Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Influence of Unethical Profession Practices in the Management of Construction Projects in Northeastern States in Nigeria

In the construction sector, many construction projects fail as a result of corrupt practices. This paper investigates the causes of unethical practices in construction projects in Nigeria. The study focuses on construction professionals in the North Eastern States. The study shows that the major causes of un-ethical practices in the construction industry are: the absence of punishment for corruption; loss of money due to change in government; lack of continuity in government programs, availability of loopholes in project monitoring; collusion between officials and contractors; job insecurity; relatively low income compared to needs; lack of loyalty to government. The study also identify the effects unethical professional practices as: outright bribery; unfair practice in projects pricing; dishonest advertising; price collusion by competitors; price determination; cheating on customers; unfair credit practices; dishonesty in making and keeping contracts; abuse of procedure; inflation of contracts; lack of transparency; and incompetence. The study recommendations are: Government should stop paying lip service on the fight against corruption. It should be patriotic and committed to upholding the requirement of the country’s constitution. Professionals, contractors and civil servants should exhibit the hallmark of professional excellence through adherence to ethics, value, competence and integrity.
THE LINK BETWEEN ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE AND PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES: A CASE OF IT COMPANIES FROM ROMANIA

The aim of this research paper is to empirically test the relationship between the components of organizational culture and the practices of performance management. In this study, the primary data were collected through questionnaires from 81 employees working in IT companies from Bucharest. Strong cultures help organizations anticipate and adapt to changes in environment, thus proactive cultures should enhance and support organizational performance on the long-run. The results from the statistical analysis of primary data show that the dimensions of organizational culture have a positive impact on performance management practices. Moreover, all the four traits of organizational culture (adaptability, mission, consistency, involvement) have a significant and positive influence on performance management practices. However, consistency has the largest influence on performance management practices, meaning that effective organizations have strong cultures that are highly coordinated, consisted and properly integrated. Consistency is a great source for stability and internal homogeneity, as behavior has its source in the core values of the organization. Taking into account the relation between these variables and organizational performance, it is important to retain key employees that are aware of the organizational goals and values. Therefore, the organization should implement practices that increase job security and career development. In this manner, the organization will not only decrease turnover rates, but it would also form a stronger organizational culture by keeping the employees that are already accustomed with the values, beliefs and norms of the corporation. In order to analyze the data collected from the employees working in IT field, regression and correlation statistical analysis have been used. The results show that adaptability is highly correlated to the mission. The implications of my research for the field of organizational behavior is that the models that were developed for developed economies also applies to developing economies, such as the one from Romania.
Surgical Treatment With an Angular Stable Plate for Complex Displaced Proximal Humeral Fractures in Elderly Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate functional outcome, patient self-assessment, and radiographic outcome at 1 year in displaced three- and four-part proximal humeral fractures (OTA group 11-B2 and 11-C2). Design: Randomized controlled trial. Setting: Academic medical center. Patients/Participants: Fifty patients aged 60 years or older with displaced three- or four-part proximal humeral fractures and no previous shoulder injuries were randomized either to surgical treatment or to conservative closed treatment. Twenty-five patients were included in each group. Forty-eight patients completed 12-month follow-up. Two surgical patients died within 3 months. Intervention: The surgically treated group had a standardized surgical treatment with open reduction and internal fixation using an angular stable plate and cerclages. Instructed physical therapy started the third postoperative day. The conservative treatment group had a standardized nonoperative treatment that included closed reduction if displacement between the head and metaphyseal shaft fragment exceeded 50% of the diaphyseal diameter. Physical therapy started on the fifteenth postoperative day. Main Outcome Measurements: The main outcome was the mean difference in Constant score between the injured and noninjured shoulder at 12 months. The secondary outcomes were patient self-assessment (American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score) and radiographic ratings at 12 months. Results: At 12 months, mean Constant scores favored conservative treatment by 2.4 points (nonsignificant; P = 0.62). There was no significant difference in mean patient self-assessment. However, radiographic outcomes were significantly better for surgically treated patients. Conclusion: There is no evidence of a difference in functional outcome at 1-year follow-up between surgical treatment and conservative treatment of displaced proximal humeral fractures in elderly patients.
E-banking users’ behaviour: e-service quality, attitude, and customer satisfaction

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate factors affecting e-banking usage based on electronic service (e-service) quality, attitude and customer satisfaction. Design/methodology/approach – A conceptual model to investigate factors that influence e-banking usage was developed based on review of existing literature. The model employed e-services quality variable, diffusion of innovation construct and self-efficacy to better reflect the users’ views of e-banking usage. Data collected from 254 e-banking users were used to test the model. The data were analysed based on PLS-SEM using SmartPLS 3.0. Findings – The result reveals that perceived e-service quality has a strong influence on customer satisfaction and use of e-banking, which means that greater quality of e-service has the potential to increase satisfaction and consequently result in to more use of e-banking. In this research findings, competence of e-service support staff, system availability, service portfolio, responsiveness and reliab.
The mediating role of alliance marketing program creativity on the relationship between alliance orientation and market performance in the services industry

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the validity of the already suggested positive relationship between marketing alliance orientation and market performance in a service context, and to investigate the mediating role of alliance marketing program creativity (AMPC) in the relationship in detail. Design/methodology/approach – To empirically test the hypotheses, a mail survey was conducted among firms with experience of service alliances in South Korea. A 725 research sample was selected (128 responded) from a database compiled by the Korea Investors Service-Financial Analysis System which provides comprehensive corporate and financial information on firms listed on the Korea Stock Exchange. partial least squares analysis was performed to test the hypotheses. Findings – Alliance orientation positively associated with market performance (H1), alliance orientation had a significantly positive effect on alliance marketing program meaningfulness and novelty (H2), and in turn, alliance marketing pr.
The Other Half of the Demographic Dividend.

Sonalde Desai (sonalde.desai@gmail.com) is with the University of Maryland and National Council of Applied Economic Research. India is unlikely to realise its “demographic dividend” to the fullest extent unless significant strides can be made to increase women’s labour force participation through an increase in employment opportunities and a reduction in labour market disadvantages. Starting with the legendary debate between Marx and Malthus, economists have been divided into two camps when it comes to viewing the relationship between population growth and economic growth. The population “pessimists” have argued that rapid population growth inhibits development by reducing capital per worker and dampening productivity (Cassen 1994). The population “optimists” have argued the opposite, that rapidly expanding population can increase human and intellectual capital and furnish expanding markets, leading to economic growth (Kelley and Schmidt 1996; Johnson and Lee 1986). In recent years, a third approach has emerged which suggests that population size is less important than population composition. Building on the experiences of the east Asian economies, this line of research argues that fertility decline leads to reduction in the number of children and increases the ratio of workers to nonworkers for a few decades. Over this period, countries will need to spend less on education and other services for the non-workers, while enjoying the productivity and the savings boost provided by a large proportion of working age population. Dubbed the “Demographic Dividend”, this phenomenon has often been seen as a reward for fertility reduction (Bloom et al 2003). In the Indian policy discourse, another aspect of the demographic dividend has drawn considerable attention. Analysts of the Indian age structure gleefully note that rapid fertility reduction through a stringent one-child policy has led to sharp changes in China’s age structure. While resulting in short-term benefits through smaller child populations, over the medium term it will lead to a population pyramid in which a large number of elderly will be supported by a smaller base of working age population, resulting in a high dependency ratio. In contrast, having experienced a slower fertility decline, India will have a smaller dependency ratio and will reap the benefits of the demographic dividend (James 2008), particularly if the nation chooses to invest in skill development of this young population (Chandrasekhar et al 2006).
Islamic Banking Scenario of Bangladesh

With an aim to explore the current Islamic banking scenario of Bangladesh, this study examines the key concepts of Islamic banking and its history in the world and in Bangladesh as well. This secondary data based research meets its objectives of reviewing relevant concepts, history and current performance of the Islamic banks of Bangladesh through both qualitative and quantitative approaches. From the establishment of first Islamic bank in 1983, this country has currently eight Islamic banks. Except one individual bank (ICBIBL), most of the Islamic banks show remarkable growth in their profitability in the last decade. One reason behind this consistent negative figure in profitability of this bank is the frequent change of ownership. But overall significant contribution of the Islamic banks in the banking industry is visible from the research. This paper provides up-to-date scenario of the Islamic banking in Bangladesh.
Blockade of Kupffer cells by gadolinium chloride reduces lipid peroxidation and protects liver from ischemia/reperfusion injury.

BACKGROUND/AIMS The implication of lipid peroxidation in the inhibitory effect of GdCl3 (gadolinium chloride) on Kupffer cells activation has not been extensively investigated. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of GdCl3 inhibition of Kupffer cells activation on lipid peroxidation after severe total hepatic ischemia/reperfusion. METHODOLOGY Male Wistar rats (n = 40) were randomly divided into a sham-operation group, a control ischemia/reperfusion group, and two ischemia/reperfusion groups pretreated with GdCl3 (10 mg and 20 mg/kg bw intravenously, 48 and 24 h prior to operation). Following 60 min of total hepatic ischemia and 120 min of reperfusion, the rats were sacrificed, and liver samples were taken for determination of malondialdehyde and light microscopy examination. Blood samples were also taken for assay of aspartate and alanine transaminase. Additional animals (n = 60) were followed up for a 7-day survival rate determination. RESULTS Ischemia/reperfusion decreased the survival rate to 13.3%, increased (p < 0.001) the levels of aspartate and alanine transaminase in serum to 2387 +/- 75 and 2157 +/- 87 IU/L, respectively, and increased (p < 0.001) malondialdehyde levels in liver to 1.609 +/- 0.096 nmoles/g compared with 1.164 +/- 0.060 in the sham operation group. Pretreatment with GdCl3 increased the survival rate to 60%, and decreased (p < 0.001) the levels of aspartate transaminase in serum to 1549 +/- 66 and 1496 +/- 55 IU/L, the levels of alanine transaminase in serum to 1302 +/- 48 and 1305 +/- 63 IU/L, and the levels of malondialdehyde in liver to 1.132 +/- 0.034 and 1.149 +/- 0.57 nmoles/g for the lower and the higher doses of GdCl3, respectively. Histological examination showed protection of liver parenchyma in the animals treated with GdCl3. CONCLUSIONS Experimental data suggest that GdCl3 inhibition of Kupffer cells activation protects liver from ischemia/reperfusion injury by a mechanism that reduces lipid peroxidation.
Temporal trends in cardiovascular disease risk factor profiles in a population-based schizophrenia sample: a repeat cross-sectional study

Background People with schizophrenia have an increased burden of cardiovascular diseases (CVD); however, little is known about the cardiovascular risk factor profiles of non-institutionalised individuals with schizophrenia. This study estimated the prevalence of CVD risk factors in a population-based sample of Canadians with and without schizophrenia. Methods Ontario respondents of the Canadian Community Health Survey were linked to administrative health databases; using a validated algorithm, we identified 1103 non-institutionalised individuals with schizophrenia and 156 376 without schizophrenia. We examined the prevalence of eight CVD risk factors: smoking, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, physical inactivity, fruit/vegetables consumption, psychosocial stress and binge drinking. To examine temporal trends, we compared prevalence estimates from 2001–2005 to 2007–2010. Results The prevalence of most CVD risk factors was significantly higher among those with schizophrenia than the general population. Obesity and diabetes prevalence increased by 39% and 71%, respectively, in the schizophrenia group vs 11% and 24%, respectively, in the non-schizophrenia group between the two time periods. Unlike the general population, smoking rates among those with schizophrenia did not decline. Almost 90% of individuals with schizophrenia had at least one CVD risk factor and almost 40% had ≥3 co-occurring risk factors. Conclusion Individuals with schizophrenia had a greater prevalence of individual and multiple CVD risk factors compared with those without schizophrenia, which persisted over time. Our findings suggest that public health efforts to reduce the burden of CVD risk factors have not been as effective in the schizophrenia population, thus highlighting the need for more targeted interventions and prevention strategies.
Characteristics of Mode Choice within Mass Transit Catchments Area

Findings from commuter travel survey data that taken from mass transit systems in Bangkok and Manila Mass Transit Systems revealed that those who live and having destination as well in mass transit catchment area are not the regular mass transit users. It is meant that the transit system of the study areas are suffering with limited number of ridership. This paper is trying to exhibit the characteristics of mode choice for traveling that both of origin and destination point are within mass transit area. In doing so, multinomial logit model were developed to explain the regular mode choice of those residing in transit catchment areas. The results reveal that access distance and car availability have crucial influence on the tendency of regular mass transit use. Taken together, the results implied that within acceptable walking distance, increasing the quality of walking environment proves an important strategy that can make walking to station more attractive, thereby inducing modal shift to transit. For longer distance, improving feeder bus service is still indispensable, especially in the case where other access modes are very limited.
Termination Properties of Generalized Petri Nets

A generalization of Petri nets and vector addition systems, called GPN and MGPN, is introduced in this paper. Termination properties of this generalized formalism are investigated. Four subclasses of GPN’s are considered. We distinguish forward-conflict-free, backward-conflict-free, forward-concurrent-free and backward-concurrent-free GPN’s. We also study the concept of strongly connected, strongly repetitive and conservative GPN’s. The main results obtained are (i) every strongly connected, strongly repetitive and forward- (or backward-) conflict-free GPN must be conservative, and (ii) every strongly connected, conservative and forward- (or backward-) concurrent-free GPN must be strongly repetitive. Since the class of forward-conflict-free GPN’s contains properly the structures of computation graphs of Karp and Miller and marked graphs, some results appearing in these studies can be obtained as corollaries. Specialized versions of our results for the case of Petri nets are also included.
Using a business game concept to enhance servitization: a longitudinal case study

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the potential benefits of a business game on customers’ business in enhancing servitization. The concept is proposed to be helpful in the phases of defining the servitization initiative and gaining shared understanding about it at a manufacturer.Design/methodology/approach – The paper is based on a longitudinal case study at a manufacturer (2003‐2008), with a focus on the business game concept on customers’ business. The researchers and approximately 140 company representatives contributed to both early and later phases of the development of the concept.Findings – The business game concept appeared to serve the purpose of generating and sharing ideas about the customers’ business and the desired role of the OEM in it, as a potential outcome of servitization. The concept synthesizes the previously fragmented customer awareness across the business units and provides useful information for various stakeholders. The presence of personnel across the different b.
Children's Perceptions of Babyfaced Adults

Drawing on McArthur and Baron's (1983) ecological theory of social perception, the present research examined younger and older children's ability to differentiate male and female adults who varied in the babyishness of their facial appearance. Children's perceptions of the targets' dominance and warmth were also assessed. Systematic effects were found on all measures and were qualified by targets' sex and children's age group.
A Modification of Rosenthal's Chromium-Sulfuric Acid Method for Anaerobic Cultures

In planning a detailed study of the growth requirements of Clostridium tetani, it became necessary to fix on a suitable method of anaerobiosis. Since it was anticipated that the investigation might well extend over a considerable period of time, there were several criteria which it seemed ought to be fulfilled. For example, the method selected should lead to rapid, complete and reproducible anaerobic conditions, should not be cumbersome, should be safe, and finally, of course, should be as economical as possible. The available methods, now more or less standard, include the hydrogen-COrpalladium jar of McIntosh and Fildes, the very simple sprouting oats jar, the phosphorus method, and the recent chromium-sulfuric acid method of Rosenthal. The first was rejected as being relatively time-consuming and not altogether without danger, although in other respects admirable. The oat jar is slow in becoming anaerobic, frequently requiring 24 hours for decolorization of the methylene blue indicator tube. The routine use of phosphorus is too dangerous. This leaves the chromium method, with the single disadvantage that it provides no CO2 and would consequently be unsuitable for rapid growth. This shortcoming was easily remedied by the addition of Na2COS to the chromium powder, and experiment showed that prompt growth from small inocula of tetanus bacilli took place under these
Near-optimal control sequence design for untimed Petri nets based on a reduced breadth and depth exploration

This paper proposes algorithms to design control sequences for untimed Petri nets. The aim of the controller is to incrementally compute sequences of transition firings with minimal or near-minimal size from an initial marking to a reference one, avoiding forbidden markings and non-promising branches. The approach combines a partial exploration of the reachability graph with a model predictive control strategy. The main contribution is to explore only a small area of the reachability graph according to a double limitation in breadth and in depth in order to provide solution with a low computational effort. Thanks to its reduced computational effort and to the good performance of model predictive control in uncertain and perturbed environments, the method is suitable for proactive deadlock-free scheduling problems. It is applicable to a large class of discrete event systems in particular in the domain of flexible manufacturing, communication and computer science or transportation and traffic.
Online communication of Corporate Environmental Citizenship: A study of New Zealand's electricity and gas retailers

This paper presents a study of how companies in New Zealand's electricity and gas retail sector communicate their Corporate Environmental Citizenship (CEC) on the World Wide Web. The natural environment is the focal issue for analyzing the way these companies present their commitment to the community and society in general, for two reasons. First, concern for and management of the natural environment is one of the most important social issues facing corporations. Second, prior empirical studies of corporate communication of social responsibility initiatives have investigated the extent and content of these messages without focusing on a particular issue. A content analysis of the web pages of 18 companies in an environmentally sensitive industry was chosen to investigate which environmental issues and stakeholder groups are given priority and how companies' attitudes to stakeholders and relationships with them are described. The results demonstrate an instrumental reformist moral position underlying their online communications. This philosophy was present in the environmental issues most frequently mentioned and in the principles motivating their Corporate Environmental Citizenship activities. While the majority of companies presented their environmental initiatives on their web sites, most did not employ interactive features to encourage dialogue with stakeholders and enhance these relationships.