Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ethics and Authenticity of Leadership in the Construction Industry

The construction industry now faces greater leadership challenges while it continues to suffer from a poor social image and poor record of ethical and moral practices. Construction professionals are more concerned with the job accomplishment and less apprehensive of ways and means through which they accomplish the jobs. In doing so, they tend to overlook the needs of their fellow employees, the organizations they work for, and the society they live in. Also, the usual performance criteria in the construction industry promote profit enhancement rather than improving employee satisfaction and well-being, ethical and moral practices, and a culture where authenticity of actions is valued. This study aims to gauge the satisfaction of construction professionals with the authenticity and ethics of the leadership under which they operate on construction projects. For this purpose, preliminary results of a global survey are presented here which sought to measure the authenticity and satisfaction of construction professionals at several levels of construction firms in different countries around the world. Initial results of responses from Singapore reveal low satisfaction of professionals with the level of authenticity and ethics of their leaders as well as the overall leadership in their organization and industry. The paper makes recommendations for leadership development and improvements for authentic leadership practices in the construction industry, and discusses further research and practical implications of the findings from this study so far.
Assessment options in higher education

This article evaluates an initiative to introduce assessment choice within a taught unit on an undergraduate healthcare programme as a means of addressing poor performance, especially for those students diagnosed with dyslexia. Students’ perceptions of the assessment experience were sought via the use of two focus group interviews (n = 16). The article describes the effect the assessment experience had on students’ stress levels, individual learning styles and achievement. Students’ performance improved and statistical analyses indicated parity between the assessment methods offered with similar performance profiles between students with and without dyslexia. The conclusion reached is that while the introduction of assessment options may be time consuming for staff to develop, the benefits of an enhanced student‐centred approach to assessment may be well worth this investment in time. Although a limited study owing to the small sample size, the results should be of interest to those academics who are concerned with assessment and its impact on students’ achievement.
The Inflation Expectations of Firms: What Do They Look Like, are They Accurate, and Do They Matter?

The purpose of this paper is to answer the three questions in the title. Using a large monthly survey of businesses, we investigate the inflation expectations and uncertainties of firms. We document that, in the aggregate, firm inflation expectations are very similar to the predictions of professional forecasters for national inflation statistics, despite a somewhat greater heterogeneity of expectations that we attribute to the idiosyncratic cost structure firms face. We also show that firm inflation expectations bear little in common with the “prices in general” expectations reported by households. Next we show that, during our three-year sample, firm inflation expectations appear to be unbiased predictors of their year-ahead observed (perceived) inflation. We also show that firms know what they don’t know—that the accuracy of firm inflation expectations is significantly and negatively related to their uncertainty about future inflation. And lastly, we demonstrate, by way of a cross-sectional Phillips curve, that firm inflation expectations are a useful addition to a policymaker’s information set. We show that firms’ inflation perceptions depend (importantly) on their expectations for inflation and their perception of firm-level slack.
Efficiency of Malaysian stock market: A revisit based on analysts’ recommendations

A market is efficient in the weak form when current prices reflect past market information (prices and volumes) in such that a technical analysis is no longer a viable tool for generating abnormal returns. This study re-investigated the weak form efficiency of Malaysia stock market using technical trading strategies. To ensure reliability, transactions are executed based on the buy recommendations made by research houses registered with Bursa Malaysia. The weak form efficiency was tested based on the profits from selling signals of 5 most popular technical analysis indicators; namely shooting star, MACD oscillator, relative strength index, momentum indicator and simple moving average. The sell signals were generated using ChartNexus, one of the most contemporary technical analysis software. This study examined 547 buy recommendations from the recent year of 2013, involving 213 counters listed on Bursa Malaysia. The preliminary results showed that around 64 percent of the recommendations are accurate, i.e., generate positive returns. While the finding implies about 34 percent room of errors in the professional security analysts’ recommendations, the economically and statistically significant abnormal returns generated through the technical trading strategies provide solid evidence against weak form efficiency of the Malaysian stock market. Keywords: abnormal returns, ChartNexus, Malaysia stock market, market information, technical trading strategies, weak form efficiency
Perceptions of Nigerian anaesthesia resident doctors concerning journal club meetings - a pilot study

Journal clubs have been used for many years in medi cal education to promote the discussion and critique of research. Participants meet regularly t o critique research articles in order to improve th eir understanding of research design and critical appra isal. However, fluctuations in residents’ attendance and high attrition of clubs remain a maj or factor militating against the successes of these clubs. The objectives of this study were to evaluat e the views of junior residents in anaesthesia concerning the quality of journal club meetings in their hospitals, their beliefs about the extent to which journal clubs contributed to their educationa l advancement and their suggestions about ways to improve journal club meetings.
Harmonizing Europes payment systems: an uphill battle?

A model is introduced to analyze the effect of network effects and transactions patterns on the decision by banks (not) to standardize payment systems both domestically and across borders. If only a small share of all transactions is cross-border, banks have strong incentives to maintain incompatible standards across countries. The model is applied to the case of harmonizing Europe’s payment networks.
Work-family enrichment and well-being amongst working fathers

3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . 4 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION . 5 Aims of the study . 9 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW . 10 Theoretical framework . 10 Understanding the positive side of work-family interface . 11 Outcomes of WFE . 17 WFE and health-related outcomes . 19 Well-being . 20 WFE and well-being. 21 WFE and positive mental health . 25 WFE and work-related well-being . 28 Research objectives and propositions . 30 CHAPTER 3: METHODS . 32 Research design . 32 Participants . 32 Measures. 33 Procedure . 36 Statistical analyses. 37 CHAPTER 4: RESULTS . 38 Exploratory factor analysis. 38 Well-being scale . 38 Work engagement scale . 40 Work-family enrichment scale . 40
Promoting the 3Es (Exposure, Experience, Engagement) in an English-Rich Rural Primary School Community

In a non-native English speaking rural community, getting the community of students, teachers and parents to communicate in English is a huge challenge. When SK Rungus, a rural school in Tuaran district of Sabah, Malaysia initiated SK Rungus English Village (SKREV) as a highly immersive programme aligned to the Upholding Bahasa Malaysia, Strengthening the English Language (MBMMBI) policy in 2015, it became a proactive measure to create an English-rich environment to deliver the 3Es (exposure, experience and engagement) in English communication. SKREV became a pet project and part of the professional learning community culture where collaborative learning is encouraged and innovation to create best practice is promoted. The programme guaranteed exposure to English with the provision of facilities, materials and activities rich in the language. It provided meaningful learning experiences with emphasis on positive attitudinal change. SKREV necessitated significant engagement of stakeholders - the school leaders, the teachers, parents, community and private entities and most of all, the students in community activities carried out in an environment immersed with English language and literature. This paper describes the notable success in overcoming the barriers of shyness and awkwardness and the limitations of infrequent use of the language in a remote English speaking village within the school community. Evidences are provided on the eagerness and commitment of the students, parents, teachers and the community at large in collaborative efforts as the project slowly transformed the affinity towards English. The project encouraged creativity, innovation and strong community participation.
A Psycholinguistics Case Study: A Tool for Measuring Self-Efficacy in Efl at Tertiary Level in Balkans

The aim of this study is to examine psychometrical properties of the Self-efficacy in English language learning and using scale (SEELUS). The second aim is to investigate differences in self-efficacy due to gender, level of education (international high school's last grade students and university attendance), and nationality (Bosnian and Turks). This research was conducted with 129 students in Europe. The results revealed a two-factor latent structure of the SEELUS. Hence, there are two types of self-efficacy: positive and negative ones.The reliability of the SEELUS is very good as are the reliabilities of its subscales. The distribution of participants' scores on the Positive self-efficacy subscale is left-skewed while the distribution of their scores on the Negative self-efficacy subscale is right-skewed. Similarly, Turkish and Bosnian students did not differ significantly in their levels of self-efficacy despite the fact that p-value in this case was close to threshold of p = . 05.
Changes in lipid profile and some blood biochemical parameters in Karadi lambs receiving different levels of pomegranate peels.

Article history Received: 9 Apr, 2015 Revised: 9 May, 2015 Accepted: 10 May, 2015 Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the effects of supplementing a basal diet with different levels of dietary pomegranate peels on some blood profile in Karadi lambs. Sixteen individual Karadi male lambs were used having age ranged between 4.5-5 months and average weight 23.29±0.42 kg. These lambs were divided into 4 groups. Basal diet was mixed with different levels of pomegranate peels powder at the rate of 0, 1, 2, 4% for 63 day. Diet was introduced ad libitum at 3% of live body weights twice a daily. At the end of the feeding period, biochemical analysis lipid profile (Total cholesterol, Highdensity lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), triglyceride and LDL/HDL ratio), total protein, serum albumin, serum globulin, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine and minerals (sodium, potassium, calcium, chloride, magnesium, Phosphorus, Iron and copper) were measured. The results indicated that supplementation of pomegranate peel in diet at the level of 1, 2 and 4% had a significant effect on LDL, ratio of LDL and HDL, albumin, creatinine, chloride, iron and copper in lambs.
Export experience and financial performance of small and medium enterprises

The aim of the article is to illustrate that export experience of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) has a statistically significant effect on financial performance. This may seem obvious, but similar studies done elsewhere have shown conflicting results. The study’s findings also show conflicting results in the three single-item performance measures used, namely, sales, profits and savings. Data from a sample of 144 exporting SMEs were collected using a structured questionnaire. Export experience is measured by years exporting, and financial performance covers a period of three years. A Chi-square test was used to measure the effect of experience on performance. Results show that export experience had a statistically significant effect on sales and profitability, but not on savings. They also show that performance in sales and profitability increased with export experience. It is, therefore, recommended that appropriate interventions to improve exports should take export experience into account.
Effect of lipopolysaccharide pre-treatment on the replication of Japanese encephalitis virus in microglia

Microglia are resident cells of the central nervous system (CNS) and become activated to function as brain macrophage in response to infectious pathogens. Our recent findings further demonstrate that microglia support the replication of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) and remain productively infected for up to 16 weeks. Thus, microglia may serve as a viral reservoir for JEV infection of neurons in the CNS in addition to provide the first line of defense against invading pathogens. Interestingly, in the same study, no increase in nitric oxide levels in the supernatant of microglial cultures was observed following JEV infection over a 5 day period. This suggests that microglia may not be activated in response to JEV infection. Therefore, using the same experimental paradigm this study aimed to determine whether activation of microglia prior to JEV infection would reduce a subsequent viral production. Briefly, mouse BV-2 microglia were plated at a density of 5×105 cells/well in 6-well plates. Then, the cultures were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) prior to the infection with JEV at a MOI of 5 pfu/cell. At 24 h post-infection, the growth media containing progeny virus were collected for determination of viral titer by standard plaque assay. Results clearly demonstrated that LPS pre-treatment dramatically reduced viral titer in the growth media compared with that of infected cultures without LPS pre-treatment. Thus, cellular activation by LPS prior to the infection appears to reinforce a natural innate immune mechanism of microglia against JEV infection.
Effects of monetary and fiscal policies on the agricultural growth in Iran

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of monetary and fiscal policies of the agricultural sector in Iran. Investigated Subject from the role of agriculture in the economy and from the impact of monetary and fiscal policies in the development of the agricultural sector has special importance. To perform this study mainly, non-structural econometric methods is used. In this regard, according to the theoretical basics, the effectiveness of selected variables including liquidity as a tool of monetary policy and government spending as a policy tool of the value added tax, And investment in the agricultural sector in the short and long term is measured. To assess the shortand long-term relationships and mechanisms of collective model of vector error correction (VECM) ARDL model is used. The obtained results show that there is a longterm relationship between fiscal policy and the added value of investment in agriculture and between monetary policy and the value added. But in the long term, there is no relationship between monetary policy and investment. KEY WORD: Monetary and fiscal policies the agricultural sector non-structural approaches Econometrics Autoregressive model with massive lag (ARDL) Master of Agricultural Economics, Management Planning of Kerman province. Address For Correspondence: Kiomars Mehrabian Master of Agricultural Economics, Management Planning of Kerman province. Received: January 13, 2015 Accepted: April 23, 2015 Published: May 5, 2015
Urban Youth and Schooling: The Effect of School Climate on Student Disengagement and Dropout.

This study investigated the effects of schools' academic and disciplinary climates on student disengagement and dropping out, noting whether these effects varied by race/ethnic group. Data came from the High School Effectiveness Study (HSES), which allows contextual analysis of urban youth in their high schools, and the Common Core of Data, from the U.S. Department of Education. The final school sample size was 168. Student sample sizes were 3,927 for 12th grade disengagement analyses and 4,743 for dropout analyses. HSES provided student-level and school-level sampling weights. Race was the primary student-level variable. School-level variables were school problems, academic climate, truancy policy, and student body characteristics. For students who persisted to 12th grade, there were almost no race/ethnic differences in disengagement when 10th grade disengagement was controlled. Race differences in school effects disappeared after 10th grade, but only because more disengaged minority students disappeared from schools. There were significant differences among the race/ethnic groups in 10th grade disengagement levels. Higher socioeconomic status associated with lower dropout rate, and it created significant white-minority gaps. Students did best in authoritative schools and worst in neglecting schools. (Contains 65 references.) (SM) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) (This document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it. Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality. Points of view or opinions stated in this document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy.
Antidiabetic and Antioxidative Activity of Physalis Powder or Extract with Chromium in Rats

2 Abstract: The present study was designed to investigate the effect of Physalis either powder or extract only or with chromium on diabetic rats. Forty-nine adult male albino rats Sprague Dawley strain were injected with a single intraperitoneal dose of streptozotocin to induce diabetes. Diabetic rats were divided into 7 groups (7 for each group) that were positive control (C+) and 6 treated groups that were amaryl drug (AD), chromium (Cr), Physalis extract (PE), Physalis powder (PP), Physalis extract+ chromium (PE Cr) and Physalis powder + chromium (PP Cr). In comparing with AD group, results revealed non significant difference in final weight, weight gain, food intake and FER; serum hemoglobin (HG), packed cell volume (PCV), glucosalated heamoglobin (Hb A1c %), alanine amino transferase and -glutamyl transferase enzyme activities (ALTand GT), glutathione-peroxidase (GPX), nitric oxide (NO) and liver glycogen in Cr, PE, PP, PECr and PPCr groups. Cr group showed a significant increase in serum glucose and significant decrease in insulin while PE group showed a significant increase in serum glucose and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and liver GPX but showed significant decrease in insulin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatinine, urea, uric acid and malondialdehyde (MDA). PP group showed a significant increase in serum glucose and SOD and liver SOD but a significant decrease in insulin, total bilirubin, creatinine, urea and uric acid. PECr group showed a significant increase in serum and liver SOD beside significant decrease in serum AST, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin, creatinine, urea and uric acid and liver cholesterol, total lipid and MDA. PPCr group showed significant decrease in serum insulin, ALP, total bilirubin, creatinine, urea and uric acid and liver total lipid and MDA. Our study clearly demonstrated that administration of a combination of chromium and Physalis extract or powder could ameliorate the healthy status of diabetes in rats.
APPLICATION OF ETR FOR DIAGNOSIS OF DAMAGE IN STEEL-CONCRETE COMPOSITE BEAMS

The paper presents how ETR (energy transfer ratio) changes for a steel-concrete composite beam depending on the degree of damage. A numerical model of composite beam was constructed on the basis of research conducted on a real beam. The study presents how the frequency of natural vibrations, the damping ratio and ETR alter due to changes in the structure of the beam. The performed studies show that ETR is the most sensitive parameter to damage taking place in the beam. Consequently, this parameter can be used to diagnose damage in this kind of beams.
Productivity and profitability of maize-pumpkin mix cropping in Chitwan, Nepal

The study was conducted to determine the productivity, profitability and resource use efficiency of maize-pumpkin mix crop production in Chitwan. The study used 53 maize-pumpkin mix crop adopting farmers from among 300 farmers adopting different pollinator friendly practices. Descriptive and statistical tools including Cobb-Douglas production function were used to analyze data, collected from structured interview schedule. The benefit cost ratio (1.58) indicates that maize-pumpkin mix cropping was profitable with productivity of 2.83 ton per ha on maize main product equivalent basis. The magnitude of regression coefficients of maize-pumpkin mix cropping implied that expenditure on seed and fertilizer and irrigation had significant positive effect on gross return with estimated decreasing return to scale (0.85). According to estimated allocative efficiency indices, it is suggested to increase expenditure on seed and fertilizer cum irrigation by about 90% and 55% respectively. Extension of modern technologies with adjustment on resource use is to be encouraged for increase in productivity and profitability of maize-pumpkin mix crop production which indirectly promotes and ensure forage for pollinators Journal of Maize Research and Development (2015) 1(1):112-122 DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.5281/zenodo.34290
Real estate exposure of US banking industry stock returns: evidence from commercial and residential markets

This study is the first to address the exposure of banking industry stock returns to both the commercial and residential real estate markets. The empirical findings show that U.S. banking industry stock returns are significantly sensitive to real estate market returns after controlling for stock market, interest rate, and exchange rate effects. Moreover, the commercial and residential real estate markets have very different effects on banking industry stock returns. Furthermore, the effects on banking industry stock returns are state-dependent. The findings have valuable implications for investors, managers and regulatory authorities.
The Impact of Macroeconomic Factors on Amman Stock Market Returns

The purpose of this research is to investigate the impact of macroeconomic factors on Amman Stock Market (ASE) Returns employing monthly data between (1991and 2010). This study uses six macroeconomic factors: Real money supply (RMS2), real gross domestic product (RGDP), consumer price index (CPI), real exchange rate (E1), weighted average interest rates on loans and advances (WAIR), and a dummy variable (DUM). The normality test and unit root tests are applied to the data. Also, OLS, ARCH /GARCH models are utilized. The OLS estimations are inefficient due the existence of serious autocorrelation and a sign of Multicollinearity, and are inconclusive. For this, the study used ARCH/ GARCH estimation models. The extension to a GARCH (1, 1) does not seem necessary. However, the ARCH (1) performed well. The results of the ARCH (1) estimation showed that RMS2, CPI, E1, WAIR and the Dummy Variable have a negative role on the ASE returns. In contrast, the RGDP has a positive impact.