Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Financing and Performance of Female-Owned Firms in Middle Eastern and African Economies

Empirical evidence suggests that lack of access to financing is a major constraint to performance by female-owned firms in most countries. Firm performance, financing structure, and constraints have been well explored for firms in developed economies but this is not the case for firms in developing economies, especially in Africa and the Middle-East. Largely due to lack of data availability, existing literature on African firms has presented some survey-based evidence on firm performance and financing structures while detailed financial evidence is lacking. This paper aims at filling this research gap. We identify female-owned firms and examine the impact of ownership structure on financing and firm performance. We use cross-sectional financial data covering 25,500 companies in the Middle East and Africa for the years 2006 to 2014. Our results reveal a clear, but perhaps surprising, gender-specific pattern.
Probing the Function of Bordetella bronchiseptica Adenylate Cyclase Toxin by Manipulating Host Immunity

ABSTRACT We have examined the role of adenylate cyclase-hemolysin (CyaA) by constructing an in-frame deletion in the Bordetella bronchiseptica cyaA structural gene and comparing wild-type andcyaA deletion strains in natural host infection models. Both the wild-type strain RB50 and its adenylate cyclase toxin deletion (ΔcyaA) derivative efficiently establish persistent infections in rabbits, rats, and mice following low-dose inoculation. In contrast, an inoculation protocol that seeds the lower respiratory tract revealed significant differences in bacterial numbers and in polymorphonuclear neutrophil recruitment in the lungs from days 5 to 12 postinoculation. We next explored the effects of disarming specific aspects of the immune system on the relative phenotypes of wild-type and ΔcyaA bacteria. SCID, SCID-beige, or RAG-1−/− mice succumbed to lethal systemic infection following high- or low-dose intranasal inoculation with the wild-type strain but not the ΔcyaA mutant. Mice rendered neutropenic by treatment with cyclophosphamide or by knockout mutation in the granulocyte colony-stimulating factor locus were highly susceptible to lethal infection by either wild-type or ΔcyaA strains. These results reveal the significant role played by neutrophils early in B. bronchiseptica infection and by acquired immunity at later time points and suggest that phagocytic cells are a primary in vivo target of theBordetella adenylate cyclase toxin.
Lactate Minimum is Valid to Estimate Maximal Lactate Steady State in Moderately and Highly Trained Subjects

Knoepfli-Lenzin, C and Boutellier, U. Lactate minimum is valid to estimate maximal lactate steady state in moderately and highly trained subjects. J Strength Cond Res 25(5): 1355-1359, 2011-Some evidence exists that the determination of maximal lactate steady state (MLSS) with lactate minimum (LM) in highly trained athletes is not as accurate as in less trained athletes. Therefore, we compared power output at LM with power output MLSS in moderately up to highly trained subjects. 63 subjects performed a test on a cycle ergometer to determine power output at LM and 3 or more constant-load tests of 30 minutes to determine power output at MLSS. Mean power output at LM (245 ± 29 W; mean ± SD) was slightly lower than power output at MLSS (255 ± 32 W). The correlation between power output at MLSS and LM was high, and the regression line runs parallel to the line of identity showing that the results of highly trained subjects agree with the results of less trained subjects (LM and MLSS r = 0.867, p < 0.001). The modified blood-lactate kinetic in highly trained athletes compared with less trained persons does not impair accuracy at LM. Therefore, we suggest LM as a valid and meaningful concept to estimate power output at MLSS in 1 single test in moderately up to highly trained athletes.
Comparative Histological and Ultrastructural Studies on the Stomach of Hemiechinus auritus , Cavia porcellus and Mustela nivalis in Relation to Their Diet

Background: The present study aimed to provide a comprehensive histological and ultrastructural comparison of the stomach of three mammalian animals namely; Hemiechinus auritus, Cavia porcellus, and Mustela nivalis in relation to their diet. Materials & Methods: Six animals from each species were collected from different localities representing their natural habitats in Egypt. The cardiac portions of their stomachs were excised, cut into small pieces, fixed in the appropriate fixatives and processed for light and electron microscopic investigations. Results: Although some basic structural similarities existed in the stomach of these animals, marked differences were noticed. The histological results revealed that the mucosa appeared thicker in Hemiechinus auritus than that in the other two animals, the presence of well-developed peptic and parietal cells in both Hemiechinus auritus and Mustela nivalis than those found in Cavia porcellus, and the muscularis appeared thicker in Hemiechinus auritus than in the other two animals. Ultrastructurally, certain cytological differences were detected in the gastric mucosae of the examined animals. The surface epithelial cells showed numerous and denser mucous secretory granules in Hemiechinus auritus and Cavia porcellus than in Mustela nivalis. The peptic cells in Mustela nivalis displayed more abundantly secretory zymogen granules, mitochondria, rough and smooth endoplasmic reticula than those in Hemiechinus auritus and Cavia porcellus. Whereas, the parietal cells of Hemiechinus auritus and Mustela nivalis showed more discriminated intracellular canaliculi and tubule-vesicles among their cytoplasm than in Cavia porcellus. Conclusion: The present study showed marked differences in the histological and ultrastructural features of the stomachs of the examined mammalian animals, Hemiechinus auritus, Cavia porcellus and Mustela nivalis which may be correlated to the nature of the consumed food. [Hanaa R. Aboelwafa, Fatma M.A. Taki-El-Deen and Samia M.I. Sakr. Comparative Histological and Ultrastructural Studies on the Stomach of Hemiechinus auritus, Cavia porcellus and Mustela nivalis in Relation to Their Diet. Life Sci J 2017; 14(6):1-13]. ISSN: 1097-8135 (Print) / ISSN: 2372-613X (Online). http://www.lifesciencesite. com. 1. doi:10.7537/marslsj140617.01.
Diversity in top management, strategy, top managers’ compensation and performance of kenyan state corporations

xx CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION . 1 1.1 Background of the Study . 1 1.1.1 Diversity in Top Management . 6 1.1.2 Strategy . 9 1.1.3 Top Managers‘ Compensation . 10 1.1.4 Organizational Performance . 13 1.1.5 Kenyan State Corporations . 18 1.2 Research Problem . 20 1.3 Research Objectives . 24 1.4 Value of the Study . 25 1.5 Organization of the Thesis . 26 1.6 Chapter Summary . 27
Spectrophotometric determination of total alkaloids in some Iranian medicinal plants.

A simple spectrophotometric method based on the reaction with bromocresol green (BCG) has been developed for determination of total alkaloids in medicinal plants. A yellow complex forms and is easily extractable by chloroform at pH 4.7. The absorbance of the complex obeys Beerûs law over the concentration range of 4-13 μg atropine per ml of chloroform. This procedure can be carried out in the presence of other compounds without interference.
Use of intensive care services during terminal hospitalizations in England and the United States.

RATIONALE Despite broad concern regarding the provision and cost of health care at the end of life, country-specific patterns of care have rarely been compared. OBJECTIVES To assess the use of hospital and intensive care services during terminal hospitalizations in England and the United States, two populations with similar socioeconomic backgrounds and life expectancies. METHODS Retrospective cohort study over a 1-year period (2001) using national (England) Hospital Episode Statistics, and regional (seven U.S. states) administrative discharge data as well as English and U.S. census data. We measured hospitalization rates and death rates during hospitalization with and without intensive care. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Age-adjusted acute hospitalization rates were 110.5 per 1,000 population in England versus 105.3 in the seven U.S. states, with the same mortality rate (0.9 per 1,000 population) in both countries. Of all deaths, 50.3% occurred in hospital in England and 36.6% in the United States, yet only 5.1% of all deaths in England involved intensive care, versus 17.2% in the United States, representing 10.1% of hospital deaths in England versus 47.1% in the United States. Greater intensive care use in the U.S. was most notable with older age; among decedents 85+ years, intensive care was used for 31.5% of medical deaths and 61.0% of surgical deaths in the United States versus 1.9 and 8.5% of deaths in England. CONCLUSIONS Despite similar overall hospitalization rates in England and the United States, there were marked differences in terminal hospitalizations, with far greater use of intensive care services in the United States, especially among medical patients and the elderly population.
Bank business models in base of the pyramid markets in Africa : an analysis of co-creation between banks and stakeholders

10 Declaration . 11 Copyright Statement . 12 Acknowledgements . 13 Chapter 1 Introduction.14 1.1 Purpose of the Study . 14 1.2 Background . 15 1.3 Literature . 16 1.4 Methodology . 19 1.5 Contribution . 20 1.6 Relevance.21 1.7 Management Practices . 22 1.8 Thesis Structure . 22 1.9 Chapter Summary . 24 Chapter 2 Banking in BoP Markets . 25 2.
The Impact of Public Debt on Economic Development of Nigeria

This study examined the impact of public debt on economic development of Nigeria using annual time series data spanning 1986 to 2014. The study employed the Augmented Dickey-Fuller test, Johansen co-integration test, Error Correction Method (ECM) and the Granger Causality test. The Johansen co-integration test results revealed the presence of a long-run relationship among the variables viz; external debt stock, domestic debt stock, external debt servicing, domestic debt servicing and economic development (proxied with GDP per capita) in Nigeria. The ECM results revealed that external debt stock and external debt servicing have insignificant negative relationship with economic development in Nigeria, however, domestic debt stock has a direct and significant relationship with economic development while domestic debt service payment was significant but inversely related to economic development in Nigeria. The lagged error correction terms in ECM 1 and ECM 2 equations are high and statistically significant judging from its high and negatively signed coefficient. The study therefore recommended that the government should reduce the level of external debt it accumulates overtime, but domestic debt accumulation would contribute significantly to the development of the economy.
Oxidative stress contributes to methamphetamine-induced left ventricular dysfunction.

AIMS Our aim was to test the hypothesis that the repeated, binge administration of methamphetamine would produce oxidative stress in the myocardium leading to structural remodeling and impaired left ventricular function. METHODS AND RESULTS Echocardiography and Millar pressure-volume catheters were used to monitor left ventricular structure and function in rats subjected to four methamphetamine binges (3 mg/kg, iv for 4 days, separated by a 10-day drug-free period). Hearts from treated and control rats were used for histological or proteomic analysis. When compared with saline treatment, four methamphetamine binges produced eccentric left ventricular hypertrophy. The drug also significantly impaired systolic function (decreased fractional shortening, ejection fraction, and adjusted maximal power) and produced significant diastolic dysfunction (increased -dP/dt and tau). Dihydroethedium staining showed that methamphetamine significantly increased (285%) the levels of reactive oxygen species in the left ventricle. Treatment with methamphetamine also resulted in the tyrosine nitration of myofilament (desmin, myosin light chain) and mitochondrial (ATP synthase, NADH dehydrogenase, cytochrome c oxidase, prohibitin) proteins. Treatment with the superoxide dismutase mimetic, tempol in the drinking water prevented methamphetamine-induced left ventricular dilation and systolic dysfunction; however, tempol (2.5 mM) did not prevent the diastolic dysfunction. Tempol significantly reduced, but did not eliminate dihydroethedium staining in the left ventricle, nor did it prevent the tyrosine nitration of mitochondrial and contractile proteins. CONCLUSION This study shows that oxidative stress plays a significant role in mediating methamphetamine-induced eccentric left ventricular dilation and systolic dysfunction.
Emerging Trends of Organized Retailing in India: A Shared Vision of Consumers and Retailers Perspective

This present study is an attempt to understand the relationship between the choice of retail formats, based on products attributes, store attributes, consumers' demography and retail marketing strategies. The outcome of the study reveals that consumers' choice for modern retail formats vary as their income level increases. Young consumers' are more inclined to shop from modern retail formats as compared to older ones. Consumers' prefer modern retail formats due to its significant product attributes like improved quality, variety of brands and assortment of merchandise and store attributes like parking facility, trained sales personnel and complete security. The retention strategies, promotional strategies, growth and improvement strategies, pricing strategies and competitive strategies are the major contributors for the growth of organized retailing and play an important role in enhancing the sales of retail formats. Further, the study helps in designing a framework for choice of modern retail formats from Consumers' and Retailers' Perspective.
Optical coherence tomography study of healing characteristics of paclitaxel-eluting balloons vs. everolimus-eluting stents for in-stent restenosis: the SEDUCE (Safety and Efficacy of a Drug elUting balloon in Coronary artery rEstenosis) randomised clinical trial.

AIMS Little is known about the respective healing responses and clinical efficacy and safety of drug-eluting balloons (DEB) and the second generation of drug-eluting stents (DES) when used to treat in-stent restenosis (ISR). In this study, we set out to compare prospectively the healing characteristics, as assessed by optical coherence tomography (OCT), of DEB versus DES after treatment of ISR in bare metal stents (BMS). METHODS AND RESULTS Fifty patients with BMS ISR were randomised to treatment with a paclitaxel-eluting balloon vs. an everolimus-eluting stent (EES). The primary endpoint was the percentage of uncovered struts, assessed with OCT at nine months, as a marker of vessel wall healing. A mean of 366±135 and 636±184 struts were analysed per patient in the DEB and EES groups, respectively. The percentage of uncovered struts per patient was significantly lower with DEB vs. EES (1.4% vs. 3.1%, p=0.025). Mean neointimal hyperplasia area was 2.4±1.08 mm in DEB vs. 1.92±0.67 mm in EES (p=0.1806), while the percentage of malapposed struts per patient was very low in both groups (0.2% vs. 0.3%, p=0.699). At nine months, angiographic in-stent MLD (minimum lumen diameter) was lower (2.13 vs. 2.54 mm, p=0.006), while diameter stenosis (26.4 vs. 11.4%, p=0.002), and LLL (0.28 vs. 0.07 mm, p=0.1) were higher after DEB compared to EES. During one-year follow-up, we did not observe differences in the rates of death, TLR (target lesion revascularisation) or stent thrombosis. CONCLUSIONS DEB appears to be associated with better healing characteristics, as assessed by stent strut coverage with OCT, but tended to be slightly less effective compared to EES. These findings give support to the use of either DEB or EES as valuable treatment options for ISR. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION http://www.clinicaltrials. gov. Unique identifier: NCT 01065532.
Reappraising Anxiety as Excitement In a recent review of the reappraisal literature

Individuals often feel anxious in anticipation of tasks such as speaking in public or meeting with a boss. I find that an overwhelming majority of people believe trying to calm down is the best way to cope with pre-performance anxiety. However, across several studies involving karaoke singing, public speaking, and math performance, I investigate an alternative strategy: reappraising anxiety as excitement. Compared with those who attempt to calm down, individuals who reappraise their anxious arousal as excitement feel more excited and perform better. Individuals can reappraise anxiety as excitement using minimal strategies such as self-talk (e.g., saying “I am excited” out loud) or simple messages (e.g., “get excited”), which lead them to feel more excited, adopt an opportunity mind-set (as opposed to a threat mind-set), and improve their subsequent performance. These findings suggest the importance of arousal congruency during the emotional reappraisal process.
New Zealand State-owned enterprises: is state-ownership detrimental to firm performance?

ABSTRACT This study examines the performance of State-owned enterprises by conducting a contemporary examination in the New Zealand environment. Applying both a cross-sectional and time-series approach, we document significant and consistent evidence that state ownership is negatively associated with firm profitability compared to private ownership. We also find evidence suggesting that state ownership is positively associated with asset turnover and labour intensity, but not associated with labour turnover. This implies that SOEs on average experience a higher asset turnover due to excessive labour employment, compared to private firms.
Are the More Educated Receiving More Training? Evidence from Thailand

This paper investigates the relationship between education and training provided by the firm, both on the job and off the job, using a unique dataset based on a survey of Thai employees conducted in the summer of 2001. We find a significant and negative relationship between educational attainment and on the job training and no significant relationship between education and off the job training. We also find that education and training are technical complements, especially in the case of off the job training. These findings are consistent with more educated individuals having higher marginal costs of training than less educated workers, especially when on the job training is concerned. Either the better educated have lower learning skills in jobs requiring on the job training or they have higher opportunity costs of training, or both.
Automatic identification of Granularity level of learning document

With energetic development of the Internet, especially the web page interaction technology, online learning object repositories have become more and more realistic and popular in the past ten years. These repositories enable sharing and reuse of learning materials by different users. This information background is needed for querying services to perform accurate queries for learning object retrieval. The granularity of learning objects is one among several metadata attributes that has a crucial impact on the ability to adapt, aggregate, and arrange content suiting the needs and preferences of the learner. This paper showcases our work on redefining the Granularity level, more suited towards personalization of learning document and its automatic extraction using Natural Language Processing approach and with the help of Domain ontology.
The tumor necrosis factor-α –238G/A and IL-6 –572G/C gene polymorphisms and the risk of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy: a meta-analysis of 25 studies including 9493 cases and 13,971 controls

Abstract Background: Inflammation plays an imperative role in the etiology of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The role of cytokines in the development and progression of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDCM) is still uncertain. The current study was conducted to evaluate the association of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) –238G/A and IL-6 –572G/C gene polymorphism with IDCM in a Pakistani population. Methods: IDCM cases (n=250) and healthy controls (n=300) were genotyped using PCR-RFLP. Results: The variant genotypes of both the loci showed significant differences between patients and controls (p<0.05). However, –238G/A polymorphism did not show association with the disease in the presence of covariates. We also conducted a meta-analysis of both the loci with regards to CVD in accordance with the Prisma checklist. No significant relation of the TNF-α –238G/A polymorphism with CVD was found; however, this single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) showed an association with the disease in the Asian population after subgroup analysis (p=0.01). Whereas, the IL-6 –572G/C polymorphism showed that the variant genotype (GC+CC) was associated with higher risk of CVD in contrast to the GG genotype. Furthermore, subgroup meta-analysis demonstrated a significant association of the –572 polymorphism with CVD in Asians, but no association was observed among Western populations with this SNP. Conclusions: Our findings support an association between the IL-6 –572G/C polymorphism and IDCM risk. The role of the TNF-α –238G/A polymorphism in IDCM is still unclear. Further studies are warranted to determine the serum cytokine levels in relation to the cytokines’ SNP in diverse ethnic groups to ascertain the molecular basis of the disease pathology.
Barrier non-uniformity of annealed Ni/4H-SiC Schottky contacts with temperature

The barrier non-uniformities of Schottky diodes with Ni/4H-SiC contacts, post-metallization annealed at 800°C, are investigated at temperatures up to 450°C. Simulations and measurements are used to determine barrier height and ideality factor variations when the contact is comprised of two different metal regions (low-barrier patches in the high-barrier contact area) and affected by interface states. Measured devices show almost ideal forward characteristics after 225°C, but inconsistencies in barrier height value still indicate surface inhomogeneity. The maximum operating temperature of these devices is discussed.
Cash-Flow Sensitivities of Interdependent Corporate Decisions - The Role of Financial Constraints and Hedging Needs

We examine firms’ simultaneous choice of investment, debt financing and liquidity in a large sample of US corporates between 1984 and 2015 with regard to their cash-flow sensitivities. We differentiate firms according to their (external) financial constraints and their (internal) needs to hedge against future shortfalls in operating income. Our estimation approach shows that internal frictions weaken the cashflow sensitivities of all corporate decisions, so that firms with low hedging needs display the strongest investment increases, debt reductions and cash savings with rising cash flows. External frictions, in contrast, weaken the cash-flow sensitivity of investment and debt changes but strengthen the propensity to save cash out of cash flows. Interestingly, cash-flow sensitivities have weakened considerably due to the financial crisis 2007/08 for unconstrained firms, but hardly for constrained businesses.