Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A cluster analysis approach to grouping Indian women professionals

The aim behind the current paper is to group Indian women professionals into distinct clusters. This is critical for designing employee-friendly policies and reducing turnover intentions. A total of 75 school teachers and 75 BPO professionals were studied for the purpose. Six factors (job autonomy, fairness of rewards, organisational commitment, work exhaustion, perceived work overload and work-family conflict) were considered while conducting a cluster analysis on the groups to arrive at three distinct clusters - committed authoritarian; frustrated captive and hassled loyalists (school teachers) and committed authoritarian; complacent and committed and frustrated captives (BPO professionals). The chi-square analysis of these clusters showed that the committed authoritarians enjoyed better work-life balance and also showed lower turnover intentions. Thus, for a stable human resource, identification of these groups is extremely useful for any organisation.
The Childhood Executive Functioning Inventory (CHEXI): A New Rating Instrument for Parents and Teachers

Poor executive functioning has been shown to be of central importance in disruptive behavior disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and a large number of laboratory measures of executive functioning have been developed. There are, however, few available questionnaires tapping executive functioning and those that exist also include items focused directly on the symptom criteria for ADHD, which makes it difficult to draw conclusions regarding executive functioning per se. In the present study, a new rating instrument, the Childhood Executive Functioning Inventory (CHEXI) was therefore introduced. This instrument was shown to have good test-retest reliability. Using factor analysis, two factors tapping working memory and inhibition emerged using parent ratings and these two factors were replicated using teacher ratings. Modest, yet mostly significant, relations to laboratory measures of working memory and inhibition were found. Ratings on the CHEXI were also found to be significantly related to ADHD symptoms as well as early academic achievement. Interestingly, ratings on the CHEXI and laboratory measures of working memory and inhibition were shown to explain independent variance in ADHD symptoms and academic achievement, which point to the importance of using a multi-assessment strategy when studying executive functioning.
Total quality management implementation frameworks: Comparison and review

One of the most influential factors in ensuring total quality management (TQM) adoption success is the formulation of a sound implementation framework prior to embarking on such a change process. Current frameworks seem to have been developed and derived primarily from the context and experience of larger sized organizations rather than small businesses. They tend to be complex and too prescriptive, rather than being a general guide. This paper compares and reviews a sample of the existing frameworks found in the literature. The first part focuses on understanding small businesses in terms of their definition and characterizes the differences between large and small businesses with respect to TQM implementation. It is followed by analysing the proposed frameworks as to their suitability and applicability to small and medium-sized enterprises (referred to as small businesses). This particular sector is chosen because it provides much needed attention, especially if TQM is to be sustained by the larger multinational organizations. By improving the small business sector, the resultant effect on the overall economy will be tremendous. A discussion is included on the future research direction for the development of a framework to meet the needs of small businesses.
Solution Methods for Nonsymmetric Linear Systems with Large off-Diagonal Elements and Discontinuous Coefficients

Linear systems with very large off-diagonal elements and discontinuous coefficients (LODC systems) arise in some modeling cases, such as those involving heterogeneous media. Such problems are usually solved by domain decomposition methods, but these can be difficult to implement on unstructured grids or when the boundaries between subdomains have a complicated geometry. Gordon and Gordon have shown that Bjorck and Elfving’s (sequential) CGMN algorithm and their own block-parallel CARP-CG are very robust and efficient on strongly convection dominated cases (but without discontinuous coefficients). They have also shown that scaling the equations by dividing each equation by the L2-norm of its coefficients, called “geometric row scaling” (GRS), improves the convergence properties of Bi-CGSTAB and GMRES on nonsymmetric systems with discontinuous coefficients, provided the convection terms are only small to moderate. Given a system Ax = b, it is shown that if C is obtained from A by applying GRS, then the diagonal elements of CCT are larger than the off-diagonal ones, so the normal equations system is manageable. These two operations are inherent in the Kaczmarz algorithm, and hence also in CGMN and CARP-CG (which are CG-accelerations of Kaczmarz). It is shown that these two methods are also very effective on systems with discontinuous coefficients derived from strongly convection dominated elliptic PDEs. CGNR and CGNE also benefit greatly from this approach, but they are much less efficient.
Patterns of Investment Strategy and Behavior among Individual Investors

In recent years, a substantial amount of attention has been directed in the literature of economics and finance to the question of the investment behavior and portfolio performance of institutional investors. ' Those investigations are natural ones, both because the relevant portfolio data are reasonably accessible and because the institutions involved are rapidly growing accumulators and traders of corporate equity securities. The traditional bulwark of the American equity marketplace-the individual investor-however, has been an object of scrutiny only in very aggregative terms. The trend of his apparent withdrawal from direct market participation has been amply documented,2 and the appropriate alarums expressed,3 but the causes of that phenomenon remain almost entirely conjectural. Indeed, virtually all
Are All Individual Investors Created Equal? Evidence from Individual Investor Trading Around Securities Litigation Events

This study examines the trading behavior of a large sample of individual (retail) investors around securities litigation events. We test the hypothesis that the response of these investors around the end of the litigation class period (at the time of a corrective disclosure) and the start of the class period (at the time of disclosure of allegedly false positive information) differs on the basis of the informedness of the investors. Our tests reject the hypothesis that more informed investors exhibit the same trading behavior as less informed investors. These results contribute to the literature by documenting differences in individual investor trading around events that reveal the start and end of an alleged financial fraud. These events can be relatively difficult to interpret and, so, it is not unreasonable that we should observe differences on the basis of informedness. We also examine individual investor trading within the class period and adduce that trading intensity is higher earlier in the class period, and higher overall relative to a control period. These findings are inconsistent with the often-applied proportional trading model for the calculation of class action damages, which assumes all shares trade with equal probability.
Mediterranean Tourism and Climate (Change): A Survey-Based Study

This paper reports on a pilot study of tourists' views on the roles of climate and climate change. Data was collected in 2007 at one Belgian and one Dutch airport among tourists waiting for their flight to a Mediterranean destination (n = 115). Respondents were asked for their preferences on the role of climate in destination choice, the factors that constitute favorable and unfavorable conditions, the relative importance of a range of potential climate change impacts, and the expected implications of climate change for their destination choice. Results confirm the importance of climate as a destination attribute. For beach tourism, the absence of rain is found to be more important than a “comfortable temperature”, while “high temperatures” are considered unfavorable by only a few respondents. This is consistent with the findings that “heat waves” are considered as “not too negative”, and that heat waves are considered the least important climate change impact. “Ideal weather” for beach tourism is associated with temperatures of approximately 28°C, “light breeze”, and a blue sky. If these conditions were to be found in northern European countries as a result of climate change, it would have only a moderate effect on destination choice, with the large majority (72.4%) of respondents stating they would still travel to the Mediterranean for their beach holidays.
Market power and rents in global supply chains

Market power and competition policy in food supply chains has emerged as an important economic issue in economics, and a highly sensitive item on the policy agenda. Consolidation is taking place in the food industry, both in high-income countries and in emerging economies, but the impact of concentration in global food chains on efficiency and rent distribution is more nuanced and complex than often claimed. We review the literature and extend it by developing a model which explicitly takes into account market imperfections and contract enforcement problems in supply chains. Increased competition benefits farms by improving contract conditions, but contract enforcement becomes more complicated. Copyright (c) 2010 International Association of Agricultural Economists.
Empirical Link Between Economic Growth, Energy Consumption and CO2 Emission in Australia

This study investigates the causal relationship between economic growth, energy consumption and CO<sub xmlns:m="http://www.w3. org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3. org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3. org/1999/xlink">2</sub> emission in Australia using time series data for the period of 1965–2007. Johansen cointegration technique is employed to examine the long run relationship between economic growth, energy consumption and CO<sub xmlns:m="http://www.w3. org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3. org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3. org/1999/xlink">2</sub> emission. Results suggest that there is no cointegrating relationship among the variables; economic growth, energy consumption and CO<sub xmlns:m="http://www.w3. org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3. org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3. org/1999/xlink">2</sub> emission in Australia. VAR in first differences is conducted. Generalized impulse response shows that energy consumption has a quite persistent positive impact on CO<sub xmlns:m="http://www.w3. org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3. org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3. org/1999/xlink">2</sub> emission but GDP doesn’t have any impact on it. The study also shows bi-directional causal link between energy consumption and economic growth. However there is no causal link between CO<sub xmlns:m="http://www.w3. org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3. org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3. org/1999/xlink">2</sub> emission and economic growth. Findings indicate that Australia is still in a comfortable position to pursue pro-growth policies without being over-concerned about CO<sub xmlns:m="http://www.w3. org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3. org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3. org/1999/xlink">2</sub> emission.
Performance Evaluation of Methods for Correcting Ocular Artifacts in Electroencephalographic (EEG) Recordings

The presence of ocular artifacts (OA) due to eye movements and eye blinks is a major problem for the analysis of electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings in most applications. A large variety of methods (algorithms) exist for detecting or/and correcting OA’s. We identified the most promising methods, implemented them, and compared their performance for correctly detecting the presence of OA’s. These methods are based on signal processing “tools” that can be classified into three categories: wavelet transform, adaptive filtering, and blind source separation. We evaluated the methods using EEG signals recorded from three healthy persons subjected to a driving task in a driving simulator. We performed a thorough comparison of the methods in terms of the usual performances measures (sensitivity, specificity, and ROC curves), using our own manual scoring of the recordings as ground truth. Our results show that methods based on adaptive filtering such as LMS and RLS appear to be the best to successfully identify OA’s in EEG recordings.
A Chalcone and Two Related Flavonoids Released from Alfalfa Roots Induce nod Genes of Rhizobium meliloti.

Flavonoid signals from alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) induce transcription of nodulation (nod) genes in Rhizobium meliloti. Previous investigations identified the flavone luteolin as an active inducer in alfalfa seed extracts, but the nature of nod inducers released from roots has not been reported. Root exudate from 3-day-old alfalfa seedlings was purified and then assayed for biological activity with a nodABC-lacZ fusion in R. meliloti. Indentities of major nod inducers were established by spectroscopic analyses (ultraviolet/visible, proton nuclear magnetic resonance, and mass spectroscopy) and comparison with authentic standards. Major nod inducers, which were identified as 4',7-dihydroxyflavone, 4'-7-dihydroxyflavanone, and 4,4'-dihydroxy-2'-methoxychalcone, were released from seedling roots at 54, 22, and 20 picomole.plant(-1). day(-1), respectively. Luteolin was not found in these root exudates. The 4,4'-dihydroxy-2'-methoxychalcone induced nod genes at a concentration one order of magnitude lower than luteolin and is the first naturally released chalcone reported to have this function. Moderate and weak nod-inducing activity was associated, respectively, with 4',7-dihydroxyflavone and 4',7-dihydroxyflavanone.
25‐Hydroxy vitamin D suppresses hepatitis C virus replication and contributes to rapid virological response of treatment efficacy

25‐Hydroxy vitamin D (Vit D) plays a role in treatment outcomes in chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. We aimed to clarify whether HCV replication is inhibited by Vit D in HCV replicon cells. Clinical implication was assessed for rapid virological response (RVR) and sustained virological response (SVR) among those patients receiving antiviral therapy.
Delegating Death

Does military intervention affect civilian death tolls? Existing research has focused on international actors’ ability to limit ongoing slaughter but has not examined their ability to prevent the emergence or escalation of such killing. I develop a theory of government killing that accounts not only for the government’s decision to kill civilians but also for the transference of the killing order from leader to perpetrator, and for the perpetrator’s implementation of that order. Focusing on the principal–agent relationship produces new expectations about the effects of military intervention on government killing. I find that international actors are well equipped to limit civilian slaughter: intervention supporting the government decreases the likelihood that a government orders civilians killed. Intervention against the government leads to a decrease in death tolls when killing occurs. Ultimately, supportive intervention is a useful means of preventing government killing, while oppositional intervention limits its escalation once it begins.
Factors related to adolescents' self-perceived health.

OBJECTIVES This analysis examines self-perceived health among Canadian adolescents aged 12 to 17, and factors associated with ratings of very good/excellent health. DATA SOURCE The data are from cycle 1.1 of the 2000/01 Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS), conducted by Statistics Canada. The sample consisted of 12,715 adolescents aged 12 to 17. ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES Cross-tabulations were used to estimate the prevalence of various characteristics and health behaviours for the 12-to-14 and 15-to-17 age groups. Multiple logistic regression was used to model associations between very good/excellent self-reported health and selected characteristics. MAIN RESULTS In 2000/01, nearly 30% of 12- to 17-year-olds rated their health as poor, fair or good. At ages 15 to 17, girls were less likely than boys to report very good/excellent health and were more likely to have a chronic condition and to have experienced depression in the past year. When other factors were taken into account, the odds of reporting very good/excellent health were significantly lower for teens who were daily smokers, episodic heavy drinkers, physically inactive during leisure time, infrequent consumers of fruit and vegetables, or obese, compared with teens who did not have these characteristics.
Elucidation of the Monoclonal Antibody 5G8-Reactive, Virulence-Associated Lipopolysaccharide Epitope of Haemophilus influenzae and Its Role in Bacterial Resistance to Complement-Mediated Killing

ABSTRACT The phase-variable locus lex2 is required for expression of a Haemophilus influenzae lipopolysaccharide (LPS) epitope of previously unknown structure. This epitope, which is reactive with monoclonal antibody (MAb) 5G8, has been associated with virulence of type b strains. When strain RM118 (from the same source as strain Rd), in which the lex2 locus and MAb 5G8 reactivity are absent, was transformed with lex2 DNA, transformants that were reactive with MAb 5G8 were obtained. Surprisingly, the 5G8 reactivity of these transformants was phase variable, although the lex2 locus lacked tetrameric repeats and was constitutively expressed. This phase variation was shown to be the result of phase-variable expression of phosphorylcholine (PCho) such that MAb 5G8 reacted only in the absence of PCho. Structural analysis showed that, compared to RM118, the lex2 transformant had acquired a tetrasaccharide, Gal-α1,4-Gal-β1,4-Glc-β1,4-Glc-β1,4, linked to the proximal heptose (HepI). A terminal GalNAc was detected in a minority of glycoforms. LPS derived from a mutant of RM7004, a virulent type b strain which naturally expresses lex2 and has LPS containing the same tetrasaccharide linked to HepI as the sole oligosaccharide extension from the inner core, confirmed that GalNAc is not a part of the MAb 5G8-reactive epitope. Thus, MAb 5G8 specifically binds to the structure Gal-α1,4-Gal-β1,4-Glc-β1,4-Glc-β attached via a 1,4 linkage to HepI of H. influenzae LPS, and we show that the ability to synthesize this novel tetrasaccharide was associated with enhanced bacterial resistance to complement-mediated killing.
The relationship between capital structure and performance of Islamic banks

Purpose – This paper aims to examine the effect of capital structure on Islamic banks’ (IBs) performance to provide guidance to finance managers for raising capital funds. As newcomers to the markets, IBs are facing a trade-off. They can either use high capital ratios which increase the soundness and safety of the bank and lower the required return by investors, or depend on deposits and Islamic bonds which are considered cheaper sources of funds due to their tax rebate. An IB’s management must carefully decide the appropriate mix of debt and equity, i.e. capital structure, to maximize the value of the bank. Design/methodology/approach – Using a sample of 85 IBs covering banking systems in 19 countries, the study uses a two-stage least squares method to examine the performance determinants of IBs to control the reverse causality from performance to capital structure. Findings – After control of the macroeconomic environment, financial market structure and taxation, results indicate that IBs’ performance (.
Management and Empowerment Programmes

This paper addresses the divergence between the widespread rhetoric of empowerment and limited reality of empowerment programmes. Having demonstrated the ambiguities and contradictions in the concept of empowerment to be found in the management literature and, hence, the amenability of the concept to a variety of interpretations, the paper considers evidence from studies of hotel companies, a theme park and chemicals and telecommunications manufacturing plants which shows that the interpretation of empowerment which senior managers enthusiastically promote is rather different from the one which junior managers reluctantly accept and that empowerment programmes are as much about the putative reorganisation of junior managers' work as any substantive increase in worker autonomy. An interpretation of these findings is then offered in terms of how the ideological space opened up by ambiguities in the empowerment concept presents senior managers with a convenient ideological justification for the reorganisation of managerial work but also presents junior managers with a set of ideas with which to justify their continued existence, at a time when the managerial labour process is being rationalised and the raison d'être of junior line managers, in terms of responsibility for a labour process, is becoming problematic. The rhetoric of empowerment is an ideological terrain on which the conflict between senior and junior managers over attempts to reconstitute managerial work is conducted.
The G82S Polymorphism Promotes Glycosylation of the Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products (RAGE) at Asparagine 81

Interaction between the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) and its ligands amplifies the proinflammatory response. N-Linked glycosylation of RAGE plays an important role in the regulation of ligand binding. Two potential sites for N-linked glycosylation, at Asn25 and Asn81, are implicated, one of which is potentially influenced by a naturally occurring polymorphism that substitutes Gly82 with Ser. This G82S polymorphic RAGE variant displays increased ligand binding and downstream signaling. We hypothesized that the G82S polymorphism affects RAGE glycosylation and thereby affects ligand binding. WT or various mutant forms of RAGE protein, including N25Q, N81Q, N25Q/G82S, and N25Q/N81Q, were produced by transfecting HEK293 cells. The glycosylation patterns of expressed proteins were compared. Enzymatic deglycosylation showed that WT RAGE and the G82S polymorphic variant are glycosylated to the same extent. Our data also revealed N-linked glycosylation of N25Q and N81Q mutants, suggesting that both Asn25 and Asn81 can be utilized for N-linked glycosylation. Using mass spectrometry analysis, we found that Asn81 may or may not be glycosylated in WT RAGE, whereas in G82S RAGE, Asn81 is always glycosylated. Furthermore, RAGE binding to S100B ligand is affected by Asn81 glycosylation, with consequences for NF-κB activation. Therefore, the G82S polymorphism promotes N-linked glycosylation of Asn81, which has implications for the structure of the ligand binding region of RAGE and might explain the enhanced function associated with the G82S polymorphic RAGE variant.