Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Moralities in food and health research

Abstract Society has imposed strict rules about what constitutes a ‘good’ or a ‘bad’ food and ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ eating behaviour at least since antiquity. Today, the moral discourse of what we should and should not eat is perhaps stronger than ever, and it informs consumers, researchers and policy-makers about what we all should consume, research and regulate. We propose four types of moralities, underlying sets of moral assumptions, that orient the contemporary discourses of food and health: the ‘good’ and ‘bad’ nature of food items, the virtue of self-control and moderation, the management of body size and the actions of market agents. We demonstrate how these moralities influence consumer behaviour as well as transformative research of food and health and develop a critical discussion of the impact of the underlying morality in each domain. We conclude by providing a few guidelines for changes in research questions, designs and methodologies for future research and call for a general reflection on the consequences of the uncovered moralities in research on food and health towards an inclusive view of food well-being.
An investigation into the effect of corporate governance on audit quality in developing markets: Evidence from Jordan

ABSTRACT The objective of this study is to provide comprehensive and up-to-date evidence of current corporate governance practices, and their impact on audit quality, in the developing economies (the case of Jordan). Given the importance of audit quality in increasing investors’ confidence and developing financial markets; the study has a motivation to examine the role played by boards of directors, audit committees and different ownership types in the Jordanian market in ensuring high audit quality. Mixed and inconsistent inferences from previous literature regarding the role played by corporate governance across the world provide a motivation to ask whether it is reasonable to expect to find a relationship between corporate governance mechanisms (e.g. boards of directors and audit committees) and audit quality in one of the developing countries where the legal liability and investors’ protection are weak and where overall regulations are still underdeveloped. The study employs two different methodologies to obtain deep insight into the matter under investigation. By using 690 firm-year observations of public non-financial firms for the period 2009 to 2014, and by employing different statistical estimation methods; the first part of the study highlights the importance of boards of directors’ independence, audit committees’ independence and financial experience, family ownership, financial institution ownership, government ownership and foreign ownership in ensuring high audit quality. However, the results show that gender diversity and board size have a negative correlation with audit quality. The questionnaire survey provides a clearer understanding of the impact of boards of directors, audit committees and different ownership identities on audit quality from perceptual viewpoints. This is by taking into consideration the perceptions of the important players in corporate governance who are members of boards, members of audit committees and external auditors. Analysing the views of the respondents supports the hypotheses and reveals that boards of directors’ attributes, audit committees’ attributes, and different ownership identities do, to a large extent, play a role in promoting audit quality. Furthermore, the respondents suggested some improvements/changes to the existing governance code, which could be a valuable input for any future governance reform. The overall result offers useful feedback for the regulatory bodies to consider the current corporate governance practices, and to benefit other interested parties in gaining a better understanding of the role played by corporate governance mechanisms in audit quality. This feedback can also apply to other developing markets in countries that share similar economic, political, social and cultural environment to those in Jordan.
RECONSTRUCTING THE COMPLEX EVOLUTIONARY ORIGIN OF WILD ALLOPOLYPLOID TOBACCOS (NICOTIANA SECTION SUAVEOLENTES)

Nicotiana (Solanaceae) provides an ideal system for understanding polyploidization, a pervasive and powerful evolutionary force in plants, as this genus contains several groups of allotetraploids that formed at different times from different diploid progenitors. However, the parental lineages of the largest group of allotetraploids, Nicotiana section Suaveolentes, have been problematic to identify. Using data from four regions of three low‐copy nuclear genes, nuclear ribosomal DNA, and regions of the plastid genome, we have reconstructed the evolutionary origin of sect. Suaveolentes and identified the most likely diploid progenitors by using a combination of gene trees and network approaches to uncover the most strongly supported evidence of species relationships. Our analyses best support a scenario where a member of the sect. Sylvestres lineage acted as the paternal progenitor and a member of either sect. Petunioides or sect. Noctiflorae that also contained introgressed DNA from the other, or a hypothetical hybrid species between these two sections, was the maternal progenitor. Nicotiana exemplifies many of the factors that can complicate the reconstruction of polyploid evolutionary history and highlights how reticulate evolution at the diploid level can add even greater complexity to allopolyploid genomes.
Home Builder's Guide to Continuous Improvement: Schedule, Quality, Customer Satisfaction, Cost, and Safety

Product Description Presenting well-known tools and techniques, the Home Builder's Guide to Continuous Improvement provides important insights and necessary information to reduce cycle time duration and variation in order to improve quality and customer satisfaction and to minimize costs and accidents. Each chapter offers examples based on the authors' personal experience working with builders and trade contractors. Including figures and graphs to enhance the text, this book contains simple language, using residential construction industry terminology to improve understanding of continuous improvement concepts and practices. No previous math background is required, making it suitable for all levels.
Emerging Markets and Value-at-Risk: The Case of Multinational Enterprises

This study focuses and compares the efficacy of two approaches of the transaction exposure (value at risk “VaR” and modified value-atrisk “MVaR”) for multinational enterprises (MNEs) conducting business in one and/or up to seven specific emerging markets for the duration of 2011-2014. The significance of this study is that it provides the optimal currency portfolio of emerging market currencies. These two approaches (VaR and MVaR) are compared with the ex-post results. The maximum 1-day loss is assessed, matched across the two aforementioned approaches, but also paralleled with actual results. These comparisons afford realistic evidence to assist MNEs to determine the level of their tolerance with respect to each version of value-at-risk over time. Moreover, these outcomes will present MNEs useful information in defining if hedging this risk is warranted. If they decide to hedge (due to the reversal of risk reduction at some point), MNEs need to contemplate as to which hedging technique (i.e., forward/futures, money market, and or option) to use given that the real cost of hedging could be positive.
Issues in Managing Profit Equalization Reserves and Investment Risk Reserves in Islamic Banks

The use of investment risk reserve (IRR) is key to covering potential losses on assets invested with investment account holders (IAH) funds, and profit equalization reserve (PER) is needed to smooth the returns , so that a desired return to IAH can be provided in the face of volatility in asset returns, and thereby help manage the level of displaced commercial risk (DCR); but the relationship between PER/IRR and DCR is complex. Certain minimum amounts are needed to ensure that a targeted risk return combination can be provided to the IAH with a high probability, even if on some rare occasions asset return may turn negative, requiring the use of IRR to offsetthe losses, and some PER to ensure a market related return to IAH. Since a variety of combinations of PER and IRR can yield a specific targeted return, the appropriate combination will have to be decided by IIFS management based on the expectations of the likely usage of these reserves in the future.
Analysis of the C-Terminal Membrane Anchor Domains of Hepatitis C Virus Glycoproteins E1 and E2: toward a Topological Model

ABSTRACT The hepatitis C virus (HCV) glycoproteins E1 and E2 should be anchored in the viral membrane by their C-terminal domains. During synthesis, they are translocated to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) lumen where they remain. The 31 C-terminal residues of the E1 protein and the 29 C-terminal residues of the E2 protein are implicated in the ER retention. Moreover, the E1 and E2 C termini are implicated in E1-E2 heterodimerization. We studied the E1 and E2 C-terminal sequences of 25 HCV strains in silico using molecular modeling techniques. We conclude that both C-terminal domains should adopt a similar and peculiar configuration: one amphipathic α-helix followed by a pair of transmembrane β-strands. Several three-dimensional (3-D) models were generated. After energy minimization, their ability to interact with membranes was studied using the molecular hydrophobicity potentials calculation and the IMPALA procedure. The latter simulates interactions with a membrane by a Monte Carlo minimization of energy. These methods suggest that the β-hairpins could anchor the glycoproteins in the ER membrane at least transiently. Anchoring could be stabilized by the adsorption of the nearby amphipathic α-helices at the membrane surface. The 3-D models correlate with experimental results which indicate that the E1-E2 transmembrane domains are involved in the heterodimerization and have ER retention properties.
Somatic mutations of GUCY2F, EPHA3, and NTRK3 in human cancers

Tyrosine kinases are major regulators of signal transduction cascades involved in cellular proliferation and have important roles in tumorigenesis. We have recently analyzed the tyrosine kinase gene family for alterations in human colorectal cancers and identified somatic mutations in seven members of this gene family. In this study we have used high‐throughput sequencing approaches to further evaluate this subset of genes for genetic alterations in other human tumors. We identified somatic mutations in GUCY2F, EPHA3, and NTRK3 in breast, lung, and pancreatic cancers. Our results implicate these tyrosine kinase genes in the pathogenesis of other tumor types and suggest that they may be useful targets for diagnostic and therapeutic intervention in selected patients. Published 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Relationship between walking function and 1-legged bicycling test in subjects in the later stage post-stroke.

OBJECTIVE The aim of the present study was to examine the correlation between 1-legged bicycling and the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) in subjects post-stroke. A further aim was to analyse the relationship between specific stroke impairment and walking endurance. PARTICIPANTS Thirty-four subjects (mean age 60 (standard deviation (SD) 4.1) years; mean time post-stroke 62 (SD 33) months) with stroke at least 6 months earlier were tested. METHODS Subjects were evaluated using the 6MWT (distance, heart rate, systolic blood pressure), 1-legged bicycling (VO2peak, maximal workload (Wmax), heart rate, systolic blood pressure, total exercise time), Fugl-Meyer motor function scale for the lower extremity and Berg Balance Scale. Correlational analyses were used to evaluate the relationships between variables. RESULTS There was a low correlation between 6MWT and VO2peak (rs=0.39) and a moderate correlation with Wmax (rs=0.64) and total exercise time (rs=0.58) (p<0.001) during 1-legged bicycling test for the paretic leg. However, no significant correlation was found in the non-paretic leg. Motor function for the lower extremity and Berg Balance Scale showed a high (rs=0.72) and moderate (rs=0.68) correlation, respectively, with the 6MWT. CONCLUSIONS The 6MWT is influenced by motor function and balance as well as cardiorespiratory fitness. Heart rate and systolic blood pressure indicate cardiovascular stress, but the 6MWT cannot be used alone to evaluate fitness in subjects with stroke in the later stages.
Self-Consciousness Scale: A Brazilian Version

The aim of this study was to examine the applicability of a Brazilian version of the Self-consciousness Scale to university students. Factorial structure, sub-scale intercorrelations, and normative data obtained with 182 subjects are reported. These results suggest that the proposed model of self-consciousness is applicable in the Brazilian culture, although some significant sex differences were found for two of the scales. Reliability tests and the factorial validity of the scale showed that this version still needs refinement to be used as a reliable research tool.
HybridTune: Spatio-temporal Data and Model Driven Performance Diagnosis for Big Data Systems

With tremendous growing interests in Big Data systems, analyzing and facilitating their performance improvement become increasingly important. Although there have much research efforts for improving Big Data systems performance, efficiently analysing and diagnosing performance bottlenecks over these massively distributed systems remain a major challenge. In this paper, we propose a spatio-temporal correlation analysis approach based on stage characteristic and distribution characteristic of Big Data applications, which can associate the multi-level performance data fine-grained. On the basis of correlation data, we define some priori rules, select features and vectorize the corresponding datasets for different performance bottlenecks, such as, workload imbalance, data skew, abnormal node and outlier metrics. And then, we utilize the data and model driven algorithms for bottlenecks detection and diagnosis. In addition, we design and develop a lightweight, extensible tool HybridTune, and validate the diagnosis effectiveness of our tool with BigDataBench on several benchmark experiments in which the outperform state-of-the-art methods. Our experiments show that the accuracy of abnormal/outlier detection we obtained reaches about 80%. At last, we report several Spark and Hadoop use cases, which are demonstrated how HybridTune supports users to carry out the performance analysis and diagnosis efficiently on the Spark and Hadoop applications, and our experiences demonstrate HybridTune can help users find the performance bottlenecks and provide optimization recommendations.
The Romanian Pension System Reforms: Evidences from Legislative Roll Call Analysis

Abstract There are important differences between all Eastern European countries regarding the implementation of pension system privatization. The differences regarding the political configuration between the countries from Eastern Europe might be a possible explanation for the amount of diversity in this area. The ideology of political parties that form or sustain the government that implements the reform can also be an explanation, but this influence must be studied beyond the cliché that stipulates that the right-wing parties will support the public pension system reform and the left-wing parties will oppose it. Armeanu (2010a) showed that there are countries where privatization was supported by the centre-left coalitions that needed to overpass a strong opposition made by the right-wing parties. Using the Ideal Point Estimation technique within the voting sessions related to pension reform during the last three Romanian legislatures, we will explain the formation of pro and against coalitions regarding the pension reform from Romania during the privatization process of public pension system. We also test the hypotheses of the model presented by Armeanu (2010a, 2010b), model that predicts the behaviour of political parties based on the position they have on a two-dimensional space related to the costs of pension reform.
Analysis of Corporate Social Responsibility Implementation And Social Audit at PT Semen Padang

The number of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) implementation in Indonesia is not so much while the potential targets are very huge, such as environmental damage, unemployment, school drop-out, and poverty. One of its implementations that are common now is community development, which the emphases are on social and community capacity development. This study describes the implementation of CSR and social audit in PT Semen Padang. PT Semen Padang as one of the largest states owned enterprise in West Sumatra has a big hand in the development of West Sumatra. Analyses were performed with descriptive statistics and content analysis. Collecting data on the CSR activities of PT Semen Padang was done by performing content analysis on the company's annual report that has been audited. Results of the analysis showed CSR’s model implementation in PT. Semen Padang is on the form of physical development such as public facilities, development of education, employment empowerment, economic empowerment, community services, public health services, environmental protection, sports, and the arts. A pattern of implementation of CSR programs is generally done directly and independently by a company-appointed team. PT Semen Padang has not implemented purely social audit of the implementation of the CSR report, but integrated in the audit of the company's annual report.
Cognitive and Language Development of Healthy Preterm Infants at 10 Years of Age

In this longitudinal study, forty-three Canadian 10-year-olds, 20 born preterm without significant health problems and 23 born at term, were compared. Cognitive development was measured by the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-III. Language development was measured by the Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamen-tals-3 (CELF-3) and language used in a 5 minute interview. The children born preterm had subtle delays. They scored significantly lower on Performance IQ and the CELF-3. The subtests on which they had lower scores appear to require visual-spatial skills. Early intervention focusing on parent behaviours that encourage language development and early screening for delays in visual-spatial skills may be useful.
New approach to an old concept: Quality of Working Life in Small and Medium-Sized Organizations

Quality of working life (QWL) is an old concept in human resource strategy which has a significant impact on motivation level of employees and their productivity. As Asia-Pacific Decent work decade reaches to its end, Iran has not prepared a plan for improving working life quality. There are plenty of QWL determinants, defined by researchers worldwide, still each country should prepare specific and tailored model of QWL on its own. Iran in one hand is a multi-cultural country, with variety of ethnics and languages, which could trigger conflicts and discrimination at work. In the other hand Iran, has a traditional management style, which tries to wipe out women from job market, by putting more obstacles in their way, which again has a bad influence on country's competitiveness. These facts show the complexity of QWL concept in Iran. This research was done to shed the light to this concept by defining determinants of QWL in Small and medium sized firms (SME). We put our effort on SME(s), because they are non-governmental and more flexible and also play a vital role in developing a knowledge based economy. In Iran, 98% of non-oil products, are exported by SME(s) . Extensive search done to collect most QWL determinants from different research papers, then experts votes used to filter variables, based on their applicability in SME(s). A questionnaire was prepared based on remaining variables and ethnic discrimination, sexuality and self-esteem added as personal moderating variables. Questionnaire used among white collars in SME(s). The results analyzed by SPSS and SamrtPLS and a model proposed for QWL in SME(s). Also, the effect of ethnic discrimination, sexuality and self –esteem to the individual's perception of QWL supported. Normal 0 false false false RU X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Обычная таблица"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
Brand management in top-tier college athletics: examining and explaining mark-usage policies

Purpose – The practice of an interscholastic athletic department reproducing the logo of a collegiate team for its own use is becoming increasingly visible. In response to this growth, many collegiate licensing departments have begun actively enforcing zero-tolerance policies that prohibit third parties from using their respective colleges’ trademarks. Conversely, other institutions have exercised discretion by allowing high school programs to use their athletic departments’ logos only after receiving assurances from the high school that it will adhere to strict usage guidelines. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – The paper provides a thorough discussion on the concept of brand dilution and its application to sport. More specifically the study gives an account of the strategies employed by trademark specialists to protect (and in some cases, enhance) the equity of their brands. To identify these strategies, a qualitative questionnaire was employed, which was completed by.
State regulatory provisions for residential care settings: An overview of staffing requirements

Residential care settings (RCSs), such as assisted living facilities, provide community-based services for older adults and younger people with disabilities who require long-term services and supports. Within RCSs, staffing adequacy is a key factor for ensuring residents’ quality of care. However, because residential care settings are licensed and regulated by the states, staffing requirements vary considerably among states. This paper provides an overview of state regulations related to staffing in residential care, highlighting the variance among state regulations. The primary data source for this analysis was the Compendium of Residential Care and Assisted Living Regulations and Policy, 2015 Edition, funded by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation/US Department of Health and Human Services. Consumers and regulators need to be aware of the state variance in RCS staffing requirements and assess whether a state’s staffing requirements are adequate to meet residents’ needs.