Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The performance of Malaysian Islamic banking industry and the impact of foreign Islamic banks

Malaysia’s determination to become a hub for Islamic banking in Southeast Asia has led the Central Bank of Malaysia to grant licenses to foreign Islamic banks to operate in the country. Due to the intense competition among Islamic banks, the introduction of more innovative products is projected to tap investment opportunities not only for Malaysia but also for the rapidly growing Southeast Asian region. This research assesses the significance of Malaysian Islamic banking since the introduction of the first Islamic bank two decades ago, and evaluates the competition among the Islamic banks in the country. The research evaluates the impact of foreign Islamic banks in Malaysia by measuring their contribution to the growth of the Malaysian Islamic banking industry. In relation to this, the study is designed to address three primary areas. First, to measure the performance of the Islamic banks in Malaysia by using financial ratios, data envelopment analysis (DEA), and the Malmquist Productivity Index. Second, to compare and evaluate the nature of competition and market structure of the Islamic banks in the country by employing the bank concentration ratio (CRk), Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI), and the Panzar-Rosse (PR) model. Lastly, to validate the relationship between competition among Islamic banks in Malaysia and their financial performance. The selected financial ratios indicated that domestic Islamic banks performed better during the 2005 to 2012 period in terms of profitability, but the foreign Islamic banks excelled in terms of liquidity, risk, and solvency ratios. DEA results showed that the domestic Islamic banks are considered more efficient with the majority of domestic Islamic banks outperforming the foreign Islamic banks. Banks like Maybank Islamic, CIMB Islamic, and Alliance Islamic are considered among the top performers for technical efficiency and scale efficiency. The study also found that based on the Malmquist Productivity Index, the least efficient banks based on DEA have improved in technical efficiency, technology, and total factor productivity (TFP). The study also found that between 2008 and 2012, the Malaysian Islamic banking industry operated in monopolistic competition conditions with a moderately concentrated market structure. The introduction of foreign Islamic banks caused the market structure to become more competitive and less concentrated by comparing the results that include foreign Islamic banks against results generated with a subsample of domestic Islamic banks only. BNM’s financial reform and liberalisation of financial system proved to induce competition making the financial system more resilient, competitive, and dynamic. The Islamic banks have recorded consistent increased annual performance with the under-performing Islamic banks catching up to the top performers.
Comparison of serum creatinine-based estimating equations with gates protocol for predicting glomerular filtration rate in indian population

In clinical practice, serum creatinine-based predicting equations and Gates protocol based on gamma camera imaging of kidneys after injection of Tc99m-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) are commonly used to assess glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Comparison of these methods, especially the chronic kidney disease-epidemiology collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation with gold standard method of assessment of GFR by plasma clearance of Tc-99mDTPA is not well-studied in Indian population. We conducted this study to compare GFR estimation by gamma camera-based Gates protocol and serum creatinine-based predicting equations with GFR measured by plasma clearance of Tc-99mDTPA. One hundred and five patients (65 male and 40 female) underwent Tc-99m DTPA renal scan followed by withdrawal of venous blood samples at 2, 3, and 4 h as per predefined protocol. Gates method GFR (GFRs) was assessed using standard protocol. GFR by plasma sampling (GFRp) was calculated by slope-intercept method with provision for corrections. Estimated GFR was calculated by Cockroft-Gault formula, four variable modification of diet in renal disease (MDRD) equation, and CKD-EPI equation (GFRCG, GFRMDRD, GFRCKD-EPI, respectively). GFR measured by gold standard method (GFRp) was compared with that estimated by other methods by calculating correlation coefficient, bias, precision, and accuracy. GFR estimated by all three estimating equations correlated better than GFRs with GFRp. For estimating GFRp, GFRCKD-EPI had highest correlation with GFRp with least bias and highest precision. Gamma camera-based Gates protocol was the least precise and least accurate method for estimating GFRp. To conclude, all three estimating equations based on serum creatinine are superior to Tc-99m DTPA scintigraphy for estimating GFR; CKD-EPI equation being the most accurate and precise.
Large vessel involvement in biopsy-proven giant cell arteritis: prospective study in 40 newly diagnosed patients using CT angiography

Background Necroscopic and surgical studies have suggested that giant cell arteritis (GCA) may target the aorta and its main branches. Imaging techniques are able to detect large vessel vasculitis (LVV) non-invasively in patients, but the prevalence of LVV in GCA has not been clearly established. Objective To assess prospectively the prevalence, characteristics and topography of LVV in patients with newly diagnosed GCA and to determine the associated clinical and laboratory features. Methods CT angiography (CTA) was performed in 40 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed biopsy-proven GCA. Patients were treatment-naïve or had been treated with corticosteroids for <3 days. Vessel wall thickness and vessel diameter (dilation or stenoses) at four aortic segments (ascending aorta, aortic arch, descending thoracic and abdominal aorta) and at the main aortic branches were evaluated. Results LVV was detected in 27 patients (67.5%). The vessels involved were as follows: aorta (26 patients, 65%), brachiocephalic trunk (19 patients, 47.5%), carotid arteries (14 patients, 35%), subclavian arteries (17 patients, 42.5%), axillary arteries (7 patients, 17.5%), splanchnic arteries (9 patients, 22.5%), renal arteries (3 patients, 7.5%), iliac arteries (6 patients, 15%) and femoral arteries (11 patients, 30%). Dilation of the thoracic aorta was already present in 6 patients (15%). Cranial ischaemic events were significantly less frequent in patients with LVV (p=0.029). Treatment-naïve patients had a higher frequency of LVV (77% vs 29%, p=0.005). Conclusions CTA-defined LVV occurs in two-thirds of patients with GCA at the time of diagnosis and aortic dilation is already present in 15%. Previous corticosteroid treatment may decrease CTA-detected LVV.
E-lifestyle, Customer Satisfaction and Loyalty among Mobile Subscribers in Thailand

This paper aims at assessing the relationship between e-lifestyle, customer satisfaction (CS), and loyalty among mobile service subscribers in Thailand. The results reveal that e-lifestyle has a substantial effect on CS. Subsequently, CS affects strongly on consumer loyalty towards telecommunication service providers. Moreover, CS mediates the relationship between e-lifestyle and consumer loyalty. The study concludes that e-lifestyle has to be integrated into marketing strategies and customer relationship management in order to sustain consumer loyalty. From a practical point of view, the findings of this study could be used to inform businesses, particularly those in the telecommunication services industry in developing countries on the ways of enhancing CS and loyalty
Excess body weight and gait influence energy cost of walking in older adults.

PURPOSE The objective of this investigation is to study how excess body weight influences the energy cost of walking (Cw) and determine whether overweight and obese older adults self-select stride frequency to minimize Cw. METHODS Using body mass index (BMI), men and women between the ages of 65 and 80 yr were separated into normal weight (NW, BMI ≤24.9 kg·m(-2), n = 13) and overweight-obese groups (OWOB, BMI ≥25.0 kg·m(-2), n = 13). Subjects walked at 0.83 m·s on an instrumented treadmill that recorded gait parameters and completed three 6-min walking trials; at a preferred stride frequency (PSF), at +10% PSF, and at -10% PSF. Cw was determined by indirect calorimetry. Repeated-measures ANOVA was used to compare groups, and associations were tested with Pearson correlations, α = 0.05. RESULTS OWOB had 62% greater absolute Cw (301 ± 108 vs 186 ± 104 J·m, P < 0.001) and 20% greater relative Cw(kg) (3.48 ± 0.95 vs 2.91 ± 0.94 J·kg(-1)·m(-1), P = 0.046) than NW. Although PSF was not different between OWOB and NW (P = 0.626), Cw was 8% greater in OWOB at +10% PSF (P < 0.001). At PSF, OWOB spent less time in single-limb support (33.1% ± 1.5% vs. 34.9% ± 1.6 % gait cycle, P = 0.021) and more time in double-limb support (17.5% ± 1.6% vs 15.4% ± 1.4% gait cycle, P = 0.026) than NW. In OWOB, at PSF, Cw was correlated to impulse (r = -0.57, P = 0.027) and stride frequency (r = 0.51, P = 0.046). CONCLUSIONS Excess body weight is associated with greater Cw in older adults, possibly contributing to reduced mobility in overweight and obese older persons.
Depression Predicts Self-reported Sleep Quality in Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Objective: Depression is a common problem in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. The objective of this study was to examine whether depression is independently associated with lower self-reported sleep quality in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), after controlling for polysomnographic measures of sleep. Methods: The sample comprised 135 patients who had been referred to a university teaching hospital’s multidisciplinary sleep medicine center for polysomnographic evaluation of OSA. The median age of the subjects was 45 (mean age, 46 years) 55% were female, 69% were white, 31% were black, and their mean body mass index was 37.9 ± 11.2 kg/m2. Self-reported sleep quality during the past 2 weeks was assessed by the insomnia severity index. Polygraphic measures of sleep quality included the respiratory disturbance index, sleep onset latency, arousals for no apparent reason, sleep efficiency, and periodic leg movements associated with arousal. Depressive symptoms were assessed by the Beck Depression Inventory. Results: None of the polygraphic measures of sleep quality was related to self-reported sleep quality or depression. Oxygen desaturation was correlated with self-reported sleep quality (r = 0.21, p = .02). Depression correlated with self-reported sleep quality (r = 0.55, p < .0001). In a multiple regression analysis, depression remained a significant predictor of self-reported sleep quality after controlling for all of the polysomnographic measures of sleep quality (F = 9.65, partial r2 = 0.28 p = .0001). Conclusion: Depression is a better predictor of self-reported sleep quality than are polysomnographic measures of sleep in patients with OSA. AFNAR = arousals for no apparent reason; BDI = Beck Depression Inventory; BMI = body mass index; CPAP = continuous positive air pressure; HSC = Human Studies Committee; ISI = Insomnia Severity Index; OSA = obstructive sleep apnea; PLMA = periodic limb movements associated with arousal; PSG = polysomnography; RDI = Respiratory Disturbance Index; REM = rapid eye movement; SOL = sleep onset latency.
Thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor activity, thrombin‐antithrombin complex and D‐dimer levels in preterm neonates with early respiratory distress syndrome

Intraalveolar fibrin deposition found in neonates with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is explained by the activation of the coagulation system and inefficient fibrinolysis. However, thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor activity (TAFIa), an inhibitor of fibrinolysis, and the ratio of D‐dimer to thrombin–antithrombin complex (D‐dimer/TAT), an index of fibrinolytic activity, have not been reported previously in neonatal RDS. Aim of this study is to evaluate the influence of plasma TAFIa levels on the fibrinolytic state in neonatal RDS. The RDS group (Group 1) consisted of 29 neonates, and 18 neonates served as the control group (Group 2). Plasma TAFIa levels and D‐dimer/TAT ratios were evaluated in all neonates in the first 6 hr of life. Neonates in the RDS group were further divided into two subgroups; Group 1a consisted of 12 neonates with evidence of mild asphyxia (Apgar score at 5 min <7 and cord pH <7.26), and Group 1b consisted of 17 nonasphyxiated neonates. No significant difference was found in TAFIa levels and D‐dimer/TAT ratios between Groups 1 and 2 [214% (56.2–361%) and 124.3 (4.4–3,921) in Group 1 and 201% (60.3–381%) and 147 (5.9–1,426) in Group 2]. There were negative correlations between cord pH and TAFIa levels in both groups. Increased TAFIa levels and decreased D‐dimer/TAT ratios and platelet counts were detected in mildly asphyxiated neonates when compared with nonasphyxiated ones. TAFIa is not responsible for the hypofibrinolytic state reported in RDS. However, asphyxia influences TAFIa levels and increased TAFIa levels depress fibrinolysis. Am. J. Hematol. , 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
FOETAL FLUID BALANCE AND HORMONE STATUS FOLLOWING NEPHRECTOMY IN THE FOETAL SHEEP

1. The role of the kidneys in the maintenance of normal foetal plasma (FP) composition and hormone concentrations was examined in the present study. Five ovine foetuses were chronically cannulated and nephrectomized (nephx) at 100±1 days of gestation and maintained for 14 days. These were compared to five intact control foetuses.
Corporate governance in the banking sector

Corporate governance is an important topic in all kinds of companies and has attracted attention from government, company directors, stakeholders, and academic researchers. Appropriate development of the relationship between company and different stakeholders, which is addressed by corporate governance, is supposed to promote improvements in firm performance. Banks, as important financial institutions, play important roles in a country’s economy. They deal with the relationship between management and different shareholders as well as depositors. There are different interpretations of the meaning of corporate governance.
Developers, Wall Street and the Taxmen: A Theory of Real Estate Development

We propose a general equilibrium model of commercial real estate (CRE) development in a multi-jurisdictions economy with segmented commercial good and equity markets. The CRE assets’ capital structures and cash flows, the prices of equity, debt, and commercial goods, and the jurisdictions’ property taxes and land use policies are all endogenous. The capital structures of CRE assets in different jurisdictions are interdependent. Shocks to a developer’s funding capacity, the production of a CRE asset, and a jurisdiction’s property tax illustrate this result. Our model also captures the impact that global real estate markets have on local jurisdictions’ fiscal policies. JEL Classification: D52, D53, H73, R13, R33, R38
Shear Does Not Necessarily Inhibit Bone Healing

Interfragmentary shear has been perceived as inhibitory to bone healing. We think this is because of inadequate balance between stimulatory and disruptive interfragmentary displacement magnitudes in the shear direction. We hypothesized that pure shear is not necessarily detrimental to bone healing. This was investigated by comparing bone healing under interfragmentary torsional shear, axial compression, and no applied motion. Applied motion was controlled carefully with similar interfragmentary principal strain magnitudes found to stimulate healing under axial compression. The observation period was 8 weeks. Torsional rotation stimulated intercortical mineralized callus formation with greater area than the group without applied motion, and led to a stiffness and rate of bony bridging similar to that of the no motion group. Axial compression stimulated less intercortical mineralized callus of a lower density than the no motion group, and there also was little bridging. These results support the hypothesis that interfragmentary shear does not necessarily inhibit bone healing.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE IN THE BRAZILIAN BANKING SECTOR: A STUDY OF PRACTICES ADOPTED BY THE BOARDS

This study is an analysis of the best practices of corporate governance adopted by the boards of Brazilian banking institutions. The findings show that most banks adhere to the latest Brazilian Institute of Corporate Governance guidelines with regard to board size and to the standards required by BM&FBovespa in terms of independence. The banks studied are rigorous with regard to audits and control in the process of corporate governance and most have a diversified board with the positions of chief executive officer and chairman occupied by different individuals. Practices regarding disclosure of board member remuneration are still at an early stage of development with banks restricting disclosure to what is required by law.
R&D Investments and Dividend Policies: Reputation or Flexibility?

We examine whether the reputation effect hypothesis is empirically valid for the dividend behavior of firms in an economy with moderate corporate governance pressures. We take the Japanese economy during the 2000s and early 2010s as a sort of case study. We obtain the following two empirical findings. First, the relationship between the R&D intensity and dividend payouts is inverse U-shaped. Second, for firms with extra cash, the R&D intensity is positively associated with the dividend payouts, and for firms with positive net debt the R&D intensity is less positively associated with the dividend payouts. These results are consistent with the contingency versions of the reputation effect hypothesis.
Measuring Evaluation Capacity in Ontario Public Health Units

This artocle presents a study of organizational capacity to do and use evaluation, conducted in 32 public health units in the province of Ontario. Methods include an organizational and organizational self-assessment using an instrument developed by Bourgeous, Toews, Whynol, and Lamarche (2013) as well as key informant interviews. Overall, our findings point to the fact that evaluation capacity is still developing in Ontario public health units; factors that support evaluation capacity in these organizations include the presence of an organization-wide evaluation policy, the availability of full-time evaluation staff in a supporting role, greater staff involvemnet in evaluation, and a standardized evaluation process. These findings highlight the importance of organizational structure and systems to evaluation utilization and provide potential areas of improvement for organizations wishing to improve their evaluation capacity.
All in the Family: the BTB/POZ, KRAB, and SCAN Domains

Understanding the mechanisms by which specific genes are expressed in a temporal or tissue-specific manner is a central problem in biology. Transcription factors play a key role in this process. These proteins are modular and can be classified based on the structure of the domain that binds DNA. One type of DNA binding domain is defined by its requirement for zinc and has been designated a zinc finger motif (reviewed in reference 28). In this group, the C 2H2 zinc fingers represent one of the most common types of DNA binding domains. The motif frequently occurs in tandem repeats and is defined by two cysteine and two histidine residues that coordinate a zinc ion and fold the domain into a finger-like projection that can interact with DNA (28). There are approximately 600 to 700 genes in the human genome encoding C 2H2 motifs (7, 48a), suggesting that this class of transcription factors represents a substantial portion of the genes in the human genome. Accompanying the zinc finger elements in the C 2H2 class of zinc finger transcription factors are a variety of extended sequence motifs. These structural modules regulate subcellular localization, DNA binding, and gene expression by controlling selective association of the transcription factors with each other or with other cellular components. In the C 2H2 class of zinc fingers, these associated modules include the poxvirus and zinc finger (POZ) domain (5), which is also known as the BTB domain (Broad-Complex, Tramtrack, and Bric-a-brac), the Kruppel-associated box (KRAB) (7), and the newly defined SCAN domain (51). These domains define subgroups and may provide insights into the functions of the members of this large family of zinc finger transcription factors. Here each of these domains will be introduced and representative members of the BTB/POZ and KRAB domain families will be used to place the more recently described SCAN domain family of transcription factors in perspective.
The biosynthesis of trehalose phosphate.

UDPG was prepared as described by Pontis et al. (2). Part of this material was kindly furnished by Dr. H. G. Pontis. UDP was prepared by heating UDPG at 100” in 0.03 N sulfuric acid for 10 minutes, followed by neutralization with barium hydroxide and chromatography on Whatman No. 3 paper with ethanol-ammonium acetate at pH 3.8 as solvent (3). Another sample of UDP was obtained by ion exchange chromatography of an alcoholic yeast extract, followed by paper chromatography as above. Phosphopyruvate was a gift of Dr. A. Kornberg. A crystalline sample of barium trehalose phosphate was generously provided by Dr. W. T. J. Morgan and one of crystalline albumin by Dr. D. Nachmansohn. Crystalline barium glucose g-phosphate was obtained from the Sigma Chemical Company, St. Louis, and intestinal phosphatase from Armour and Company, Chicago. The phosphatase was dialyzed overnight against cold distilled water before use. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase was purified according to Kornberg and Horecker (4). UDPG dehydrogenase was obtained as described by Strominger et al. (5). The purification was carried on until the first ammonium sulfate
Do Directors’ Trades Matter for the Announcement Period Performance of Acquiring Firms? The Australian Evidence

This study investigates the relation between acquiring firm director trading (net sales, net purchases or no trade) and share market reaction to merger and acquisition announcement (M&A). This provides an initial sample of 658 M&A announcements by Australian acquiring firms between 2003 and 2012. We find that on average acquiring firms earn significant positive abnormal returns around M&A announcement. Further, acquiring firms with no director trading outperform acquiring firms with net director purchases or net director sales (univariate results) that take place prior to M&A announcements. These results are robust to inclusion of firm characteristics, deal characteristics, prior returns and fixed industry & year effect. We also find evidence of a size effect with respect to director trading. Larger acquiring firms with net director sales or net director purchases earn higher abnormal returns than smaller acquiring firms around the announcement date. Our results are robust to choice of director trading period prior to an M&A announcement (12 months, 6 months and 3 months). Our results are also robust after inclusion of first deals from multiple M&A. Finally, we find evidence that the results are sensitive to whether the acquiring firm is a growth or value firm and whether the target is publicly listed or not.