Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Has aggressive investing strategy performed? An insight from Malaysia listed companies

This study examines the role of aggressive investing strategy on firm performance for a sample of 514 listed firms in Malaysia from 2010 to 2017. In our first objective, we investigate the investing activism effect on firm performance by simultaneously controlling the firm characteristics and industry in our model. Our second objective is to test whether aggressive investing activism affects firm performance. Lastly, we want to investigate whether this aggressive investing may produce different results with different measures of performance. Our findings show that investment has significant effects on firm performance. Our research further indicates that companies with aggressive investing strategies had a better firm performance than compared to its peers. We test this theory using three different measures of aggressive investing strategies and substantiate this conclusion. Our research confirms the resource-based view theory and empirically proves that aggressive investments would result in better firm performance. JEL Classification : C23, D21, G31, L25 DOI: https://doi.org/10.26905/jkdp.v23i3. 3069
Employee well-being in the COVID-19 pandemic: The moderating role of teleworking during the first lockdown in the province of Quebec, Canada.

BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound effect on all aspects of society, including mental health. Many employees have had to pivot suddenly to teleworking to prevent the virus from spreading. While teleworking may have some negative consequences, it may also represent a human resources practice that may improve employee well-being. OBJECTIVE The study main objective was to determine if teleworking played a moderating role in the relation between potential stressors and employee well-being during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic when working from home. This was based on the theory of conservation of resources. METHODS Multivariate regression analyses were conducted with Stata 13 software to determine the contribution of potential stressors on employee well-being, as well as the moderating role of teleworking on a sample of 480 Canadian employees. Data were collected once for white and blue collar from both public (67.08%) and private (32.92%) business sectors. RESULTS Results indicated that work-life imbalances, workload, and marital tension were associated with lower levels of well-being. On the other hand, teleworking and household income were associated with higher levels of well-being. Teleworking also moderated the differences in well-being between the public and private sectors. Teleworking in the public sector seems to increase employee well-being. Conversely, working on-site in the public sector seems to decrease well-being. CONCLUSIONS Employers need to proactively address work-life imbalances, workloads, and teleworking to maintain employee well-being. Specific recommendations are offered to ensure that teleworking remains positive for employee well-being both during a pandemic and afterward.
Sports lunch breaks, vigor, and creativity at work: a test of the work-home resources model

ABSTRACT We use the Work-Home Resources (W-HR) model to investigate how daily positive experiences in the sports domain may spill over and enrich the work domain. We hypothesize that satisfaction with sports performance during the lunch break generates momentary vigor (i.e., cognitive liveliness and emotional energy) immediately after the lunch break and is indirectly related to creativity at work in the afternoon. Furthermore, we predict that positive work reflection during the sports activity strengthens the relation between satisfaction with sports performance and vigor when back at work. To test this positive spillover process, we collected diary data from 59 employees who engaged in sports activities during their lunch break. Data was collected at two time points per day for three days (total number of observations, n = 177). Multilevel analyses revealed partial support for our hypotheses. We found that satisfaction with sports performance was positively related to momentary cognitive liveliness and emotional energy, but only when employees reflected positively on their work during the sports lunch break. Further, cognitive liveliness was positively related to employees’ creativity. However, formal mediation analyses did not support the idea that cognitive liveliness and emotional energy mediate the link between satisfaction with sports performance and creativity. We discuss how these findings contribute to the W-HR literature by showing the potential of sports to improve employees’ feelings and functioning at work.
Contemporary height, weight and body mass index references for children aged 0 to adulthood in Switzerland compared to the Prader reference, WHO and neighbouring countries*

Abstract Background: In 2011, WHO growth curves replaced those of Prader and colleagues (First Zurich longitudinal study) in Switzerland. Aim: To present contemporary height-, weight- and body mass index (BMI)-for-age references reflecting children’s growth in modern Switzerland. Subjects and methods: Cross-sectional sample comprising 30,141 boys and girls aged 0–20 years measured between 2012 and 2019. Height, weight and BMI reference curves were created using the LMS method. Derived percentiles were compared with those of Prader, WHO and neighbouring countries. Results: Growth in the first 5 years is almost identical with Prader curves. Thereafter children are taller, yet their final height is only about 1 cm higher. Today’s children, in particular boys, are considerably heavier. In comparison with WHO growth references, Swiss children are taller from the second year until adulthood; the WHO 3rd percentiles lie about 4 cm below those of our updated references. Weight and BMI median percentiles from our sample are similar to those of WHO and higher than the Prader curves. However, the course of the 97th BMI percentile WHO curves extends well below the 97th percentile of the updated Swiss curves. Conclusion: This study provides contemporary reference data for assessing individual growth based on height, weight and BMI of Swiss children.
University of Groningen Energy utilisation of infants in Southern Brazil

O b j e c t i v e : To investigate the extent to which breast milk is replaced by intake of other liquids or foods, and to estimate energy intake of infants defined as exclusively (EBF), predominantly (PBF), and partially breast-fed (PartBF). D e s i g n: Cross-sectional community based study in 70 infants aged 4 months of age recruited at birth in urban Pelotas, Southern Brazil. M a i n o u t c o m e m e as u r e s : Breast milk intake measured using a “dose-to-the-mother” deuterium-oxide turnover method; feeding pattern and macronutrient intake assessed using a frequency questionnaire. R e s u l ts : Adjusted mean breast milk intakes were not different between EBF and PBF (EBF, 806 g/d versus PBF, 778 g/d, p=0.59). The difference between EBF and PartBF was significant (PartBF, 603 g/d, p=0.004). Mean intakes of water from supplements were 10 g/d (EBF), 134 g/d (PBF) and 395 g/d (PartBF). Compared to EBF these differences were significant (EBF versus PBF, p=0.005; EBF versus PartBF, p<0.001). Energy intake of infants receiving cow or formula milk (BF+CM/FM) in addition to breast milk tended to be 20% higher than energy intake of EBF infants (EBF, 347 kJ/kg/d versus BF+CM/FM, 418 kJ/kg/d, p=0.11). C o n c l u s i o n s : There was no evidence that breast milk was replaced by water, tea or juice in PBF compared to EBF infants. Energy intake in BF+CM/FM infants tended to be 20% above latest recommendations (1996) for breast-fed and 9% above those for formula-fed infants. If high intakes are maintained, this may result in obesity later in life.
Rowell syndrome complicated with macrophage activation syndrome in a child

Rowell syndrome (RS) is a rare disease characterized by the association of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or cutaneous lupus with lesions similar to erythema multiforme and the presence of autoantibodies including ANA, SSA, SSB, or rheumatoid factor. Due to the low incidence of this disease, the epidemiology of RS is not clear. So far there are 95 cases reported in the literature; of these, only seven cases are pediatric patients. Macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) is an increasingly recognized complication of SLE, although its true prevalence in childhood is still unknown. We describe a unique pediatric patient with RS who developed MAS.
Determination of Serum Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Levels in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Case Control Study

Objective The effect of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on neuronal development is known, but its relationship with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a neurodevelopmental disorder, has not yet been fully elucidated. To our knowledge, this is the first human study investigating serum VEGF levels in ADHD patients. In this study, it has been aimed to compare serum VEGF levels between a healthy control group and in ADHD patients to help determine the association between serum VEGF levels and ADHD. Methods This study sample included forty-four patients diagnosed with ADHD and 43 healthy volunteer controls between 7 to 14 years old. Blood samples were taken from patients and the healthy control group to assess their serum VEGF levels. VEGF levels were calculated by subjecting the optical densities of the samples to concentrations of known standards as provided in the ELISA kit and then performing a regression correlation analysis. Results The mean VEGF level of the children was 333.6 ± 209.8 in the ADHD group and 341.3 ± 201.8 in the control group. There were no statistically significant differences in serum VEGF levels between the ADHD and control groups (U = 926.000, z = −0.170, p = 0.865). Conclusion There was no significant difference in serum VEGF levels for untreated ADHD cases and a healthy control group. This is the first human study investigating serum VEGF levels in ADHD patients, so there is a need to replicate these findings.
Negative interest rates in the euro area: does it hurt banks?

The negative interest rate policy (NIRP) has been in place in the euro area since June 2014. While the NIRP can provide additional monetary accommodation in the situation where the neutral rate of interest is most likely negative, there are also unintended consequences for banks’ profitability and potential financial stability risks associated with this policy. The paper assesses the effect of the NIRP on the net interest rate margins of the euro area banks using quarterly consolidated bank level data for some 50 banking groups directly supervised by the Single Supervisory Mechanism. Since our data set extends to 2018, it allows us to examine the period of negative short-term interest rates separately from the period of low, but positive policy rates. The econometric results confirm the effect of the interest rate level on bank profitability and, in some specifications, also suggest an additional negative effect on bank profitability in the period of negative euro area short-term interest rates. This additional effect of the NIRP is the strongest when looking at the disaggregated components of net interest income, i.e. interest income and interest expense. However, the effects are not particularly robust across various profitability measures and tend to disappear when conditioning on macroeconomic variables, such as expected real GDP growth and inflation expectations. Therefore, in line with other existing studies, we find weak evidence of possible negative effects on bank profitability from keeping rates low for an extended period of time. Statistical analysis of the bank-level data also points to an ongoing compression of non-interest income, in particular for the best performing banks, and a slow recovery in return on total assets among all banks over the analysed period.This Working Paper relates to the 2018 OECD Economic Survey of Euro Area(https://www.oecd.org/economy/euro-area-and-european-union-economic-snapshot/)
The Learning Disability Index (LDI): An Analysis of its Utility in Discriminating Learning Disabilities

201 WISC-R protocols from four differentially classified groups of 8-11 year old elementary school children were examined to assess the utility and validity of the LDI (Lawson & Inglis, 1984) , as an assessment tool in identifying learning disabled (LD) children. Findings are discussed in terms of how the LDI discriminates among these differentially defined groups of children and its ability to correctly identify the LD population. Results show that the LDI has somewhat limited utility in these capacities, since it was not able to completely discriminate among all the groups, and correctly identified only a small portion of the (known) learning disabled sa mple.
Predictors of in-hospital mortality following hypoxic-ischemic brain injury: a population-based study

ABSTRACT Objective: To identify predictors of in-hospital mortality following Hypoxic-Ischemic Brain Injury (HIBI) using the Anderson Behavioral Model. Design and Setting: Population based retrospective cohort study in Ontario, Canada with data collected between 1 April 2002 and 31 March 2017. Patients: Adult patients aged 20 years and older with HIBI-related acute care admission were identified in the health administrative data. Multivariable cox proportional hazard regression models were used to identify predisposing, need and enabling factors that predict in-hospital mortality. Results: Of the 7492 patients admitted to acute care with HIBI, the in-hospital mortality rate was 71%. The predisposing factors associated with mortality were female sex (HR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.10–1.23) and older age (65–79 vs. 20–34: HR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.02–1.35). The need factors associated with mortality were the presence of COPD (HR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.02–1.17), psychiatric illness (HR, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.05–1.20) injury due to cardiac illness (HR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.12–1.26) and longer emergency department length of stay. Having spending any time in an alternate level of care and the application of tracheotomy procedures were found to reduce mortality.Conclusions: The acute/critical care centers need to consider these findings to adopt prevention strategies targeting reduced in-hospital mortality.
PRODUCTION OF WHITE SOFT CHEESE FORTIFIED WITH NATURAL ANTIOXIDANTS AS A FUNCTIONAL DAIRY FOOD

This study was carried out to estimate the antioxidant activity and phenolic compounds of peanut skin, potato peels and rice bran extracts and to study the effect of addition of these natural extracts on soft cheese quality, each extract was added to cheese milk during manufacture at a rate of 0.5 to 1%. Cheese chemical composition, oxidative stability, microbiological examination and organoleptic properties of cheese, when fresh and after 30, 60 and 90 days storage at room temperature were done. Results showed that these extracts have a high content of phenolic compounds, and gave high antioxidtion activity. The addition of these extracts to cheese milk did not significantly affect on the chemical composition but affected the oxidative stability, bacteriological and organoleptic properties of cheese samples. A clear reduction was observed in peroxide value (PV), acid value (AV) and Thiobarbituric acids (TBA) content of cheese samples containing natural extracts during storage period than control cheese samples without antioxidant (control A) and those containing 0.02% Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) (as positive control B). Total bacterial, coliform and yeast and mould counts of cheese samples containing natural extracts did not detected during storage compared with control (A) cheese samples and those containing BHA as control (B). Also, results showed that organoleptic properties of all cheese treatments improved by progressed of storage period until the end of storage. Cheese containing potato peels and rice bran extracts at ratio of 1% showed better appearance, flavour intensity and body characteristics than other cheeses. From the previous results, some natural extracts could be used in white soft cheese manufacture such as potato peels, rice bran and peanut skin extracts at a rate of 1%, where it improved the sensory and bacteriological characteristics of cheese samples and increased stability against oxidation.
How to Respond to Conflicts Over Value Pluralism?

Abstract This paper starts with arguing that the main reason why value pluralism has become conflictual is that it challenges people’s socio-cultural identity. The next section gives a summary of recent sociological research on socio-cultural tensions and conflicts in the Netherlands and Europe. They are closely linked to “globalization issues,” such as cosmopolitism, immigration, and cultural integration. This shows that the prediction of the modernization theory, according to which substantial socio-cultural values would be replaced by a universalist, procedural ethics, has not come true. The third section discusses the philosophical reasons of the potentially conflictual character of today’s value pluralism: the fragility of socio-cultural identity, the spread of the culture of expressive individualism and the ethics of authenticity, and the influence of the (politics of) recognition of socio-cultural differences. The fourth section discusses two philosophical responses to the conflictual character of value pluralism. First, there is Taylor’s plea for a broadening of our socio-cultural horizon and a transformation of our common standards of (value-)judgments, based on his idea of a fusion of cultural horizons. In spite of its obvious merits, Taylor underestimates the degree of cultural distance that characterizes many instances of value pluralism. Second, there is an idea of cultural hospitality, which is an application of Ricoeur’s idea of linguistic hospitality to the cultural sphere. It is more modest than Taylor’s proposal, since it recognizes the unbridgeable gap that separates different cultures and their values. Another even more modest suggestion to diminish the conflictual character of value pluralism is the virtue of tolerance, which combines the idea that I have good reasons for my value attachments with the recognition that my values are not the completion of the ideal of human existence.
Isolation and Identification of Soil Mycoflora in the Upland and Lowland Soils of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Sokoto State

A total of 14 different fungal species belonging to 7 genera were isolated from the upland and lowland soils of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, between October to December, 2015. The mycoflora were isolated using dilution plate technique on Potato dextrose agar amended by 1% streptomycin. Identification was made microscopically using the lacto-phenol cotton blue method and macroscopically by comparing the cultural and morphological features with the help of authentic fungal manual and taxonomic key. The identified species are; Aspergillus niger, A. flavus, A. fumigatus, A. nidulans, A. oryzae, Alternaria longifes, Fusarium oxysporum, F. solani, F. mangifera, Original Research Article Tafinta et al.; SAJRM, 1(2): 1-7, 2018; Article no.SAJRM. 40953 2 Rhizopus stolonifer, R. orizae, Saccharomyces cerevisae, Trichoderma harzianum and Trichophytum quallinum. The highest number of fungi (50 isolates) were obtained from lowland uncultivated soils (D), followed by the upland uncultivated soils (B) with about 34 strains, and the least (22 isolates) were obtained from upland cultivated soils (A) out of the total 132 isolates. Variations between sites were statistically analyzed.
Moisture requirements for Pinus sylvestris seeds: Variation in germination among provenances from different elevations

Patterns of climatic variables are likely to change significantly in the coming century, with important but poorly-understood consequences for plant communities. This experiment determined how seeds of P. sylvestris collected from different elevations in two geographical regions performed when placed in simulated moisture stress conditions. Eight provenances from two regions (Norway and France) were chilled for zero and four weeks at 4±1°C and then germinated at 10 and 20°C, at water potentials of -0.3, -0.6 and -0.9 MPa. Moisture stress resulted in delayed germination and reduced germination capacity, and there was no germination at a water potential of -0.9 MPa. Provenances from high elevations were the most susceptible to moisture stress. Key words: Moisture stress, water potentials, simulated moisture conditions, germination capacity, temperature effects.
Effect of Thymus and Anis and Mixture on some Physiological and Productive Traits of Quail

The experiment was carried out on quails (unsexed, one day old), to evaluate the effect of supplementation of thymus and anise to ration in physiological, productive traites, birds weight and divided to 4 treatments, three replicate and 20 birds for each replicate for 7 weeks. The experimental treatments were, T1(control): reared on standard ration, T2 reared on standard ration يواحر دمحم معنملا دبع ريدغ 50 supplemented thyme with 10 g/kg ration, T3 reared on standard ration supplemented anise with 10 g/kg ration and T4 reared on standard ration supplemented with 10 g thyme and 10g anise/kg ration. Statistical analysis of data showed significant increase in live body weight and weight gain for T4, and significant increase in feed intake in for T2 and T4. significant improvement in feed conversion ratio for T3 and T4. Also, improved mean egg weight, dressing percentage, heart, liver, gizzard, breast, thighs, wings and neck in 4 treatment. And 3 treatment improved weight of carcass, red blood cell (T.RBC count), hematocrit values (PCV) and hemoglobin concentration (Hb), while decrease mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC). 2 and 3 and 4 treatment decrease glucose concentration and bacterium number in intestine, but show significant (P ≤ 0.05) increase in total protein, albumin, globulin, triglycerides and cholesterol concentration. Also, length and improved 2 , 3 and 4 treatment egg quality. It concluded from this study that the thyme and anise plant supplement to dieted quail bird improved some of the physiological, productive and reproductive characters and egg quality.
Atrioventricular Septal Defects

Operations for atrioventricular septal defects carry substantial risks, and these are one of the most challenging groups of children for cardiac surgeons and anesthetists, taking their care. Children with AVSDs, especially the complete AVSD have a significant morbidity and mortality resulting from postoperative left atrioventricular valve regurgitation, residual intracardiac shunts, postoperative pulmonary hypertension, and various life‐threatening cardiac arrhythmias.