Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Some Approaches to the Development of the Management Control Concept

Characteristics of the environment of functioning and development of the organization, namely the increasing complexity (presence of a number of factors of internal and external environment that influence the activity of the organization), dynamism (factors that significantly affect the organization, change quickly and are interconnected) and uncertainty (as a consequence of the two previous characteristics), as well as qualitative changes in the society, require new approaches, systems, technologies and management practices. Accordingly, the management structure and management processes as a whole, as well as individual management subsystems and their characteristics should change. The aim of this work is to develop common approaches to developing the concept of control in modern conditions, which could serve as a basis for creating and maintaining an effective system of management control in organizations. To achieve the goal, the author proposes the concept of control based on theoretical and practical knowledge in management, while seeing control as one of the subsystems and the basic functions of management. Standardization and analysis of managerial situations allowed the author to specify the role of the control and determine the actions of management at various stages of the management process. A systematic approach to the organization of the control and consideration of organizations as open systems provided the opportunity to use the concept of controlling in the work, which suggests a fundamentally different approach to the evaluation of deviations in the activities of organizations; nevertheless, the conclusions drawn for deterministic situations have significant practical importance as the basic provisions for a further analysis of administrative situations in the face of uncertainty. One result of the study is a model and an algorithm of management control activities suggested by the author, based on a systematic approach to management and control processes and existing practice, taking into account the influence of environmental factors and the internal potential of the organization.
A Comparison of Tourist Expectations and Satisfaction: A Case Study from Antalya Region of Turkey

For several years the number of tourists visiting Antalya Region has been increasing. It could be argued that Antalya is comparable with a capital city in terms of tourist numbers. Antalya Region hosted over 9 million tourists in 2008. To sustain demand and increase competition of operators in Antalya, it is necessary to create a powerful brand image. This will require a combination effort from all tourism stakeholders. Consequently, it is important to define the current tourist profile visiting Antalya Region, evaluate tourists' expectations and satisfaction, and identify future tourism related research. These outcomes are all important in developing regional tourism. The aim of this study is comparison of expectation-levels and satisfaction-levels of a selected sample of tourists. The findings culminate from research conducted in Antalya Region from a sample of 10.393 tourists during 2008.
Reverse logistics management, drivers and profitability - metalversus other industries

Although profitability of reverse logistics can have its roots in rather diverse areas, most of them can be attached to how and how well reverse flows are managed. Specific character of reverse flows requires planning and innovative approach as well as some level of managers´ understanding and commitment, there are also several drivers for companies which make them to be involved in reverse logistics management. These drivers can be placed on the continuum from the pure economic and/or financial ones to the non-economic. Although it can be very individual, some presumptions may be formulated that link some typical drivers to some industries based on characteristics of the environmental forces (drivers). This idea stands as the background for the survey presented in the paper. Analysis of responses from 32 companies from metal industry compared to 147 companies from other industries revealed some expected and some surprising differences in perceived drivers of reverse logistics management linked to the profitability and some other managerial issues. Although the findings cannot be generalized due to the small number of companies in the sample, results show several points for food for thought and further research.
Constraint Satisfaction on Infinite Domains: Composing Domains and Decomposing Constraints

Reasoning about temporal and spatial information is a common task in computer science, especially in the field of artificial intelligence. The topic of this thesis is the study of such reasoning from a computational perspective. We study a number of different qualitative point based formalisms for temporal reasoning and provide a complete classification of computational tractability for different time models. We also develop more general methods which can be used for proving tractability and intractability of other relational algebras. Even though most of the thesis pertains to qualitative reasoning the methods employed here can also be used for quantitative reasoning. For instance, we introduce a tractable and useful extension to the quantitative point based formalism STP. This extension gives the algebra an expressibility which subsumes the largest tractable fragment of the augmented interval algebra and has a faster and simpler algorithm for deciding consistency. The use of disjunctions in temporal formalisms is of great interest not only since disjunctions are a key element in different logics but also since the expressibility can be greatly enhanced in this way. If we allow arbitrary disjunctions, the problems under consideration typically become intractable and methods to identify tractable fragments of disjunctive formalisms are therefore useful. One such method is to use the independence property. We present an automatic method for deciding this property for many relational algebras. Furthermore, we show how this concept can not only be used for deciding tractability of sets of relations but also to demonstrate intractability of relations not having this property. Together with other methods for making total classifications of tractability this goes a long way towards easing the task of classifying and understanding relational algebras. The tractable fragments of relational algebras are sometimes not expressive enough to model real-world problems and a backtracking solver is needed. For these cases we identify another property among relations which can be used to aid general backtracking based solvers to finnd solutions faster.
Gesundheitsfördernde körperliche Aktivität in der Freizeit bei Erwachsenen in Deutschland

Auf Basis der Selbstangaben in GEDA 2014/2015-EHIS wurde die Einhaltung der Bewegungsempfehlungen der Weltgesundheitsorganisation (WHO) bei Erwachsenen in Deutschland ermittelt. Die Empfehlungen unterscheiden zwischen „Ausdaueraktivitäten“ und „Aktivitäten zur Muskelkräftigung“. 42,6 % der Frauen und 48,0 % der Männer geben an, mindestens 2,5 Stunden pro Woche aerobe körperliche Aktivität auszuüben und erreichen dadurch die WHO-Empfehlung zur Ausdaueraktivität. Für alle Altersgruppen bei Frauen und Männern gilt: Je höher der Bildungsstand, desto häufiger wird die WHO-Empfehlung zur Ausdaueraktivität erreicht. 27,6 % der Frauen und 31,2 % der Männer erreichen die WHO-Empfehlung für muskelkräftigende Aktivitäten mindestens zweimal pro Woche. Beide Empfehlungen erreichen etwa ein Fünftel der Frauen (20,5 %) und ein Viertel der Männer (24,7 %). Insgesamt weisen die Ergebnisse auf ein hohes Potenzial für die Bewegungsförderung in der Freizeit hin. Inaktive Personen, die beginnen sich den Empfehlungen entsprechend zu bewegen, können langfristig das Risiko frühzeitiger Sterblichkeit deutlich reduzieren.
Financial Performance Analysis of Islamic Banks and Conventional Banks in Pakistan: A Comparative Study

The aim of this research work is to compare the financial performance of Islamic banking sector and conventional banking sector in Pakistan from year 2007-2011. The Islamic banking in Pakistan is new as compared to the conventional banking. Therefore, to give a clear picture of Islamic banks to the stakeholders, the financial position of Islamic banks has been analyzed and compared with that of well established conventional banks in Pakistan. To measure Performance, six ratios are developed. Financial ratio analysis has been conducted to test the ratios of eight sample banks. The results show that Islamic banks are less risky in terms of dealing in loans and less efficient in expense management as compared to the conventional banks. Whereas, no significant difference has been found in the profitability of both the banking sectors. Overall, Islamic banks’ performance has found satisfactory.
MicroRNAs in Lymphoma: Regulatory Role and Biomarker Potential

Although it is now evident that microRNAs (miRNAs) play a critical regulatory role in many, if not all, pathological and physiological processes, remarkably they have only formally been recognized for less than fifteen years. These endogenously produced short non-coding RNAs have created a new paradigm of gene control and have utility as both novel biomarkers of cancer and as potential therapeutics. In this review we consider the role of miRNAs in lymphoid biology both under physiological (i.e. lymphopoiesis) and malignant (i.e. lymphomagenesis) conditions. In addition to the functional significance of aberrant miRNA expression in lymphomas we discuss their use as novel biomarkers, both as a in situ tumour biomarker and as a non-invasive surrogate for the tumour by testing miRNAs in the blood of patients. Finally we consider the use of these molecules as potential therapeutic agents for lymphoma (and other cancer) patients and discuss some of the hurdles yet to be overcome in order to translate this potential into clinical practice
Impact of Comprehensive Smoking Bans on the Health of Infants and Children: Evidence from the U.S

As evidence of the negative effects of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) has mounted, an increasingly popular public policy response has been to impose restrictions on smoking through 100 percent smoke-free bans (comprehensive smoking bans). Yet sparse information exists regarding the impact these smoking bans at the state and local levels have on the health of children and infants. A rationale for expansion of smoke-free laws implicitly presumes that potential public health gains from reducing adult cigarette consumption and declines in adult ETS exposure extend to children. However, if smokers compensate by shifting their consumption of cigarettes from public venues that impose a comprehensive smoking ban to smoking at home, then these policies may have a harmful effect on children and infants. This study provides estimates of how comprehensive smoking bans impact the venue of smoking, and the health of children and infants. Using models that exploit state- and county-level changes to smoking ban legislation over time, estimates suggest that smoking bans have improved the health of both infants and children, mainly through implementation of more comprehensive bans. Further, we find no evidence of displacement among smokers (both smokers with and without children in the household), and actually find that the bans had a positive spillover effect in terms of reducing smoking inside the home—an effect that may further explain the improvement in infants’ and children’s health. Our effect magnitudes imply that expanding comprehensive coverage from 60 percent (current level) to 100 percent of the population can prevent between approximately 1,110 and 1,750 low birth weight births among low-educated mothers, resulting in economic cost savings of about $71–111 million annually. Health improvements among older children add to these economic benefits.
Prohormone Convertases in Mouse Submandibular Gland: Co-localization of Furin and Nerve Growth Factor

Nerve growth factor (NGF) in mouse submandibular glands (SGs) is generated from a 35-kD precursor by proteolytic enzymes that have yet to be identified. Prohormone convertases (PCs) cleave the NGF precursor in vitro, and in this study we questioned whether PCs could process salivary NGF in vivo. mRNA coding for PC2 (but not PC1) was detected on Northern blots of SG mRNA and also by in situ hybridization within parasympathetic neurons of intralobular ganglia. Northern blot and in situ hybridization analyses also detect mRNA coding for furin. In SGs of male mice, furin mRNA levels are high at birth and remain high throughout development. In glands from female mice, levels decline during postnatal development and are lower in adults than in newborns. Immunocytochemistry detects furin immunoreactivity in pro-acinar and ductal cells of glands from newborn and pubescent mice. In glands of adults, furin immunoreactivity is detectable in acinar cells but highest levels are present in NGF-containing granular convoluted tubule cells. These data, taken together with those from previous studies, suggest that furin is a candidate processing enzyme for NGF in mouse submandibular glands.
Sensitivity of the near-surface vertical electric field land Controlled-Source Electromagnetic monitoring

We investigate potential benefits of measuring the vertical electric field component in addition to the routinely measured horizontal electric field components in onshore time-lapse controlled-source electromagnetics. Synthetic electromagnetic data based on a model of the Schoonebeek onshore oil field are used. We confirm that the vertical electric field component is more sensitive to small changes in the reservoir than the horizontal components, yet its amplitudes are small. Accordingly, optimal source-receiver geometry and precise knowledge of the verticality of the receiver dipole will be required for successful utilization of the vertical electric field.
Integrated marketing communications in the Australian and New Zealand wine industry

Integrated marketing communications and the management of brands is a vital area for research in many industries. The global wine industry is facing significant changes including: retail concentration; proliferation of brands and labels; fragmenting consumer markets; and over-production. Improving the planning, implementation and integration of marketing communications activities is essential for the survival of brands and companies operating under these conditions. This research reports on findings into marketing communications integration in the context of the Australian and New Zealand wine industries. The research employs Duncan and Moriarty's (1997) abbreviated Integrated Marketing Audit to examine key communications issues and demonstrates that a higher level of integration is associated with better brand-related performance.
INVESTIGATING CHALLENGES AND BARRIERS FACING CONSTRUCTION OF SMALL, MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES IN CREDIT ACCESSIBILITY IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

This study sought to investigate the challenges and the barriers facing Small and Medium –Sized Enterp rises in South Africa construction industry in their quest to access credit from finan ci l institutions for their business purposes. This study utilizes a combination of primary data emanating from structure survey questionnaires supplemented by secondary source of data from an e xte sive literature review, in order to present insightful commentary about credit acces sibility with Construction SMEs in South Africa. Th e study was a cross-sectional survey that used semi-structured questionnaire to collect data from the sample. 50 questionnaires were distributed to Construction C mpany in Gauteng Province in in Johannesburg through a co nvenience sampling technique. The key barriers were id ntified include informational barriers, lack of managerial ability within construction SMEs. Limitation of the study h ave been note and recommendations for developing innovative approache s to making credit accessibility to construction SM Es in South African been discussed. The study contributes to the body o f knowledge in the area of financing construction f irm in developing countries in general, and in South Africa in partic ular.
Analysis of consumer preferences toward 100% fruit juice packages and labels

ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express my appreciation to my major professor Dr. R. Wes Harrison. I want to thank him for trusting my professional skills, for his guidance, advice, and time throughout this research. I must also extend my gratitude to my committee members, Dr. Roger Hinson, and Dr. Lynn Kennedy, thank you for being a part of my graduate committee and for your valuable assistance. I would like to thank Dr. Danny Weathers for his valuable input regarding the analysis techniques used in this research. My most sincere gratitude goes to my husband, without his support and love, this work would not have been possible. I would also like to thank my parents, siblings, and my grandma for believing in me, for their support, patience, and prayers. Specially, for making me the person I am now. Finally, I will like to thank my graduate student colleagues in the LSU Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness for their assistance and friendship.
Patching the Wrong Eye? Balancing the Role of Social and Human Capital in Firm Strategic Renewal

Research on the dark side of social capital has gained momentum in recent years and several studies have begun to explore the nature, antecedents, and consequences of the potentially harmful effects of social capital in organizations. This study highlights a previously ignored potentially negative effect of social capital in firm strategies, i.e. the substitution of social capital for human capital, or extensive reliance on social capital in developing and renewing key organizational capabilities at the expense of adequate attention to the commensurate development of human capital when attempting strategic renewal. Such substitution manifests itself as an increased ratio of external access of capabilities (by deploying the firm’s social capital) to internal capability development (by developing and deploying the firm’s human capital). This paper explores the antecedents of such strategy and builds a link between its adoption and long-term firm performance. Specifically, the argument is made that adopting .
Families’ and Professional Caregivers’ Views of Using Advanced Technology to Track People With Dementia

in this study we examined the ethical aspects of the use of the Global Positioning Systems (GPS) to track people with dementia. The findings are based on qualitative data gathered from focus groups of family and professional caregivers. The most important theme was the need to balance patients’ need for safety with the need to preserve their autonomy and privacy. The main potential benefit of the use of GPS was related to the peace of mind of the caregivers themselves. The findings also suggest that caregivers’ views change according to the locus of responsibility of the caregivers for the safety of people with dementia. The caregivers give preference to patients’ safety more than autonomy when they are responsible for the patients. When the patients are under the responsibility of other caregivers, they give preference to patients’ autonomy more than their safety. Overall, the variety and the depth of the views of different stakeholders toward the use of electronic tracking for people with dementia presented in this article provide a meaningful contribution to the ethical debate on this topic.
Chlamydia serology : The value of antibody determinations against recombinant chlamydia specific lipopolysaccharide ( rLPS ) in respiratory infections

Taxonomy The order chlamydiales has one family, chlamydiaceae, and one genus, chlamydia. Currently four species are recognized, Chlamydia trachomatis, Chlamydia pneumoniae, Chlamydia psittaci , and Chlamydia pecorum. To date, 19 different Chlamydia trachomatis serovars (41) and several Chlamydia psittaci serovars are known (6 avian (65), 9 mammalian (29)), but only one Chlamydia pneumoniae (40,74) and one Chlamydia pecorum serovar (15).
Adenosine deaminase levels in nontuberculous lymphocytic pleural effusions.

OBJECTIVES Adenosine deaminase (ADA) can aid in the diagnosis of tuberculous pleural effusions, but false-positive findings from lymphocytic effusions have been reported. We studied the ADA levels in a variety of nontuberculous lymphocytic effusions and analyzed the relationships between ADA and conventional hematologic and biochemical parameters. METHODS One hundred six lymphocytic pleural fluid samples (lymphocyte count > 50%) were analyzed. These included post-coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) effusions (n = 45), malignant effusions (n = 27), miscellaneous exudative effusions (n = 10), and transudative effusions (n = 24). ADA levels were determined using the Giusti method. In 22 randomly selected cases, ADA was measured again on the same sample 6 weeks later. RESULTS The ADA level reached the diagnostic cutoff for tuberculosis (40 U/L) in only three cases (2.8%): two lymphomas and one complicated parapneumonic effusion. There was no significant correlation between effusion ADA levels and the total leukocyte (r = 0.08), differential lymphocyte (r = 0.18) or monocyte (r = - 0.18) counts. ADA levels were significantly lower in the transudative effusions (7.2 +/- 3.5 U/L) than in post-CABG (16.6 +/- 7.2 U/L), malignant (15.3 +/- 11.2 U/L), and other exudative (15.4 +/- 13.1 U/L) effusions (p < 0.001). ADA measurements were consistent when assayed 6 weeks apart (r = 0.95; p < 0.00001; coefficient of variation, 14%). CONCLUSIONS ADA levels in nontuberculous lymphocytic effusions seldom exceeded the diagnostic cutoff for TB. Effusion ADA levels cannot be predicted from total or differential leukocyte counts. Post-CABG pleural fluids had ADA levels similar to other nontuberculous lymphocytic effusions. ADA is stable in effusion fluids, and its measurement is reproducible.
Energy efficient routing algorithms in dynamic optical core networks with dual energy sources

This paper proposes new energy efficient routing algorithms in optical core networks, with the application of solar energy sources and bundled links. A comprehensive solar energy model is described in the proposed network scenarios. Network performance in energy savings, connection blocking probability, resource utilization and bundled link usage are evaluated with dynamic network simulations. Results show that algorithms proposed aiming for reducing the dynamic part of the energy consumption of the network may raise the fixed part of the energy consumption meanwhile.
Explicit vs. implicit emotional processing: The interaction between processing type and executive control

The current study examined whether the interaction between emotion and executive control (EC) is modulated by the processing type of the emotional information. Namely, whether the emotional information is explicitly processed, implicitly processed or passively viewed. In each trial, a negative or neutral picture preceded an arrow-flanker stimulus that was congruent or incongruent. Incongruent stimuli are known to recruit EC. Explicit processing of the pictures (Experiment 1a), which required responding to their emotional content, resulted in emotional interference for congruent but not for incongruent stimuli. Similar effects were shown for the passive viewing condition (Experiment 2). In contrast, implicit processing (Experiment 1b), which required responding to non-emotional content, resulted in emotional interference for both congruent and incongruent stimuli. Thus, our findings indicate that implicit emotional processing affects performance independently of EC recruitment. In contrast, explicit emotional processing and passive viewing of emotional pictures lead to reduced emotional interference when EC is recruited.