Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Context, process and gender in entrepreneurship

‘This book showcases thought-provoking studies that reflect what European entrepreneurship scholarship has successfully pioneered: penetrating analyses of often taken-for-granted assumptions about the nature of entrepreneurship. These chapters direct readers to where entrepreneurship scholarship will likely go in the future, particularly in using “gendered” perspectives to realize the heterogeneity of entrepreneurial activity in various contexts. ’
How Do Job Characteristics, Family Situation, Domestic Work, and Lifestyle Factors Relate to Sickness Absence? A Study Based on Sweden Post

Objective: We sought to determine how do working life and private life characteristics relate to sickness absence. Methods: Questionnaire data for 1557 female and 1913 male employees were related to registered sickness absence by multivariate analyses. Results: Apart from health problems, clear associations with sickness absence were observed for complaints attributed to heavy, arduous work, and sickness presenteeism. The use of tranquilizers, occurrence of bullying, and the existence of a high total workload from paid and unpaid work were associated with sickness absence in women. In men, the use of alcohol as sedative, anxiety of reorganization, not holding a supervisor position, adverse life events, and divorce were related with sickness absence. Conclusions: Our study identified different areas at work and outside work for women and men that could be targets for actions aiming at preventing high sickness absence.
Characterization of Readmission by Day of Rehospitalization After Colorectal Surgery

BACKGROUND: Factors associated with readmission stratified by the day of postdischarge rehospitalization after colorectal surgery have not been characterized previously. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to identify factors leading to readmission on a day-to-day basis after discharge from colorectal surgery. DESIGN: This was a retrospective analysis of patients readmitted within 30-days after colorectal surgery. Reasons and factors associated with readmission each day after discharge were evaluated. Early readmitted patients (day 0–5 postdischarge) were compared with those readmitted later (day 6–29 postdischarge). SETTINGS: The study was conducted at a tertiary center. PATIENTS: Patients included those who had undergone primary colorectal resection from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (2012–2013). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The study intended to identify factors associated with any early versus late hospital readmission and to evaluate diagnoses for unplanned readmissions on a day-to-day basis after discharge. RESULTS: For 69,222 elective colorectal procedures, 7476 patients (10.8%) were readmitted to the hospital within 30 days. Early (median, 3 days) and late (median, 11 days) readmissions were 3278 (43.8%) and 4198 (56.2%). Except for sex, patient demographics were similar between groups. Neurologic comorbidity; wound disruption; sepsis or septic shock; unplanned reintubation and reoperation; anastomotic leak and ileus; and neurological, cardiovascular, and pulmonary complications were significantly higher in the early readmission, whereas disseminated malignancy, stoma creation, and renal/urological complications were significantly higher in the late readmission group. On multivariable analysis, early readmission was significantly associated with male patients, wound disruption, sepsis or septic shock, reoperation, reintubation, and postoperative neurological complications. Disseminated malignancy, ostomy creation, and postoperative renal dysfunction/urological infection were associated with delayed readmission. LIMITATIONS: Thirty-day readmissions and reasons for unplanned rehospitalizations were evaluated. CONCLUSIONS: Differing factors are associated with early versus late readmission after colorectal resection. These data suggest that early readmission is intricately related to patient and operative complexity and hence may be inevitable, whereas delayed hospital presentation is associated with identifiable perioperative predictors at the time of discharge and hence more likely to be targetable.
Securing IP Mobility Management for Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks

The proliferation of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITSs) applications, such as Internet access and Infotainment, highlights the requirements for improving the underlying mobility management protocols for Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks (VANETs). Mobility management protocols in VANETs are envisioned to support mobile nodes (MNs), i.e., vehicles, with seamless communications, in which service continuity is guaranteed while vehicles are roaming through different RoadSide Units (RSUs) with heterogeneous wireless technologies. Due to its standardization and widely deployment, IP mobility (also called Mobile IP (MIP)) is the most popular mobility management protocol used for mobile networks including VANETs. In addition, because of the diversity of possible applications, the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) issues many MIP’s standardizations, such as MIPv6 and NEMO for global mobility, and Proxy MIP (PMIPv6) for localized mobility. However, many challenges have been posed for integrating IP mobility with VANETs, including the vehicle’s high speeds, multi-hop communications, scalability, and efficiency. From a security perspective, we observe three main challenges: 1) each vehicle’s anonymity and location privacy , 2) authenticating vehicles in multi-hop communications, and 3) physical-layer location privacy. In transmitting mobile IPv6 binding update signaling messages, the mobile node’s Home Address (HoA) and Care-of Address (CoA) are transmitted as plain-text, hence they can be revealed by other network entities and attackers. The mobile node’s HoA and CoA represent its identity and its current location, respectively, therefore revealing an MN’s HoA means breaking its anonymity while revealing an MN’s CoA means breaking its location privacy. On one hand, some existing anonymity and location privacy schemes require intensive computations, which means they cannot be used in such time-restricted seamless communications. On the other hand, some schemes only achieve seamless communication through low anonymity and location privacy levels. Therefore, the trade-off between the network performance, on one side, and the MN’s anonymity and location privacy, on the other side, makes preservation of privacy a challenging issue. In addition, for PMIPv6 to provide IP mobility in an infrastructure-connected multi-hop VANET, an MN uses a relay node (RN) for communicating with its Mobile Access Gateway (MAG). Therefore, a mutual authentication between the MN and RN is required to thwart authentication attacks early in such scenarios. Furthermore, for a NEMO-based VANET infrastructure, which is used in public hotspots installed inside moving vehicles, protecting physical-layer location privacy is a prerequisite for achieving privacy in upper-layers such as the IP-layer.
The Added Value of the Plural Form: Evidence from Dutch Pharmacy Chains

Most empirical work on governance decisions focuses on explaining a firms’ choice among governance structures. Nevertheless, in practice very different governance structures often exist side by side. The simultaneous use of different governance structures for the same function is referred to as the “plural form”. The synergistic benefits of the plural form have been highlighted by only a number of research works. We will add to the body of knowledge by studying the plural dynamics in the pharmaceutical industry. We will show the chain operator’s contribution to the performance in pure and plural forms, for both company owned and franchised outlets. Further, we will open the black box and show how horizontally and vertically the interactions between franchisees, company outlets and the chain operator support the realization of potentially conflicting strategic objectives of local responsiveness and standardization. We will take the perspective of the chain operator, being responsible for the development of the plural dynamics within the organization.
Phenotypic diversity of Tunisian durum wheat landraces

Tunisia is considered as a diversification centre of durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) and barely (Hordeum vulgare). It is characterised by large genetic diversity; however, several genotypes are in the process of disappearance. The safeguard and rehabilitatation of this genetic inheritance requires genetic characterisation, evaluation and in-situ and ex-situ conservation. In this context, a local collection of thirty durum wheat accessions was evaluated using agronomical traits. Three other phenological traits: days to maturity, days to heading and filling period were evaluated. The phenotypic diversity was determined by the Shannon-Weaver diversity Index (H’) revealing that number of kernel/spike (H’=0.91), yield (H’=0.89), plant height (H’=0.87) and thousand kernel weight (H’=0.86) had the highest diversity index. Flag leaf area (H’=0.32) showed the weakest index. This germplasm presented average diversity (0.77) showing a large genetic variability. Correlations between traits showed a significant positive relation between yield and spikeless tillers/plant (0.90), thousand kernel weight (0.39), plant height (0.35) and flag leaf area (0.36), suggesting the usefulness of these parameter for selecting for improving grain yield. The components analysis explained 59.61% of total variability and led to identification of a group of accessions Jeneh kotifa 1, Jeneh kotifa 2, Jeneh kotifa 3, Sbei glabre, Hamira 1, Hamira 2, Biskri glabre, Mahmoudi, Biskri glabre AP2, Swabaa Elgia, Sbei, and Mahmoudi glabre showing the best agronomical characteristics. These genotypes can, therefore, be used as parents for the improvement of durum wheat.
Cardiac RNA Induces Inflammatory Responses in Cardiomyocytes and Immune Cells via Toll-like Receptor 7 Signaling*

Background: Necrotic extracellular RNA induces inflammation and may contribute to ischemic myocardial injury, but the underlying mechanism is unclear. Results: Isolated cardiac RNA induced cytokine production in cardiomyocytes/immune cells as well as acute peritonitis. Genetic deletion of TLR7 or MyD88 markedly attenuates RNA-mediated cytokine production. Conclusion: Cellular RNA induces cytokine production via TLR7-MyD88 signaling. Significance: Cardiac RNA is a pro-inflammatory mediator sensed by TLR7. We have recently reported that extracellular RNA (exRNA) released from necrotic cells induces cytokine production in cardiomyocytes and immune cells and contributes to myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury. However, the signaling mechanism by which exRNA exhibits its pro-inflammatory effect is unknown. Here we hypothesize that exRNA directly induces inflammation through specific Toll-like receptors (TLRs). To test the hypothesis, we treated rat neonatal cardiomyocytes, mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM), or mouse neutrophils with RNA (2.5–10 μg/ml) isolated from rat cardiomyocytes or the hearts from mouse, rat, and human. We found that cellular RNA induced production of several cytokines such as macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2), ILs, TNFα, and the effect was completely diminished by RNase, but not DNase. The RNA-induced cytokine production was partially inhibited in cells treated with TLR7 antagonist or genetically deficient in TLR7. Deletion of myeloid differentiation primary response protein 88 (MyD88), a downstream adapter of TLRs including TLR7, abolished the RNA-induced MIP-2 production. Surprisingly, genetic deletion of TLR3 had no impact on the RNA-induced MIP-2 response. Importantly, extracellular RNA released from damaged cardiomyocytes also induced cytokine production. Finally, mice treated with 50 μg of RNA intraperitoneal injection exhibited acute peritonitis as evidenced by marked neutrophil and monocyte migration into the peritoneal space. Together, these data demonstrate that exRNA of cardiac origin exhibits a potent pro-inflammatory property in vitro and in vivo and that exRNA induces cytokine production through TLR7-MyD88 signaling.
Mobile Number Portability: On the Switching Trends among Subscribers within the Telecommunication Industry in a Ghanaian City

The proliferation of mobile telecommunication service providers in the country has prompted concerns about service quality within the industry. Mobile Number Portability was introduced by the National Communications Authority (NCA) as part of a broader campaign aimed at ensuring uninhibited switch from one telecom service provider to another. With a combination of both qualitative and quantitative investigative techniques, an initial attempt is made by this paper to produce results achieved through a representative sample of 200 respondents of different network customers to determine the pattern of switch from one service provider to another. Findings suggest the instrumentality of income, service difficulties, and customer service as well as usage costs as being the overriding consideration of porting intentions among subscribers.
A Clinical Study of the Probability of Default for Global Financial Firms Affected by the Subprime Mortgage Crisis

This article presents a modification of Merton's (1976) ruin option pricing model to estimate the implied probability of default from stock and option market prices. To test the model, we analyze all global financial firms with traded options in the U.S. over the period December 1996 through October 2008, with a special focus on the subprime mortgage crisis period. We compare the performance of the implied probability of default from our model to the expected default frequencies based on the KMV model and agency credit ratings by constructing cumulative accuracy profiles (CAP) and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC). We find that the probability of default estimates from our model are equal or superior to other credit risk measures studied based on CAP and ROC. In particular, during the subprime crisis our model surpassed credit ratings and matched or exceeded KMV in anticipating the magnitude of the crisis. An important benefit of our model over other methods is that it is a forward-looking measure that uses a range of option prices and does not rely on historical data.
EFFECT OF HOUSING CONDITIONS ON PERFORMANCE OF JAPANESE QUAIL ( Coturnix coturnix japonica ) UNDER COLD STRESS IN WINTER

The effect of different housing conditions on body weight, weight gain, feed intake, water consumption, egg production, rectal temperature, hematocrit value and mortality rate were studied in Japanese quail. Three experimental groups: winter conditions (control), long day-light (lighted) and hot climate (heated) were used. A total of 195 quail chicks (65/group, 40 females and 25 males) were used. Results showed that significant differences in the most studied traits occurred among the treatment groups. Winter conditions had a significantly lighter body weight compared to the other groups between 6 to 14 weeks of age. During this period, rectal temperature was significantly higher in winter group compared to the other groups. Egg production was the lowest in the control group compared to the other groups. Birds kept under high environmental temperature had the lowest hematocrit value than the other treatment groups. In general, Egyptian winter conditions had adversely influence on most studied traits in Japanese quail. It is assumed, therefore, that during winter increased lighting period and ambient temperature are important to increase productive and reproductive cycles in Japanese quail by enhancing physiological responses.
The Effects of Liberalization on Market and Currency Risk in the European Union

This paper investigates the effects of liberalization on the pricing of market and currency risk for a number of financial markets in the European Union (EU). An International Asset Pricing Model with a multivariate GARCH-in-Mean specification and time-varying prices of risk is used for the four markets with the largest market capitalization in the EU. Only one price of market risk exists and international investors are rewarded for their exposure to currency risk. The evidence shows that all prices of risk are time-varying and have been decreasing during the process of liberalization. There is also evidence that financial markets react to periods of uncertainty in the process toward the completion of liberalization. In addition, the operation of the European Monetary System has generated lower covariances. As a consequence, total risk premia have declined in the last decade.
Does Shareholder Scrutiny Affect Executive Compensation?

We examine if shareholder scrutiny affects how companies set the structure and level of their top executives’ compensation. We exploit a feature of recent U.S. regulation on “advisory votes on compensation” (often called “say-on-pay”), which resulted in time-varying scrutiny on pay in the form of a periodic voting pattern for some firms. Specifically, our identification strategy relies on within-firm variation among companies that elected to hold votes every two or three years and thus are subject to a predictable cyclical voting schedule. We find that in years when faced with a vote, firms reduce salaries and golden parachutes to CEOs, but increase equity pay and pensions. On net, total pay is higher. Overall, our results show that the heightened scrutiny on firms when they hold votes matters, and has a significant influence on managerial compensation.
Investigation on the effects of X-ray CT system geometrical misalignments on dimensional measurement errors

X-ray CT measurements are affected by a multitude of influence facto rs, among which the correct estimation of the CT system geometry is of major importance. The presence of geometrical misalignme nt and/or the wrong estimation of system geometry, indeed, leads to artifacts and distortions in the measured volume, and to measurement errors when performing metrological tasks. That is why it is important to quantify the effects of geometrical misalignmen ts or misestimation on CT measurement accuracy. In this work, the effects of detector misalignment are experimentally inv estigated on a metrology CT system. Physical misalignments were purposefully induced on a flat-panel detector for in vest gating the influence of a detector out of plane rotation on measurement results. The experimental results show the effects o f the induced detector misalignment on centerto-center measurements, diameter and form measurements on a calibrated ball bar . The effects of the amplitude o f the angular misalignment induced are also shown.
The efficacy of tourism as a tool for economic development in Kenya

This paper provides as analysis concerning existing structural deficiencies and socioeconomic factors which impact on the efficacy of tourism as a tool for long-term sustainable development in Kenya. It also presents policy-related suggestions on alternative tourism strategy which can assist to ameliorate the social and environmental impacts of tourism development and enhance the efficacy of the industry in promoting : long-term sustainable development.
Urea Molasses Blocks to improve milk production and reproductive performance ofcross-bred dairy cattle under smallholder farm condition in Bangladesh.

Introduction Crop residues constitute more than 90% of the feed resources available for ruminal livestock in Bangladesh. The major crop residue is rice straw, which serves as the main feed for dairy cattle. Low quality straw based diets, feed scarcity, poor reproductive management and diseases results in a substantial decrease in milk production and reproductive performance of dairy cattle. Previous studies indicated that delayed puberty and extended calving to conception interval are the characteristics of cross-bred cattle (Alam and Ghosh 1994). Rice straw is severely deficient in protein and mineral content and, therefore, unable to provide proper nourishment for ruminants. Milk production in Bangladesh is mainly carried out by smallholder farmers. Most of the cross-bred cattle are crosses between local and zebu cattle (e.g. local x Sahiwal) or local cattle and bos taurus (e.g. local x Holstein Friesian). Such crosses are particularly common on small and medium size farms. Feeding urea molasses blocks (UMB) together with rice straw has been found to be a satisfactory method of improving digestibility and results in improvement in the productive and reproductive performance of cross-bred cattle (Hendratno, 1999). This experiment was conducted to study the effect of UMB on milk production and reproductive performance of cross-bred cattle.
Global Liquidity and External Bond Issuance in Emerging Markets and Developing Economies

Using the universe of all externally issued bonds by corporates and sovereigns in emerging and developing economies during 2000-14, this paper analyzes various issuance trends, including the unprecedented post-crisis surge. The paper focuses on external issuance at the country-industry and individual bond levels and finds that global factors matter greatly for emerging and developing economies issuance. A decrease in U.S. expected equity market (or interest rate) volatility, U.S. corporate credit spreads, and U.S. interbank funding costs and an increase in the Federal Reserve’s balance sheet (i) raise the odds that the monthly issuance volume of a country-industry is above its historical average; (ii) decrease individual bond yields and spreads; and (iii) raise bond maturities, after controlling for country pull factors, bond characteristics (for example, type of issuer, industry, and riskiness). Additionally, we document support that the risk-taking channel of exchange rate appreciation also operates for external bond issuance. Moreover, while the paper finds that country pull factors affect the impact of global factors, it does not find consistent evidence for this across the board. This result suggests that, during loose global funding conditions, flows are mostly driven by push factors and do not systematically discriminate between emerging and developing economies. Taken together, the findings suggest that although issuers might be able to benefit from benign international funding conditions, the large issuance volumes, currency risks, and high exposure to global factors could pose external and domestic challenges for policy makers, particularly when global cycles reverse.
Securitization, Shadow Banking, and Bank Regulation

This paper studies the capital regulation of banks that choose whether to become traditional, deposit taking banks or shadow banks that provide credit intermediation through securitization. If capital regulation only covers traditional banks, it will lead to the emergence of excessively risky shadow banks that can fully crowd out traditional banking. Optimal capital regulation includes shadow banks and can prevent excessive risk taking and crowding-out by ensuring that banks' equity per unit of investment remains the same for all securitization strategies. Capital requirements cause underinvestment that cannot be mitigated by securitization.