Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The partner selection process in international joint ventures

Argues that the motivation involved in partner selection must be distinguished from the motivation to enter into a joint venture; the latter may be considered the “ends” dimension of motivation while the former is concerned with “means”. Thus it is important to distinguish between “task related” factors and “partner related” factors in analyzing the partner selection process. Based on a survey of 42 international joint ventures in Bahrain, respondents rank partner related factors as significantly more important than task factors in selecting a partner. The existence of partner related factors as a separate construct is also confirmed by factor analysis. Further, shows that respondents’ factor scores on four factors are significantly related to the corporate history and characteristics of the corporate partner, and to the personal characteristics of the Chief Executive Officer.
Homophobic Violence, Coping Styles, Visibility Management, and Mental Health: A Survey of Flemish Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Individuals

ABSTRACT The understanding of how lesbians, gays, and bisexuals cope with homophobic violence is limited. Therefore, on the one hand, this study focuses on avoidance, problem-oriented, and emotion-oriented coping as general coping styles. On the other hand, special attention is paid to visibility management as a coping strategy that can be applied in a heteronormative context. Moreover, the moderating role of general coping styles and visibility management in the relationship between homophobic violence and negative mental health outcomes is studied. Data were collected from 1,402 Flemish lesbians, gays, and bisexuals. Stepwise regression analyses shows that coping styles and visibility management have a direct effect on mental health; however, no evidence for a moderating effect is found. Additionally, visibility management and emotion-oriented coping are found to exert a combined effect on mental health.
Economic Effects of Taxing Closed Corporations under a Dual Income Tax

Under the Nordic dual income tax system, the taxpayer's total tax bill depends not only on his total income but also on the division of that income between capital income and labor income. This has created new room for tax avoidance, especially for active owners of (closed) corporations. For that reason the Nordic governments have enacted special income-splitting rules and this paper examines the economic effects of these rules. The Swedish scheme of taxing closed corporations is shown to be neutral in its impact on the allocation of resources between closely and widely held corporations, and the cost of capital is invariant to the rate at which capital income is imputed to the owner. The Finnish system rather increases the attractiveness of investing in closed corporations, while the Norwegian scheme may or may not cause the cost of capital to be different from that of widely held corporations. Finally, for Swedish tax rules, we show that the owner's labor supply may decrease as a response to a more lenient tax treatment.
THE BRANCH EXPANSION AND THE PERFORMANCE OF THE BANKS: THE CASE OF INDONESIA

Opening new branches may help the banks to expand and is a priority for the banks to enlarge the public inclusion. Indonesian banking industry is currently not efficient and still focus more on networking the branches than improving the banking access to the public. This paper utilize the path analysis to see the link betweeen the branch expansion and the performance of the banks. The analysis shows that the increase of the number of branches and employees does not significantly influence the financial performance of the banking industry from the period of 2011-2012. This prove that the inefficiency of banking industry as one of the performance indicators of banking is not the main factor that be caused by increasing the number of branches and employees.
Organizational capabilities as a source of competitive advantage at Airtel Kenya

Corporate success derives from a competitive advantage which is based on distinct capabilities, which is most often derived from the unique character of a firm's relationships with its suppliers, customers, or employees, and which is precisely identified and applied to relevant markets. Corporate success is not the realization of visions, aspirations, and missions the product of wish driven strategy but it is the result of a careful appreciation of the strengths of the firm and the economic environment it faces. The study aimed at establishing organizational capabilities as a source of competitive advantage at Airtel Kenya. In attempting to achieve the objectives of the study, a case study research design was adopted. An interview guide was used to collect data on strategic capabilities used by the organization in gaining competitive advantage. The data obtained from the interview guide was analyzed qualitatively using content analysis. The study established that the company’s strategic capabilities that gave it a competitive advantage over the other mobile companies was in the human resource, physical infrastructure and the distribution network, strong brand, technology, market research, innovation and manpower development and talent nurturing. The respondents noted that the company has put in place mechanisms to safeguard its capabilities through confidentiality agreement to the staff and the partners, stringent policy on company assets, firewalls on information technology infrastructure, bonding policy on training. The company carries out an audit to ensure competitive advantage through weekly and monthly audit reviews on performance in various key result areas while benchmarking against others in the sector as well as among departments.
International Conflict and the Tenure of Leaders: Is War Still Ex Post Inefficient?

Recent work in comparative politics and international relations has shown a marked shift toward leaders as the theoretical unit of analysis. In most of the new theoretical models a core assumption is that leaders act to stay in power. There exists, however, remarkably little systematic empirical knowledge about the factors that affect the tenure of leaders. To provide a baseline of empirical results we explore how a broad range of domestic and international factors affects the tenure of leaders. We focus in particular on the effect of conflict and its outcome. We find that political institutions fundamentally mediate the costs and benefits of international conflict and that war is not necessarilyex postinefficient for leaders. This suggests that the assumption that war isex postinefficient for unitary rational actors can not be simply extended to leaders. Therefore, a focus on leaders may yield important new rationalist explanations for war.
Corporate Social Responsibility and Technological Innovation

This study examines the relation between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and firm innovation. We replicate and extend the work of Mao and Weathers (2019), who investigate employee treatment and innovation, and find that CSR has an incremental effect on innovation outcomes (measured as citation-weighted patent counts) beyond the documented effect of employee treatment. The CSR effect mostly comes from CSR strengths rather than concerns. This effect remains robust after we address potential endogeneity concerns using three identification strategies. We also find that the CSR effect exists only in situations of more effective board monitoring, stronger CEO leadership, and greater employee human capital, and is greater in complex firms. Our overall evidence is consistent with the argument that CSR enhances technological innovation as it helps firms develop internal resources and capabilities related to creative corporate culture, long-term orientation, and employee knowledge and skills that are critical and conducive to innovation success.
Untangling the Brand Name from the Branded Entity: The Conceptualisation and Value of the Established Brand Name

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to investigate the value to consumers of the brand name element for established brands, given that the focus in the literature has been on new brands. To accomplish this, conceptual development was initially undertaken to illuminate the links between the brand name element and the brand entity and to provide a theoretical framework for looking at changes in value of the brand name element to consumers over time. Design/methodology/approach – A conjoint analysis experimental approach was used. This involved consumers making trade-off decisions between changes in brand name and changes in price for established brands, where they were active purchasers. This approach enabled isolation of the brand name element and obtained the relative value of the brand name element for each participant. Findings – The mean value obtained for the importance of the brand name element for established products appeared to show substantial importance to consumers. However, further analysis.
Timing inconsistencies in the calculation of Funds of funds Net Asset Value

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the impact upon tracking errors of timing inconsistencies in the calculation of Funds of Funds (FoF) net asset value (NAV). We examine how these timing inconsistencies produce noise in the NAV of FoF and therefore noise in the tracking error. We construct Funds of Funds and calculate NAVs of these FoF using underlying NAVs at different dates. We then compare series of tracking errors to analyze the impact of the timing inconsistencies and formalize a relation adjusting the tracking error including the error term generated by these timing inconsistencies.
Abnormalities in lung volumes and airflow in children with newly diagnosed connective tissue disease.

INTRODUCTION Connective tissue diseases (CTDs) of childhood are rare inflammatory disorders, involving various organs and tissues including respiratory system. Pulmonary involvement in patients with CTDs is uncommon but may cause functional impairment. Data on prevalence and type of lung function abnormalities in children with CTDs are scarce. Thus, the aim of this study was to asses pulmonary functional status in children with newly diagnosed CTD and follow the results after two years of the disease course. MATERIAL AND METHODS There were 98 children (mean age: 13 ± 3; 76 girls), treated in Department of Pediatric Rheumatology, Institute of Rheumatology, Warsaw and 80 aged-matched, healthy controls (mean age 12.7 ± 2.4; 50 girls) included into the study. Study procedures included medical history, physical examination, chest radiograph and PFT (spirometry and whole body-plethysmography). Then, the assessment of PFT was performed after 24 months. RESULTS FEV₁, FEV₁/FVC and MEF50 were significantly lower in CTD as compared to control group, there was no difference in FVC and TLC. The proportion of patients with abnormal lung function was significantly higher in the study group, 41 (42%) vs 9 (11%). 24-months observation didn't reveal progression in lung function impairment. CONCLUSIONS Lung function impairment is relatively common in children with CTDs. Although restrictive ventilatory pattern is considered typical feature of lung involvement in CTDs, airflow limitation could also be an initial abnormality.
Symptomatic vasospasm diagnosis after subarachnoid hemorrhage: Evaluation of transcranial Doppler ultrasound and cerebral angiography as related to compromised vascular distribution

ObjectiveTo evaluate the reliability of transcranial Doppler ultrasound in detecting symptomatic vasospasm in patients after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage and monitoring response after hypertensive and endovascular treatments. DesignRetrospective chart review. SettingNeurosciences critical care unit in a tertiary-care university hospital. PatientsAll patients admitted to a neurosciences critical care unit with the diagnosis of subarachnoid hemorrhage between January 1990 and June 1997. InterventionsNone Measurements and Main ResultsWe reviewed transcranial Doppler ultrasound data of 199 patients; 55 had symptomatic vasospasm. Clinical symptoms and corresponding vascular distributions were identified, as was angiographic vasospasm (n = 35). The sensitivity and specificity of transcranial Doppler ultrasound for anterior circulation vessels were calculated by using a mean cerebral blood flow velocity criterion of >120 cm/sec. Clinical diagnosis of symptomatic vasospasm was used as the standard to determine sensitivity and specificity of transcranial Doppler ultrasound and cerebral angiography.The sensitivity of transcranial Doppler ultrasound for anterior circulation in patients with symptomatic vasospasm was 73% with a specificity of 80%. The sensitivity of cerebral angiography was 80%. For individual vessels, the sensitivity and specificity of transcranial Doppler ultrasound were middle cerebral artery, 64% and 78%; anterior cerebral artery, 45% and 84%; and internal carotid artery, 80% and 77%, respectively. The mean times for symptomatic and transcranial Doppler ultrasound signs of vasospasm presentation were 6.4 ± 2 and 6.1 ± 3 days, respectively. In patients without symptomatic vasospasm, the mean time for mean cerebral blood flow velocities >120 cm/sec was 7.0 ± 3 days (p < .05). Symptomatic vasospasm also was associated with thickness of clot on head computed tomography scan and rapidly increasing mean cerebral blood flow velocities. Transcranial Doppler ultrasound signs of vasospasm improved after endovascular treatment in 30 patients. ConclusionsThe reliability of transcranial Doppler ultrasound was better at detecting high mean cerebral blood flow velocities in patients with symptomatic vasospasm related to middle cerebral and internal carotid artery distributions than for anterior cerebral artery distribution. Transcranial Doppler ultrasound was as sensitive as cerebral angiography at detecting symptomatic vasospasm. High mean cerebral blood flow velocities can be apparent before the presence of symptomatic vasospasm. Daily transcranial Doppler ultrasound monitoring could provide early identification of patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage who are at high risk for symptomatic vasospasm and may be helpful at following success of endovascular treatment.
Relational benefits and customer satisfaction in retail banking

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of relational benefits on customer satisfaction in retail banking. This paper presents a causal model that identifies a connection between the relational benefits achieved through a stable and long‐term relationship with a given bank and customer satisfaction with retail banking.Design/methodology/approach – Based on a theoretical framework regarding the relationship between relational benefits and customer satisfaction, an empirical study using a sample of 204 bank customers was conducted, and the theoretical model is tested. Multi‐item indicators from prior studies were employed to measure the constructs of interest, and the proposed relationships were tested using structural equations modeling methods.Findings – The results show that confidence benefits have a direct, positive effect on the satisfaction of customers with their bank. However, special treatment benefits and social benefits did not have any significant effects on satisfactio.
Persian version of the geriatric anxiety scale: Translation and preliminary psychometric properties among Iranian older adults

Objective: The Geriatric Anxiety Scale (GAS) is a new self-report screening measure designed for older adults. Due to the burgeoning Iranian population of older adults and the need for validated, culturally-appropriate screening measures for anxiety in Iran, the purposes of the present study were to translate the GAS into Persian and to explore its preliminary psychometric properties. Method: Iranian older adults (N = 295; M age = 67.0 years) completed the GAS and the Iranian version of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15). Results: Cronbach's alpha for the GAS total score and the GAS subscales were excellent (Total score α = .92; Cognitive α = .81; Somatic α = .84; Affective α = .80). As expected, each subscale was significantly positively correlated (all p's < .01) with the other subscales. The subscales share common variance ranging from 42% to 56%. The GAS total score and GAS subscale scores were significantly positively correlated with the GDS-15, with medium effect sizes (GAS Total r = .55; Cognitive r = .51; Somatic r = .50; Affective r = .48). Finally, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to investigate the factor structure of the Persian version of the GAS. Results support a one factor solution (general anxiety) for this Iranian sample. Conclusion: This study provides preliminary psychometric support for the Persian version of the GAS as a screening measure for anxiety in Iranian older adults, with a one-dimensional factor structure.
Value creation in acquisitions: A re‐examination of performance issues

This study provides a conceptual framework and an empirical methodology to assess the extent of value creation in acquisitions. Arguments are presented to examine why related acquisitions might not outperform unrelated acquisitions on average. New measures of value creation are developed which resolve the difficulties with measures used by earlier researchers. In addition, the influence of the classification scheme used to identify acquisition types, and the impact of the relative size of the target to the bidder, on the measurement of the extent of value creation, is examined. The empirical results indicate that value is created in both unrelated and related acquisitions. Further, the data do not appear to indicate that related acquisitions create more value than unrelated acquisitions on average.
A reliable and valid measurement scale for the perceived service quality of banks

Describes a study performed in Canada to develop a reliable and valid scale for the measurement of the perceived service quality of bank services. A sample of retail banking customers was questioned. The proposed scale is called banking service quality (BSQ) and comprises 31 items which span six dimensions: effectiveness and assurance; access; price; tangibles; services portfolio and reliability.
Third party logistics services: a Singapore perspective

Focusses on three constructs that we believe are the primary determinants of the future usage of third party logistics services. These constructs are: extent of use of the third party logistics services; decision making process for choosing contract logistics services provider; and impact of the usage of contract logistics services on the organisation. An empirical research was carried out in Singapore to study the impact of these three factors on the future usage of third party logistics services in Singapore. Results based on an analysis of data relating to 126 Singapore‐based firms indicate that most users of these services are satisfied with their providers and believe that this has led to positive developments within the organisation. With a high current level of satisfaction, a large number of these firms are likely to increase their usage of contract logistics services moderately or substantially.
High serum thyrotropin levels are associated with current but not with incident hypertension.

BACKGROUND Recent data from a population-based study in children and adolescents suggest that serum thyrotropin (TSH) levels are associated with arterial blood pressure and hypertension. These results are in agreement with some but not all population-based studies in adults. Discrepancies in results might be explained by drug intake, different iodine supplies, and sizes of populations investigated. In addition, it is not clear whether an association between TSH and hypertension exists longitudinally or only cross-sectionally. Thus, our aim was to investigate cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between thyroid function and arterial blood pressure in a large consortium of cohort studies in adults. METHODS Data from five population-based studies were pooled resulting in 17,023 individuals being available for cross-sectional and 10,048 individuals for longitudinal analyses. Associations of baseline TSH with baseline blood pressure or hypertension were analyzed by multivariable median or logistic regression models. Multivariable median or Poisson regression models were used to investigate associations of baseline TSH with five-year change in arterial blood pressure or incident hypertension. RESULTS There was a cross-sectional positive association of TSH with arterial blood pressure (p<0.001) and hypertension (odds ratio [OR]=1.76 [confidence interval (CI) 1.24-2.50], p=0.002). Likewise, hypothyroidism was associated with systolic (β=1.1 [CI 0.1-2.1], p=0.040) and diastolic blood pressure (β=1.4 [CI 0.7-2.0], p<0.001). TSH, however, was not consistently associated with a five-year change in blood pressure or incident hypertension. CONCLUSIONS High serum TSH levels were associated with current hypertension and blood pressure but not with a five-year change in blood pressure and incident hypertension. This argues for only a short-term effect of thyroid hormone levels on arterial blood pressure or a spurious association that needs further evaluation in population-based studies.
Human Coronavirus NL63 Is Not Detected in the Respiratory Tracts of Children with Acute Kawasaki Disease

Abstract Kawasaki disease (KD) is a self-limited, systemic vasculitis of children for which an infectious trigger is suspected. Recently, an association between KD and human coronavirus (HCoV)–New Haven (NH) was reported, on the basis of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with primers that also amplified HCoV-NL63. We investigated the possible association between these HCoVs in the respiratory tract and KD by reverse-transcriptase (RT) PCR and viral culture in a geographically and ethnically diverse population. Only 1 (2%) of 48 patients with acute KD was positive by RT-PCR for HCoV-NL63/NH in a nasopharyngeal swab. These data do not support an association between these HCoVs and KD
Trends of breast cancer treatment in Sabah, Malaysia: a problem with lack of awareness.

INTRODUCTION Sabah, formerly known as North Borneo, is part of East Malaysia. 52.2 percent of patients with breast cancer in Sabah presented at advanced stages and up to 20.4 percent of patients defaulted proper treatment, opting for traditional therapy. We performed a two-year prospective study looking at the treatment trends of breast cancer in Sabah. METHODS Our subjects were all newly-diagnosed breast cancer cases seen at the hospital in 2005 and 2006. Type of surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormonal therapy and surgical complication for each patient were studied. RESULTS Out of 186 newly-diagnosed cases, 152 (81.7 percent) had surgery, 126 (67.7 percent) had chemotherapy, 118 (63.4 percent) had radiotherapy and 92 (49.5 percent) had hormonal therapy. 18.3 percent did not have surgery either due to refusal of treatment or advanced disease. They were more likely to be non-Chinese (91.1 percent, p-value is 0.02). Only 15.8 percent had breast-conserving surgery. The most frequent surgical complication was seroma formation (15.0 percent) . The commonest chemotherapy regime and hormonal therapy were anthracycline-based regime (88.1 percent) and tamoxifen (95.8 percent), respectively. CONCLUSION The proportion of breast-conserving surgery and usage of modern adjuvant therapies are low in Sabah. This can be attributed to lack of breast cancer awareness leading to late presentation and refusal of treatment, coupled with insufficient health service funding.