Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Determinants of bank margins in a dual banking system

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to determine of bank margins for conventional and Islamic banks in the dual banking system in Malaysia. Design/methodology/approach - The study uses unbalanced panel data for 20 conventional banks and 16 Islamic banks over the period 2008-2014. The dynamic two-step GMM estimator technique introduced by Arellano and Bond (1991) is applied. Findings - The results suggest that there are significant similarities with minor differences in terms of factors determining bank margins between conventional and Islamic banks in Malaysia. The margins for conventional banks are influenced by operating costs, efficiency, credit risk, degree of risk aversion, market share, size of operation, implicit interest payments and funding costs. For Islamic banks, the margin determinants are found to be operating costs, efficiency, credit risk, market share and implicit interest payments. This means that more factors influence the margins in conventional banks compared to Islamic banks. Although bank diversification activities have increased in recent years, their impact on bank margins is minimal. Practical implications - The results suggest that improving operational costs, operational efficiency and credit risk management, and minimising implicit interest payments would be the best strategy to enhance the bank margins for both conventional and Islamic banks. The results also have important policy implications on the necessity to expand the size of Islamic banking in Malaysia. Originality/value - There are relatively few studies concerning determinants of bank margins in emerging markets. The present study adds to the literature by presenting evidence from Malaysia, an emerging market with a dual banking system. This allows us to explore the similarities and differences between conventional and Islamic banks in Malaysia in respect of determinants of the margins.
Rethinking educational tourism: proposing a new model and future directions

Purpose Educational tourism is under-researched in the literature. The purpose of this paper is to argue that this stems from a lack of consensus regarding the nature and scope of educational tourism as a theoretical concept and market segment. Design/methodology/approach Through a review of research over the last decade and a half, the paper aims at providing a concise overview of the key perspectives and concepts in educational tourism whilst highlighting the potential for future directions of the sector. Findings Ritchie’s (2003) segmentation model of educational tourism is usually considered the international standard for writing on the subject. However, it excludes certain sectors of tourism that may be considered educational. In response to this, a new conceptual model is presented. Further research is needed to understand the schools’ educational tourism market. When international educational tourism is considered, the majority of empirical research and academic debate has originated in the closely related field of international education. Educational tourism has the potential for hybridisation with other segments of tourism and non-tourism sectors and to contribute towards global peace. Originality/value This paper offers an alternative process-driven and outcomes-based conceptual model of educational tourism. It identifies directions for future research in schools’ and international educational tourism and proposes a typology to aid hybridisation of the phenomenon with other sectors. Finally, it discusses the potential of educational tourism to foster peace through the integration of global learning into touristic practice.
A daily glass of red wine: does it affect markers of inflammation?

AIMS Epidemiological studies have shown that moderate consumption of alcohol is associated with a decreased risk of developing cardiovascular disease, but the causal mechanisms are only partly understood. As inflammation is an important process in the progression of atherosclerosis, we hypothesized that the protective effect of red wine is partly mediated through a reduction in inflammation. METHODS We conducted a randomized controlled crossover trial to study the effect of red wine on the levels of the inflammatory markers serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and plasma fibrinogen in healthy, non-smoking individuals. The subjects were randomized to drink one glass of red wine (150 ml, 15 g alcohol) every day ('wine period') or to undergo a period of total abstention from alcohol ('abstention period'). After 3 weeks they switched intervention group. Eighty-seven volunteers completed the study (mean age 50 years). RESULTS Red wine did not reduce CRP levels and only marginally reduced fibrinogen levels compared with a similar period without alcohol. CONCLUSIONS Consumption of 150 ml of red wine slightly reduced fibrinogen levels but did not reduce CRP levels.
Synthesis of Sparse Planar Arrays Using Modified Real Genetic Algorithm

In array design, the positions of sparse array elements is an important concern for optimal performance in terms of its ability to achieve minimum peak sidelobe level (SLL). This paper proposes a modified real genetic algorithm (MGA) based on resetting of chromosome for the element position optimization of sparse planar arrays with rectangular boundary. And here the multiple optimization constraints include the number of elements, the aperture and the minimum element spacing. By simplifying the space between the elements from the actual distance to Chebychev distance, the MGA searches a smaller solution space by means of indirect description of individual, and it can avoid infeasible solution during the optimization process by two novel genetic operators. Finally, the simulation results confirming the great efficiency and the robustness of the proposed method are shown in this paper
Does obfuscating excessive CEO pay work? The influence of remuneration report readability on say-on-pay votes

This paper assesses whether reducing ‘readability’ is an effective obfuscation strategy for influencing the level of shareholder say-on-pay voting dissent in firms with excessive CEO pay. Based on a sample of UK-listed firms, our results indicate that in cases of excessive CEO pay, a less readable remuneration report is associated with reduced say-on-pay voting dissent. However, the effect of the obfuscation strategy diminishes as institutional ownership increases. Using obscurely written remuneration reports may even backfire (i.e. associated with increased voting dissent) when a firm’s majority shares are held by institutional investors. Our results are robust to controlling for compensation contract complexity as well as other alternative explanations. The results are also robust to various controls for endogeneity including a two-stage instrumental variable approach and propensity-score matching. Our findings offer regulatory implications that regulators could minimize the use of ‘obfuscation’ in pay-related disclosures by prescribing how information is to be presented.
Models with Graphical Representation for Innovation Management: A Literature Review

In the last decades, the management of innovation has achieved increasing importance in both academic and business environments. For the companies, an effective engagement in innovation efforts involves the adoption of management models to guide the definition of organizational processes to conduct innovation opportunities throughout the organization. In this context, graphical representations can strongly communicate the central propositions of each model, accelerating the diffusion and influence of such models in both academic and business environments. Based on an academic database search, and snowball procedure, models were selected considering the unique characteristics of their graphical representation. This article contributes to the knowledge in the field by proposing a typology of innovation management models, highlighting model's biases, gaps, strengths and weaknesses, and by identifying important tensions among models that spillover to the innovation management field in both research and practice. This article discusses conflicts regarding the limits of the innovation process (events that start and end the process and complementary approaches), the limits of focusing on processes, the differentiation of research and development and new product development activities. In the end, the article addresses emerging approaches related to radical innovation, design thinking and startups, and stresses contributions for research and practice.
The role of calcium antagonists in chronic kidney disease.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW To review goals of antihypertensive treatment in chronic kidney disease in the context of what role calcium antagonists play toward reducing progression of kidney disease. RECENT FINDINGS All recently published guidelines recommend a blood pressure goal of less than 130/80 mmHg in patients with chronic kidney disease. Use of calcium antagonists is not recommended as part of the initial armamentarium. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers, when used in concert with diuretics reduce blood pressure as well as both proteinuria and the rate of decline in the glomerular filtration rate. The evidence for calcium antagonists in this regard is more divergent. Dihydropyridine calcium antagonists, e.g. amlodipine, felodipine, help achieve blood pressure goals and reduce stroke risk. When used with a renin-angiotensin system blocker they do not detract from the benefits of this blockade on slowing progression of kidney disease. Non-dihydropyridine calcium antagonists, e.g. verpamil or diltiazem, decrease proteinuria and in studies with 5 to 6 years follow-up preserve kidney function similarly to angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. The reason for this outcome difference between calcium antagonists is partial preservation of renal autoregulation compared to its obliteration by the dihydropyridine subclass. SUMMARY Use of calcium antagonists is safe and necessary to achieve blood pressure goals in people with chronic kidney disease. While both subclasses are safe and necessary to achieve blood pressure goals, dihydropyridine calcium antagonists fail to significantly slow the progression of kidney disease among patients with established nephropathy and macroalbuminuria when compared to agents that block the renin-angiotensin system.
The similarity between parents and offspring in facial soft tissue: a frontal-view study

Abstract Similarities between parents and their offspring in facial soft tissue features were investigated. Fifty boys and fifty girls aged 9-10 years, excluding those with congenital anomalies, were selected. Frontal photographs of the family (father, mother and offspring) were taken and twenty-nine landmarks located on each enlarged tracing made from a photograph. Each landmark was digitised into (x, y) co-ordinate values from which the area and linear ratio dimensions were calculated and statistically evaluated. Results indicated that: (1) The nose was the feature that was most significantly correlated between parents and offspring. (2) The similarities between parents and offspring were closer for the relative positions of other features to the eyes than for individual features of the face. In generał, the correlations between ‘midparents’ (the mean value of both parents) and offspring were higher than those between one parent and offspring. (3) The correlations between parents and offspring for size were higher than those for shape. (4) The similarities between mothers and offspring were closer than those between fathers and offspring. Furthermore: among four pairs of father/son, father/daughter, mother/son and mother/daughter, the mother/daughter pair had the highest correlation and the father/son pair had the lowest, which appears to be related to X-chromosome inheritance.
Exploring Stakeholders' Perspectives of the Influences on Student Learning in Cooperative Education.

Fundamental to cooperative education is a philosophical commitment to learning through the experience of work. The workplace can be viewed as a social environment and provides a context for learning that is very different from that provided within a university. The aim of this research was, through an interpretive case study, to explore the influences on student learning in a sport cooperative education context. Learning in the workplace was influenced by the direct guidance and support given by industry supervisors, as well as the attitude of the student. Academic supervisors facilitated the development of reflective practice and helped students to integrate the knowledge gained in both the university and workplace environments. Yet, through developing relationships and social interactions with workplace colleagues, students were able to learn about the culture and values and contributed towards deepening their understanding of what it means to be a professional in the sport and recreation industry. (Asia-Pacific Journal of Cooperative Education, Special Issue, 2015, 16(2), 109-119)
The cost of adherence mismeasurement in serious mental illness: a claims-based analysis.

OBJECTIVES To quantify how adherence mismeasurement affects the estimated impact of adherence on inpatient costs among patients with serious mental illness (SMI). STUDY DESIGN Proportion of days covered (PDC) is a common claims-based measure of medication adherence. Because PDC does not measure medication ingestion, however, it may inaccurately measure adherence. We derived a formula to correct the bias that occurs in adherence-utilization studies resulting from errors in claims-based measures of adherence. METHODS We conducted a literature review to identify the correlation between gold-standard and claims-based adherence measures. We derived a bias-correction methodology to address claims-based medication adherence measurement error. We then applied this methodology to a case study of patients with SMI who initiated atypical antipsychotics in 2 large claims databases. RESULTS Our literature review identified 6 studies of interest. The 4 most relevant ones measured correlations between 0.38 and 0.91. Our preferred estimate implies that the effect of adherence on inpatient spending estimated from claims data would understate the true effect by a factor of 5.3, if there were no other sources of bias. Although our procedure corrects for measurement error, such error also may amplify or mitigate other potential biases. For instance, if adherent patients are healthier than nonadherent ones, measurement error makes the resulting bias worse. On the other hand, if adherent patients are sicker, measurement error mitigates the other bias. CONCLUSIONS Measurement error due to claims-based adherence measures is worth addressing, alongside other more widely emphasized sources of bias in inference.
Biopsy correlates of abnormal cervical cytology classified using the Bethesda system.

OBJECTIVE The goal of this study was to determine the colposcopic findings underlying cytologic abnormalities classified according to the Bethesda system. METHODS Women undergoing colposcopy for abnormal cytology at an urban teaching hospital between July 1, 1996 and December 31, 1999 had Papanicolaou smears repeated. Results were compared both with biopsy histology and with the worst histology reported after 8-26 months of follow-up. kappa statistics and Spearman's rho were calculated to determine the degree of agreement. RESULTS Colposcopy was performed for 2263 (94%) women. Referral and repeat Pap smears were reported identically in 493 (25%) of the 1962 women with results for both. No AGUS (atypical glandular cells of uncertain significance) smears were confirmed on repeat smear, and after excluding AGUS, agreement within one grade was found in 1305 of 1854 (70%). Among the 1842 women with squamous cytologic abnormalities, biopsy revealed a lesion more severe than that suggested by referral cytology in 577 (31%) and a less severe lesion in 648 (35%); exact correspondence was found in only 646 (35%). Of 317 women with ASCUS (atypical squamous cells of uncertain significance) on referral Pap smear, a negative repeat smear, and a specific biopsy result, 95 (30%) had true negative histology, while 148 (47%) had condyloma, 56 (18%) had cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 1, 8 (3%) had CIN 2, 10 (3%) had CIN 3, and none had cancer. Comparison of repeat smear and colposcopic biopsy yielded a kappa statistic of 0.16. CONCLUSIONS Cytology classified according to the Bethesda system does not accurately predict histologic diagnosis.
Association of non-urological diseases with lower urinary tract symptoms.

OBJECTIVE Clinical observations indicate that many non-urological diseases seem to be associated with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). This has also been shown in studies usually concerning single diseases. This study investigated the impact of non-urological diseases on LUTS in the general population. MATERIAL AND METHODS A questionnaire on LUTS and medical history was mailed to all 50-, 60- and 70 year-old men in Tampere and in 11 municipalities in the same county, in total 3143 subjects. Day-time frequency, nocturia, urge, urge incontinence, hesitancy and incomplete emptying were used to form an index for LUTS. The men were asked to report any disease that they had. The number of the following diseases reported by the participants was large enough for statistical analysis: lower back pain, hypertension, arthritis, heart disease, pulmonary disease, diabetes, constipation. stroke, transient ischaemic attack, cancer (other than prostate or bladder), neurological disease, inguinal hernia, rheumatoid arthritis and faecal incontinence. The association between LUTS and non-urological diseases was estimated by logistic regression as a prevalence odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS In the multivariate analysis a significant association was found between LUTS and the following diseases: faecal incontinence (OR 4.5, CI 2 .3-9.1), neurological disease (OR 2.4, CI 1.3-4.4), constipation (OR 2.3, CI 1.5-3.3) and arthritis (OR 1.5, CI 1.2-2.0). CONCLUSIONS According to this population-based study LUTS is an important part of the symptomatology of faecal incontinence, neurological disease, constipation and arthritis. Thus, the patients with these diseases and presenting with LUTS require careful investigation, at least in the cases in which the primary therapy of LUTS has failed.
Distinct Evolutionary Patterns of Brain and Body Size During Adaptive Radiation

Morphological traits are often genetically and/or phenotypically correlated with each other and such covariation can have an important influence on the evolution of individual traits. The strong positive relationship between brain size and body size in vertebrates has attracted a lot of interest, and much debate has surrounded the study of the factors responsible for the allometric relationship between these two traits. Here, we use comparative analyses of the Tanganyikan cichlid adaptive radiation to investigate the patterns of evolution for brain size and body size separately. We found that body size exhibited recent bursts of rapid evolution, a pattern that is consistent with divergence linked to ecological specialization. Brain weight on the other hand, showed no bursts of divergence but rather evolved in a gradual manner. Our results thus show that even highly genetically correlated traits can present markedly different patterns of evolution, hence interpreting patterns of evolution of traits from correlations in extant taxa can be misleading. Furthermore, our results suggest, contrary to expectations from theory, that brain size does not play a key role during adaptive radiation.
Long-Term Effect of Mutagenic DNA Repair on Accumulation of Mutations in Pseudomonas syringae B86-17

ABSTRACT Forty replicate lineages of Pseudomonas syringae B86-17 cells expressing the rulAB mutagenic DNA repair (MDR) determinant or the rulB::Km MDR-deficient mutant GWS242 were passaged through single-cell bottlenecks (60 cycles), with a UV radiation (UVR) exposure given to half of the lineages at the beginning of each cycle. After every 10th bottleneck cycle, single-colony isolates from all 80 lineages were subjected to 39 phenotypic screens, with newly arising mutations detected in 60 and 0% of UVR-exposed or non-UVR-exposed B86-17 lineages, respectively, by the 60th cycle. Cellular fitness, measured as growth rate in a minimal medium, of UVR-exposed lineages of both B86-17 and GWS242 after 60 cycles was not significantly different from that of the ancestral strains. Although UVR exposure and MDR activity increased the occurrence of mutations in cells, a significant reduction in overall fitness was not observed.
Implications of statin adverse effects in the elderly

The elderly differ from younger people in the relation of cholesterol to heart disease and mortality. Clinical trial evidence supports epidemiological findings in showing that high cholesterol weakens in its relationship to heart disease with age and loses (and in older age reverses) its relation to mortality. Randomised trial data confirm that lowering cholesterol no longer extends life in the elderly, even those at high risk of heart disease, and no evidence supports the presumption that the impact on all-cause morbidity is any more favourable. These findings increase the importance of statin adverse effects (AEs) in this group. Furthermore, the elderly may be more vulnerable to known AEs, and evidence provides cause for concern that new risks may supervene, including cancer, neurodegenerative disease and heart failure. Physiological evidence regarding the impact of statins on mitochondrial function, and mitochondrial function on ageing, support these concerns. Additionally, the impact of statin AEs (e.g., muscle and cognitive problems) may be amplified in this group. Effects may be misattributed to ageing. Even modestly lower cognitive and physical function in older elderly prognosticates increased disability, hospitalisation, institutionalisation, and mortality. Disability, once present, is less likely to recover. Because the risk for AEs is unattended by evidence of net benefit to the person, the use of statins in the elderly should be undertaken, if at all, with circumspection and close scrutiny for adverse effects.
The criterion-referenced validity of the FITNESSGRAM Trunk-Extension test.

AIM The purpose of this study was to test utility of different fitness field tests to predict self-reported low-back pain (LBP) in youth. METHODS A sample of 376 school aged (4th through 10th grade students) first completed a survey instrument designed to assess past events (and degree) of LBP. On subsequent days, participants completed a battery of different muscular fitness tests including the current FITNESSGRAM trunk extension test. Receiver operator characteristic curves (ROC) were used to test the utility of single and combined scores from various tests to predict self-reported LBP. RESULTS The results show that the trunk extension test used in FITNESSGRAM has poor utility for predicting self-reported LBP. In girls, the sit-and-reach, the static curl-up test, and a composite score using static and dynamic curl-up scores had the highest Area Under the Curve (AUC=0.80, 0.71, and 0.79, respectively). Sensitivity (Se) values ranged from 75.0-85.7 while Specificity (Sp) ranged from 59.1-81.4. In boys, the dynamic curl-up test alone was the best predictor of LBP in high-school boys (AUC=0.75, Sensitivity=75.0 and Specificity=74.1). CONCLUSION The reasonable Sensitivity values from the ROC analyses indicate that individual and aggregate indicators of musculoskeletal fitness can potentially identify girls that had LBP in the past. However, the low values for Specificity indicates that girls with "No LBP" can be misclassified as being at risk for LBP. The current FITNESSGRAM trunk extension test was not able to discriminate between students with and without LBP therefore, the utility of this test for fitness assessment in youth should be revisited.