Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Adoption of competitive intelligence ethics in the ICT industry of South Africa

iv LIST OF FIGURES . xv LIST OF TABLES . xvi GLOSSARY OF ACRONYMS . xix CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY . 1 1.1 Brief overview of South African ICT industry and CI practices . 1 1.1.1 Current status of CI ethics in the ICT industry . 3 1.1.2 Previous research on CI ethics and CI practices . 4 1.2 Research problem . 7 1.3 Research aim . 8 1.4 Research objectives . 8 1.5 Research questions . 8 1.6 Definitions of key terms . 9 1.7 Preview of research methodology . 10 1.8 Hypotheses . 11 1.9 Research methodology . 12 1.9. 1 Population and sampling . 13 1.9. 2 Data collection method . 14 1.9. 3 Questionnaire design . 14 1.9. 4 Ethical considerations . 15 1.9. 5 Validity and reliability. 16 1.9. 6 Data editing, coding, capturing and analysis . 17 1.10 Delimitation . 18 1.11 Limitations . 18 1.12 Value added by this research study . 18
Factors Associated with the Presence of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C

OBJECTIVES:The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with the presence of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). METHODS:We studied 98 patients with CHC [47 with NASH (group HCV/NASH), 51 without NASH (group HCV)] and 85 with NASH not infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) (group NASH). We determined factors associated with the presence of NASH in patients with hepatitis C.RESULTS:Group HCV/NASH patients resembled those with NASH. Body mass index (BMI) was higher in group HCV/NASH than in group HCV, but was similar to group NASH. Most HCV/NASH patients had risk factors for NASH. In patients infected with HCV, NASH and NASH-related lesions were independently associated with BMI, while steatosis score was associated with HCV genotype 3 and BMI. Fibrosis stage was independently associated with steatosis, necroinflammatory activity index, and NASH lesions.CONCLUSION:While HCV genotype 3 infection and BMI are associated with the presence of steatosis in CHC, BMI is the only factor independently associated with the presence of NASH in these patients. We suggest that overweight-related factors might induce NASH in CHC patients.
O-antigen variation in Salmonella spp.: rfb gene clusters of three strains

The O antigens of Salmonella serogroups A, B, and D differ structurally in their side-chain sugar residue. These genes encoding O-antigen biosynthesis are clustered in the rfb operon. We report here the molecular cloning and analysis of the rfb operons of Salmonella paratyphi A (serogroup A) and S. typhi (serogroup D). The regions of DNA nonhomology between the rfb operons of these serogroup A, B, and D representatives are identified, and the evolutionary derivation of serogroup A from a serogroup D progenitor is discussed.
Influence of Service Excellence on the Attainment of Sustainable Competitive Advantage: A Study of Safari Park Hotel and Casino

iv ACKNOWLEDGMENT . vi DEDICATION. vii LIST OF TABLES . x LIST OF FIGURES . xii CHAPTER ONE . 1 1.0 INTRODUCTION. 1 1.1 Background to the Problem . 1 1.2 Statement to the Problem . 4 1.3 General Objective . 5 1.4 Specific Objectives . 5 1.5 Importance of the Study . 5 1.6 Scope of the Study . 6 1.7 Definition of Terms. 7 1.8 Chapter Summary . 8 CHAPTER TWO . 9 2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW . 9 2.
Combining Genome-Scale Experimental and Computational Methods To Identify Essential Genes in Rhodobacter sphaeroides

Knowledge about the role of genes under a particular growth condition is required for a holistic understanding of a bacterial cell and has implications for health, agriculture, and biotechnology. We developed the Tn-seq analysis software (TSAS) package to provide a flexible and statistically rigorous workflow for the high-throughput analysis of insertion mutant libraries, advanced the knowledge of gene essentiality in R. sphaeroides, and illustrated how Tn-seq data can be used to more accurately identify genes that play important roles in metabolism and other processes that are essential for cellular survival. ABSTRACT Rhodobacter sphaeroides is one of the best-studied alphaproteobacteria from biochemical, genetic, and genomic perspectives. To gain a better systems-level understanding of this organism, we generated a large transposon mutant library and used transposon sequencing (Tn-seq) to identify genes that are essential under several growth conditions. Using newly developed Tn-seq analysis software (TSAS), we identified 493 genes as essential for aerobic growth on a rich medium. We then used the mutant library to identify conditionally essential genes under two laboratory growth conditions, identifying 85 additional genes required for aerobic growth in a minimal medium and 31 additional genes required for photosynthetic growth. In all instances, our analyses confirmed essentiality for many known genes and identified genes not previously considered to be essential. We used the resulting Tn-seq data to refine and improve a genome-scale metabolic network model (GEM) for R. sphaeroides. Together, we demonstrate how genetic, genomic, and computational approaches can be combined to obtain a systems-level understanding of the genetic framework underlying metabolic diversity in bacterial species. IMPORTANCE Knowledge about the role of genes under a particular growth condition is required for a holistic understanding of a bacterial cell and has implications for health, agriculture, and biotechnology. We developed the Tn-seq analysis software (TSAS) package to provide a flexible and statistically rigorous workflow for the high-throughput analysis of insertion mutant libraries, advanced the knowledge of gene essentiality in R. sphaeroides, and illustrated how Tn-seq data can be used to more accurately identify genes that play important roles in metabolism and other processes that are essential for cellular survival. Author Video: An author video summary of this article is available.
Detection and Characterization of Circulating Tumour Cells in Multiple Myeloma

Multiple myeloma (MM) remains an incurable disease despite recent therapeutic improvements. The ability to detect and characterize MM circulating tumour cells (CTCs) in peripheral blood provides an alternative to replace or augment invasive bone marrow (BM) biopsies with a simple blood draw, providing real-time, clinically relevant information leading to improved disease management and therapy selection. Here we have developed and qualified an enrichment-free, cell-based immunofluorescence MM CTC assay that utilizes an automated digital pathology algorithm to distinguish MM CTCs from white blood cells (WBCs) on the basis of CD138 and CD45 expression levels, as well as a number of morphological parameters. These MM CTCs were further characterized for expression of phospho-ribosomal protein S6 (pS6) as a readout for PI3K/AKT pathway activation. Clinical feasibility of the assay was established by testing blood samples from a small cohort of patients, where we detected populations of both CD138pos and CD138neg MM CTCs. In this study, we developed an immunofluorescent cell-based assay to detect and characterize CTCs in MM.
The impact of data errors on the outcome of randomized clinical trials

Background/aims Considerable human and financial resources are typically spent to ensure that data collected for clinical trials are free from errors. We investigated the impact of random and systematic errors on the outcome of randomized clinical trials. Methods We used individual patient data relating to response endpoints of interest in two published randomized clinical trials, one in ophthalmology and one in oncology. These randomized clinical trials enrolled 1186 patients with age-related macular degeneration and 736 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. The ophthalmology trial tested the benefit of pegaptanib for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration and identified a statistically significant treatment benefit, whereas the oncology trial assessed the benefit of adding cetuximab to a regimen of capecitabine, oxaliplatin, and bevacizumab for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer and failed to identify a statistically significant treatment difference. We simulated trial results by adding errors that were independent of the treatment group (random errors) and errors that favored one of the treatment groups (systematic errors). We added such errors to the data for the response endpoint of interest for increasing proportions of randomly selected patients. Results Random errors added to up to 50% of the cases produced only slightly inflated variance in the estimated treatment effect of both trials, with no qualitative change in the p-value. In contrast, systematic errors produced bias even for very small proportions of patients with added errors. Conclusion A substantial amount of random errors is required before appreciable effects on the outcome of randomized clinical trials are noted. In contrast, even a small amount of systematic errors can severely bias the estimated treatment effects. Therefore, resources devoted to randomized clinical trials should be spent primarily on minimizing sources of systematic errors which can bias the analyses, rather than on random errors which result only in a small loss in power.
Promoting Solar electricity exports from Southern to Central and Northern European countries: Extremadura case study

In the light of the EU Energy and Climate framework, exporting solar electricity from South to Central and Northern Europe can contribute to various EU strategic objectives. However, as of today, some challenges prevent its materialization. To address some of these obstacles and as part of the Smart Specialization Platform on Energy activities, this policy report provides answers to two key questions: (i) what is the value proposition of solar electricity exports in Europe? (ii) How can these projects be feasible?
MN1 and PTEN gene expression in acute myeloid leukemia.

OBJECTIVE Multiple genetic alterations with prognostic significance have been discovered in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We studied the expression level of two genes, Meningioma1 (MN1) and Phosphatase and Tensin homolog (PTEN) to determine their expression in AML patients and their role as prognostic markers. METHODS The study included 50 cytogenetic normal de novo AML cases and 10 controls, Their level was detected by Real time Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction. RESULT Relative mRNA expression of MN1 was significantly higher (p value < 0.001) and PTEN expression was significantly lower (p value = 0.002). No correlation was found between neither MN1 nor PTEN mRNA expression and overall survival (p value = 0.212 and 0.310) respectively. CONCLUSION Although our study suggests a role for MN1 gene and PTEN genes in AML, we could not recommend their use as routine diagnostic and prognostic markers for AML in Egyptian population.
How’s the Job? Are Trust and Social Capital Neglected Workplace Investments?

This chapter investigates trust and social capital as potentially beneficial yet neglected investments in the workplace. We define social capital as networks together with shared norms, values and understandings that facilitate co-operation within or among groups. We use subjective measures of life satisfaction to value the climate of trust in the workplace, set in the context of life as a whole. Using data from two separate Canadian surveys, and one large US survey, we find that the climate of trust in the workplace is strongly related to subjective wellbeing, even after allowing for individual personality differences. For example, results from one of the surveys suggests that moving one point on a 10-point scale of workplace trust affects life satisfaction about the same amount as a 40% change in income. The size of these effects, often referred to as compensating differentials, suggest unrecognized opportunities for managers and employees to increase satisfaction and productivity by building better workplaces. Throughout the chapter, we examine the determinants of workplace trust and explore differences among subgroups of workers. We also consider why such large unrecognized opportunities for improving
Studies on Heavy Metal Ion Pollution of Ground Water Sources as an Effect of Municipal Solid Waste Dumping

2 Abstract: Groundwater pollution has been an issue of concern for environmentalists, since the pollution could be hardly reformed. The best accepted option is to avoid the possibility of polluting the ground water sources. Municipal solid waste, in developing nations projects a strong threat to this precious natural source of fresh water. This study aims to detect the possibilities of ground water quality deteriorations due to the improper solid waste dumping with special reference to heavy metal pollution. Since it is well established fact that the heavy metal ions are potentially toxic to human health and could be quite detrimental for human life.
Determinants of Organizational Commitment: A Study of Information Technology Professionals in Pakistan

This study examines the relationship between career opportunities, work life policies, job characteristics and organizational commitment of information technology (IT) professionals in Pakistan. The results show that career opportunities and work life policies in IT professionals are significantly correlated with organizational commitment, while job characteristics do not determine their organizational commitment. Organizations will have to devise more family friendly policies and provide opportunities for career development to IT professionals to induce organizational commitment. Strategies addressing these issues are also discussed.
The proportion of upper gastrointestinal symptoms in the community associated with helicobacter pylori, lifestyle factors, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

OBJECTIVE:Upper gastrointestinal disorders are common in the community, yet the determinants of these symptoms are poorly characterized. The association between upper gastrointestinal symptoms and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), socioeconomic status, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID) use, smoking, alcohol, and coffee intake was assessed in a cross-sectional survey.METHODS:Subjects between the ages of 40–49 yr were randomly selected from the lists of 36 primary care centers. Participants attended their local primary care center and were interviewed by a researcher using a validated dyspepsia questionnaire. H. pylori status was determined by a nonfasting 13C-urea breath test.RESULTS:A total of 32,929 subjects were invited, and 8,407 (25%) attended and were eligible. Of these, 2,329 (28%) were H. pylori positive and 3,177 (38%) had dyspepsia. Also, 44% of H. pylori-infected participants reported dyspepsia compared with 36% of uninfected subjects [odds ratio = 1.39; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.26–1.53]. H. pylori infection remained a significant risk factor for dyspepsia in a multiple logistic regression model (odds ratio = 1.21; 95% CI 1.09–1.34), suggesting that 5% of dyspepsia in the population is attributable to H. pylori. NSAIDs, low educational attainment, renting accommodation, absence of central heating, sharing a bed with siblings, and being married were also significantly associated with dyspepsia in this model. Smoking, but not drinking alcohol or coffee, was marginally associated with dyspepsia, but this finding was not robust. These factors were not associated with any dyspepsia subtype.CONCLUSIONS:H. pylori is significantly associated with dyspepsia and may be responsible for 5% of upper gastrointestinal symptoms in the community.
Identification des symétries matérielles de matériaux anisotropes

La mesure du tenseur d'elasticite complet d'un materiau anisotrope elastique lineaire presente des difficultes experimentales lorsque les eventuelles symetries ne sont pas connues a l'avance. Aux mesures mecaniques dont la complexite est montree, nous preferons une campagne d'essais ultrasonores. Ceux-ci sont effectues par la methode de contact direct sur une eprouvette polyhedrale a 26 facettes. Le tenseur d'elasticite est obtenu par la minimisation d'une fonctionnelle basee sur l'ecart entre deux expressions du tenseur acoustique (de Christoffel). Afin de reveler les symetries exactes ou non du tenseur obtenu exprime dans le repere de l'eprouvette, des figures de poles montrent la correlation du tenseur avec son symetrique par rapport a tout plan de l'espace. Ces cartes sont revelatrices de tous les niveaux de symetries possibles. Un operateur intrinseque determine le tenseur possedant la symetrie choisie, le plus proche du tenseur experimentalement obtenu. L'ecart entre les deux tenseurs et la classification des niveaux de symetrie permettent de faire le choix de la symetrie correspondant le mieux au materiau etudie. Enfin, l'etude de l'anisotropie induite par l'endommagement est abordee a l'aide de la decomposition de Kelvin.
ANF inhibits glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in mouse and rat.

Atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) is synthesized in atrial cells and was recently demonstrated to also occur within islet glucagon cells. Therefore, we investigated the possible effects of synthetic rat ANF-(1-28) on basal and stimulated insulin and glucagon secretion in the mouse and on glucose-induced insulin secretion in the rat. We found that ANF did not affect basal levels of insulin, glucagon, or glucose when injected intravenously at dose levels between 0.25 and 4.0 nmol/kg in mice. However, when injected together with glucose (2.8 mmol/kg), ANF (4.0 nmol/kg) inhibited the increase in plasma insulin levels by 40%, from 114 +/- 8 microU/ml in controls to 81 +/- 8 microU/ml (P less than 0.01). Likewise, the increase in plasma insulin levels during an intravenous infusion of glucose in rats (10 mg/min) was significantly reduced by ANF (100 pmol.kg-1.min-1; P less than 0.001). In contrast, the increase in plasma levels of insulin and glucagon after the intravenous injection of the cholinergic agonist carbachol in mice (0.16 mumol/kg) was not significantly affected by ANF. We conclude that ANF inhibits glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in the mouse and the rat. The peptide may therefore be a modulator of insulin secretion.
Lens injury stimulates adult mouse retinal ganglion cell axon regeneration via both macrophage‐ and lens‐derived factors

In the present study the effects of lens injury on retinal ganglion cell axon/neurite re‐growth were investigated in adult mice. In vivo, lens injury promoted successful regeneration of retinal ganglion cell axons past the optic nerve lesion site, concomitant with the invasion of macrophages into the eye and the presence of activated retinal astrocytes/Müller cells. In vitro, retinal ganglion cells from lens‐lesioned mice grew significantly longer neurites than those from intact mice, which correlated with the presence of enhanced numbers of activated retinal astrocytes/Müller cells. Co‐culture of retinal ganglion cells from intact mice with macrophage‐rich lesioned lens/vitreous body led to increased neurite lengths compared with co‐culture with macrophage‐free intact lens/vitreous body, pointing to a neurotrophic effect of macrophages. Furthermore, retinal ganglion cells from mice that had no lens injury but had received intravitreal Zymosan injections to stimulate macrophage invasion into the eye grew significantly longer neurites compared with controls, as did retinal ganglion cells from intact mice co‐cultured with macrophage‐rich vitreous body from Zymosan‐treated mice. The intact lens, but not the intact vitreous body, exerted a neurotrophic effect on retinal ganglion cell neurite outgrowth, suggesting that lens‐derived neurotrophic factor(s) conspire with those derived from macrophages in lens injury‐stimulated axon regeneration. Together, these results show that lens injury promotes retinal ganglion cell axon regeneration/neurite outgrowth in adult mice, an observation with important implications for axon regeneration studies in transgenic mouse models.
Expectations of Fairness and Trust Coevolve Because of Partial Information

When playing one-shot economic games, individuals often blindly trust others, accepting partnerships without any information regarding the trustworthiness of their partner. Consequently, they risk deleterious pacts. Oddly, when individuals do have information about another, they reject partnerships that are not fair, despite the fact that such offers are profitable — individuals costly punish. Why would one reject profitable partnerships on the one hand, but risk unknown offers on the other? Significant research has gone into explaining the contexts where blind trust or costly punishment provide an evolutionary advantage; however, both behaviours are rarely considered in tandem. Here we demonstrate that both behaviours can simultaneously be revenue maximizing. Further, given the plausible condition of partially obscured information and partner choice, trust mediates the generation of costly punishment. This result is important because it demonstrates that the evolutionary viability of trust, fairness, and costly punishment may be linked. The adaptive nature of fairness expectations can best be explained in concert with trust.
Ownership Structure And Non-Performing Loans: Evidence From Indonesia

Bank institutions in Indonesia have three form of ownership structure. There are private, government and community development banks. One of the unique banking in Indonesia is that there are community development bank (CDB), which is a government-owned bank districts. This research investigates the effect ownership structure on the nonperforming loans of Indonesia banks.The data used in this research is secondary data with reference to all the Bank in Indonesia for the period 2008-2013. Total population of the study was 124 banks from 2008 up to the period of 2013. Sampling was done by purposive sampling method which gained 45 national private banks, 22 CDB and 4 government banks. The results showed that there are different variables NPL, CAR, LDR and ROA of individual ownership of national private banks, CDB and government bank. ROA and LDR have a significant effect on the NPL. One thing that is very interesting in this study is the ownership dummy CDB positive effect on the NPLs, it indicates that the CDB had a large level of non-performing loans compared to private and government banks.
Effects of drop out in a longitudinal study of musculoskeletal disorders

OBJECTIVES The drop out rates in different longitudinal studies of musculoskeletal disorders range between 7% and 57%, and little is known about the characteristics of the subjects who dropped out. The aim was to analyse various consequences of drop out in a longitudinal study of musculoskeletal disorders and occupational risk factors during 1969–97. METHOD Data about occupational conditions and health in 1969 and in 1993 were analysed. Differences between those who participated throughout (participants) and drop out subjects in these analyses formed the basis for recalculations of earlier reported analyses of associations between occupational conditions and low back pain. In the recalculation the data were weighted to compensate for the differences. RESULTS More female and male drop out subjects than participants in 1993 had monotonous work, fewer women and more male drop out subjects had heavy lifting in 1969. In 1997, more female and male drop out subjects had had heavy lifting and low stimulation at work in 1993. At both occasions, there were differences between the drop out subjects and participants in occurrence of musculoskeletal disorders. The weighted analyses resulted in changes in risk ratio of 0.1–0.2. CONCLUSIONS Differences in occupational conditions and health among participants and drop out subjects in a longitudinal study of musculoskeletal disorders and occupational risk factors during 1969–97 did not markedly influence the risk ratios.