Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Relationship between business strategy and human resource management practices in private and public limited companies in Malaysia

This study examines the relationship between two business strategies (differentiation and low-cost) and six human resource management (HRM) practices (recruitment and selection, training and development, compensation, performance management, employment security, and work-life balance). Furthermore, an examination conducted on the differences in such relationship between the Public and Private Limited companies in Malaysia. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to investigate the effect of business ownership in the model. It is found that differentiation strategy stressed on all six HRM practices while low-cost strategy emphasized four HRM practices only. The results also show that the effects of business strategy and HRM practices performed in Public Limited companies are only slightly different from the ones performed in Private Limited companies.
How to make happier customers with quality e-service? : Case study “Improving Kela’s advice and discussion forum for families online”

In this Master Thesis the aim was to find the elements that create quality customer service online and improve Kela’s (The Social Security Institution of Finland) discussion and advice forum, Kela-Kerttu, with the research findings as a case study. The research was carried out with a theoretical literature review and a questionnaire targeted to families using Kela-Kerttu service. Theories observed in the thesis were discussing e-service quality with key elements attached. Also service design methods and e-service quality conceptual model were introduced as frameworks for developing phase. The online questionnaire carried out in Suomi24.fi in spring 2013 gave 425 responses. The results showed that customers were giving feedback on the same elements that theory was pointing out. The customers valued the most reliable, detailed and personal responses which were provided fast enough. They valued professional service attached to a reliable brand. They were seeking a possibility to have personal one-to-one message service and were requiring better usability concerning information searching. The research findings were reflected to organization’s strategy on developing e-services further and removing the service location from Suomi24.fi to kela.fi.
The Investment Process of Private Equity Firms: How does the Affect Heuristic Impact Decision-making?

Individuals utilize heuristics to simplify problems leading to potential decision-making biases. "How do heuristics impact the investment process of private equity decision-makers reviewing proposals? " Through an exploratory multi-case analysis, insight is provided into complex private equity decisions by studying biases in the investment process. The beginning expectation was that the affect heuristic would be dominant. Results suggest different heuristics are used through decision-making processes. Five propositions are proffered, arguing the use of different heuristics in the investment decision-making process. Decision-makers draw on learning from experience and apply deliberative heuristics to guide selection decisions regarding the opportunity. Procedural heuristics guide post transaction management decisions. Affect heuristics are utilized when reviewing business opportunities. Organizational learning is exhibited through the modification of investment structures based on previous experiences. Human capital positively impacts the investment decisions. The study indicates that experience and learning leads to the construction of different heuristics that subsequently impact investments.
The Relationship between Corporate Social and Financial Performance : Evidence from Chinese Heavy-polluting Industries

This study investigates the relationship between corporate social performance (CSP)and corporate financial performance (CFP) within the context of a particular CSPelement: environmental investment. Two models of the determinants of companies’environmental investment are estimated in order to capture the difference betweenfirms’ actual and expected level of environmental investment. The regressionresiduals are used as our measure of corporate social performance. Both market-basedand accounting-based measures of financial performance are applied to representcorporate financial performance. With the analysis of a sample encompassing 223Chinese heavy-polluting companies, we have found that it is more likely to observe asignificantly positive relationship between firms’ environmental endeavors and theiraccounting-based financial performance among firms that are more active to disclosecorporate information. Besides, building on our empirical findings that corporatesocial performance is positively correlated with accounting-based financialperformance but has no correlation with market-based financial performance, wesuggest a priority for managers from Chinese heavy-polluting industries when theyfulfill social demands of various stakeholders.
A Note on Pension Coverage and Earnings Replacement Rates of Retired Men: A Closer Look at Distributions

In spite of the importance of registered pension plans (RPPs) in discussions of Canada's retirement income system, very few Canadian studies have examined the financial outcomes experienced by RPP members and RPP non-members. Using data from the Longitudinal Administrative Database (LAD), this paper compares the distributions of earnings replacement rates achieved by retired men who were or were not members of a registered pension plan (RPP) in 1991 and/or 1992. The distributions of earnings replacement rates of men who were not RPP members are far more dispersed than those of men who were RPP members. And while the average earnings replacement rates of the two groups are generally comparable, the median earnings replacement rates of RPP non-members are lower than those of RPP members as a result of asymmetry in the distributions.
Real-time chemical gas sensing of pathogenic microorganisms pollution in wastewater

The amount of potable water on earth is limited and its quality is under constant threat due to microbiological and chemical pollutants. The proposed research's aim is the real-time wastewater microbiological pollution monitoring; through the detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released from the metabolism of pathogenic microorganisms, that typically contaminate water. In order to obtain these results, the innovative olfactory System Small Sensor System (S3) tool was used. The S3 is equipped with an array consisting of 6 metal oxide semiconductors (MOS) gas sensors, 3 of which prepared by thin film technology, while the other 3 constructed with the novel nanowires technology. Furthermore, Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) with SPME technique was employed to correlate the VOCs detected by S3 to the indigenous pathogenic microorganisms. The efficiency of S3 device will have a key-role in a numerous application in food and environmental fields.
Article in press-uncorrected proof Letter to the Editor Neuropharmacology of schizophrenia : is there a role for leptin ?

A significant relationship between beneficial therapeutic effects and antipsychotic-induced weight gain has been demonstrated in various studies for various medications including clozapine, olanzapine and risperidone wsummarized in (1)x. Of interest, leptin has been postulated as a potential mediator underlying this intriguing link between weight gain and better clinical outcome (1). In this letter, we describe for the first time a significant positive correlation between baseline serum leptin concentrations and improvements in positive symptoms in patients with schizophrenia following antipsychotic treatment. Patients attending the clinical services of the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (India) who fulfilled Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) criteria for schizophrenia and were never treated with any psychotropic medications, including antipsychotics, and not abusing any other substances (ns18; age: 28.4"6.5 years; 7 men), were examined in this study. The diagnosis of schizophrenia was established using Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview Plus (2), which was confirmed by another psychiatrist through an independent clinical interview. The age at onset of psychosis was 26.5"5.8 years and the duration of untreated psychosis was 34.4"40.9 months. Psychopathology was assessed using Scale for Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS) and Scale for Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS). None had a history or clinical features suggestive of substance dependence wascertained using Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview Plus (2)x or neurological/medical disorder. Following complete description of the study to the
Exploring the Diversification Discount: A Focus on High-Technology Target Firms

Abstract : When firms choose to acquire others, those acquisitions can either be considered diversifying or non-diversifying. Whether the firm diversifies or not has been shown to affect the post-acquisition performance of that firm. Past merger and acquisition (M&A) research has identified a "diversification discount" when firms diversify through M&A activity. However managers continue to diversify, posing the question, "Why do firms continue to diversify in the face of research indicating negative post-acquisition performance"? The answer may be found in that much of the past research has treated all acquisitions the same by analyzing a wide cross-section of acquisitions from industries of all types. This assumption may be wrong, as not all acquisitions are the same. The present research attempts to build on past research by analyzing only a single segment of M&A activity the high-technology industry between the years 1994 and 1998. In addition, this study differs from past research by analyzing firm post-acquisition performance over a longer three-year period. The present research did achieve significant results that may help eliminate some of the clouds over diversification's true impact on M&A activity. A "diversification discount" was identified by the present research, confirming the findings of much of the past M&A literature.
Multi‐dimensional phenotyping: towards a new taxonomy for airway disease

All the real knowledge which we possess, depends on methods by which we distinguish the similar from the dissimilar. The greater the number of natural distinctions this method comprehends the clearer becomes our idea of things. The more numerous the objects which employ our attention the more difficult it becomes to form such a method and the more necessary. [ 1 ].
A framework for the successful outsourcing of Australian corporate real estate

Outsourcing of corporate real estate has been growing significantly in Australia since the late 1990s. The main users of corporate real estate outsourcing services are large Australian companies, Federal and State governments and councils. The typical corporate real estate contract has a life of five years and deals with real estate assets of $200million in value for the smaller outsourcing arrangements and most often for corporations and governments real estate assets subject to an outsourcing contract over the $1billion mark in value. Despite the significant monetary value of corporate real estate outsourcing and the growing use of outsourcing to manage corporate real estate assets over the last decade, the academic literature and research in this field has been limited. The Australian academic literature in this field is virtually non existent. In particular, there has been little consideration and research as to what makes corporate real estate outsourcing successful. In discussion with industry practitioners, there was an industry need to research what makes corporate real estate outsourcing successful. Of particular interest to industry practitioners was the creation of a particular model or framework that could be used by practitioners of corporate real outsourcing to make decisions on how to implement an outsourcing contract. The research then has a key objective to develop an original outsourcing framework concerned with successful corporate real estate outsourcing that can be used by industry practitioners. This was the first research aim. The second research aim was to assess whether industry practitioners saw the framework as being useful for their day to day implementation of corporate real estate contracts.
Antagonism by amantadine of prochlorpemazine‐induced catalepsy

Amantadine (1 -adamantanamhe hydrochloride), an antiviral agent (Davies, Grunert & others, 1964) was given by Schwab, England & others (1969) to prevent influenza in a patient with Parkinson’s disease with a remarkable effect on the parkinsonian symptoms. These authors confirmed on 163 patients with Parkinson’s disease the efficacy of amantadine “usually consisting of a reduction of akinesia and rigidity and some lessening of tremor”. These results were recently confirmed by a controlled trial of Parkes, Zilkha & others (1970). The toxicological and pharmacological properties of amantadine were examined by Vernier, Harmon & others (1969) who observed, at high doses, a moderate increase of spontaneous motor activity in mice, an antagonism of tetrabenazineinduced sedation in mice and some convulsions at toxic doses. We studied some effects of amantadine in rats and mice (after intraperitoneal administration, doses are expressed in weight of amantadine). The excitation was moderate between 4 and 64 mg/kg; at these doses, hypothermia and mydriasis were noticed. At doses between 1 and 64mg/kg, we did not observe any antagonism against oxotremorine-induced hypothermia and tremors or against reserpine-induced hypothermia and ptosis in mice. Amantadine, at doses higher than 16 mg/kg, antagonized the loss of righting-reflex induced by pentobarbitone or barbitone in mice. When administered 30 min before (+)-amphetamine sulphate (3 mg/kg, i.p. in rats), amantadine (at doses higher than 4 mg/kg) significantly increased the intensity of stereotypicities (licking, gnawing . . .); this effect was less marked if amantadine was injected 1 h before (+)-amphetamine and non-existent if the interval was 2 h. Considering the important therapeutic effect of amantadine on akinesia and rigidity, we examined the effect of this drug on the prochlorpemazine-induced catalepsy in rats.
Mas Oncogene Signaling and Transformation Require the Small GTP-Binding Protein Rac

ABSTRACT The Mas oncogene encodes a novel G-protein-coupled receptor that was identified originally as a transforming protein when overexpressed in NIH 3T3 cells. The mechanism and signaling pathways that mediate Mas transformation have not been determined. We observed that the foci of transformed NIH 3T3 cells caused by Mas were similar to those caused by activated Rho and Rac proteins. Therefore, we determined if Mas signaling and transformation are mediated through activation of a specific Rho family protein. First, we observed that, like activated Rac1, Mas cooperated with activated Raf and caused synergistic transformation of NIH 3T3 cells. Second, both Mas- and Rac1-transformed NIH 3T3 cells retained actin stress fibers and showed enhanced membrane ruffling. Third, like Rac, Mas induced lamellipodium formation in porcine aortic endothelial cells. Fourth, Mas and Rac1 strongly activated the JNK and p38, but not ERK, mitogen-activated protein kinases. Fifth, Mas and Rac1 stimulated transcription from common DNA promoter elements: NF-κB, serum response factor (SRF), Jun/ATF-2, and the cyclin D1 promoter. Finally, Mas transformation and some of Mas signaling (SRF and cyclin D1 but not NF-κB activation) were blocked by dominant negative Rac1. Taken together, these observations suggest that Mas transformation is mediated in part by activation of Rac-dependent signaling pathways. Thus, Rho family proteins are common mediators of transformation by a diverse variety of oncogene proteins that include Ras, Dbl family, and G-protein-coupled oncogene proteins.
Correcting for multivariate measurement error by regression calibration in meta‐analyses of epidemiological studies

Within‐person variability in measured values of multiple risk factors can bias their associations with disease. The multivariate regression calibration (RC) approach can correct for such measurement error and has been applied to studies in which true values or independent repeat measurements of the risk factors are observed on a subsample. We extend the multivariate RC techniques to a meta‐analysis framework where multiple studies provide independent repeat measurements and information on disease outcome. We consider the cases where some or all studies have repeat measurements, and compare study‐specific, averaged and empirical Bayes estimates of RC parameters. Additionally, we allow for binary covariates (e.g. smoking status) and for uncertainty and time trends in the measurement error corrections. Our methods are illustrated using a subset of individual participant data from prospective long‐term studies in the Fibrinogen Studies Collaboration to assess the relationship between usual levels of plasma fibrinogen and the risk of coronary heart disease, allowing for measurement error in plasma fibrinogen and several confounders. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Lower mutation rate of bovine leukemia virus relative to that of spleen necrosis virus

Genetic variation of the more complex retroviruses in the human T-cell leukemia virus/bovine leukemia virus (HTLV/BLV) group is less than in some other retroviral genera. To test whether reverse transcription of HTLV/BLV group members is less error prone than that of members of other groups, we developed an assay for detecting forward mutations in BLV, similar to that developed for the simpler spleen necrosis virus (SNV). We used this system to study the rates and types of mutations that occur during a single replication cycle. We found that BLV reverse transcription is approximately two and one-half times less error prone than SNV reverse transcription (4.8 x 10(-6) versus 1.2 x 10(-5) mutation per bp per cycle, respectively). The relative numbers of all types of observed mutations (that is, base pair substitutions, frameshifts, deletions, and deletions with insertions) were similar for BLV and SNV.
Effect of aflatoxin ingestion in feed on body weight gain and tissue residues in rabbits

Summary. The effect of a subclinical dose of aflatoxin on body weight gain and risk assessment of aflatoxin in muscle tissue for food safety were the focus of the study. Thirty New Zealand rabbits, 2 months old, were used. A group of 24 rabbits was fed aflatoxin 2 p.p.m. day‐1 for a period of 4 months. The weights of the individual aflatoxinfed rabbits and those of the control group were recorded weekly. Aflatoxin was withdrawn from a group of six rabbits chosen at random for a period of 4 weeks before the termination of the experiment. All rabbits were necropsied at the end of the study for gross and microscopic changes of the internal organs. Samples of muscle tissue were also collected and analysed chemically for aflatoxin using thin‐layer chromatography. Significant weight loss equivalent to 13% mortality was found in the aflatoxin‐fed rabbits. Characteristic pathological changes were found. Aflatoxins B1 and G2 were detected in muscle tissue at alarming concentrations far exceeding the permissible levels in food for human consumption in the aflatoxin‐fed group. No detectable aflatoxins were found in the aflatoxin‐withdrawal group.
CRAS‐CBR: Internal control risk assessment system using case‐based reasoning

Abstract: Information technology and the Internet have been major drivers for changes in all aspects of business processes and activities. They have brought major changes to the financial statements audit environment as well, which in turn has required modifications in audit procedures. There exist certain difficulties, however, with current audit procedures especially for the assessment of the level of control risk. This assessment is primarily based on the auditors' professional judgment and experiences, not on objective rules or criteria.
Going Private Transactions and Corporate Governance in the UK

We analyse the agency influences on an increasingly common phenomenon, the change of status from public to private. We find that companies going private are more likely to have higher CEO and institutional shareholdings. We also find firms going private are more likely to have the same person as CEO and chairman. There is no evidence that they have excess free cash flow but they do have lower growth opportunities. We do not find that firms going private experience a greater threat of hostile takeover than firms remaining public. Our results are consistent with incentive and monitoring explanations of the decision to go private but are inconsistent with the ineffective governance hypothesis.
Evaluating the Flexibility of Military Air Mobility Fleets

The ability of an organization to perform some critical military tasks in a timely manner may depend on the availability of a sufficient number of appropriate vehicles. Therefore, the decision of which is the best military fleet-mix for a given set of requirements should take into consideration, in addition to cost, the ability of the fleet to perform tasks when some of its vehicles are unavailable. In this paper, a measure of the flexibility of military air mobility fleets is presented that evaluates their ability to perform tasks in a timely manner taking into account the possibility that some aircraft in the fleet may be unavailable at any given time. This measure computes the number of aircraft that must be unavailable in order to render a fleet incapable of performing each task in a timely manner. The utility of the flexibility measure is demonstrated by using it as an objective in a multiobjective optimization framework to compute nondominated fleets with respect to cost and flexibility. An artificial data set that is representative of real military air mobility data is used to illustrate how the new flexibility measure may be used to aid decision makers with their fleet mix problems.
ON THE INTERACTION OF A TWO-DIMENSIONAL JET WITH A PARALLEL FLOW

Abstract : The injection of a two-dimensional jet of total head H1 from an infinite plate into a uniform stream of lower total head H2 is considered, the fluids being assumed inviscid and incompressible. Steady, irrotational solutions of Euler's equations are found for H1/H2 approaching infinity. The region behind the jet is treated as a stagnant wake with constant pressure equal to that of the undisturbed stream, and the jet injection angle is fixed across the jet opening. When a thin jet approximation is combined with Bernoulli's principle, a non-linear boundary condition is derived along the vortex sheet separating the jet from the external flow. The resulting non-linear potential problem (in the plane of the complex velocity potential) for the external flow is shown by Pal to be equivalent to a variational problem. A numerical procedure based on the variational principle and the Ritz-Galerkin method is used to solve for the case of normal injection with a digital computer. The pressure distribution along the plate upstream and streamline diagrams are given.
On the Feasibility of Using WiFi White Spaces for Opportunistic M2M Communications

Machine to machine (M2M) communications enable autonomous communication between devices and are an integral part of the Internet of Things (IoT). This paper evaluates the feasibility of opportunistic M2M communication in the unlicensed industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) band and its coexistence with existing WiFi networks. Using a BMAP/G/1/K queuing model, we evaluate the duration and frequency of idle periods or “white spaces” in WiFi networks, that may be opportunistically used for M2M communication. Our results show that white spaces occur frequently and are sufficiently long to facilitate opportunistic M2M communications.