Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Impact of Extrinsic and Intrinsic Motivation towards Job Satisfaction in Finance Service Department of PT. XYZ

People are one of the resources that should be managed well by the company. There is no exception for PT. XYZ. As one of the leading FMCG companies in Indonesia and the top 10 global brand, PT XYZ surely has to manage the company well with the support of the employees. One of the ways to keep the performance in the optimum level is by maintaining the job satisfaction of the employees. In order to maintain the job satisfaction, the employees should keep motivated in doing the job. This research is conducted to analyze the impact of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation of employees in Finance Service department of PT. XYZ towards their job satisfaction. Data was gathered using census by distributing questionnaires to 103 employees in Finance Service department of PT. XYZ. The data then analyzed using Multiple Linear Regression analysis. From the research, it can be concluded that overall, the intrinsic and extrinsic motivation of the employees in Finance Service department of PT. XYZ simultaneously have significant impact on employees’ job satisfaction. Keywords: Intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, job satisfaction, Herzberg two-factor theory
An Empirical Investigation into the Impact of Change Management on Selected Manufacturing Firms in South East Nigeria

This paper seeks to investigate the effectiveness of change management and the level of commitment of top management of manufacturing firms in South Eastern Nigeria. Data were collected from two hundred and five (205) participant manufacturing firms who were financial members of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN). The Yamanei¯s statistical formula was utilized for sample size determination. 267 copies of questionnaire were distributed to top and middle management staff who were knowledgeable about the technical information needed for implementing change management. Using Chi-square (X) statistic and Pearson product moment correlation coefficient, the study reveals that change management improves the level of performance and that there is a very strong positive relationship between commitment of top management, middle management and success rate of implementation in the selected firms. Based on these findings, the paper advocates that leaders and top management of these organizations should make the process of change management more conducive and organization friendly. Again employees who are going to be affected by change should earlier be identified with respect to their interest, knowledge and attitudes before implementation of change.
A paradigmatic and methodological examination of information systems research from 1991 to 2001

Abstract. The field of information systems (IS) has evolved for more than three decades. Although many schools of thought have emerged and even become well established, few historical analyses of research paradigms and methodologies have been undertaken. One of the rare exceptions is Orlikowski & Baroudi (1991). Yet, the IS research community has evolved substantially since 1991 in many aspects. A variety of journal outlets have emerged and become well established. More attention has been paid to paradigmatic and methodological issues. Political and professional contexts have also changed noticeably. Therefore, it should be an opportune time for the field to ask: ‘What changes are manifested in journal publications? ’‘Is the field making progress regarding pluralism in IS research? ’‘How will the field's publications practices change in the future? ’ The purpose of this paper is to investigate these questions and, in turn, reflect on the paradigmatic and methodological progress made since 1991. We examined 1893 articles published in eight major IS publication outlets between 1991 and 2001. Our findings suggest that the long‐term endeavours of interpretivist researchers might need to continue because the paradigmatic progress appears somewhat inconsequential; positivist research still dominates 81% of published empirical research. In particular, US journals, as opposed to European journals, tend to be more positivist, quantitative, cross‐sectional and survey oriented. With respect to research design, survey research is still the most widely used method (41%), although case studies have gained substantial recognition (36%). Further, the increase of qualitative research (30%), empirical studies (61%) and longitudinal cases (33%) at the expense of laboratory experiments (18%) might suggest that IS researchers have become more interested in obtaining scientific knowledge in real world settings. In summary, we suggest that the field has been dominated by the positivist paradigm, despite calls to the contrary. Indeed, if the field was to truly embrace pluralism, it would have to find ways to fundamentally change the publication practices of the journal system, including the current tenure and promotion system, which pose considerable obstacles for the acceptance of alternative paradigms.
Palmitic Acid-Induced Neuron Cell Cycle G2/M Arrest and Endoplasmic Reticular Stress through Protein Palmitoylation in SH-SY5Y Human Neuroblastoma Cells

Obesity-related neurodegenerative diseases are associated with elevated saturated fatty acids (SFAs) in the brain. An increase in SFAs, especially palmitic acid (PA), triggers neuron cell apoptosis, causing cognitive function to deteriorate. In the present study, we focused on the specific mechanism by which PA triggers SH-SY5Y neuron cell apoptosis. We found that PA induces significant neuron cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase in SH-SY5Y cells. Our data further showed that G2/M arrest is involved in elevation of endoplasmic reticular (ER) stress according to an increase in p-eukaryotic translation inhibition factor 2α, an ER stress marker. Chronic exposure to PA also accelerates beta-amyloid accumulation, a pathological characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease. Interestingly, SFA-induced ER stress, G2/M arrest and cell apoptosis were reversed by treatment with 2-bromopalmitate, a protein palmitoylation inhibitor. These findings suggest that protein palmitoylation plays a crucial role in SFA-induced neuron cell cycle G2/M arrest, ER stress and apoptosis; this provides a novel strategy for preventing SFA-induced neuron cell dysfunction.
Tetracycline-Inducible Packaging Cell Line for Production of Flavivirus Replicon Particles

ABSTRACT We have previously developed replicon vectors derived from the Australian flavivirus Kunjin that have a unique noncytopathic nature and have been shown to direct prolonged high-level expression of encoded heterologous genes in vitro and in vivo and to induce strong and long-lasting immune responses to encoded immunogens in mice. To facilitate further applications of these vectors in the form of virus-like particles (VLPs), we have now generated a stable BHK packaging cell line, tetKUNCprME, carrying a Kunjin structural gene cassette under the control of a tetracycline-inducible promoter. Withdrawal of tetracycline from the medium resulted in production of Kunjin structural proteins that were capable of packaging transfected and self-amplified Kunjin replicon RNA into the secreted VLPs at titers of up to 1.6 × 109 VLPs per ml. Furthermore, secreted KUN replicon VLPs from tetKUNCprME cells could be harvested continuously for as long as 10 days after RNA transfection, producing a total yield of more than 1010 VLPs per 106 transfected cells. Passaging of VLPs on Vero cells or intracerebral injection into 2- to 4-day-old suckling mice illustrated the complete absence of any infectious Kunjin virus. tetKUNCprME cells were also capable of packaging replicon RNA from closely and distantly related flaviviruses, West Nile virus and dengue virus type 2, respectively. The utility of high-titer KUN replicon VLPs was demonstrated by showing increasing CD8+-T-cell responses to encoded foreign protein with increasing doses of KUN VLPs. A single dose of 2.5 × 107 VLPs carrying the human respiratory syncytial virus M2 gene induced 1,400 CD8 T cells per 106 splenocytes in an ex vivo gamma interferon enzyme-linked immunospot assay. The packaging cell line thus represents a significant advance in the development of the noncytopathic Kunjin virus replicon-based gene expression system and may be widely applicable to the basic studies of flavivirus RNA packaging and virus assembly as well as to the development of gene expression systems based on replicons from different flaviviruses.
The Dark Side of Long-Term Relationships in Marketing Services

In their study of marketing services relationships, Moorman, Zaltman, and Deshpandé (1992) are unable to support a hypothesized link between relational factors (such as clients’ trust in their service providers) and clients’ use of marketing services. This finding runs counter to relationship marketing theory. To explain their result, Moorman, Zaltman, and Deshpandé (1992) suggest that, as a relationship becomes more long-term, it becomes prone to negative influences that dampen the positive impact of relational factors. This study replicates and extends Moorman, Zaltman, and Deshpandé's (1992) work by examining relationships between advertising agencies and their clients. The results replicate findings on seven of ten hypotheses proposed in the original article. The authors also extend the original study by supporting the general hypothesis that long-term relationships have a negative impact on service use, which dampens the impact of trust. The results shed light on the mediating role that certain “dark side” constructs play in marketing services relationships.
The Role of Existential Meaning as a Buffer Against Stress

An ethnically diverse sample of 143 college undergraduates was used to test the hypothesis that a sense of existential meaning buffers against the effect of stress on depression and hope. Spiritual meaning as measured by the Spiritual Meaning Scale and personal meaning as measured by the framework subscale from the Life Regard Index-Revised were significantly negatively correlated with depressive symptoms and positively correlated with hope. Spiritual meaning, but not personal meaning, moderated the relationship between stress and depression such that there was a strong relationship between depression and stress for individuals with low levels of spiritual meaning but no relationship between stress and depression for individuals with high levels of spiritual meaning. It appears that, though both spiritual and personal meaning are inversely related to depression and positively related to hope, only spiritual meaning moderates the relationship between daily stress and depression.
Different Whole-Genome Amplification Methods as a Preamplification Tool in Y-Chromosome Loci Analysis

AbstractDegraded and low template DNA is often analyzed in forensic genetics laboratories. Reliable analysis of degraded and low template DNA is of great importance, because its results impact the quality and reliability of expert testimonies. Recently, a number of whole-genome amplification (WGA) methods have been proposed as preamplification tools improving quantity and quality of DNA. We chose, investigated, and compared 7 WGA methods to evaluate their ability to “recover” degraded and nondegraded DNA. These methods include degenerate oligonucleotide primed polymerase chain reaction, primer extension preamplification (PEP) polymerase chain reaction, GenomePlex WGA (Sigma), multiple displacement amplification, GenomiPhi Amplification Kit (Amersham Biosciences), restriction and circularization aided rolling circle amplification, and blunt-end ligation–mediated WGA. Recently, we have described the comparison of these methods’ efficiency and reliability using SGMPlus kit. However, Y-chromosome profiling is also often used in analysis of both nondegraded and degraded DNA. This includes criminal cases and investigation of kinship in male linage. Here we demonstrate the impact of WGA methods on Y-chromosome loci (Yfiler) reactivation.The best results for nondegraded DNA were obtained with GenomiPhi kit and PEP method. In the case of degraded DNA (200 base pairs), the most complete profiles were obtained with GenomePlex kit and PEP method. None of the analyzed methods allowed full reactivation of degraded (200 base pairs) DNA in terms of Y-chromosome loci profiling.
Regularized Newton Methods for Minimizing Functions with Hölder Continuous Hessians

In this paper, we study the regularized second-order methods for unconstrained minimization of a twice-differentiable (convex or nonconvex) objective function. For the current function, these methods automatically achieve the best possible global complexity estimates among different Holder classes containing the Hessian of the objective. We show that such methods for functional residual and for the norm of the gradient must be different. For development of the latter methods, we introduced two new line-search acceptance criteria, which can be seen as generalizations of the Armijo condition.
Production of Biodegradable Plastic Packaging Film from Cassava Starch

Materials used for food packaging today consists of a variety of petroleum-derived plastic polymer, metals, glass, paper and board, or combinations thereof. Among these packaging materials, plastic is found to be the best because of its long life properties. Thus, its utilization is increasing every day by day. However, plastics cannot be degraded by natural processes in a short period of time; therefore, they are left as plastic waste, causing environmental problems. Methods normally used to destroy other types of waste such as burning and burying are not suitable for plastic destruction. In response to these problems associated with plastic waste, there has been considerable interest in the development and production of biodegradable plastics. In this work, a biodegradable plastic film was produced by blending cassava starch and a synthetic biodegradable polymer (PVA). The film produced was found to have a biodegradability of 41.27% compared to 10.33% and 85.99% for polythene and paper respectively. The film also has a tensile strength of 24.87N/mmcompared to 10.86N/mm and 8.29N/mm for polythene and paper. The potential of producing biodegradable packaging plastic film from cassava starch is encouraging and should be further explored especially in a country with high cassava productivity, like Nigeria.
What Does Matter in R&D Decentralization: Financial Performance Worry or Intensive Earnings Management?

This paper examines whether R&D decentralization influences performance. It examines also the impact of this decentralization on earnings management. To specify what does matter in the decentralization of the R&D we try to examine the relationship between centralization or decentralization of the R&D and the firm’s performance on one hand and the earnings management as measured by discretionary accruals on the other hand. We integrate two internal finance indexes (internal cash flows, internal market capital) and two mechanism of governance (stock-options, institutional investors) to examine the factors which can likely influence the centralization or the decentralization of the R&D. Using a sample of 160 U.S. MNCs over the 2001-2006 period we have shown that MNCs decentralize their R&D for dual goal: to improve profitability and to manage earnings. We have also found that although they have significantly positive effects on performance, institutional shareholders and performance-based compensation encourage managers to decentralize their R&D in order to spur their opportunistic behavior.
SarA Positively Controls Bap-Dependent Biofilm Formation in Staphylococcus aureus

ABSTRACT The biofilm-associated protein Bap is a staphylococcal surface protein involved in biofilm formation. We investigated the influence of the global regulatory locus sarA on bap expression and Bap-dependent biofilm formation in three unrelated Staphylococcus aureus strains. The results showed that Bap-dependent biofilm formation was diminished in the sarA mutants by an agr-independent mechanism. Complementation studies using a sarA clone confirmed that the defect in biofilm formation was due to the sarA mutation. As expected, the diminished capacity to form biofilms in the sarA mutants correlated with the decreased presence of Bap in the bacterial surface. Using transcriptional fusion and Northern analysis data, we demonstrated that the sarA gene product acts as an activator of bap expression. Finally, the bap promoter was characterized and the transcriptional start point was mapped by the rapid amplification of cDNA ends technique. As expected, we showed that purified SarA protein binds specifically to the bap promoter, as determined by gel shift and DNase I footprinting assays. Based on the previous studies of others as well as our work demonstrating the role for SarA in icaADBC and bap expression (J. Valle, A. Toledo-Arana, C. Berasain, J. M. Ghigo, B. Amorena, J. R. Penades, and I. Lasa, Mol. Microbiol. 48:1075-1087), we propose that SarA is an essential regulator controlling biofilm formation in S. aureus.
Accounting choices relating to goodwill impairment: Evidence from Malaysia

This thesis examines the accounting choices related to goodwill impairment exercised by Malaysian listed companies in the first three years of the implementation of FRS 3 Business Combinations (i.e. 2006/7 to 2008/9). Three aspects of these accounting choices are examined, i.e. disclosure, measurement, and recognition of goodwill impairment. This thesis makes four main contributions. Firstly, it shows how the opportunistic behaviour perspective, previously developed and tested by prior studies using data from listed companies in developed economies (reported to have dispersed ownership), helps explain managerial decisions on the measurement of goodwill impairment in the developing economy of Malaysia (documented to have concentrated ownership). Managerial opportunism is normally discussed in prior studies in the context of agency conflict between managers and shareholders in companies with disperse ownership. Because of the high outside ownership concentration found in the Malaysian listed companies, the empirical result of this thesis suggests that most probably the opportunistic behaviour occurs due to an agency conflict between the controlling shareholders (shareholders outside of the companies) and the minority shareholders. Within this conflict, managers would possibly act on behalf of the controlling shareholders at the expense of the minority shareholders. Secondly, this thesis contributes to research design by developing a disclosure framework. Future researchers could make use of the disclosure framework to identify accounting choices related to goodwill impairment, or to interpret their statistical findings, which this thesis has attempted to do. Thirdly, this thesis presents new results from the empirical evidence related to factors influencing managerial decisions on the measurement of goodwill impairment by Malaysian listed companies. These factors are: managerial ownership, and two different measures of pre-write-off earnings. These results highlight the need for future studies to incorporate these variables, in order to iii provide a more comprehensive model of accounting choices related to goodwill impairment. Finally, this thesis constructs a research setting which aims to capture evidence of a recognition choice related to reporting zero goodwill impairment exercised by Malaysian listed companies. Testing this setting allows the recognition study to make a contribution, by identifying the motives of companies for recognising zero goodwill impairment, which has received limited attention in prior studies. Information concerning these motives is useful to the relevant regulatory bodies overseeing financial reporting standards on goodwill.
Newly identified human rhinoviruses: molecular methods heat up the cold viruses

Human rhinovirus (HRV) infections cause at least 70% of virus‐related wheezing exacerbations and cold and flu‐like illnesses. They are associated with otitis media, sinusitis and pneumonia. Annually, the economic impact of HRV infections costs billions in healthcare and lost productivity. Since 1987, 100 officially recognised HRV serotypes reside in two genetically distinct species; HRV A and HRV B, within the genus Enterovirus, family Picornaviridae. Sequencing of their ∼7kb genomes was finalised in 2009. Since 1999, many globally circulating, molecularly‐defined ‘strains’, perhaps equivalent to novel serotypes, have been discovered but remain uncharacterised. Many of these currently unculturable strains have been assigned to a proposed new species, HRV C although confusion exists over the membership of the species. There has not been sufficient sampling to ensure the identification of all strains and no consensus criteria exist to define whether clinical HRV detections are best described as a distinct strain or a closely related variant of a previously identified strain (or serotype). We cannot yet robustly identify patterns in the circulation of newly identified HRVs (niHRVs) or the full range of associated illnesses and more data are required. Many questions arise from this new found diversity: what drives the development of so many distinct viruses compared to other species of RNA viruses? What role does recombination play in generating this diversity? Are there species‐ or strain‐specific circulation patterns and clinical outcomes? Are divergent strains sensitive to existing capsid‐binding antivirals? This update reviews the findings that trigger these and other questions arising during the current cycle of intense rhinovirus discovery. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Interaction between Growth Intentions, Access to Resources and Growth in New Technology-Based Firms

This paper explores the interaction between growth intentions, access to resources and growth in new technology-based firms. Based on a combination of a cross-sectional survey study and case studies of individual firms, the paper shows that the growth orientation of new technology-based firms may be mediated, or determined jointly by the firms' need for external resources. New technology-based firms that have low growth orientation at start-up may attain actual growth through the influences of new owners who allow access to critical resources. These results have important implications for understanding the growth process in new technology-based firms.
The travelling wave of Gray-Scott systems – existence, multiplicity and stability

ABSTRACT This article studies existence and stability of travelling wave of unstirred Gray-Scott system in biological pattern formation which models an isothermal chemical reaction involving two chemical species, a reactant A and an auto-catalyst B, and a linear decay , where C is an inert product. Our result shows a new and very distinctive feature of Gray-Scott type of models in generating rich and structurally different travelling pulses than related models in the literature. In particular, the existence of multiple travelling waves which have distinctive number of local maxima is proved. Furthermore, the stability of travelling wave of the reaction–diffusion system of isothermal diffusion system , is also studied.