Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Influence of kenaf core fiber incorporation on the mechanical performance and dimensional stability of oil palm fiber reinforced poly(lactic acid) hybrid biocomposites.

This study demonstrated the reinforcing potential of kenaf core fiber (KCF) to complement and sustain oil palm fiber supply chain in the production of natural fiber-thermoplastic biocomposites. The lignin-rich KCF was incorporated into cellulose-rich oil palm empty fruit bunch fiber (EFBF)- and oil palm mesocarp fiber (OPMF)-poly(lactic acid) (PLA) composites, aimed at achieving synergism. The hybrid biocomposites developed by melt blending and subsequent compression molding were characterized for possible application as an alternative to medium-density fiberboards. The mechanical properties and dimensional stability of both single fiber- and hybrid fiber-PLA biocomposites were evaluated and compared. The test results showed a synergistic improvement as a consequence of fiber hybridization. Also, the findings suggested the best material performance with the incorporation of 5% KCF into 55% EFBF or OPMF and 40% PLA matrix. The OPMF-KCF-PLA hybrid biocomposites gave better results than the EFBF-KCF-PLA hybrid biocomposites.
A role for vesicular transport of macromolecules across cell walls in fungal pathogenesis

In our recent work, we have shown that fungal species from different phyla produce extracellular vesicles. The vesicles are heterogeneous and morphologically similar to mammalian exosomes, with intact bilayered membranes. Proteomic analyses reveal that the vesicles contain a broad array of macromolecules, many of which are associated with fungal virulence. Further, the biological import of the extracellular fungal vesicles is supported by their presence during murine cryptococcosis and the immunoreactivity of convalescent serum from patients with C. neoformans or H. capsulatum vesicle protein extracts. In contrast to most eukaryotic cells, fungi have complex cell walls, that could in theory provide a significant barrier to the secretion of large molecules. The discovery of trans-cell wall vesicular transport in fungi provides a solution to the problem of extracellular transport of macromolecules. Identifying similar vesicles in ascomycetes and basidiomycetes suggest that the shuttle system is ancient, predating the divergence of these branches 0.5-1.0 billion years ago. Importantly, the discovery of this trans-cell wall vesicular transport system also poses new, interesting questions for future investigations.
The fragile consensus

One of the key characteristics of the postindustrial society is the increasing educational and professional sophistication of the work force. This sophistication runs through all sectors of business and government — primary, secondary, tertiary and quarternary industries, though particularly through the last named service industries — and is encouraged by several of the other characteristics of the postindustrial society referred to below.
Determinants of the Level of Knowledge Application: A Knowledge‐Based and Information‐Processing Perspective*

Knowledge application is of key importance in the development of successful new products. Knowledge application refers to an organization's timely response to technological change by utilizing the knowledge and technology generated into new products and processes. This study uses the knowledge-based theory of the firm and considers its roots in the information-processing approach to organization theory to identify and structure potential antecedents of knowledge application. This study develops four hypotheses concerning antecedents of knowledge application. The hypotheses are tested using data collected from 277 high-technology firms. Empirical results indicate that a long-term orientation supported by a research and development (R&D) budget, formal rewards, and information technology directly increases the level of knowledge application, while R&D co-location indirectly increases the level of knowledge application. It is surprising to find that an increase in the level of organizational redundancy reduces the level of knowledge application. The findings also suggest that information technologies, lead-user, and supplier networks do not appear to significantly influence organizational redundancy.
Kill kinetics of the cephalosporin antibiotics cephalexin and cefuroxime against bacteria of veterinary importance

Kill kinetic studies for two cephalosporin antibiotics, cephalexin and cefuroxime were carried out against veterinary strains of Escherichia coli, Pasteurella multocida, Streptococcus suis, Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae and a laboratory culture of Staphylococcus aureus. In more than 90 per cent of cases a kill of more than 99 per cent was achieved within four hours of antibiotic treatment at concentrations of 2 or 4 micrograms/ml. Although cefuroxime was effective at lower concentrations than cephalexin the rates of kill of the two antibiotics were comparable. The results are discussed in relation to in vivo dosage regimens.
The Impact of Debt Capacity on Firm’s Growth

This paper concerns with the financial choice of debt capacity as the source of capital and its impact on growth of the firm. This paper investigates the relationship of debt to asset ratio and market to book ratio. Simple liner regression is used between book leverage and Growth. Financial data of 53 non financial firms of last 8 years were selected from Karachi Stock Exchange100 Index. The result reveals a significant positive relation between the debt to asset ratio and market to book ratio. It shows that there is no negative impact of debt capacity on the firm’s growth.
Vicarious Resilience in Counselors of Child and Youth Victims of Interpersonal Trauma

In this study, we investigated how bearing witness to clients’ resilience processes during treatment impacts the personal and professional lives of counselors who work with child and youth victims of interpersonal trauma. We used a qualitative instrumental multiple-case study design and thematic analysis to explore the research question. The participants indicated that they experienced an increased sense of hope and optimism, and were inspired by the strengths of their clients while working with this population. As the participants reflected on the challenges that their clients faced, the participants put their own challenges and strengths into perspective; they reported positive changes in their personal relationships. We suggest that future research might investigate the relationships we found between optimism, hope, and vicarious resilience processes, as well as the potential relationship between the counseling approach that counselors adopt and the development of vicarious resilience responses.
Resolution of Banking Crises: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

This paper presents a new database of systemic banking crises for the period 1970-2009. While there are many commonalities between recent and past crises, both in terms of underlying causes and policy responses, there are some important differences in terms of the scale and scope of interventions. Direct fiscal costs to support the financial sector were smaller this time as a consequence of swift policy action and significant indirect support from expansionary monetary and fiscal policy, the widespread use of guarantees on liabilities, and direct purchases of assets. While these policies have reduced the real impact of the current crisis, they have increased the burden of public debt and the size of government contingent liabilities, raising concerns about fiscal sustainability in some countries.
Flow Cytometry as a Diagnostic Tool for Hereditary Spherocytosis

Flow cytometric analysis of eosin-5′-maleimide-labeled red blood cells has been proposed as a new method of identifying hereditary spherocytosis (HS). The aim of the present study was to analyze sensitivity and specificity of this method. Red blood cells from patients with HS (n = 58) revealed significantly lower mean channel fluorescence values than red blood cells from normal subjects (n = 110), unaffected HS family members (n = 8), and patients with other anemias (n = 44). Taking a mean channel fluorescence of 400.0 units as the threshold value identified by logistic regression, sensitivity and specificity of the test for HS were 96.6 and 99.1%, respectively. Flow cytometric analysis is a valuable screening test for the diagnosis of HS.
A Model of Advertising Competition

Using a dynamic model of advertising rivalry between competitors in a duopoly, the author obtains analytical results for the case of pure market share rivalry in a mature market. A more general model, allowing for market expansion as well as market share rivalry, is analyzed numerically. An empirical illustration indicates that the advertising behavior of the two leading national brewers, Anheuser-Busch and Miller, is consistent with theoretical conclusions that competitors dynamically increase advertising expenditures to take advantage of a growing market for both.
A customer‐service worker relationship model

True loyalty, defined by a high relative attitude in addition to high repeat purchase, is an extremely valuable asset to the service firm – as the customer’s search motivation for competitive alternatives is reduced, he/she shows an immunity to the pull of competition and provides favourable word of mouth. A conceptual model presents the likely influence of customer relationships with service workers on the development of true customer loyalty to the service firm. It is suggested that strong customer relationships with a firm’s service personnel lead to true customer loyalty to the service firm, as positive attitudes towards service staff are transferred directly to the firm. In situations where a strong relationship develops between the customer and only one particular service worker, true loyalty to the service firm will be an outcome of high personal loyalty and therefore be dependent on the continued availability of the service worker. To assist managers in encouraging relationship development between.
Sense of coherence and social support predict living liver donors’ emotional stress prior to living‐donor liver transplantation

Abstract: The protection of the donors from physical or emotional harm has been a fundamental principle in living‐donor liver donation from the beginning. Psychosomatic donor evaluation aims at the selection of eligible donors and the screening and exclusion of psychiatrically vulnerable donors. As clinical interviews may include subjective biases, efforts should be made to establish objective criteria for donor assessment. In recent research, protective factors have been reported to be a significant force behind healthy adjustment to life stresses and can be investigated as possible predictors of donors’ eligibility. Being the central construct of Antonovsky’s theory of salutogenesis, the sense of coherence is one of the most surveyed protective factors and a good predictor of individuals’ stability when experiencing stress. Furthermore, family support has been shown to be a valuable protective resource in coping with stress. This study surveyed whether sense of coherence and social support predict donors’ emotional strain prior to transplantation. Seventy‐one donor candidates were included in the study during the donor evaluation prior to living‐donor liver transplantation. Sense of coherence proved to be a significant predictor for all criterion variables, namely anxiety, depression and mental quality of life. In addition to this, donor candidates who were classified as eligible for donation in the psychosomatic interview had significantly higher values on sense of coherence total scores compared with rejected donors. In a multiple regression analysis, sense of coherence and social support together yielded a prediction of depression with an explained variance of 22% (R2 = 0.22). Sense of coherence and social support can be implemented as self‐rating instruments in the psychosomatic selection of donors and would help to further objectify donors’ eligibility.
Structural Inheritance and Redox Performance of Nanoporous Electrodes from Nanocrystalline Fe85.2B10-14P0-4Cu0.8 Alloys

Nanoporous electrodes have been fabricated by selectively dissolving the less noble α-Fe crystalline phase from nanocrystalline Fe85.2B14–xPxCu0.8 alloys (x= 0, 2, 4 at.%). The preferential dissolution is triggered by the weaker electrochemical stability of α-Fe nanocrystals than amorphous phase. The final nanoporous structure is mainly composed of amorphous residual phase and minor undissolved α-Fe crystals and can be predicted from initial microstructure of nanocrystalline precursor alloys. The structural inheritance is proved by the similarity of the size and outlines between nanopores formed after dealloying in 0.1 M H2SO4 and α-Fe nanocrystals precipitated after annealing of amorphous Fe85.2B14−xPxCu0.8 (x = 0, 2, 4 at.%) alloys. The Redox peak current density of the nanoporous electrodes obtained from nanocrystalline Fe85.2B10P4Cu0. 8 alloys is more than one order higher than those of Fe plate electrode and its counterpart nanocrystalline alloys due to the large surface area and nearly-amorphous nature of ligaments.
Response Mode and Bias Analysis in the IRS Individual Taxpayer Burden Survey

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) conducted a survey of taxpayers to better understand the pre-filing and filing burden of individual taxpayers. The sampling frame was taxpayers who filed a 2007 income tax return in 2008. The overall response rate was 48% with roughly 39% of the responses via telephone, 28% via web, and 33% via mail. In this paper we explore the differences in respondents by response mode, with particular interest in those who responded via the web as the rate for this mode was unexpectedly high. We also address the nonresponse bias and explore ways to adjust for this bias when the researcher is interested in a vector of estimates, not just one point estimate. For this study, total burden is the sum of seven separate but correlated estimates. Since we are able to link the survey responses back to the tax return, we have an especially rich data set to analyze.
An empirical investigation on firm-level performance of cross border mergers and acquisitions

This empirical study investigates the performance of cross border M&A. The first stage is to identify the determinants of making cross border M&A complete. One focus here is to extend the existing empirical evidence in the field of cross border M&A and exploit the likelihood of M&A from a different perspective. Given the determinants of cross border M&A completions, the second stage is to investigate the effects of cross border M&A on post-acquisition firm performance for both targets and acquirers. The thesis exploits a hitherto unused data base, which consists of those firms that are rumoured to be undertaking M&A, and then follow the deal to completion or abandonment. This approach highlights a number of limitations to the previous literature, which relies on statistical methodology to identify potential but non-existent mergers. This thesis changes some conventional understanding for M&A activity. Cross border M&A activity is underpinned by various motives such as synergy, management discipline, and acquisition of complementary resources. Traditionally, it is believed that these motives will boost the international M&A activity and improve firm performance after takeovers. However, this thesis shows that such factors based on these motives as acquirer’s profitability and liquidity and target’s intangible resource actually deter the completion of cross border M&A in the period of 2002-2011. The overall finding suggests that the cross border M&A is the efficiency-seeking activity rather than the resource-seeking activity. Furthermore, compared with firms in takeover rumours, the completion of M&A lowers firm performance. More specifically, the difficulties in transfer of competitive advantages and integration of strategic assets lead to low firm performance in terms of productivity. Besides, firms cannot realise the synergistic effect and managerial disciplinary effect once a cross border M&A is completed, which suggests a low post-acquisition profitability level.
Bank selection criteria in the banking industry: An empirical investigation from customers in Romanian cities

The present study investigates bank selection criteria of customers in Romania. A total of 248 bank customers responded to the bank selection instrument in two main cities of Romania: Bucharest and Constanta. “The number of ATM (automatic teller machines) booths” has been found to be the most important selection criteria for bank customers from Romania. This study has also shown that providing extensive ATM services, availability of telephone and internet banking, giving personal attention to customers, reputation and image of the banks, confidentiality of the bank for customer records, appearance of staff to be presentable and the number of branch offices around the country are all the most important factors that Romanian people give attention to. Finally, the results of this study have also shown that Romanian people give little attention to mass media advertisement, gifts provided by banks, fast and efficient service and recommendation by other people in their environment. Finally, bank selection criteria statistically differ across cities and income levels in Romania. This shows that people in different cities and in different income groups have different preferences of bank selection criteria in Romania. Key words: Banking industry, bank selection, criteria, Romania.
What makes a manufacturing firm innovative

Executive Overview In the quest for improved competitive position and longevity, domestic manufacturing is undergoing significant transformation. Why then are some manufacturing firms more innovative in both new processing technologies and administrative practice? Part of the answer lies in the experience profile of general managers. The results of a study of domestic manufacturing plants undergoing modernization shows that firms that have CEOs with manufacturing experience also are significantly more likely to implement an aggressive manufacturing technology policy. That is these firms strive to be first to try out new methods and equipment, are more likely to actively recruit new technical talent or develop this talent in-house, are committed to technological forecasting, and make customers aware of how modernizing the firm will benefit them. An aggressive manufacturing technology policy can make a big difference when the company begins its transformation. CEOs take calculated risks when they have manuf.
Building Brand Equity through Advertising

The study examined the impact of advertising on building brand equity in Zimbabwe’s Tobacco Auction floors. In this study, 100 farmers were selected from 88 244 farmers registered in the four tobacco growing regions of country. A structured questionnaire was used as a tool to collect primary data. A pilot survey with 20 participants was initially conducted to test the reliability of the questionnaire. Results of the pilot study were analysed to test for reliability using SPSS.Results of the study found that advertising affects brand awareness, brand loyalty, brand association and perceived quality. 55% of the respondents agreed that advertising changed their perceived quality on auction floors. A linear regression analysis was performed to predict brand quality as a function of the type of farmer, source of information, competitive average pricing, loyalty, input assistance, service delivery, number of floors, advert mode, customer service, floor reputation and attitude. There was a strong relationship between brand quality and the independent variables as depicted by the regression coefficient of 0.885 and the model fit is perfect at 78.3%. From the ANOVA tables, a good fit was established between advertising and brand equity with p=0.001 which is less than the significance level of 0.05. While previous researches concentrated on the elements of brand equity as suggested by Keller’s brand equity model, this research has managed to extend the body of knowledge on brand equity by exploring the role of advertising. Future research should assess the relationship between advertising and a brand association. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014. v5n20p2613
ANALYSIS OF INFLUENCE ECONOMIC VALUE ADDED (EVA) AND MARKET VALUE ADDED (MVA) RETURN TO SHARE IN MANUFACTURING COMPANY IN INDONESIA STOCK EXCHANGE

Keywords: Return stock, Economic Value Added (EVA), Market Value Added (MVA). ABSTRACT This study aims to determine how far the influence of Economic Value Added (EVA) and Market Value Added (MVA) on the Stock Return. Research is using Regression method, which is to know about using more than one variable in influencing other variables. Objects that are used are manufacturing companies that have gone public and is registered as issuers on an ongoing basis at the Indonesian Stock Exchange. The sample used is a manufacturing company which is registered as issuers in Indonesia Stock Exchange from the year 2008-2009 as many as 15 samples. Data analysis is done by using: Multiple Linear Regression, is used to describe the degree of correlation between independent variables with the dependent variable is expressed with varying degrees of relationship, coefficient of determination, used to measure how big the independent variables can explain the dependent variable, hypothesis testing by t-test , is used to determine whether or not a significant independent variable on the dependent variable individually for each variable and the f-count is used to find out together. T-test results showed that EVA and MVA have no significant relationship to the Return of Shares and based on the F test rejected Ho Ho be accepted and that means there is no significant effect simultaneously or together. On this basis, for investors who will invest their shares in manufacturing companies should consider other variables outside of EVA and MVA as a consideration to predict earnings in an investment.
Synthesis, Characterization, and Applications of Magnetic Nanoparticles Featuring Polyzwitterionic Coatings

Throughout the last decades, magnetic nanoparticles (MNP) have gained tremendous interest in different fields of applications like biomedicine (e.g., magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), drug delivery, hyperthermia), but also more technical applications (e.g., catalysis, waste water treatment) have been pursued. Different surfactants and polymers are extensively used for surface coating of MNP to passivate the surface and avoid or decrease agglomeration, decrease or modulate biomolecule absorption, and in most cases increase dispersion stability. For this purpose, electrostatic or steric repulsion can be exploited and, in that regard, surface charge is the most important (hybrid) particle property. Therefore, polyelectrolytes are of great interest for nanoparticle coating, as they are able to stabilize the particles in dispersion by electrostatic repulsion due to their high charge densities. In this review article, we focus on polyzwitterions as a subclass of polyelectrolytes and their use as coating materials for MNP. In the context of biomedical applications, polyzwitterions are widely used as they exhibit antifouling properties and thus can lead to minimized protein adsorption and also long circulation times.