Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Participation of employees in decision-making in public enterprises : a case study of Rwandan communication enterprises.

This study aims to determine the state of employee participation in decision-making within the public enterprises of communication in Rwanda. More particularly, it is aimed at mapping out the extent of employee participation in the decision-making process in this area, to identify whether employees desire to participate in decision-making and to find out whether they would prefer to participate directly or act through a representative. It also aims to determine the form(s) of participation practised in the public enterprises of communication, to identify impediments to the participation of employee in decision-making and based on the results suggest recommendations in order to further promote employee participation in the decision-making procedure within this area. The research focuses on employee participation in the decision-making process in the public enterprises of communication in Rwanda. A questionnaire related to employee participation in decision-making was administered to a sample of 96 employees, but only 82 employees filled and returned the questionnaire. Various data analyses techniques were performed measure the state of employee participation in decision-making in general, and the extent of employee participation in the decisionmaking procedure within the public enterprises of communication in Rwanda in particular. The results revealed that the degree of employee participation in decision-making is very low and only senior managers (department managers) have access or rights to participate in the decision-making process. However, those who do not have opportunities to influence decisions made at the workplace manifest a great desire to participate in the decision-making process, and for a considerable number, this tends to be concerned with decisions daily affecting their own job. It was noted that the main obstacles to the participative process within the public companies of communication in Rwanda are the following: a lack of interest, a lack of initiative and support to the participation process from the government, an authoritarian approach via centralisation system of authority and control, managers especially general directors who are unwilling to share decision-making power with employees, manager's enterprise hesitates to accept employees as valuable partners in making decisions, and inadequate understanding of employees concerning their new roles in management of their enterprises. Therefore, employees did not recognise an educational level as an obstacle to their participation. Chapter One: Problem Statement and Purpose of the Study
Biomechanics of grade I degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis. Part 1: in vitro model.

OBJECT The authors sought to create and to evaluate an in vitro model of Grade I degenerative (closed-arch) spondylolisthesis. METHODS The model of spondylolisthesis was created by two primary procedures: 1) resection of the disc; and 2) stripping of anterior and posterior longitudinal ligaments away from the vertebral bodies (VBs). In 13 vertebral levels obtained from three cadaveric lumbar spines, the tissues were resected sequentially in alternating order to determine the relative contribution of each resection to spinal instability. The entire specimens were loaded with nonconstraining torques and then individual levels were loaded with anteroposterior shear forces. The motion values were measured optoelectronically for each specimen at individual levels. CONCLUSIONS The integrity of the disc was more important than attachment of the ligaments to the VB, but the resection of both structures was necessary to achieve substantial destabilization. The structures of the spine are highly resilient, and destabilization is difficult to achieve without performing extensive resection. Using the techniques described in this paper to alter normal spines, a level of spinal instability (Grade I; 25% slippage) that may represent spondylolisthesis can be modeled in vitro.
Relationship Between Strategic Orientation and Organizational Performance: An Exploratory Study of Philippine Companies

Questions have always been posed about organizational performance and its many determinants. The study and explanation of business competitiveness is a recurring theme examined by academics, consultants, and practitioners (Aragon-Sanchez and Sanchez-Marin, 2005). While firm performance is a multi-aspect phenomenon that is found to be influenced by a multiplicity of factors, such as culture, leadership, human resource management practices, the environment, market orientation, and overall company strategy, the growing literature on 'strategic thinking' or 'strategic management' points to competitive strategic management as one of the more influential determinants of firm success. This study is an attempt to corroborate claims that strategic orientation is related to higher organizational performance. Using the Ozen and Ulengin (2001) framework for the identification of strategic "thoughts", a content analysis of annual reports of Philippine firms is performed to gather data relating to both those strategic variables and organizational performance variables. The financial performance variables that turned out having any significant relationship with the strategy variables are Profit Margin and Debt Ratio. Likewise, the only strategy variables that turned out having any significant relationship with the organizational performance variables are: 1) consistent brand and image strategies, 2) producing products that have competitive advantages, and 3) developing core business areas through investment. While the sample size needs to be enlarged, the implication of these findings for practitioners is that strategic orientations shown to have a significant relationship with financial performance should lead managers to consider adopting those specific strategic orientations in their regular planning routine.
Results Does inhibition of de novo mRNA synthesis in the amygdala block consolidation of auditory fear conditioning ?

Memory consolidation is the process by which newly learned information is stabilized into long-term memory (LTM). Considerable evidence indicates that retrieval of a consolidated memory returns it to a labile state that requires it to be restabilized. Consolidation of new fear memories has been shown to require de novo RNA and protein synthesis in the lateral nucleus of the amygdala (LA). We have previously shown that de novo protein synthesis in the LA is required for reconsolidation of auditory fear memories. One key question is whether protein synthesis during reconsolidation depends on already existing mRNAs or on synthesis of new mRNAs in the amygdala. In the present study, we examined the effect of mRNA synthesis inhibition during consolidation and reconsolidation of auditory fear memories. We first show that intra-LA infusion of two different mRNA inhibitors dose-dependently impairs long-term memory but leaves short-term memory (STM) intact. Next, we show that intra-LA infusion of the same inhibitors dose-dependently blocks post-reactivation long-term memory (PR-LTM), whereas post-reactivation short-term memory (PR-STM) is left intact. Furthermore, the same treatment in the absence of memory reactivation has no effect. Together, these results show that both consolidation and reconsolidation of auditory fear memories require de novo mRNA synthesis and are equally sensitive to disruption of de novo mRNA synthesis in the LA.
Systemic Financial Crises, Balance Sheets, and Model Uncertainty

This paper empirically examines the probability and intensity of financial crises during the 1990s with a view to informing crisis prevention and mitigation policies. The econometric analysis uses a decision-theoretic approach, rather than the more standard general-to-specific approach, to address the high degree of model uncertainty. The results affirm the importance of balance sheets in the probability and intensity of financial crises, especially corporate balance sheet stresses and foreign exchange liquidity shortfalls. Model uncertainty is a bigger problem for estimating crisis intensity compared to crisis probability.
Do Tourism Firms with Female CEOs Hold Higher Levels of Cash?

Using data over a ten-year period from the Finnish tourism sector comprising more than 15 000 firm-year observations, as well as various models, this paper studies whether firms with a female CEO (Chief Executive Officer) hold a larger level of cash than those with a male CEO. The study controls for various firm characteristics, such as size, growth opportunities, profitability, leverage and debt structure, as well as the size of the board of directors and age of the CEO. It is hypothesized that firms run by female managers tend to have larger cash balances. In line with the hypothesis, the results indicated such firms hold significantly larger levels of cash than those run by men. The study also demonstrates that the proportion of firms with female CEOs among Finnish tourism enterprises somewhat increased during the sample period.
Analysis of factors influencing efficient value chain management strategies in the dealership telecommunications industry: a case of selected firms in Nairobi

It is the goal of almost every privately owned company to increase profitability. This is essentially achieved through two ways: reducing the cost base and increasing revenue. The paradox is that by cutting of costs in the short term it often results in a reduction in revenue earning ability in the longer term. In the same manner, a drive to increase revenue in the longer term often results in an increase in costs in the short term. This study analysed the factors influencing efficient value chain management strategies thus enabling firms to identify both the areas of huge cost that make little or no contribution to business performance and the prospects for opportunity that were worth financing. The study employed descriptive research design. Stratified random sampling techniques were utilized to identify the target population. The researcher made use of both secondary and primary data where the data collection instrument used was questionnaires which were mostly structured or closed ended. Some elements of open ended questions were used to give a greater depth of response. Document analysis was also effectively utilised. The study will show that human resource management, infrastructure, technology development and procurement are variables influencing efficient value chain management strategies in the Dealership telecommunication industry. In particular human resource management was ranked first of the four variables by a majority of respondents while procurement was ranked last.
Sovereign Wealth Funds, Macroeconomic Policy Alignment and Financial Stability

This paper firstly discusses alignment of SWFs with macroeconomic policy. We believe that SWFs can become an effective tool for fiscal policy; SWF investments should be made in alignment with the monetary authority, and help stabilize the exchange rate. SWFs also contribute to stability of the national balance sheet. Asset allocation of SWFs has significant impacts on the current and capital accounts of both domestic and international balance sheets. Secondly, this paper explores the impacts of SWFs on the global financial market and its stability, including those on asset bubbles, equity risk premium and financial market stability. We argue that the potential negative impact of SWFs on the global financial market is very limited, and that they are important stabilizing forces in the global financial market. We believe that SWFs contribute to the coordination of macroeconomic policy from a domestic point of view and to the stability of global financial market from an international point of view.
Firms’ Intentions to Use Nonownership Services

In this study, we investigate why companies intend to use nonownership services by conducting qualitative interviews with 10 experts to develop our hypotheses, then using a survey to test them. Our findings show that, as hypothesized, firms’ intentions to use nonownership services are affected by both financial (i.e., tax efficiency and cash and liquid asset management) and nonfinancial (i.e., control over assets and access to the latest technology and tools) factors, with access to the latest technology and tools being the most important driver. Furthermore, we show that the effect that the desire to gain access to the latest technology and tools has on intentions to use nonownership services is enhanced (i.e., moderated) when firms wish to reduce the risk of obsolescence. The hypothesized moderation effect of firm size on the importance of cash and liquid asset management is marginally significant. These findings are an important contribution to the literature, as previous studies have almost exclusively focused on the financial drivers of nonownership service use.
Non-viral gene transfer therapy for cystic fibrosis

Non-viral methods of gene transfer are being investigated to treat cystic fibrosis (CF) and include naked DNA, lipid–DNA complexes and complexes of DNA with polycations such as poly-L-lysine (poly K) or polyethylenimine (PEI), all of which can carry the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. The most recent promising strategy is the use of polycation–DNA complexes, particularly those prepared with poly-K and substituted with polyethylene glycol. These complexes produced partial correction of the CF defect in a mouse model with minimal toxicity, and have advanced to clinical trial. Improvements in this and other non-viral methods are in process and include i) targeting the complexes to the desired cells using receptor ligands, ii) lessening toxicity by changing the mix of lipids or adding protective molecules to polycations, iii) modifying the plasmid DNA to reduce inflammatory CpG sequences and enhance intensity, duration and tissue specificity of expression, and iv) modification of the complexes to improve nuclear access.
Embryonic Velar Structure and Function of Two Sibling Species of Crepidula With Different Modes of Development

The structure and function of the embryonic velum of two closely related species of Crepidula with different modes of development are examined. The velum of C. dilatata, a direct developer whose embryos feed on nurse eggs, does not differ substantially from the velum of C. fecunda, a species with planktotrophic larvae. Although velar ciliation develops earlier in embryos of C. dilatata, embryos of both species were able to feed on small particles, using the opposed-band ciliary mechanism. However, the embryos of C. dilatata lose this ability as they grow. The embryos of C. dilatata were not able to swim, whereas those of C. fecunda swam consistently in vials of seawater. This difference in swimming ability is probably due to differences in velum-body size allometry between the two species.
The Impact of Dividend Policy on Firm Performance under High or Low Leverage; Evidence from Pakistan

This study aims to find out the impact of dividend policy on firm performance under high or low debt for all the non-financial sector companies listed on Karachi Stock Exchange. This study has utilized the secondary data published by State Bank of Pakistan in the shape of Balance Sheet Analysis of non-financial sector for the period of 2006 to 2001 with the sample size consisting of 122 companies. Panel data models have been applied to examine the impact of dividend policy on firm performance in the presence of high or low leverage. Mainly it has focused on using two performance measures i.e. Tobin’s Q and Return on Equity both as dependent variables while the control variable includes the firm size and growth with debt as the moderating variable. Breusch and Pagan Lagrangian multiplier test for random effects suggested that OLS is better than fixed effect. It is found that the dividend payout ratio has got significant positive relationship with Tobin’s Q and ROA when there is both less and high debt. In addition, there is no moderating effect of debt on the relationship between dividend payout ratio and firm performance of all the non-financial firms listed in KSE.
A Tale of Two Styles: Do Qualified Foreign Institutional Investors Have an Edge Over Domestic Funds Managers in China?

Using a unique quarterly dataset on equity ownership, we investigate Domestic Funds’ and Qualified Foreign Institutional Investors’ (QFIIs) ownership characteristics in the Chinese equity market. Results suggest that both domestic funds and QFIIs tend to hold big firms, firms with relatively higher transaction costs, firms with better accounting performances, firms with higher B/M ratios and higher price to cash flow ratios. Meanwhile, they both hold firms with relative lower P/E ratios, lower betas, and lower price to sales ratios. The performances of both domestic funds and QFIIs holdings are relatively lower than the overall market, when measured by Tobin’s Q. Domestic funds also tend to hold firms with relatively higher turnovers, higher current and quick ratios, and lower firm ages. However, QFIIs tend to hold firms with relatively lower turnovers, lower current and quick ratios, but higher firm ages. We find that domestic and foreign institutional investors have similar preferences towards industry allocations for their holdings. We also observe that foreign institutional investors prefer stocks with higher ownership concentration. Our regression analysis indicates that firms held by domestic funds mangers or QFIIs in the previous period do perform better in the following period. This phenomenon is stronger for domestic funds holdings, suggesting that domestic mangers do have an edge over foreign institutional investors. Our results also demonstrate that the state ownership has been inefficient in terms of firms’ performances, but the ownership concentration and firm’s tangibility do have positive impacts on firms’ performances.
Obesity and Microvascular Invasion in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

ABSTRACT Background: We hypothesized that hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with higher Body Mass Index (BMI) might have more microvascular invasion (MVI) in their tumors. Methods: Records from 138 consecutive patients who underwent surgery at Columbia University Medical Center from January 1, 2002 to January 9, 2008 were evaluated. Results: 40 patients (29%) had MVI, including 14% with BMI <25, 31% with BMI = 25–30, and 40% with BMI >30 (p = .05). However, only maximum alpha-fetoprotein was significantly associated with overall mortality in a Cox model. Conclusions: MVI was associated with obesity. A better understanding of the mechanism of this association may lead to interventions for the treatment and prevention of HCC.
Financial Integration and Foreign Banks in Latin America: How Do They Impact the Transmission of External Financial Shocks?

This paper explores the impact of international financial integration on credit markets in Latin America, using a cross-country dataset covering 17 countries between 1996 and 2008. It is found that financial integration amplifies the impact of international financial shocks on aggregate credit and interest rate fluctuations. Nonetheless, the net impact of integration on deepening credit markets dominates for the large majority of states of nature. The paper also uses a detailed bank-level dataset that covers more than 500 banks for a similar time period to explore the role of financial integrationcaptured through the participation of foreign banksin propagating external shocks. It is found that interest rates charged and loans supplied by foreign-owned banks respond more to external financial shocks than those supplied by domestically owned banks. This does not hold for all foreign banks. Spanish banks in the sample behave more like domestic banks and do not amplify the impact of foreign shocks on credit and interest rates.
Time and Outcome Valuation: Implications for Marketing Decision Making

Both marketing managers and consumers must make decisions for which the good and bad outcomes may occur at various points in time in the future. A model of time and outcome valuation (TOV) is developed and shown to expand and complement a variety of marketing models and theories, including exchange models, salesforce motivation models, and decision calculus models. The TOV model is derived from six basic assumptions. From the assumptions a series of managerially important decision phenomena are described, including individual traps and fences, speedup costs, delay charge effects, and future optimism. A series of managerial propositions on the impact of the timing of outcomes on marketing decision making is also developed from the TOV model.
Design and realization of circular patch antenna for S-Band Coastal Radar

In this paper, a design and realization of a coastal radar antenna that works on S-Band frequency was presented. Type of antenna that had been used in this research is a microstrip patch antenna. One antenna module consist of eight patch that was horizontally arranged. The microstrip antenna had been fabricated using FR-4 epoxy substrate with 4.6 dielectric constant and a thickness of 1.6mm. Measured antenna acquires unidirectional radiation pattern, 16° beamwidth azimuth, 2.93 GHz – 3.093 GHz of operating frequency at Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR) ≤ 2; 166 MHz of bandwidth and Gain = 11.98 dB. There was a satisfactory agreement between simulation and measurement result. This circular patch antenna will be implemented for S-Band Coastal Radar.
Much ado about… everything: the plight of Southern European economies from a national competitiveness perspective

This paper identifies what are understood to be key drivers of country competitiveness. These are the institutional and structural conditions in an economy that are linked with the attainment of sustainable national competitive advantages through the creation of societal conditions that lead to a collective spirit of healthy competition at the heart of which lay competent organizations. The verification of these institutional and economic conditions of national competitiveness implies the development of a profound understanding of international markets and their aesthetic idiosyncrasies, with clear consequences to the promotion of exported goods and services of high aggregated value and the stimulation of domestic demand as well as the increasing sophistication of domestic business environments.
Synthesis and cytotoxicity of novel analogues of podophyllotoxin

We have synthesized four novel derivatives of podophyllotoxin, the chalcone derivatives namely 2-benzylidene-6,7-dimethoxy-4-phenyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-naphthalen-1-one (4a), 2-benzylidene-5,7-dichloro-6-hydroxy-4-phenyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-naphthalen-1-one(4b), and the amino-thiazolyl derivatives namely7,8-dimethoxy-5-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-naphtha[1,2-d] thiazol-2-yl amine (5a) and 2-amino-6,8-dichloro-5-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-naphtho[1,2-d] thiazol-7-ol (5b). The aryl tetralin ring system in these compounds were attached to a fused aminothiazolyl ring or a chalcone ring. Synthesis of the tetralin ring in these podophyllotoxin derivatives was accomplished by the cyclization of the γ-hydroxyketones. These derivatives were evaluated for the induction of cytotoxicity in mouse mammary carcinoma cells in vitro. All the four compounds exhibited time dependent cytotoxicity at a concentration of 100μM when assessed by Trypan blue dye exclusion assay on Ehrlich Ascites Tumor (EAT) cells in vitro.