Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Leadership Competencies as Success Factors for Project Performance A Case Study at Skanska Sweden

The importance of leadership appears to be ever increasing in the business world today and the traditional view of leadership has changed dramatically over the last five to ten years. The development has shifted from mostly hard and easily measured skills towards a softer, intangible approach. The trend of leadership styles is now focusing on competencies that are considered appropriate for leaders. For this thesis, three categories of competencies are investigated, which all are considered as crucial performance factors for a project's success. However, these have not been shown to be applicable for the construction industry in the research literature. The lack of research on leadership on the lower management level in the construction industry, has created a demand for studies on the relationship between leadership, management, and performance, specific to the construction industry. Through the objectives of this thesis, the intention is to increase the understanding of leadership and leadership competencies within construction projects. Furthermore, an evaluation is conducted on the link between how managers' leadership skills are perceived in a project and how project performance can be improved. The research questions "How is the leader's role connected to project performance on construction sites? " and "What leadership competencies support the leader‟s role on construction sites' performance? " are used to frame the problem for this thesis. To obtain representative results, a case study has been conducted at the construction company Skanska, in Sweden. The case study is based on qualitative interviews which include ranking various competencies that are considered to be crucial for leaders in regards to project performance. The interviews were conducted on production sites with employees working as site managers, team leaders, or workers. The interviews were analysed using a theoretical framework as a foundation to find the most representative results. The results of this thesis indicate that the leader's emotional competencies are important skills of the leader. Moreover, motivation is considered as the most crucial competency for successfully finishing a high performance project. Differences on how leadership competencies are perceived and what is deemed crucial between the different types were noted. The major difference between workers and managers in this study was considered to depend on which expectations each role has towards leaders in projects.
Relaxant effect of Lagenaria breviflora Roberty fruit pulp and seeds on isolated rabbit ileum

Lagenaria breviflora roberty is used in West Africa as traditional remedy for treatment of gastrointestinal disorders, particularly diarrhoea. This study was aimed at assessing the effect of the pulp and seed extract of L. breviflora on the contractile activity of isolated rabbit ileum. Rabbits of both sexes were used for the study and a rabbit was sacrificed for each experiment. The ileum was located and taken out into a petri dish containing Tyrode solution constantly aerated by an air pump. The organ was cut into strips of about 2cm long and mounted in an organ bath. The contractile responses were recorded on a kymograph. The maximum response (E max ), concentration producing 50% of the response (EC 50 ) and affinity (pA 2 ) were determined from repeated experiments conducted. Values were expressed as mean±SEM and significant differences were determined using one way ANOVA (p<0.05). The extracts caused a dose-dependent relaxation of the ileum and the relaxant effect was antagonized by prazosin and phenoxybenzamine (s-adrenergic antagonists) with a right shift in concentration response curves (CRCs) obtained. Propranolol (s adrenergic antagonist) caused a left shift in the CRCs obtained. E max and EC 50 for the extracts reduced, while pA 2 increased. The extracts produced a-adrenergic receptor-mediated gastrointestinal smooth muscle relaxation which explains the rationale for the use of L. breviflora fruit for treatment of diarrhoea. Keyword s: Adrenergic, Antagonists, Breviflora, Contractility, Lagenaria.
The impact of manufacturer’s brand image congruity with store’s image on customers’ loyalty

Recently the new trend in scientific research is emerging – the congruity of manufacturer’s brand image with store’s image and its impact on customer loyalty. Based on this, the aim of the article is to validate conceptually and to test empirically the impact of manufacturer’s brand image congruity with on customers’ loyalty in case of Lithuanian stores. Manufacturer’s brand image is defined with reference of Kapferer (1986, 2008) brand identity elements and brand identity prism model. Analysis of scientific literature allowed identifying the main elements that define the store image: store location, product assortment, services, and store atmosphere. The customer loyalty is defined as being composed of two dimensions: attitude loyalty and behavioral loyalty. Based on the results of theoretical analysis, the conceptual model of the impact of manufacturer’s brand image congruity with store’s image on customers’ loyalty, is proposed. The results of empirical research confirm the adequacy of the model proposed, allowing to conclude that it can be used for investigation of an impact of manufacturer’s brand image congruity with store’s image on customers loyalty. It was found that store’s image (as identified with manufacturer’s brand image) positively influences customers loyalty. Similarly, it was confirmed that elements of store’s image are related with attitude and behavioral loyalty.
Hydrogen from waste plastics by way of pyrolysis–gasification

A screw kiln continuous reaction system was used to investigate the production of hydrogen from a representative waste plastic (polypropylene). The reactor system consisted of two stages, with pyrolysis of the plastic in the first-stage screw kiln, followed by catalytic gasification of the product pyrolysis gases in the second stage. Two catalysts (a laboratory prepared Ni-Mg-Al catalyst and a commercial nickel catalyst) were used and the process conditions of gasification temperature and water injection rate were investigated. The results showed that the introduction of catalyst into the gasification stage dramatically increased the hydrogen production. The gas and hydrogen production and amount of reacted water per hour were increased with the increase of the gasification temperature from 600 to 900°C for both the Ni-Mg-Al and the commercial nickel catalysts. The rate of water injection was also shown to be critical for hydrogen production. The maximum hydrogen produced was 52% of the maximum theoretica.
Two-sample Bayesian Nonparametric Hypothesis Testing

In this article we describe Bayesian nonparametric procedures for two-sample hypothesis testing. Namely, given two sets of samples y^{(1)} iid F^{(1)} and y^{(2)} iid F^{(2)}, with F^{(1)}, F^{(2)} unknown, we wish to evaluate the evidence for the null hypothesis H_{0}:F^{(1)} = F^{(2)} versus the alternative. Our method is based upon a nonparametric Polya tree prior centered either subjectively or using an empirical procedure. We show that the Polya tree prior leads to an analytic expression for the marginal likelihood under the two hypotheses and hence an explicit measure of the probability of the null Pr(H_{0}|y^{(1)},y^{(2)}).
Testing Real Interest Parity in Emerging Markets

The paper finds significant deviations between short-term emerging market real interest rates and world real interest rates primarily due to the inflationary expectations of the local investor base. We test for long-run real interest convergence in emerging markets using a time varying panel unit root test proposed by Pesaran to capture the improved macro-economic fundamentals since early 1990s. We also estimate the speed of convergence in the presence of a shock. The paper suggests that real interest rates in the emerging markets show some convergence in the long run but real interest parity does not hold. Our results also find that the speed of adjustment of real rates to a shock is estimated to differ significantly across the emerging markets. Measured by their half-life, some emerging markets in Asia, E.Europe and S.Africa, where real interest rates are generally low, take much longer to adjust than where real interest rates are generally high (Latin America, Turkey). From a policy perspective, encouraging foreign investors to take direct exposure at the short end of the local debt market could lower the real interest rates in some emerging markets.
Sustainability in the front-end of innovation at design agencies

In the two last decades a considerable amount of research has been conducted on the Front End of Innovation. This is the stage of the product development process where the design brief is formulated. This phase is argued to be crucial to the success of the final product. While the Front End of Innovation in general has been a hot research topic, little research has been conducted on its relationship to design for sustainability. Indeed, within Design-for-Sustainability literature a strong focus can be observed on the phase after the formulation of the design brief. Many companies hire external design agencies for their product innovation. In such collaborations, goals and targets for the design project need to be clarified in the early stages of the project, including sustainability targets. The role of design agencies in design for sustainability is also under-researched. This paper discusses the potential of sustainability as a value-adding activity for design agencies. It explores how design agencies deal with sustainability issues in the Front End of Innovation. The analysis is based on in-depth interviews with five major Dutch design agencies. Findings show that a distinction can be made between incorporation of sustainability as a consequence of a client request (i.e. client-driven sustainability) and when sustainability is incorporated into the project by the agency (i.e. agency-driven sustainability). Also, agencies appear to deal with sustainability on a decomposed level. This study has initiated an array of follow-up studies, which are sketched in the further research section.
A Sorting-Based Approximation of the Sum-Product Algorithm

A complexity-and delay-efficient simplification of the sum-product algorithm (SPA) for decoding lowdensity parity-check (LDPC) codes is presented. The key feature of the new algorithm consists of a modification of the complexity-intensive and delay-causing update equations at the check nodes of the factor graph of the LDPC code. The modified update equations at a check node are based on ordering the reliability values of the incoming messages and on using a balanced tree topology to achieve optimum parallel processing. Furthermore, the complexity of the new algorithm can be adjusted: the least complex version of the algorithm corresponds to the so-called min-sum approximation, and the most complex version gives the full SPA.
diversification in a biodiversity hotspot: Primulaceae on Indian Ocean islands

Aim We examined phylogenetic relationships and spatio-temporal diversification in Indian Ocean Primulaceae, assessing correlations between speciation rates, geographical expansion and ecomorphological specialization. Location Madagascar and Indian Ocean Islands. Methods We conducted phylogenetic analyses with plastid and nuclear DNA sequences of Primulaceae using maximum likelihood and Bayesian algorithms, and estimated divergence times using a Bayesian relaxed molecular clock. Temporal changes in diversification rate and possible correlations with the biogeographical history of the group were examined. We performed parametric ancestral area reconstruction incorporating a stratified palaeogeographical model that reflects changes in terrestrial configuration and the presence of phytogeographical connections through time in the western Indian Ocean Basin. Shifts in diversification rate were compared with ancestral area assignments and divergence age estimates. Results Indian Ocean Primulaceae were recovered as monophyletic with a sister relationship to Asian Ardisia. Oncostemum, a genus confined to Madagascar and the Comoros, was resolved as paraphyletic by the inclusion of a monophyletic Mascarene Badula group consisting of single-island endemics. We found evidence for diversification bursts early in the history of Indian Ocean Primulaceae that correspond closely to the sequence of dispersal and the appearance of newly formed Mascarene Islands. Age estimates suggest a dispersal to Rodrigues that is older than the estimated geological age of the island. Main conclusions Results suggest a Madagascan origin of Indian Ocean Primulaceae with subsequent dispersal to the Mascarenes in the middle to late Miocene, with initial establishment on either Mauritius or Rodrigues and subsequent stepping-stone dispersal to the other two Mascarene islands within the last 2 Myr. Analyses suggest that diversification has slowed over time, with significant rate changes following dispersal to new geographical areas. Onset of diversification in species-rich Oncostemum appears to have been recent, with major cladogenesis commencing in the early Pliocene.
Robust design of critical factors of multi-stage supply chain operations management

Article history: Received July 18, 2014 Accepted December 18 2014 Available online December 18 2014 Today, supply chains have been widely welcomed by industry researchers and the results of applying it may increase throughput, reduce cost, increase speed to meet customers’ needs and create competitive opportunities. This paper identifies a scientific method, which operates efficiently and effectively manages supply chain operations. In this paper, a computer simulation model is analyzed for analyzing the supply chain and the results are examined, accordingly. Using Taguchi design of experiment and running the proposed model under L27 scenarios, a two-objective optimization was performed on the estimated response surfaces, leading to a 60% increase in productivity and 40% reduction in waiting time. erved. Growing Science Ltd. All rights res 5 © 201
Experience, heuristics and learning: the angel investment process

This paper extends the literature on the investment decision-making of business angels. Using insights from entrepreneurial learning theory we explore whether angels learn from experience, how they learn and what they learn. These issues are addressed using Verbal Protocol Analysis, a methodology for examining decision-making in real time, on three groups of business angels with differing levels of investment experience, and follow-up interviews with these angels. This reveals some differences in the speed of decision making and the emphasis given to various investment criteria. The relatively limited extent of the contrasts can be attributed to two factors. First, angel learning has been in terms of their approach to investing rather than fundamentals. Second, this learning has had more effect on how they conduct their due diligence on opportunities that pass their initial screening than on the initial screening stage itself. Learning from other investors is important.
De invloed van ERP-systemen op de financiële functie

In dit artikel wordt geanalyseerd wat de gevolgen zijn van de introductie van een ERP-systeem op de omvang van de ﬁnanciele afdeling, de tijdsbesteding van de controller en de kwaliteit van de managementinformatie binnen een multinational. Uit dit onderzoek blijkt dat de totale omvang van de ﬁnanciele afdeling redelijk constant blijft na de introductie van een ERP-systeem. Wel blijkt dat de introductie van een ERP-systeem het transformatieproces van de controller kan ondersteunen: de controller kan meer tijd besteden aan beslissingsondersteunende processen. Tenslotte verbetert de kwaliteit van de managementinformatie door de introductie van een ERP-systeem. De resultaten suggereren dat managers die willen dat hun controller zich ontwikkelt tot business partner, een ERP-systeem zouden moeten introduceren, zodat hun controller zich meer met beslissingsondersteunende activiteiten bezig kan houden en effectieve prestatiemeetsystemen kan introduceren en onderhouden.
Effect of Seed-Borne Sarocladium Oryzae, the Incitant of Rice Sheath Rot on Rice Seed Quality

Rice seeds collected from Sarocladium oryzae inoculated plants produced more discoloured grain, chaffiness and recorded much lower seed germination than seeds collected from healthy plants in all the three cultivars tested. The germination, chaffiness and discolouration in healthy plants were found to be in the range of 70.50 to 93.50 per cent, 5.5 to 17.75 per cent and 4 to 18 per cent respectively. There was a progressive and significant reduction in total sugar, reducing sugar and non reducing sugar content of rice seeds with varying degree of seed infection caused by S. oryzae The increase in phenol content due to S. oryzae infection ranged from 15.74 to 70.78 per cent and increase being proportional to the per cent S. oryzae seed infection.
Incremental k-anonymous microaggregation of large-scale datasets

This research proposal addresses fundamental challenges in privacy-enhancing technologies, related to the risk of statistical disclosure of sensitive information in large-scale datasets. The magnitude of its potential impact emanates from its broad applicability to information systems designed for the collection, analysis or dissemination of anonymized data in socioeconomic contexts including, but not limited to, healthcare, targeted advertising, personalized content recommendation, social networks and e-voting. Statistical disclosure control (SDC) concerns the post
CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT.COM:A CROSS-CULTURAL EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATIONOF ELECTRONIC COMMERCE

Globalization and the ubiquitous nature of the Internet facilitate e-commerce activities across nations. These activities demand a new conceptualization of online customer relationship management (CRM) that transcends national boundaries and considers cross-cultural aspects. To better understand cross-cultural CRM, we apply a theory of planned behavior (TPB) perspective to capture behavioral intentions to transact online in two dissimilar countries – China and the United States. We develop a cross-cultural e-commerce adoption model, which first draws upon the TPB to interrelate online transaction intention with attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control. Second, given the uncertainty present in e-commerce, trust in a Web retailer is hypothesized as a salient belief that influences transaction intentions, both through attitude and also through perceived behavioral control. The model incorporates Hofstede’s (2001) cultural dimensions – (a) individualism/collectivism, (b) power distance, and (c) long-term orientation. We argue that these cultural differences moderate key relationships in the proposed model. To tgest the model, an empirical study was conducted using data from Chinese and U.S consumers. Results support the proposed hypotheses, emphasizing the role of cultural differences on consumer e-commerce adoption. The paper discusses several insights from this exploratory study that enrich the crosscultural CRM literature. Finally, we discuss the study’s implications for theory and practice and conclude with suggestions for future CRM research.
Insilco Modeling of Commonly Occurring Genetic Polymorphism of Human CYP3A4 on the Binding Affinity to UR-144

CYP3A4 accounts for about 30% in the human hepatic metabolism of xenobiotics. The defending mechanism of drug or xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes, particularly CYP superfamily has been found to be altered by both genetic polymorphisms and the environmental factors. The aim of this study was to examine UR-144 binding to CYP3A4 wild type and six different natural variants (I118V, R130Q, R162Q, D174H, T185S and L373F). A rigid ligand was docked by AutoDock Vina to flexible amino acid residues selected from the residues forming the binding pocket. The analysis of the docking results showed there is no difference in the binding affinities between the wild type and the natural variants. However, comparing the absolute binding affinity, the wild type (-12.8kcal/mol) has shown, among all, the lowest binding energy. Thus, this study depicts that the SNPs of CYP3A4 do not have any effects on the binding affinity of UR-144 to the active site.
The Development and Validation of Science Virtual Test to Assess 7th Grade Students' Critical Thinking on Matter and Heat Topic

An efficient way to improve the quality of education in critical thinking is developing the better tests. The test has been shifted towards the use of computer-based procedures. Lack of specific topic of critical thinking tests in science and the advanced of technology made the researcher intended to develop and validate a test to measure students’ critical thinking in the matter and heat topic based on computer for seventh grade junior high school. Generally, the process of developing and validating the test consists of 5 steps: (1) content analysis; (2) constructing multiple choice items; (3) readability test and expert validation; (4) limited tryout; and (5) larger application. Based on larger application, it is obtained the reliability value, difficulty level, discriminating power and distractor quality. The method that used in this research was descriptive. The subject was 117 students of public Junior High School in Kabupaten Bandung. The instrument validation resulted 30 items that represent 8 elements and 21 sub-elements to measure students’ critical thinking based on Inch in matter and heat topic. The instrument is further called as Science Virtual Test Matter and Heat (SVT-MH). The alpha Cronbach (α) is 0.642 which means that the instrument is sufficient to measure students’ critical thinking matter and heat topic. The result also shows the profile of students in critical thinking is 73% categorized as ‘moderate’, while students respond the positive impression towards the use of SVT-MH. Keywords Science virtual test, critical thinking, matter and heat, readability test, validity, reliability, students’ impression