Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Macroeconomic Determinants of Banking Efficiency: An Empirical Analysis of South Africa Against the Rest of the World

The efficiency of a nation’s banking industry is a critical factor in the quest to realize economic growth and prosperity for its citizens. This study identifies a host of macroeconomic factors which have been shown to have a strong causal link with the efficient operation of a given banking industry. The efficiency of the South African banking industry is found to be lagging behind most of the twenty representative countries, notwithstanding the way one classifies efficiency. Only among some nations from the South American and Eastern European regions is South Africa’s banking industry efficiency profile comparable.The increase in the size of skilled and available work force, the growth in the size of real spendable per capita GDP, the wide availability of technology and computers, all positively increase the efficient operation of a banking industry. The erosion of an economy’s currency has a negative effect on efficiency but this is not found to be significant across all efficiency measures. The findings point to significant drivers, that if found to be lacking, are likely to indicate a climate of inefficiency. Finally we use Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to measure the efficiency of Decision Making Units (DMU’s), in this case, individual banks. However, unlike other studies, we use it as a robustness check of the previous empirical results. These two distinct methods yield near identical results. We conclude that the major causes of inefficiency seem to be structural; the concentrated ownership of the sector, interlocking directorships on bank boards and the oligopolistic nature of the industry mean that South Africa’s customers are paying too high a price for intermediary services.
Prospective study of balloon inflation pressures and other technical aspects of hemodialysis access angioplasty.

PURPOSE Balloon angioplasty is a mainstay in the treatment of failing or thrombosed hemodialysis access grafts and fistulas. A sizable body of outcomes data exists concerning percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) in hemodialysis access, yet there is a relative paucity of technical information available, especially regarding dilation pressures. The aim of the present study was to compile such information, which can be critical to the choice of devices for PTA and to the design of future clinical trials seeking to improve outcomes in this area. MATERIALS AND METHODS Technical data were collected prospectively for 102 PTA procedures (66 prophylactic PTA procedures and 36 PTA procedures performed during access thrombectomy). Demographic data concerning the access were collected. Technical data were collected individually for each lesion treated, including lesion location; degree of stenosis (in quartiles); lesion length; PTA balloon brand, size, and length; pressure at which the waist of the balloon was effaced; residual stenosis; and reason for additional balloons or inflations if used. Outcomes data other than residual stenosis were not collected, but the endpoint for all interventions was a thrill in the access. RESULTS A total of 230 lesions were treated. Two (1%) could not be successfully treated with PTA despite the use of "ultra high" pressure (approximately 40 atm); one was treated successfully with parallel wire technique and the other was revised surgically after the use of a cutting balloon also failed. Overall, 55% of lesions required pressures greater than 15 atm to efface the waist. Excluding initial failures, 20% of lesions in native fistulas and 9% in grafts required very high pressure (>20 atm) to efface the waist (P = .02). High pressure was needed less frequently in PTA procedures performed in the setting of thrombectomy procedures than in prophylactic PTA procedures (P = .0001). Residual stenosis was positively correlated with severity of initial stenosis and negatively correlated with duration of inflation. CONCLUSIONS Conventional angioplasty balloons are inadequate for the treatment of most hemodialysis access stenoses. High pressures (>15 atm) are commonly needed for PTA in hemodialysis access. Very high pressures (>20 atm) are more frequently needed in native fistulas.
Factors affecting online banking adoption based on unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT)

Internet revolutions have brought a huge impact on banking industry. It had also created a novel way for handling banking transactions via online banking channel. There was approximately 23.6% increase in online banking subscribers in Malaysia since 2005 to 2010. However, past literature reviews claimed that online banking was not favorable in Malaysia. Hence, this study attempts to examine the factors that affecting the intention to adopt online banking based on unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT). Other than the four constructs from UTAUT, one additional construct has been added into this model for the purpose of this study. The five determinants were performance expectancy, efforts expectance, facilitating conditions, social influence and personal innovativeness in IT were examined in this study. A total of 400 questionnaires were distributed among UTM students, where respondents were randomly selected. Principle component analysis and Cronbach’s alpha were used to test the validity and reliability of the measurement scale. Pearson correlation was employed to examine the relationships between variables, and multiple regressions were used to test the hypothesis of this study. Regression model in this study found that 48.5% of the variance had been significantly explained by the predictors. As a conclusion, the findings of this study revealed that all the factors except facilitating conditions are significantly affecting the intention to adopt online banking
Determination of regional ejection fraction in patients with myocardial infarction by using merged late gadolinium enhancement and cine MR: feasibility study.

PURPOSE To quantify regional ejection fraction (EF) in patients with myocardial infarction (MI) by using merged late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) and cine magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, and compare this method with the standardized 17-segment American Heart Association approach. MATERIALS AND METHODS After institutional review board approval and informed consent, 15 MI patients (14 men, one woman; mean age, 63 years +/- 10 [standard deviation]) were studied at 1 week and at 4 months after MI. Short-axis LGE MR information was used to quantify infarct size, and to divide the left ventricle (LV) on short-axis cine MR images in infarct, periinfarct, and remote regions by using a fixed-center method, yielding information on regional volumes, regional EFs, systolic wall thickening (SWT), and systolic wall motion (SWM). This approach was compared with a floating-center approach and the 17-segment approach. RESULTS Mean infarct size (normalized to LV mass) was 25% +/- 14 at 1 week and 16% +/- 8 at 4 months (P < .001). At 4 months, LV EF significantly improved (mean, 47.9% +/- 5.9 vs 50.9% +/- 6.6, P = .031), matching an improvement of regional EF (mean, 17.1% +/- 11.5 vs 24.6% +/- 13.1, P = .005) and SWM (mean, 3.2 mm +/- 1.7 vs 3.9 mm +/- 2.1, P = .027) in the infarcted myocardium. No significant changes in regional EF, SWT, or SWM occurred in the remote myocardium. Regional EF estimates correlated well with SWT and SWM (both r = 0.92, P < .001). The floating-center method invariably underestimated regional EF (mean, -20.8% +/- 7.6; 95% confidence interval: -23.7%, -17.9%), especially with increasing infarct size. By using the 17-segment approach, no functional improvement was shown in the infarcted myocardium. CONCLUSION Assessment of regional ventricular performance (regional EF) in well-defined areas (eg, infarcted and remote myocardium) is feasible by using merged LGE and cine MR imaging.
Reduced NGF-Serum Concentrations in Coronary Artery Disease Patients Increase after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Background: Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is the leading cause of death worldwide, but neurological deficits are the most devastating complications of its treatment, Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery (CABG). As Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) has been implicated in the modulation of inflammatory and fibroproliferative mechanisms leading to atherosclerosis as well as in neuroprotection and survival of neurons, the time course of NGF serum concentrations during CABG has been studied. Methods: Twenty-six male patients were scheduled for coronary artery bypass grafting and NGF levels have been measured 1 hour before the operation started and 2, 5 and 120 hours postoperatively. Pre-operation values of NGFs were compared to healthy controls. Results: We found significantly lower NGF serum concentrations in coronary artery disease patients (n=26, age: 68.8 ± 5.5 years, mean NGF: 13.04 ± 32.1 pg/ml) as compared to age-matched healthy controls (n=20, age: 64.35 ± 4.15, mean NGF: 29.54 ± 24.23 pg/ml). A significant increase of NGF was found 120 hours after operation (Z=3.26, p=0.001). Conclusion: NGF seems to be decreased in coronary artery disease and is increased by operative coronary revascularization procedures. Changes occurring during cardiac surgery may indicate beneficial regenerative processes but may also implicate neuronal alterations induced by operative procedures.
The acceptability to patients of computerized cognitive behaviour therapy for depression: a systematic review

Background Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) is widely used to treat depression. However, CBT is not always available to patients because of a shortage of therapists and long waiting times. Computerized CBT (CCBT) is one of several alternatives currently available to treat patients with depression. Evidence of its clinical effectiveness has led to programs being used increasingly within the UK and elsewhere. However, little information is available regarding the acceptability of CCBT to patients. Method A systematic review of sources of information on acceptability to patients of CCBT for depression. Results Sources of information on acceptability included: recruitment rates, patient drop-outs and patient-completed questionnaires. We identified 16 studies of CCBT for the treatment of depression that provided at least some information on these sources. Limited information was provided on patient take-up rates and recruitment methods. Drop-out rates were comparable to other forms of treatment. Take-up rates, when reported, were much lower. Six of the 16 studies included specific questions on patient acceptability or satisfaction although information was only provided for those who had completed treatment. Several studies have reported positive expectancies and high satisfaction in routine care CCBT services for those completing treatment. Conclusions Trials of CCBT should include more detailed information on patient recruitment methods, drop-out rates and reasons for dropping out. It is important that well-designed surveys and qualitative studies are included alongside trials to determine levels and determinants of patient acceptability.
Executive Compensation in India

The issue of executive compensation in corporate India has gained increasingly in significance since the advent of economic liberalization in 1993-94, the subsequent rise of India as a leading center for international investment, and the rapidly increasing domestic equity participation from retail investors in Indian capital markets. Salaries for senior management have grown sharply since 1994, and are sizable in the Indian context, particularly when compared against non-managerial employee salaries. The sharp rise in salary levels, and the wide regulatory latitude afforded to boards to set executive pay after 1993-94 reforms, have prompted concerns long analyzed in developed markets in relation to the play of incentives governing executive employment contracts, and in particular, the better alignment of pay with performance to reduce “agency costs,” and the use and abuse of managerial power to extract rents and thereby disgorge shareholder value. As India seeks to progress the creation of corporate governance systems in avowed alignment with international best practice, it presents an interesting case-study in the context of executive compensation, both from an economic as well as a regulatory policy perspective.
THE EU, COMMUNICATIONS LIBERALISATION AND THE FUTURE OF PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTING

The article is concerned with the impact on public service broadcasting of the European Union (EU). It begins by explaining that, for various reasons, EU audiovisual policy is biased towards ‘negative integration’, namely market liberalisation and the direct exercise of extensive competition powers. This ‘de-regulatory’ bias has been seen by some as a threat to public service broadcasting. The paper examines the implications for public service broadcasting of two important lines of EU policy: 1) the EU’s policy response to the digital ‘convergence’ of broadcasting, telecommunications and IT; and 2) the EU’s handling of competition complaints from the commercial sector against public service broadcasters about their involvement in new media markets (including Internet).
Inhibited apoptosis and drug resistance in acute myeloid leukaemia

Despite extensive investigation into mechanisms of drug resistance in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), the aetiology of therapeutic resistance is unclear. We found that five leukaemia cell lines (K562, HL‐60, CEM, CEM induced to overexpress bcl‐2, and REH) displayed parallel sensitivity to four antileukaemia drugs with different mechanisms of action, with K562 generally being the least sensitive and REH being the most sensitive. The amount of spontaneous apoptosis in the cell lines after serum‐free culture paralleled their drug sensitivity: K562 cells displayed the least apoptosis at 24 h (2.50 ± 0.24%) and REH the most (24.47 ± 8.22%). The extent of spontaneous apoptosis of leukaemic blasts from 39 patients with newly diagnosed de novo AML also correlated with the success of the intensive, infusional cytarabine‐based induction therapy. There was a median of 19.5% (range 3.6–64%) apoptotic AML cells after 24 h of serum‐free culture in patients who entered a complete remission compared with 4.2% (1.8–7.0%) apoptotic AML cells in patients who did not achieve a complete remission (P = 0.0007). Thus, inhibited apoptosis was associated with both in vitro and in vivo pan‐resistance to antileukaemic chemotherapy. The cause of inhibited apoptosis in AML is probably a function of interactions among multiple signals that influence apoptosis. Assessment of spontaneous apoptosis may serve as an important prognostic factor for AML.
E-vehicle policies and incentives - assessment and recommendations

This report documents state and regional electromobility incentives across Europe with strong emphasis on 1) battery electric vehicle (BEV) incentives and 2) the two countries Austria and Norway. The authors find that electromobility incentives can be effective in growing e-vehicle markets, but a substantial growth comes only at a high budget cost for the government. Only the Norwegian bus lane access for BEVs stands out as a low cost incentive (ignoring congestion costs to bus operators and their passengers). Free BEV parking is found to be the least cost effective policy. It has no significant impact on BEV sales and is costly. A scenario analysis emphasises the importance of the supply side, or technology improvements, for a thriving e-vehicle market.
Self-efficacy and the progression of functional limitations and self-reported disability in older adults with knee pain.

OBJECTIVES The prospective relationships between self-efficacy beliefs, in conjunction with measures of knee pain and knee strength, and subsequent decline in both physical performance and self-reported disability among older adults with knee pain were examined. METHODS In this prospective epidemiological trial, 480 men and women aged 65 years and older who had knee pain on most days of the week and difficulty with daily activity were followed for 30 months. RESULTS There was a significant interaction of baseline self-efficacy with baseline knee strength in predicting both self-reported disability and stair climb performance. Participants who had low self-efficacy and low strength at baseline had the largest 30-month decline in these outcomes. DISCUSSION These data underscore the important role that self-efficacy beliefs play in understanding functional decline with chronic disease and aging. Self-efficacy beliefs appear to be most important to functional decline in older adults when they are challenged by muscular weakness in the lower extremities.
Organizational and group antecedents of workgroup innovativeness in a service industry

This study tests a model of Workgroup Service Innovativeness that proposes that a workgroup’s climate for innovation mediates the relationship between organizational context (using the constructs: Organizational Climate and Task Design) and workgroup context (Group Self-efficacy, Group Citizenship Behaviour, and Market Orientation) on the one hand, and, Workgroup Service Innovativeness on the other. Drawing upon workgroup innovation literature, six hypotheses were derived. Using the hotel industry as an example of a service industry, quantitative data were collected from 303 participants from four hotels in Melbourne, Australia, through a 64-item questionnaire based on established 7-point Likert scales. This was followed by five in-depth interviews with team leaders from the participating hotels to gauge differences on the variables under study between workgroups perceived to be innovative and those perceived to be non-innovative. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses and structural equation models were employed to test the slightly modified measures’ psychometric properties and test the hypotheses. Except for Organizational Climate, results confirmed the proposed model. But, based on a better data-fitting model, it emerged that the direct impact of Organizational Climate on Workgroup Service Innovativeness is stronger than the hypothesized indirect impact through Workgroup Climate for Innovation. Also, except for Task Design, it appears that the other variables have both direct and indirect effects on Workgroup Service Innovativeness. The qualitative data was generally supportive of the quantitative findings. Several implications for organizational management are explored, including the need for management to convey to all workgroups in the organization that innovation is valued and support is available for workable customer service improvement ideas. They should motivate workgroups to be innovative by focusing on creativity and innovation as important performance outcomes, rather than only on productivity. Overall, management will promote a climate for innovation, by: •Providing an innovation-supportive organizational climate •Jobs high on skill variety, task identity, significance, self-management and feedback •Cultivating group self-efficacy, market orientation and group citizenship behaviours This eventually should not only promote a climate for innovation, but also promote Workgroup Service Innovativeness itself. Among the several limitations of the present research, a major limitation is that it suffers from the common deficiency of cross-sectional designs: the inability to draw causal inferences. Longitudinal studies of the workgroup antecedents of service innovativeness are called for. Finally, the sample in this study was limited to one kind of service industry, the 4-5 star hotel industry, thus limiting generalizability. Clearly it is important to check if the model can hold in other service industry contexts.
Using FMEA for Supply Chain Risk Management

Supply chain risk management (SCRM) is a key component of not only supply success but firm success as well. Supply chain risks can be mitigated to a great extent by the qualification and selection of the appropriate supplier. The purpose of this study was to identify how companies manage supply chain risks, with a particular focus on the use of Failure Mode Effects and Analysis (FMEA). The research was largely exploratory, so a purposeful sample was used. The research questions were explored in two steps. First, a survey was sent to of 67 perceived supporters of SCRM. Second, after review of the survey data, respondents who indicated they had used FMEA as part of a supplier qualification process were contacted. This research first uses survey data to determine that FMEA is seldom used for supplier risk assessment, but provides a powerful tool for proactive SCRM. A case study is then examined to determine that many of the fundamental principles of FMEA can be applied to reduce risk in supplier selection. This study shows that the supply chain can actually be managed in much the same way as product and process defects. This paper demonstrates that by showing how FMEA can play a major role in the process of managing risks through supplier assessment and selection.
Self-Serving Conformism

We examine a novel class of conformist preferences that is within the realm of beliefdependent motivations, in that the peers’ expectations about others’ behavior may affect every group-member’s welfare. Similar social-preference motivations (such as guilt aversion) have been inferred from evidence of a belief-behavior correlation, but the issue of causality has been called into question. In examining conformism, we propose a design that verifies the presence of the relevant causality direction while ruling out alternative social-preference motivations. Our data reveal “self-servingly conformist” behavior in that subjects choose to match their strategy to the peers’ expectations when it is in their material interest to do so.
Media Diversity: Economics, Ownership, and the Fcc

Contents: Preface. Diversity and the FCC. The Financial Interest and Syndication Rules (1960-1976). The Financial Interest and Syndication Rules (1977-1995). The Structure of the Television Industry. Fin-syn's Effect on Industry Structure and Diversity. The Program Selection Process. The Reality of Diversity.
A New Employability Paradigm: Cross-cutting Measures of Retrenchment/Restructuring of European Employment Policies

Citation for published version (APA): List-Jensen, A. S. (2008). A New Employability Paradigm: Cross-cutting Measures of Retrenchment/Restructuring of European Employment Policies. Centre for Comparative Welfare Studies, Institut for Okonomi, Politik og Forvaltning, Aalborg Universitet. DOI: A New Employability Paradigm: Cross-cutting Measures of Retrenchment/Restructuring of European Employment Policies
Analysis of Quantitative Inheritance of Body Size in Mice. III. Dominance.

ISHER (1918), WRIGHT (1935) and KEMPTHORNE (1954) showed that variation F and correlation between relatives ascribable to additive effects, dominance and interaction of the genes can be partitioned. Methods of estimation of the effective number of factors have been given by FISHER, IMMER and TEDIN (1932), WRIGHT (1934, 1950), CASTLE (1921) and MATHER (1949). I n mice, BUTLER (1952) has made five crosses between strains different in body size. He found that the F, and Fz means were half way between those of the parents. backcross means were half way between that of the F1 hybrid and that of the purestrain parent. As expected, the variances of the parental strains and the F1 hybrids were similar; however, the variance of the Fe was no larger than that of the FI. In the present study the genetic component of the quantitative variability of body size in mice has been analyzed. Among the matters that have been considered were number of loci or a t least effectively independent blocks of loci, the degree of dominance among the loci, the distribution of gene effects, and the amount of environmental contributions to the total variation.