe investment opportunities. A model that includes shocks to the aggregate dividend yield and term spread, default spread, and one-month Treasury-bill yield explains the cross section of average returns better than the Fama–French model. When loadings on the innovations in the predictive variables are present in the model, loadings on HML and SMB lose their explanatory power for the cross section of returns. The results are consistent with an ICAPM explanation for the empirical success of the Fama–French portfolios.
Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in offspring of hypertensive patients. Relation to left ventricular structure and function.

The relation between 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and echocardiographic left ventricular (LV) anatomy and function was examined in 30 young, normotensive offspring (16 men, 14 women) of hypertensive, parents and in 20 offspring (12 men, 8 women) of normotensive parents, comparable for age, clinical blood pressure, and gender. Offspring of hypertensive subjects exhibited higher body mass index (P < .01), relative wall thickness, and LV mass/height (both P < .001). No significant difference was found in LV chamber dimensions and in either systolic or diastolic function. The 24-h systolic and diastolic blood pressures were higher in offspring of hypertensive subjects than in controls (P < .001 and P < .0001, respectively), as was the coefficient of variation of 24 h systolic blood pressure (P < .01). In pooled groups, LV mass was positively related to daytime systolic blood pressure (r = 0.48), daytime diastolic blood pressure (r = 0.47) (both P < .001), and the coefficient of variation of 24 h diastolic blood pressure (r = 0.37, P < .01). In a multiple regression model, including as variables, body mass index, daytime systolic and diastolic blood pressures, male gender, and family history of hypertension were the major independent predictors of LV mass (both P < .0001), with an additional contribution of the coefficient of variation of 24 h diastolic blood pressure (P < .05). We conclude that male gender and a family history of hypertension are stronger determinants of early changes in cardiac structure than hemodynamic load in a group of young, normotensive adults.
Euro Adoption in the New EU Member Countries: Speed Limits on a One-Way Road

This paper discusses the strategy of the Czech economic policy as regards the current enlargement process of the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). The authors discuss the validity of the Maastricht criteria for the new European Union (EU) member countries, as well as the risks and puzzles of both real and nominal convergence processes. The paper shows that current fiscal policy is the main limiting factor of the speed of the Czech Republic's entry into the EMU. The paper concludes by arguing that the Czech Republic should endeavor to join the EMU as quickly as possible.
Quality management benefits through the “soft” and “hard” aspect of TQM in food companies

Purpose – The purpose of the paper is to examine the binary character of total quality management (TQM) in food companies and to determine the impact of the two aspects of TQM – the “soft” and “hard” – on the quality management benefits. Design/methodology/approach – A research project was carried out in 90 Greek food companies, using the questionnaire method. Two measurement models have been formulated. The first model includes the TQM philosophical elements and quality tools/techniques, while the second model includes the quality management benefits. Exploratory factor analyses are applied to extract the latent factors. The factors that significantly influence the quality management benefits are determined through multiple linear regression analyses. Findings – The analysis of the models confirms the binary character of TQM (the “soft” and “hard” TQM elements) in food companies and the existence of internal and external quality management benefits. The “soft” TQM elements have a significant direct impac.
Nonlinear Changes in Brain Dynamics during Emergence from Sevoflurane Anesthesia: Preliminary Exploration Using New Software

Background:New software was used during a pilot study of nonlinear changes in the electroencephalogram during emergence from sevoflurane anesthesia. Methods:Digitized electroencephalographic signals were recorded from bipolar forehead electrodes between 1.2 and 40 k s/sec. Trajectories derived from underlying attractors were displayed continuously, and attractor dimensions were estimated. Observations are reported from 13 patients emerging from sevoflurane anesthesia. Results:Qualitative observations and quantitative analysis of the data demonstrated four dynamical stages during emergence from deep anesthesia to consciousness. Conclusions:The dynamical stages of emergence from sevoflurane anesthesia into consciousness demonstrate a classic route toward chaos, but the presence of chaos in the conscious state remains unproven. These stages are apparent both pictorially and analytically. Pre-emergent attractor patterns are usually distinctive; their real-time display could be a useful adjunct to depth of anesthesia monitors because they may provide warning of an imminent return to consciousness.
Testing the impact of entrepreneurship education on business, engineering and arts and science students using the theory of planned behaviour

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to test the impact of entrepreneurship education on business, engineering and arts and science students using the theory of planned behaviour. The study adopted a pre-test–post-test (time 1, t1 and time 2, t2) to measure the change of attitudes and intentions over a period of six months. The participants who took entrepreneurship as a compulsory or elective course within their curriculum are 450 in total. To measure attitude, the subjective norm and perceived behavioural control, the study adopted a measure proposed by Kolvereid (1996b). For the intention to become self-employed, the study adopted a three-item measure of career intention, proposed by Kolvereid (1996b), which captures the intention of an individual to start a business. The results showed that the post-programme mean values of subjective norm, attitude towards self-employment, perceived behavioural control and intention towards self-employment increased in relation to the pre-programme ones. But the me.
Acid‐base induced alterations in glutamine metabolism and ureogenesis in perfused muscle and liver of the rat

Abstract. The effects of altered acid‐base balance on the production of urea and the metabolism of glutamine were investigated in the isolated perfused liver and hind‐quarter of the rat. In the isolated perfused rat liver, lowering of perfusate pH without altering bicarbonate concentration significantly reduced urea production and increased net glutamine synthesis, although the converse did not obtain. In the isolated perfused rat hindquarter when perfusate pH and bicarbonate were simultaneously reduced glutamine synthesis was significantly increased. The combined hepatic and muscle increase in glutamine synthesis accounted for 89% of the decrease in hepatic urea synthesis under these experimental conditions. These changes in nitrogen metabolism are interpreted in terms of adaptations which offset the initial alterations in hydrogen ion homeostasis.
Rethinking the antecedents of capital structure of Johannesburg Securities Exchange listed firms

This study examines antecedents of capital structure of firms in the Johannesburg Securities Exchange. The difficulties in measuring attributes of interest are addressed on two fronts: conceptual and methodological. A broader conceptual framework is developed by introducing several new proxies for firm-specific and industry attributes. We employ a range of measures of leverage that allow us to examine definitional sensitivity of the explanatory power of capital structure theories. A two-step procedure consisting of exploratory factor analysis and multiple regression is employed. Analysis of data obtained from a sample of 152 firms, across a period of eight years (i.e., 2002 to 2008) indicates that the explanatory power of antecedents of capital structure of JSE listed firms is sensitive to how leverage is defined. We also find that capital structure is negatively influenced by such factors as profitability, liquidity, intangible-unique-growth opportunities, and business risk; it is positively affected by industry factors.
Equilibrium Regional Disparities: Theory and British Evidence

R ICE P. and V ENABLES A. J. (2003) Equilibrium regional disparities: theory and British evidence, Reg. Studies 37 , 675-686. Regional inequalities in many countries, including the UK, are large and persistent. They show up in a number of economic variables, most of them endogenous, making it difficult for the researcher to identify the underlying causes of the disparities. This paper uses sub-regional data for Great Britain to identify spatial patterns of disparities. It then compares these patterns with those predicted by a theoretical model under a number of alternative hypotheses about the underlying cause of the disparities. The approach lays the groundwork for theory based econometric modelling of the causes of regional inequalities. R ICE P. et V ENABLES A. J. (2003) Déséquilibres régionaux: la théorie et les preuves britanniques, Reg. Studies 37 , 675-686. Dans beaucoup de pays, y compris la Grande-Bretagne, les inégalités sont importantes et persistantes. Elles se manifestent à partir de nombreuses variables économiques, dont la plupart sont endogènes, ce qui le rend difficile pour le chercheur d'identifier les causes sous-jacentes des inégalités. Cet article se sert des données infrarégionales pour la Grande-Bretagne afin d'identifier la distribution géographique des inégalités. Puis on cherche à comparer ces distributions à celles qui sont prévues par un modè le théorique sous quelques hypothèses alternatifs sur les causes sous- jacentes des inégalités. Cette façon fait le travail pré paratoire pour une modélisation économétrique des causes des inégalités régionales basée sur des thé ories. R ICE P. und V ENABLES A. J. (2003) Gleichgewicht und regionale Ungleichheiten. Theorie und Beweise aus Großbritannien, Reg. Studies 37 , 675-686. In vielen Ländern, einschließlich des UK, gibt es große und anhaltende regionale Ungleichheiten. Sie treten in Form zahlreicher wirtschaftlicher Veränderlicher auf, die meisten endogen; das erschwert es dem Forscher, herauszufinden, was den Ungleichheiten zugrunde liegt. Dieser Aufsatz stützt sich auf Daten von Teilregionen Großbritannier's, um räumliche Muster von Ungleichheiten herauszustellen. Anschließend werden diese Muster mit jenen verglichen, die ein theoretisches Modell von einer Anzahl alternativer Hypothesen über die zugrunde liegenden Ursachen der Ungleichheiten vorausgesagt hatte. Der Ansatz legt den Grundstein für auf Theorie gestützte ökonometrische Modelle der Ursachen regionaler Ungleichheiten.
Age, Retirement and Expenditure Patterns: An Econometric Study of Older Canadian Households

The paper explores the allocation of consumption expenditure by the older population among different categories of goods and services, and how expenditure patterns change with age within that population. Of particular interest is whether observed differences between pre- retirement and post-retirement patterns are a consequence of changes in "tastes" or reductions in income. An adapted form of the Deaton and Muellbauer Almost Ideal Demand System is estimated with data from six Family Expenditure Surveys and used to investigate that question. The findings suggest that observed changes in budget allocations are most closely related to reductions in income.
Therapeutic immunization of highly active antiretroviral therapy-treated HIV-1-infected patients: safety and immunogenicity of an HIV-1 gag/poly-epitope DNA vaccine

In view of the global emergency posed by lack of access to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and the limitations of current drug regimens, alternative therapeutic strategies are urgently needed. Cellular immune responses elicited by HIV-1 exert some control over virus replication, therefore the enhancement of HIV-1-specific responses by therapeutic vaccination might lead to viral containment without HAART. We evaluated the safety and immunogenicity, in HIV-1-infected individuals under HAART suppression, of a DNA vaccine, pTHr.HIVA.
Some differences between licensed and internalized transfers of machine tool technology: An empirical note

This note uses survey evidence drawn from the machine tool industry in three countries to identify some of the differences in form between technology transfers which are internalized and those governed by licensing contracts between independent firms. The results show that, consistent with transactions cost theory, the internalized mode of governance leads to the transfer of a much broader range of information and skills than licensed transactions.
Countries’ adoption of the International Financial Reporting Standard for Small and Medium-sized Entities (IFRS for SMEs) – early empirical evidence

The International Financial Reporting Standard for Small and Medium-sized Entities (IFRS for SMEs) is increasingly being adopted in a number of jurisdictions. Despite the economic importance of non-publicly accountable entities, little is known about what factors influence countries' decisions to adopt IFRS for SMEs. In a unique sample of 128 countries, we find that countries that are not capable of developing their own local generally accepted accounting principles are more likely to adopt IFRS for SMEs. We also provide evidence that in jurisdictions where full IFRS have been applied to private firms, the likelihood of adoption of IFRS for SMEs increases, suggesting that jurisdictions reduce the financial reporting burden on SMEs. Moreover, in line with prior literature, there is evidence that countries with a relatively low quality of governance institutions are more likely to adopt this new set of accounting standards. The results also hold under alternative measures and different estimation approaches. Overall, our results are helpful in understanding the worldwide diffusion of IFRS for SMEs. Standard setters and regulators might consider our study in the future development of accounting harmonisation of non-publicly accountable entities.
Prevalence of oral mucosal lesions in patients with type 2 diabetes attending hospital universiti sains malaysia.

OBJECTIVES Diabetes mellitus is associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain oral mucosal disorders. This study was aimed at assessing the prevalence of oral mucosal lesions (OMLs) in patients with type 2 diabetes (DM2) and to investigate the association of such lesions with metabolic control of the disease. METHODS This cross-sectional study involved 391 patients with DM2 and 391 non-diabetic control subjects. Demographic information and data on the duration and type of diabetes, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) values, medical history, and current use of medication were obtained from medical records. Detailed oral examination was performed in accordance with international criteria. RESULTS The prevalence of OMLs was significantly higher among diabetic patients (45.5%) than among control subjects (38.4%) (P = 0.042). Patients with diabetes had a higher prevalence of geographic tongue (GT) (P = 0.017), denture stomatitis (P = 0.018), and angular cheilitis (P = 0.006) than controls. Overall, diabetic patients with poor metabolic control had a significantly higher prevalence of OMLs and xerostomia than patients with moderately and well-controlled disease (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION The prevalence of OMLs was significantly higher in diabetic patients than in control subjects. Higher occurrence of OMLs was significantly associated with poor metabolic control.
Interest Groups in the European Union: How Powerful Are They?

The question of interest group influence is central for both scholars interested in studying policy-making in the EU and those concerned with the legitimacy of decision-making in that entity. Many hypotheses exist that stress a series of factors possibly shaping interest group influence. Nevertheless, only few studies have tried empirically to examine these hypotheses for the case of the EU. What is more, existing empirical studies report contradictory findings. To help researchers advance upon this state of the art, three obstacles that impede research dealing with interest group influence in the EU are discussed: defining the terms ‘power’ and ‘influence’; accounting for different pathways to influence; and measuring influence. In addition to this, several ways to address these obstacles are advanced: by taking a pragmatic approach with respect to defining influence and power; by being conscious that actors may use different pathways to influence when drawing conclusions about interest group influence; and by combining different methods when measuring influence.
Adiponectin is inversely associated with renal function in type 1 diabetic patients.

OBJECTIVE Adipose tissue is a source of several adipocytokines that may contribute to vascular complications. We examined the relation of adiponectin with several cardiovascular risk factors and with micro- and macrovascular outcomes in type 1 diabetic patients. DESIGN Cross-sectional data on 543 type 1 diabetic patients from the EURODIAB Prospective Complications Study were analyzed. We determined adiponectin, TNF-alpha, IL-6, C-reactive protein, soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule (sVCAM-1), and sE-selectin by ELISA. RESULTS We found that adiponectin was negatively correlated with body mass index, waist to hip ratio, insulin, and fasting triglyceride, and positively with high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, and total cholesterol, TNF-alpha, and sVCAM-1, but was not related to C-reactive protein, IL-6, and sE-selectin. Surprisingly, significantly raised concentrations of adiponectin were found with albuminuria, retinopathy, and cardiovascular diseases (for all, P < 0.0001). Adiponectin levels were inversely associated with glomerular filtration rate (GFR) (P < 0.0001). Multivariate regression models showed that the associations of adiponectin with albuminuria and GFR were independent of established risk factors. The association between adiponectin and albuminuria was attenuated by GFR, whereas the association of adiponectin with retinopathy and cardiovascular disease disappeared after adjustments for established risk factors. The association of adiponectin with sVCAM-1 was independent of established risk factors. CONCLUSION We conclude that in type 1 diabetic patients, adiponectin is associated with impaired renal function. Adiponectin may be enhanced in type 1 diabetic patients as a physiological counterregulatory response to mitigate endothelial damage and vascular damage.
Policy Regime Changes, Judgment and Taylor Rules in the Greenspan Era

This paper investigates policy deviations from linear Taylor rules motivated by the risk management approach followed by the Fed during the Greenspan era. We estimate a nonlinear monetary policy rule via a logistic smoothing transition regression model where policy-makers' judgment, proxied by economically meaningful variables, drives the transition across policy regimes. We find that ignoring judgment-induced nonlinearities while estimating Taylor rules has remarkable costs in terms of fit: above 250 bps in 10 quarters. Although linear Taylor rules describe well the broad contours of monetary policy, they fail to detect relevant policy decisions driven by policy-makers' judgment.