Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Technology Diffusion through Production Process and the Innovative Capacity of Local Suppliers

ABSTRACT This study goes beyond the existing research in the area of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) spillovers by opening the black box of Multinational Corporations’ (MNC) technology and knowledge spillovers in Malaysia. The main objective of this study was to add to limited evidence related to how and in what ways technology and knowledge are diffused. Specifically, it attempts to contribute to the FDI spillover literature by exploring the channels through which technology and knowledge could be transferred to the host country. In doing so, the authors had employed an in-depth case study method in order to generate a deeper understanding of the significance of the assistance provided by MNCs and that this method would prove an effective strategy in generating a large volume of very meaningful data. The study has identified that technology is diffused from MNCs to local suppliers through the production process, technical consultation and production facilities. Local suppliers enhance their innovative capacity through these linkages. The findings not only provide benefit to the academic circle but also to local businesses, especially small and medium industries, as well as policy makers. The managerial and policy implications derived from the findings are relevant, not only to Malaysia, but also to other developing countries, particularly Malaysia’s neighbouring countries. Keywords: FDI spillovers; backward linkages; technology and knowledge transfer; Malaysia; MNC. ABSTRAK Penyelidikan ini melampaui kajian sedia ada dalam bidang limpahan Pelaburan Langsung Asing (PLI) dengan membuka kotak hitam kajian mengenai limpahan teknologi dan pengetahuan Syarikat Multinasional di Malaysia.Secara spesifiknya, ia bertujuan untuk menyumbang kepada penyelidikan limpahan PLI dengan mengkaji mengenai saluran-saluran di mana teknologi dan pengetahuan boleh dipindahkan kepada Negara hos. Dengan berbuat demikian, penulis-penulis telah menggunakan metod kajian kes secara terperinci untuk memahmi secara mendalam signifikannya bantuan yang telah diberikan oleh syarikat multinasional dan metod tersebut telah terbukti merupakan satu strategi efektif untuk menjana sejumlah besar data yang bermakna. Kajian ini telah mengenal pasti bahawa teknologi dipindahkan dari Syarikat Multinasional kepada pembekal tempatan melalui proses pengeluaran, perundingan teknikal dan fasiliti pengeluaran. Pembekal tempatan telah meningkatkan kapasiti inovatif menerusi hubungan ini. Dapatan kajian ini bukan sahaja bermanfaat kepada golongan akademik tetapi juga kepada perniagaan tempatan, terutamanya kepada industry kecil dan sederhana, juga kepada pembuat dasar. Implikasi kepada pengurusan dan dasar yang diperolehi dari dapatan kajian adalah relevan bukan sahaja kepada Malaysia tetapi juga kepada negara sedang membangun lain, terutamanya negara-negara jiran Malaysia. Kata kunci: Limpahan pelaburan langsung Asing (PLA); hubungan menegak; pemindahan teknologi dan pengetahuan; Malaysia; firma multinasional
Investigated the hospital utilization and medical resource usage of haemophilia A and B in Taiwan: 2001-2010

Aim: The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of attributes of medical care organizations and patients on medical resource utilization by hemophilia (hemophilia A and hemophilia B; Hemophilia with musculoskeletal system and without). Methods: Hospitalization due to hemophilia (ICD9: 286.0 and 286.1) and hemophilia with musculoskeletal system (ICD9: 710.xx-739.xx) between 2001 and 2010 were identified from a national health insurance database. Calculated by patients and hospital characteristics, length of hospital stay, medical cost of hospitalization was analyzed. Results: Of the total of 2150 patients, a systemic analysis of the results showed a mean patient age of 30.2 and average medical costs per patient of NT $672,335 (US $21,010). We found the mean cost of cases being significantly higher during the hemophilia A that in the hemophilia B (NT $708,620 vs. NT $422,322, P P
Systematic Replication of the Effects of a Supplementary, Technology-Assisted, Storybook Intervention for Preschool Children with Weak Vocabulary and Comprehension Skills

In 2013, Spencer, Goldstein, Sherman, et al. reported the promising effects of a supplemental, technology-assisted, storybook intervention (Tier 2) containing embedded instruction targeting the oral language learning of preschool children at risk for delays. We sought to advance knowledge of the intervention by replicating it in a new sample and examining children’s responses to the narrator’s instructional prompts and associations with learning outcomes. Results indicated that children were highly successful in responding with the narrator’s task-management prompts (i.e., turn the page), particularly after the first book. Children were much less proficient in correctly responding to the narrator’s word-teaching prompts (i.e., “say enormous”), but improved over additional storybooks. Exposure to the intervention accelerated children’s weekly oral language learning, and effect sizes were comparable to those of Spencer et al. Children’s increased word knowledge was positively correlated with their correct responding to the narrator’s word-teaching prompts in particular. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Relationship between inflation and interest rates in Swaziland revisited

The stability of economies all over the world over is largely a function of inflation and interest rates. Over the past two decades, Swaziland’s economy experienced increasing inflation and interest rates with the blame leveled against the absolute Monarchy’s inability to manage the economy. In particular, the period of 2010 to 2014 was the hard-est hit because of increasing poverty levels. The purpose of the study was therefore to assess the relationship between inflation and interest rates in the context of Swaziland with a view to constructing fiscal and monetary policies capable of driving an efficient economy going forward. The study employed a confirmatory and quantitative approach based on a review of secondary data over the period. The source and description of data included quarterly based data within the 2010–2014 period comprising information on interest rate, gross domestic product and inflation figures from the Central Bank of Swaziland, the national library, and the Central Statistical Department of Swaziland. A descriptive approach, using Microsoft excel, was used to analyze the data. The study findings showed that there was positive relationship between interest rates and inflation. Recommendations were that, Swaziland could craft appropriate fiscal and monetary policies towards controlling the prevailing economic challenges despite the peculiar socio-political nature where the absolute Monarchy holds executive authority and accountability.
Protein nutritional value of rocket leaves and possibilities of itsmodification during plant growth

Abstract: Leafy vegetables are an important source of protein and other nutrients. Vegetable protein is characterized by different and variable amino acid composition. This study determined the protein content and amino acid composition of the leaves of garden rocket (Eruca sativa Mill.) as affected by different nitrogen and potassium nutrition regimes. On average, the rocket leaves accumulated 11.7% dry matter, including 16.6% protein. Increased nitrogen rates resulted in a significant decrease in protein content as opposed to increased potassium rates. In the majority of cases, the increasing rates of nitrogen and potassium used in the nutrition of rocket plants significantly modified the amino acid composition of protein, which contained all primary amino acids, both nonessential and essential. In the group of nonessential amino acids, glutamic acid and aspartic acid were predominant. The proportions of all the amino acids determined were substantially lower than in the FAO/WHO reference guidelines. The greatest variation was found in the case of threonine and lysine, while the smallest was for sulfur amino acids. It was shown that the rocket leaves were characterized by a high content of protein with a beneficial amino acid composition, and rocket should be taken into consideration as a diet component. Modifications in the plant nutrition system can be used to increase the amount of rocket protein and to obtain its specific chemical profile.
Regional Determinants of Establishments' Innovation Activities: A Multi-Level Approach

This paper analyses the determinants of different innovation types. Beside a wide range of firm characteristics also the effects of regional factors are estimated using three-level random effect logit models which account for the clustered and longitudinal structure of the data. The analyses contain three regional variables: the unemployment rate, the assessment of the region with reference to proximity to research and technology centres and universities and the rate of graduates in mathematics, informatics, natural sciences and technological sciences (MINT-graduates). The empirical basis is the IAB-Establishment Panel Survey 2006 to 2010. Process and radical innovations are significant affected by the unemployment rate and the share of MINT-graduates. The unemployment rate has also for some of the innovation combos a significant effect. The proportion of MINT-graduates is relevant for the probability of all 4 innovation types simultaneously.
Foreign Exchange Reserves in Asia and Its Impact on Import Demand

Some Asian countries have experienced increases in the level of their foreign exchange reserves as well as increases in their import volume. Theory suggests that as the level of exchange reserves increases, it may affect the demand for imports since more funds will be available for imports. In this paper, we employ quarterly data of five Asian countries and test the null hypothesis that the import demand behavior in India, Japan, Korea, Singapore and Thailand are not determined by real income, relative import price and foreign exchange reserves. The empirical analysis of import demand behavior is presented using the dynamic error-correction model, which allows an explicit parameterized division of effects into long-run influences, short-term adjustment and error-correction term. It uses econometric techniques organized around Johansen, Harris-Inder, and Hansen Lccointegration analyses; fully modified OLS, dynamic OLS and ARDL to estimate long-and-short run demand elasticities.
Predicting Acceptance of Mobile Technology for Aiding Student-Lecturer Interactions: An Empirical Study.

The current study sets out to identify determinants affecting tertiary students’ behavioural intentions to use mobile technology in lectures. The study emphasises that the reason for using mobile technology in classrooms with large numbers of students is to facilitate interactions among students and lecturers. The proposed conceptual framework has four main antecedents of behavioural intention: system perception, intrinsic motivation, system and information quality, and uncertainty avoidance. Sample data was collected from 396 tertiary students in Malaysia. Results from structural equation modelling on the sample indicated that behavioural intention was significantly influenced by system and information quality, followed by intrinsic motivation, and uncertainty avoidance. System perception was not significantly predictive of behavioural intention. The proposed framework explained 54% of the variance in behavioural intention of mobile technology use in lecture classes. The study findings are indicative of the importance of system development efforts to ensure overall quality system design. The findings further suggest that mobile technology may serve as a tool to facilitate interaction among students and lecturers in large lecture classes.
Prognostic Implications of Blood B Ratings for Erythrodermic Cutaneous T cell Lymphoma

Objective: Progressive resistance exercise-reconditioning programme was applied in the past for increasing upper limb muscle strength and movement accuracy in people with Parkinson's disease (PD). However, isokinetic-based resistance reconditioning was never before used for this specific purpose. The aim of this study was to develop an eight-week progressive resistance exercise-reconditioning programme, performed using an isokinetic dynamometer, and evaluate its impact on shoulder muscle strength and upper limb accuracy of movement in patients with PD. Methods: The experimental group (EG) consisted of 11 men with PD, while the control group (CG) comprised 10 healthy men. The reconditioning programme was administered twice a week for eight weeks in both test groups. Results: At the end of the reconditioning period, the subjects’ shoulder muscle strength increased (%) compared with the baseline results: CG extensor right limb-57.9 (p=0.0005) and left limb-55.2 (p=0.001); flexor right limb-51.3 (p=0.001) and left limb-63.8 (p=0.007); EG extensor right limb-58.2 (p=0.0001) and left limb-56.5 (p=0.0002); flexor right limb-53.2 (p=0.0001) and left limb-50.2 (p=0.0003). At the end of the reconditioning period the coefficient of fatigue decreased (%): CG right limb-33.1 (p=0.011) and left limb-32.2 (p=0.04); EG right limb-14.1 (p=0.0003) and left limb-25.1 (p=0.005). At the end of the reconditioning period over the time interval from 15 to 20s the variability of motion decreased (%): CG right limb-39.9 (p=0.041) and left limb-51.0 (p=0.02); EG right limb-9.2 (p=0.021) and left limb-14.3 (p=0.022). Conclusion: An eight-week progressive resistance exercise-reconditioning programme performed using isokinetic dynamometer increased upper limbs muscle strength and movement accuracy in people with PD.
Relationship between Flow Properties of Thickener Solutions and Their Velocity through the Pharynx Measured by the Ultrasonic Pulse Doppler Method

The effect of viscosity µ of thickener solutions on their velocity through the human pharynx measured using the ultrasonic pulse Doppler method was investigated to develop an index for thickener solutions used as foods for dysphagic patients. The B-type viscometer determined an approximated value of viscosity at a selected shear rate γ. The maximum velocity Vmax of water, which is often aspirated into trachea of patients with dysphagia, was about 3 times higher than that of yogurt, which is rarely aspirated. Moreover, the velocity spectra for water and thickener solutions of low concentration tended to be distributed over a wider range than those of yogurt and thickener solutions of high concentration. The maximum velocity Vmax of the thickener solutions approached that of yogurt as concentration increased. The maximum velocity Vmax correlated well with µ; the correlation coefficient at the shear rate of 10 s-1 was somewhat larger than those at the shear rate of 1 s-1 and 100 s-1.
Executive Summary: The Toolbox Revisited--Paths to Degree Completion from High School through College.

The Toolbox Revisited is a data essay that follows a nationally representative cohort of students from high school into postsecondary education, and asks what aspects of their formal schooling contribute to completing a bachelor’s degree by their mid-20s. The universe of students is confined to those who attended a four-year college at any time, thus including students who started out in other types of institutions, particularly community colleges.
On Telling and Trusting

A key debate in the epistemology of testimony concerns when it is reasonable to acquire belief through accepting what a speaker says. This debate has been largely understood as the debate over how much, or little, assessment and monitoring an audience must engage in. When it is understood in this way the debate simply ignores the relationship speaker and audience can have. Interlocutors rarely adopt the detached approach to communication implied by talk of assessment and monitoring. Audiences trust speakers to be truthful and demonstrate certain reactive attitudes if they are not. Trust and the accompanying willingness to these reactive attitudes can then provide speakers with a reason to be trustworthy. So through ignoring interlocutors’ engagement with the communicative process, the existing debate misses the possibility that it is an audience’s trusting a speaker that makes it reasonable for the audience to accept what the speaker says.
The sulfur speciation in S-bearing minerals: New constraints by a combination of electron microprobe analysis and DFT calculations with special reference to sodalite-group minerals

Abstract In this work, we present an improved method for the semi-quantitative determination of sulfur species in S-bearing minerals by electron microprobe analysis. For calibration, we analyzed several sulfate and sulfide standard minerals such as baryte, celestine, chalcopyrite, and pyrite, and correlated the results with theoretical calculations retrieved from density functional theory (DFT). We applied this method to natural sodalite-group minerals from various localities. In addition, we applied the more common Raman spectroscopy to some samples and show that this method cannot be applied to sodalite-group minerals to determine their sulfur speciation. We show that even though sodalite-group minerals have a complex crystal structure and are sensitive to the electron beam, electron microprobe analysis is a reliable tool for the analysis of their sulfur speciation. The natural sodalite-group minerals show systematic variations in sulfur speciation. These variations can be correlated with the independently determined oxidation state of the parental magmas thus making S-bearing sodalitegroup minerals good redox proxies, although we show that the electron microprobe analysis of the sulfur speciation is matrix-dependent, and the sulfur speciation itself depends on crystal chemistry and structure, and not only on fO₂.
Effects of Input Enhancement and Visual Prompts in Children’s L2 Acquisition of Spanish Verbal Morphology

Abstract In the pedagogical arena of second language (L2) acquisition, much of the input enhancement research (Sharwood Smith, 1993) has focused on adult L2 acquisition. However, the impact of this pedagogical technique in child L2 acquisition is an area of investigation that still deserves more attention. The present study analyzes the effect of input enhancement techniques supported by visual prompts in the acquisition of Spanish verbal morphology by child L2 learners. Over a fourteenweek period, meeting once a week, two experimental groups of L2 Spanish child learners, ages seven to nine, were exposed to a variety of input enhancement techniques applied to Spanish verbal morphology. At the end of the study, their performance on five different tasks (reading, fill in the blanks, writing, structured oral interview and oral translation) was assessed and compared with a control group. The results of the present study show that using input enhancement techniques supported by visual aids help L2 child learners to notice and retain the Spanish verbal morphology studied facilitating its intake. Resumen En el ambito pedagogico de la adquisicion de una segunda lengua (L2), la mayor parte de la investigacion en el realce del input (Sharwood Smith, 1993) se ha concentrado en la adquisicion de una L2 en adultos. Sin embargo, el impacto de esta tecnica pedagogica en la adquisicion de una L2 en ninos es un area de pesquisa que aun merece mas atencion. El presente estudio analiza el efecto de las tecnicas pedagogicas de realce apoyadas con imagenes en la adquisicion de la morfologia verbal del espanol entre ninos que lo aprenden como segunda lengua. Durante un periodo de catorce semanas, una vez por semana, dos grupos experimentales de ninos, entre siete y nueve anos de edad, fueron expuestos a diferentes tecnicas de realce aplicadas a la morfologia verbal del espanol. Al termino del estudio, su rendimiento en cinco diferentes actividades (lectura, llenar los espacios en blanco, escritura, entrevista oral estructurada y traduccion oral) fue evaluado y comparado con el grupo de control. Los resultados del presente estudio demuestran que el uso de la tecnica pedagogica de realce con el apoyo de imagenes ayuda a los ninos aprendices de una segunda lengua a notar y retener la morfologia verbal del espanol, facilitando su asimilacion.
Cassava-Legumes inter-cropping: A potential food-feed system for dairy farmers

When cassava is intercropped with legumes the cassa va root yield generally decreases compared with when cassava is planted alone. This is due to the competition of th e component crops for light, water and nutrients. H owever, cassava-legume intercropping systems usually incre ase the land use efficiency and economic return ove r solely cassava. Because of the current low market price for cassava roots, dual-purpose production of cassava for both root and fodder should be developed. Cassava hay is a good fodder f or dairy cows, and legume crops, such as cowpea and peanut whose residues also provide good fodder for livestock, ca n be intercropped with cassava. When cowpea was row and strip intercropped with cassava, it produced fodder yields of 1.7 to 2.4 tons/ ha, depending on the cowpea cultivar. Cowpea seeds and young green pods are eaten by humans. A food-feed system based on cassava-cowpea strip intercropping has been success fully developed by dairy farmers in Mahasarakham province in Northeast Thailand. Peanuts and mungbean are also high-potential legume crops for food-feed systems f or dairy farmers.
What is the Growth Potential of Green Innovation? An Assessment of EU Climate Policy Options

This paper provides a model-based analysis of the cost-efficiency of different EU climate policy options that could direct innovation in the private sector towards an environmentally sustainable growth path. Our objective is to assess different policy options in order to identify an appropriate policy-mix of environmental and innovation market instruments in terms of their cost-effectiveness. For this purpose, we develop a fully-dynamic, multisectoral DSGE model with endogenous technological change where we specifically identify its environmental content and we calibrate the model for the EU and the rest of the world. Our results suggest that an appropriate policy mix should intensively stimulate R&D in the green sectors in the short-run and phase-it out by spreading the R&D support to all sectors of the economy in the medium-term. Although intuitive, the orders of magnitude presented in this paper should be interpreted with caution by taking into account the underlying assumptions of the model and identification of green innovation data.