Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Entrepreneurial Competencies and the Performance of Informal SMEs: The Contingent Role of Business Environment

ABSTRACT This study examined entrepreneurial competencies as a viable pathway for improving the innovative performance of SMEs in Nigeria’s informal sector and the contingent roles of the business environment. A survey research design was used to gather data from 296 entrepreneurs who operate informal SMEs in Nigeria. Based on the findings from the SEM-PLS multivariate analysis, the study concluded that entrepreneurial competencies, especially organizing, conceptual, learning, strategic, opportunity, and risk-taking competencies, are essential for achieving higher innovation performance. The study also reveals that entrepreneurial competencies are useful toward mitigating environmental pressures resulting from operational turbulence and erratic policy changes, as the firm drives toward improving innovation outputs. As such, the entrepreneurship environment is becoming more endogenous as entrepreneurs, through their entrepreneurial competencies, have started to gain control over it. This study contributes to the entrepreneurship literature by highlighting the most essential competencies alongside the relevant contingencies. By doing that, this study offers a practical guide on priority competence area that entrepreneurship stakeholders, including entrepreneurs and policymakers, should consider for investment.
Microscopically Reversible Pathways with Memory

Statistical mechanics is a physics theory that deals with ensembles of microstates of a system compatible with environmental constraints and that on average define a thermodynamic state. The evolution of a small system is normally subjected to changing constraints, as set by a protocol, and involves a stochastic dependence on previous events. Here, we generalize the dynamic trajectories described by a realization of a physical system without dissipation to include those in which the history of previous events is necessary to understand its future. This framework is then used to characterize the processes experienced by the stochastic system, as derived from ensemble averages over the available pathways. We find that the pathways that the system traces in the presence of a protocol entail different statistics from those in its absence and prove that both types of pathways are equivalent in the limit of independent events. Such equivalence implies that a thermodynamic system cannot evolve away from equilibrium in the absence of memory. These results are useful to interpret single-molecule experiments in biophysics and other fields in nanoscience, as well as an adequate platform to describe non-equilibrium processes.
Videorecording of experts as a method of training-simulator design

Abstract Designers of training-simulators have traditionally depended on task-analysis as the main informational resource for design. Although traditional task-analysis provides information about the necessary details of a task and the required steps in performance, it is deficient in representing a skill and its qualitative dimensions. This deficiency has led to lingering confusions for designers and resulted in using challenging constructs such as fidelity. To provide richer information about skills, this article proposes a novel design method. The method gathers information of skills directly from studying multiple experts by videorecording their performance in target environments. The recordings are then used to create a model of average expert behaviour that can directly guide the design of simulators. An experimental example shows the practicality of the method in providing specific information for human factors/ergonomics practitioners in the design and improvement of training-simulators. By focussing on experts and videorecording their performance, the method provides multiple benefits to the design such as increasing the validity of the performance model, creating a qualitative model of skills, and proposing a generic solution to the design problem.
Interacting Fermi gases and Bose-Fermi mixtures in optical lattices

Interacting fermionic quantum gases form the basis of solid state physics. In this thesis we choose a novel approach to explore such systems by creating quantum degenerate atomic Fermi gases and mixtures of bosonic and fermionic atoms in three-dimensional optical lattices. The collisional interaction between the atoms can be arbitrarily tuned between strongly repulsive and strongly attractive in the vicinity of a Feshbach resonance. This tuneability allows us to create weakly bound molecules from pairs of fermionic atoms confined to one-dimensional motion or trapped in isolated potential wells. For negative scattering lengths the bound states are solely stabilised by the tight confinement of the optical lattice. In a further experiment we realise low-dimensional p-wave interacting Fermi gases for the first time. By properly aligning the atomic spins with respect to the symmetry axis of the confining potential we can prohibit specific asymptotic scattering states due to their anisotropic character. The suppressed scattering manifests itself in the absence of atom losses close to the corresponding p-wave Feshbach resonance. We also observe a shift of the resonance position with respect to the three-dimensional case which is a consequence of the increased ground state energy. A range of new phenomena becomes accessible when a mixture of bosonic and fermionic atoms is prepared. We load Bose-Fermi mixtures into threedimensional optical lattices and probe the phase coherence of the bosonic cloud by means of the visibility of the matter wave interference pattern and the coherence length. We observe that an increasing admixture of the fermionic species diminishes the coherence. Moreover, the attractive interspecies interaction leads to an enhanced bosonic density in the lattice, which we measure by studying the three-body recombination. These experiments demonstrate the unprecedented versatility of atomic quantum gases in optical lattices and reveal the special nature of collisional interactions in these potentials. The realisation of strongly interacting gases and the direct access to low-dimensional systems opens up new perspectives for the investigation of fundamental questions of modern quantum many-body physics.
Managing Macroeconomic Neoliberalism: Capital and the Resilience of the Rational Expectations Assumption since the Great Recession

ABSTRACT There is little systematic work on how much the core of mainstream macroeconomics has changed since the crisis of 2008 and even less on what explains patterns of stability and change. This paper addresses this gap by first, mapping out debates over the core assumption of rational expectations in high-prestige academic publications and the research of central banks of systemic importance and second, deploying a sociological perspective to assess the various forms of capital deployed by orthodox defenders, radical challengers and constructive critics of this assumption. The paper finds that although the core of modern macro has seen a more robust radical challenge than one might have expect, the defense of rational expectations remained quantitatively dominant and substantively elastic. While radical challengers had access to significant material resources and symbolic capital, orthodox players control the institutions of the economics profession via editorial boards and refereeing for the top journals. As such, the orthodox exercise a strong gatekeeping function that allows some pluralism yet also goes some way toward explaining their continued intellectual dominance.
Clinical Predictors for Reduced Long-Term Survival and Cause of Death after Curative Resection for Rectal Cancer

Purpose: To identify clinical predictors for reduced long-term survival and describe the cause of death after surgical treatment for rectal cancer. Methods: A retrospective follow-up study of 442 consecutive, unselected patients treated for rectal cancer at a tertiary centre from 1990 until 2000 and followed for 17 years or until death. Predictors for death were assessed by Cox regression analysis. The cause of death was obtained from the Norwegian Cause of Death Registry. Results: 254 men and 188 women with a median age of 71 years (21 - 95 years) were resected for rectal cancer with low anterior resection (n = 266), abdominoperineal resection (n = 125), Hartmann’s procedure (n = 19) or diverting stoma only (n = 32). Median follow-up was 5 years (0 - 17 years). The relative five-year survival rates for stages I, II, III and IV was 83.9%, 65.2%, 41.1% and 9.3%, respectively. The proportion of deaths due to recurrence from colorectal cancer in stages I, II, III and IV was 23.5%, 55.8%, 72.3% and 98.0%, respectively. Heart, lung and cerebrovascular disease and other malignancies were the cause of death in the other patients. Higher age, abdominoperineal resection compared to low anterior resection, lack of lymph node dissection compared to total mesorectal excision (TME), postoperative reoperations, TNM stages II and III compared to stage I and residual tumours after surgery were all significant independent predictors of reduced survival in the adjusted Cox regression model. Conclusions: Age, tumour stage, type of surgery, lymph node dissection, residual tumour after surgery and reoperations are predictors for survival after surgery for rectal cancer. In the patients who died, the cause of death was due to a condition other than colorectal cancer recurrence in 32.3% of the patients. The five-year relative survival rate was related to tumour stage.
EVALUATION OF A DIET AND ANTIBIOTICS TARGETING THE MICROBIOTA FOR TREATMENT OF MILD TO MODETARE ACTIVE PEDIARTIC ULCERATIVE COLITIS: AN OPEN LABEL PILOT STUDY

Newer strategies that target the microbiome may offer an alternative therapeutic approach for Ulcerative Colitis (UC). We developed a novel diet that targets changes in the microbiome and barrier function that have been reported in UC. The goal of the current study was to evaluate the efficacy of two sequential induction of remission strategies that target the microbiota: the novel diet termed the ulcerative colitis diet (UCD) and an antibiotics cocktail combination in dietary non responders. This was a prospective, single arm, open label, pilot study in patients aged 8–19, with a pediatric UC activity index (PUCAI) scores >10 and ≤45 on stable maintenance therapy (5ASA or thiopurines). PUCAI score was assessed at week 3 and 6. Patients failing to enter remission or intolerant to dietary therapy could receive an open label 14-day course of Amoxycillin, Metronidazole and Doxycycline (AMD), and had PUCAI scored at day 21. Response was defined a decline in PUCAI ≥ 10 points, remission as PUCAI< 10. The primary endpoint was intention to treat (ITT) remission at week 6 with diet as the sole intervention. Twenty-three children mean age of 15.1±2.9 years were enrolled. Two patients (1 responder, 1 remission) withdrew by 3 weeks, four required additional therapy by week 3, all were considered failures by ITT. Mean PUCAI decreased at week 3 and 6 from 34.5±9.8 to 21.7±14.9 and 17.6±17.2 respectively (P=0.005, P=0.001) at ITT analysis including all patients. Sixteen out of twenty-three patients (69.6%) responded by week 6. Ten of twenty-three (43.5%) achieved remission by week 6, and nine (39.1%) had clinical remission at week 6. The median fecal calprotectin (FC) level decreased in patients (n=5) who achieved remission from 630 (IQR, 332–1586) μg/g at week 0 to 230 (75–1298) μg/g at week 6. Eight patients received treatment with antibiotics after failing diet, 4/8 (50.0%) subsequently entered remission. A dietary intervention called the UC Diet appears to be effective for induction of remission in children with mild to moderate UC. Sequential use of diet, followed by antibiotic therapy in dietary non responders, needs further evaluation as a microbiome directed steroid sparing therapy in patient’s refractory to 5ASA and thiopurines.
Time Costs and Search Behavior

Sequential search is often costly and time-consuming. The time cost is usually unknown ex ante and its presence and duration must be inferred as the search progresses. We disentangle the effect of time cost on search behavior from people’s (in)ability to perceive time delay between offers. We find that people are able to infer the existence of the time cost, but their inference is imperfect. We also compare the effect of time cost with the effect of monetary cost and find that the time cost reduces the amount of exerted search, but not as much as the monetary cost does. Discriminating between the effects is critical for increasing the empirical validity of search models and designing mechanisms capable of improving the quality of decisions, especially in unfamiliar or infrequently encountered situations.
Identifying Factors that Affecting the Entrepreneurial Intention-Partial Least Square

Universities around the world are increasingly trying to become more entrepreneurial to stay competitive, generate new sources of income through licenses or contracts research, and follow government policy guidelines. The most powerful university resource that must stimulate entrepreneurship is its students. This study aims to analyze the effect of attitude towards entrepreneurship, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, enterpreneurship education and lecturer competence on entrepreneurial intention. The sample in this study used purposive sampling with certain iteration criteria and formulations so that the number of samples obtained was 100 samples. The characteristics of the subject of this research are students of the faculty of economics at Pamulang University, South Tangerang, Banten, Indonesia in the batch of 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019. The Data analysis method used in this research is to analyze the measurement model (external model) which consists of convergent validity test and reliability test, structural model analysis (inner model), and hypothesis test. Data analysis using Structural Equation Modeling with Partial Least Square Approach. The results are attitude towards entrepreneurship has positive direction on entrepreneurial intention. Subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, entrepreneurship education and lecturer competence have no effect on entrepreneurial intention.
Use of media sources in seeking/receiving sexual health information during adolescence among adults of diverse sexual orientations in a US cohort

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to examine the association between sexual orientation and seeking/receiving sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information from media sources during adolescence. We analysed data from male and female participants (aged 23–35 years) from the U.S.-based Growing Up Today Study (GUTS) in 2016. Sex-stratified, multivariable log-binomial models adjusted for age, cohort and race/ethnicity were used to examine sexual orientation differences in retrospective self-reported seeking/receipt of SRH media information before age 18. Sexual minority (e.g., mostly heterosexual, bisexual, gay) men and women were more likely than same-gender individuals who identified as completely heterosexual to seek/receive SRH information about contraceptive methods (e.g., condom use), sexually transmitted infections, and HIV and AIDS. Although lesbians were more likely than completely heterosexuals to seek/receive SRH information from media about each topic, they were the sexual minority subgroup with the smallest proportion seeking/receiving SRH information. Sexual minorities may passively and/or actively receive SRH information pertaining to a wide range of topics, including skills-based sex education, from media sources more frequently than heterosexuals, which may influence safe-sex decision-making. Lesbians in particular may benefit from media information dissemination focusing on their specific SRH needs, as current media sources do not seem to be well-utilised by this group.
Revealing Social Media Phenomenon in Time of COVID-19 Pandemic for Boosting Start-Up Businesses through Digital Ecosystem

When the world was engulfed by a COVID-19 pandemic crisis, various activities could not be carried out normally. Activities may continue from home during a crisis by the use of a smartphone through the internet, because almost all people have their own smartphone, without requiring additional purchase of hardware. For formal learning, people can take the opportunity to use social media platforms to undertake conversations easily by using smart phones, even tablets. Teenagers or adults who are still studying in higher education institutions can undertake continuous learning for their work assignments. For example, they can use these tools to communicate through social media such as the WhatsApp, Telegram, Zoom, Microsoft Team, and Edmodo apps to connect with friends and lecturers. This research reveals trends of digital social media security and usability in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic situation, such as working from home, establishing a start-up, improving business processes and conducting online business within the digital ecosystem. The result is interesting and there are many uses of social media which have been addressed in this study during the COVID-19 pandemic for business purposes. The various social media platforms have different features that are available for use by subscribers, and also make it easier for people to do business. This is mainly due to the fact that they open up the global market and also make it cheaper to advertise. The government as well as the private sector has been in the forefront when it comes to the use of social media. Maintaining a good online presence is one of the key aspects that determine the success of start-up companies. This is due to the fact that most customers usually rely on the customer reviews in determining the ability of a company to meet the needs of clients. The main reason why most companies set up a customer relations department that is mandated with the responsibility of responding to customer feedback on various online platforms. On the other hand, the increased use of social media has brought new challenges when it comes to the security of information. Users must, therefore, secure their servers and technology from external and internal threats. One of the strategies used is the use of passwords to log into a portal where each person authorized to access the portal is provided with a password that is unique and known only by the user. The study has covered all these areas in detail including the use of database management systems in an organization or individual.
Ukuran Perusahaan Memoderasi Pengaruh Capital Intensity dan Profitabilitas Terhadap Agresivitas Pajak

The research aims to determine the influence of capital intensity and profitability on tax aggressiveness using the company size as moderation variables. The research object is a mining company listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) from 2016 to 2018. The number of companies sampled in this research was 25 companies with 3 years of observation time over selected with purposive sampling techniques. The data analysis used statistical analysis in the form of multiple linear regression tests. This study showed that simultaneously the variable capital intensity, profitability and size of the company affected the tax aggressiveness. Partial capital intensity and company size have a negative effect on tax aggressiveness, while the profitability has no effect on tax aggressiveness. Otherwise, based on the moderated regression analysis (MRA) test, the company size variable can moderate the influence of capital intensity on the tax aggressiveness. Size can not moderate the influence of profitability on the tax aggressiveness.
A Novel RP – HPLC Analytical Method Development and Validation of Fulvestrant Injection as per ICH Guidelines

In this present project, a novel, Reverse Phase - High Performance Liquid Chromatographic analytical method was developed for determination of Fulvestrant Injection, which is fast & economical too. Retention time of Fulvestrant was at 21 minutes, which quite fast by using the Zorbax XDB C18; 150 × 4.6 mm, 3.5, column as stationary phase with mobile phase consisted of a mixture of Mobile phase –A: Water, Acetonitrile and Methanol (410:320:270), Mobile phase-B: Acetonitrile, Methanol and Water (490:410:100) in a gradient elution and at a flow rate of 2 ml/min. Detection was carried out at 225 nm in HPLC. Newly developed method shows linearity in the range of 80-120 μg/ml & correlation co-efficient for this method was found to be 0.999. The accuracy studies showed % recovery of Fulvestrant injection, was in the range 99.7-102 % in the newly developed method. Validation parameters were within the permitted limits so this method was found to be precise, accurate and specific. Present method is better in terms of economical aspect, easy to perform & is very much specific towards the targeted drug, which is evidenced from the validation parameter. So this unique method can be efficiently employed for determination of Fulvestrant in commercial products, economically.
The Influence of Level Capital Structure on Firm Performance: An Empirical Study of Non-Financial Listed Firms in Jordan

The article intends to explore the role of the capital structure (C.S) in the firm financial performance of 84 non-financial firms listed in the Amman stock exchange (ASE) during the period 2012–2018. The explained variable was market share as a novel proxy for operational performance. The explanatory variable is the total debt to total assets, while the as firm size, firm age, and sales growth were taken as control variables.This article provides a new viable evidence on the operational performance effects of C.S decisions using panel data of Jordanian listed firms.Using a random-effect regression method to analyse balanced panel data, based on the Hausman test statistics. This article found that the ratio of total debt to total assets has a positive and significant relationship with the market share of non-financial listed firms in Jordan.The outcome is consistent with most studies conducted in developed countries.This result indicates that Jordanian listed firms should be optimizing their C.S to distinguish themselves in the market.While the relationship is positive and significant between firm size and sales growth as control variables with a market share, unlike the earlier studies, the current article surprisingly establishes that firm age is not meaningfully contributing to non-financial Jordanian sector performance.In the Jordanian case, this article suggests that the operational performance of firms depends more on debt as their main corporate financing option.
On characterizations of hypersurfaces in a Sasakian space forms with commuting operators

Abstract Let be a real hypersurface in a Sasakian space form . In this paper, we prove that if holds on , then is a Hopf hypersurface, where and denote the Jacobi operator structure and the induced operator from the Lie derivative with respect to the induced normal vector field , respectively. We characterize such the Hopf hypersurfaces of .