Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Institutional Ownership Heterogeneity and Firm Performance: Evidence from Malaysia

The roles of institutional owners in alleviating agency problem and its effect on firms have been studied extensively in corporate finance. However, these researches have mixed results because most have treated institutional owners as a homogenous group. Drawing on previous research, this study differentiates institutional owners as transient or dedicated owners. These two groups of institutional owners differ significantly in terms of size of holdings, purposes, goals as well as monitoring efforts. The objective of this study is to determine how the institutional ownership structure i.e. transient or dedicated ownership affect firm performance within the context of agency theory. To determine whether treating the sample homogenously or heterogeneously has different effects on firm performance, this study also examine the effect of total ownership (whereby the sample is treated homogeneously) on firm performance. Using panel data that span from 2002 to 2006, several hypotheses are tested based on data of firms listed on Bursa Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur Composite Index (KLCI) using hierarchical regression analysis methodology. The empirical results indicate that total institutional ownership and dedicated ownership have no significant effect towards firm performance. Transient ownership, however, has statistically significant effect on firm performance. These results show that institutional ownership is heterogeneous with transient ownership structure monitor the management themselves. The establishment of the differing effect of institutional ownership due to the heterogeneous nature of ownership suggests that future research in this area must take into account the heterogeneity.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE IN THE FINANCIAL SERVICES SECTOR OF SMALL ISLAND ECONOMIES: A CASE STUDY OF MAURITIUS

This study investigates the practices of corporate governance in the financial services sector of small island economies with special reference to banks and insurance companies in Mauritius with a view to assess the level of compliance. The financial sector is today an important economic pillar on which the government is relying given the imminent recession in the sugar industry. In this respect financial institutions play a key role because they are the core set of the financial sector. It is therefore important for people to have confidence in both banks and insurance companies of their country. This is possible by ensuring compliance with good governance. In Mauritius, the Central Bank has issued its guidelines on good corporate governance for banks and this guide is made in line with the Corporate Governance Code issued by the National Committee on Corporate Governance. Banks are also required to comply with the codes as per the Banking Act 2004 and the Financial Reporting Act 2004. In a similar vein insurance companies should comply with the National Code on Corporate Governance and relevant laws related to good governance of insurance business, such as the Insurance Act 2005, the Financial Services Commission guidelines on Corporate Governance and the Financial Services Development Act 2002. In addition insurance companies should also comply with the Companies Act 2001 and the Financial Reporting Act 2004. This paper initially reports on the practice of corporate governance in the financial services sector of small island economies by drawing data from the Financial Sector Assessment Programme of the International Monetary Fund. A content analysis of the annual reports of companies in the sector is used to assess the level of compliance to corporate governance code in Mauritius and concludes that compliance rate is above 70% as regards board’s composition, audit committee, disclosure of policies and practices. This study reports that there are few cases of noncompliance with the National Code but good governance is necessary in the financial services sector to inspire stakeholders confidence.
On the Sensitivity of Return to Schooling Estimates to Estimation Methods, Model Specification, and Influential Outliers if Identification is Weak

We provide a comparison of return to schooling estimates based on an influential study by Angrist and Krueger (1991) using two stage least squares (TSLS), limited information maximum likelihood (LIML), jackknife (JIVE), and split sample instrumental variables (SSIV) estimation. We find that the estimated return to education is quite sensitive to the age controls used in the models as well as the estimation method used. In particular, we provide evidence that JIVE coefficients' standard errors are inflated by a group of extreme years of education observations, for which identification is especially weak. We propose to use Cook's Distance in order to identify influential outliers having substantial influence on first-stage JIVE coefficients and fitted values.
Ripening characteristics of vapour heat treated ‘Frangi’ papaya (Carica papaya L. cv. Frangi) as affected by maturity stages and ethylene treatment

‘Frangi’ papaya is a F1 hybrid cultivar produced by Malaysian Agrifood Corporation Bhd in 2006. Since then, ‘Frangi’ papaya is a new hybrid and its physiology may differ from another cultivars. Several importer countries, such as Japan and China, have made the vapour heat treatment (VHT) an export requirement for disinfestation of fruit flies in Malaysia. The exporting country is also required to carry out ripening treatments with ethylene before export. Therefore, the objective of this work was to determine the effects of maturity stages (4, 5 and 6) and ethylene treatments on ripening characteristics of vapour heat treated papaya during storage at 25 °C. Papaya fruits were treated with VHT systems. After VHT, the fruits were exposed with 100 µL. L–1 ethylene gas at 20 °C for 24 h. Non-ethylene treated fruits (control) were kept separately at 20 °C for 24 h. After 24 h, the fruits were removed from the ripening rooms, and stored at 25 °C. The ripening characteristics of fruits that reached maturity stages 4, 5, and 6 were recorded. Results showed that the fruits ripened normally at 25 °C with or without ethylene following VHT with respect to peel and pulp color, edible firmness and soluble solids concentration (SSC). Fruits at maturity stage 5 were considered at the edible stage by taking into account the firmness, SSC, titratable acidity, and ascorbic acid contents. It is recommended that no ethylene treatment is needed to ripen vapour heat treated fruits, since the ethylene treatment did not affect the ripening process of the fruits.
Effect of the Wavy permeable Interface on Double Diffusive Natural Convection in a Partially Porous Cavity

Two-dimensional, double diffusion, natural convection in a partially porous cavity satured with a binary fluid is investigated numerically. Multiple motions are driven by the external temperature and concentration differences imposed across vertical walls. The wavy interface between fluid and porous layer is horizontal. The equations which describe the fluid flow and heat and mass transfer are described by the Navier-Stokes equations (fluid region), Darcy-Brinkman equation (porous region) and energy and mass equations. The finite element method was applied to solve the governing equations. The fluid flow and heat and mass transfer has been investigated for different values of the amplitude and the wave number of the interface and the buoyancy ratio. The results obtained in the form of isotherms, stream lines, isoconcentrations and the Nusselt and Sherwood numbers; show that the wavy interface has a significant effect on the flow and heat and mass transfer.
A Study of the Effects of Machining Parameters on the Surface Roughness in the End-Milling Process

A set of experiments designed to begin the characterization of surface quality for the end-milling process have been performed. The objective of this study is to develop a better understanding of the effects of spindle speed, cutting feed rate and depth of cut on the surface roughness and to build a multiple regression model. Such an understanding can provide insight into the problems of controlling the finish of machined surfaces when the process parameters are adjusted to obtain a certain surface finish. The model, which includes the effect of spindle speed, cutting feed rate and depth of cut, and any twovariable interactions, predicted the surface roughness values with an accuracy of about 12%.
Patients & Family caregivers’ Satisfaction with Care Delivered by Saudi Nurses at National Guard Health Affairs Hospitals in Saudi Arabia

In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) nursing profession is young and comprises only 30% of total nursing workforce . A cross-sectional descriptive design was used to explore patients and family caregivers’ satisfaction with the care delivered by Saudi nurses in National Guard Health Affairs (NGHA) hospitals across KSA. Three hundred and two respondents completed satisfaction questionnaire that was self developed by the investigators. The overall mean satisfaction score of patients and family caregivers with the care was 4.45 out of 5. Areas of highest satisfaction were: respecting religion & culture, maintaining privacy and confidentiality, communication and professionalism. Areas of least satisfaction were related to: discharge instructions and updating patient’s family with changes in patient’s condition. Keywords : Saudi nurses, patient satisfaction, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), family satisfaction, nursing care, saudization.
Factors influencing phytate phosphorus utilization by broiler chicks

FACTORS INFLUENCING PHYTATE PHOSPHORUS UTILIZATION BY BROILER CHICKS by ANASTASSIA LIEM (Under the Direction of Hardy M. Edwards, Jr.) ABSTRACT Phytase, 1-alpha hydroxycholecalciferol, Ca level, and organic acids have been shown to influence phytate P utilization by broiler chick. Two experiments were conducted to investigate the interactions between the phytase, 1-alpha hydroxycholecalciferol, and Ca level. Two other experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of various organic acids on phytate P utilization. Phytase improved phytate P utilization in broiler chicks, but the magnitude of the effect was influenced by the level of 1-alpha hydrohycholecalciferol and Ca. The effect of 1alpha hydroxycholecalciferol was influenced by Ca level in the diet. Its effect was more prominent when the levels of phytase in the diet were low and there was little hydrolysis of phytate due to phytase. Increasing Ca level decreased phytate P utilization by broiler chicks. Some of the organic acids studied, citric, malic, and 2-hydroxy-4methylthio butanoic acid increased phytate P utilization, while fumaric and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) did not.
Assessing the quality of seagrass data collected by community volunteers in Moreton Bay Marine Park, Australia

SUMMARY Volunteer-collected data have become widely used, largely because of a perception of cost efficiency, however, the quality of these data is often questioned. This paper analyses the quality of visual estimates of seagrass cover collected by trained volunteers in Moreton Bay (Australia) which has c. 25 000 ha of seagrass habitat. Seagrass was routinely monitored by trained volunteers at 51 sites (50 × 50 m area of intertidal flat) using standardized protocols. Volunteers walked three transects at low tide and assessed the percentage of substrate covered by seagrass within quadrats (50 × 50 cm in area) using photographic guides. Of 33 samples (quadrats) taken at each site, nine (27%) were photographed and later scored by coordinating scientists. The visual estimation of per cent seagrass cover by volunteers was highly correlated with that of scientists and can therefore be used as a reliable source of base-line information about seagrasses in Moreton Bay. The qualities of this successful community-based monitoring programme include expert scientific and multi-organizational involvement, simple methods and result dissemination.
Atypical antipsychotics: analysis of adverse events

The aim was to identify adverse events arising from the continued use of atypical antipsychotics through cohort and case control studies, carried out on a worldwide level, in the period from 2013 and 2014. Method: A literature review was performed from an exploratory study seeking cohort and case control studies about atypical antipsychotics with bibliometrics application according to Bradford's Law. Results: The study resulted in 291 surveyed articles, of which 18 were selected and analyzed. Conclusion: the main findings were cardiovascular risk, QT interval prolongation, diabetes, increased body mass index, extrapyramidal effects.
Title Saliency density maximization for object detection and localization

Accurate localization of the salient object from an image is a difficult problem when the saliency map is noisy and incomplete. A fast approach to detect salient objects from images is proposed in this paper. To well balance the size of the object and the saliency it contains, the salient object detection is first formulated with the maximum saliency density on the saliency map. To obtain the global optimal solution, a branch-and-bound search algorithm is developed to speed up the detection process. Without any prior knowledge provided, the proposed method can effectively and efficiently detect salient objects from images. Extensive results on different types of saliency maps with a public dataset of five thousand images show the advantages of our approach as compared to some state-of-the-art methods.
The effect of species on lacustrine δ18Odiatom and its implications for palaeoenvironmental reconstructions

The oxygen isotope composition of diatom silica (δ18Odiatom) is increasingly being used to reconstruct climate from marine and lacustrine sedimentary archives. Although diatoms are assumed to precipitate their frustule in isotopic equilibrium with their surrounding water, it is unclear whether internal processes of a given species affect the fractionation of oxygen between the water and the diatom. We present δ18Odiatom data from two diatom size fractions (3–38 and >38 µm) characterized by different species in a sediment core from Heart Lake, Alaska. Differences in δ18Odiatom between the two size fractions varies from 0 to 1.2‰, with a mean offset of 0.01‰ (n = 20). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirms our samples consist of pure biogenic silica (SiO2) and δ18Odiatom trends are not driven by contamination. The maximum offset is outside the range of error, but the mean is within analytical error of the technique (± 1.06‰), demonstrating no discernible species‐dependent fractionation in δ18Odiatom. We conclude that lacustrine δ18Odiatom measurements offer a reliable and valuable method for reconstructing δ18Owater. Considering the presence of small offsets in our two records, we advise interpreting shifts in δ18Odiatom only where the magnitude of change is greater than the combined analytical error.
Determinants of contraceptive usage among Myanmar migrant women in Phang-Nga Province Thailand.

Since 2000, Myanmar migrant population has been dra matically increasing in Thailand. Many migrant people cannot have access to the primary health car e, antenatal care nor family planning services. Thi s study was done to determine the prevalence and dete rminants of contraceptive usage among Myanmar migrant women of reproductive age in Phang-Nga Prov ince, Thailand. A total of 297 married women between 15-49 years old participated in this study. Face to face interview using a questionnaire was done after getting informed consent. The contracept ive prevalence rate was 80.1%, and the most preferred methods of contraception were injected an d oral pills. Marital duration, education and numbe r of living children were found to be significantly a ssociated with usage of contraception. Moreover, th is study highlighted the gap between knowledge and usa ge of contraception among Myanmar migrant married women. It was recommended that government a nd non-government organization should extend their services including supply as well as informat ion to reach to the main need of the Myanmar migran t community.
Galaxy cluster angular-size data constraints on dark energy

We use angular size versus redshift data for galaxy clusters from Bonamente et al. (2006) to place constraints on model parameters of constant and time-evolving dark energy cosmological models. These constraints are compatible with those from other recent data, but are not very restrictive. A joint analysis of the angular size data with more restrictive baryon acoustic oscillation peak length scale and supernova Type Ia apparent magnitude data favors a spatially-flat cosmological model currently dominated by a time-independent cosmological constant but does not exclude time-varying dark energy.
Inspecting the Role of Intention to Trust and Online Purchase in Developing Countries

The study aims to explain the relationship between intention to trust dimensions and purchase intention in online products. Furthermore, it examines the relationships between integrity, competency, firm’s image, Uncertainty Avoidance, price awareness, propensity to trust and the impact on purchase intentions. Reliability result showed that all items of Cronbach Alpha are acceptable. Normality test also indicated that the data fit the purpose for which it was obtained. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for the data analysis. Inferential statistics was run to get the main research outcome. The techniques used were determined by each objective and the variables involved in the study were indicated that there is significant relationship exist among integrity, competency, firm’s image, UA, price awareness, propensity to trust & the impact on purchase intentions. This study is narrowed only to the universities student’s in Terengganu area Malaysia. Hence, the generalization of the findings cannot be made for the whole population of people in Malaysia. Further Research may be conducted with other data set.
The clustering of the SDSS-IV extended Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey DR14 quasar sample: anisotropic clustering analysis in configuration space

We explore the cosmological implications of anisotropic clustering measurements of the quasar sample from Data Release 14 (DR14) of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey IV extended Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (eBOSS) in configuration space. The |${\sim } 147\, 000$| quasar sample observed by eBOSS offers a direct tracer of the density field and bridges the gap of previous baryon acoustic oscillation measurements between redshift 0.8 < |$z$| < 2.2. By analysing the two-point correlation function characterized by clustering wedges |$\xi _{\rm w_i}(s)$| and multipoles ξ_l(s), we measure the angular diameter distance, Hubble parameter, and cosmic structure growth rate. We define a systematic error budget for our measurements based on the analysis of N-body simulations and mock catalogues. Based on the DR14 large-scale structure quasar sample at the effective redshift |$z$|_eff = 1.52, we find the growth rate of cosmic structure fσ_8(⁠|$z$|_eff) = 0.396 ± 0.079, and the geometric parameters D_V(⁠|$z$|⁠)/r_d = 26.47 ± 1.23, and F_AP(⁠|$z$|⁠) = 2.53 ± 0.22, where the uncertainties include both statistical and systematic errors. These values are in excellent agreement with the best-fitting standard Λ cold dark matter model to the latest cosmic microwave background data from Planck.
Large Eddy simulation for dispersed bubbly flows : a review

Large eddy simulations (LES) of dispersed gas-liquid flows for the prediction of flow patterns and its applications have been reviewed. The published literature in the last ten years has been analysed on a coherent basis, and the present status has been brought out for the LES Euler-Euler and Euler-Lagrange approaches. Finally, recommendations for the use of LES in dispersed gas liquid flows have been made.
Published in AIDS 2010 Jan 16; 24(2):205-10 Adenovirus vector-specific T cells demonstrate a unique memory phenotype with high proliferative potential and co-expression of CCR5 and integrin

Background: The Step Study was a randomized trial to reduce HIV infection through vaccination with an adenovirus type 5-based gag/pol/nef construct; analysis following early cessation of the trial revealed an excess of HIV seroconversion in Ad5 seropositive men. This led to the suggestion that the Ad based vector may boost the number of CD4 + CCR5 + T-cells, target cells for HIV infection. Objectives: We sought to determine the immunophenotype and proliferative capacity of Ad5-specific T cells in the peripheral blood of adult donors to determine whether stimulation with replication defective Ad5 vectors could result in the significant expansion of a CD4+ CCR5+ T cell subset. Methods: Ad5 specific T cells were identified in the peripheral blood of healthy donors by IFNsecretion assay and proliferative response was measured by CFSE labelling. Cells were analysed by flow cytometry to determine T cell differentiation marker, CCR5 and 4 7 expression on memory and proliferated cells. Results: Ad5-specific CD4 + T cells within healthy adult donors exhibit a unique minimally differentiated memory phenotype with co-expression of CD45RA, CD45RO and CCR7. Stimulation with Ad vector leads to rapid expansion in vitro and a switch to an effector memory phenotype. Both short-term reactivated and proliferating Ad5-specific CD4+ T-cells express the HIV co-receptor CCR5 and the HIV gp120-binding integrin 4 7. Conclusion: Ad5-specific T cells demonstrate a phenotype and proliferative potential that would support HIV infection; these results are pertinent to the findings of the Step Study and future use of Ad5 as a vaccine vector.
Entrepreneurial Orientation and Growth: The Moderating Role of National Culture

Complementing to the inferences of previous research, this paper seeks to investigate the moderating impact on the relationship of Entrepreneurial Orientation (EO) and venture growth. This study conducted as a cross sectional survey and utilized the sample frame of the registry of Small Enterprises Development Division, Sri Lanka. 317 entrepreneurs were captured from varied districts of Sri Lanka and the data were collected by means of a structured questionnaire. The assessment of the moderating effects was subjected to multi-group analysis and the moderation effect was observed in the Chi-Square difference test. Findings of the study revealed that, EO acts as a predictor of venture growth suggesting a direct positive relationship. EO-growth relationship is strengthening under a low power distant organization. Uncertainty and ambiguity an entrepreneur faces is also weaken the relationship of EO-growth. Finally, individualism weakens the relationship of EO-growth.