Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Job Satisfaction Amongst Employees in Small and Medium Industries (SMIs) in the Manufacturing Sector: A Malaysian Case

ABSTRACT In the era of global business, quality of human resources, skilled and knowledgeable employees are highly essential. It is frequently noted that quality human resources act as a prerequisite for competitive advantage and competitive edge of any business. This is especially so in the case of small and medium industries (SMIs), considered as “the seeds” from which large organizations and big corporations are grown. Similarly, previous studies indicate that high turnover of employees undeniably affects production, productivity, profitability and hence hinders further growth of any business, small, medium and large alike. While there are a number of empirical studies on employees, their working environment, and job satisfaction, only a few have based their data on SMIs. In view of this, a survey was carried out on 243 employees of SMIs in Kuala Terengganu in late 2004 to address some of the issues above in the context of SMIs. Interestingly, the study found that the surveyed employees were relatively young, unmarried, new in the length of service and low educational attainment as well as low level of income. Surprisingly however, they were generally satisfied with their working environment and job, including their salary, task, co-worker, supervision and promotion. Furthermore, it was found that occupational categories correlate significantly with level of job satisfaction. That is, the higher the occupational categories are, the higher the level of job satisfaction. The study concludes that while SMIs should upgrade skills among their employees, government policies should also be more favorable so that a more conducive working environment and job satisfaction in SMIs could be created.
Entrepreneurs in Turkey: A Factor Analysis of Motivations, Success Factors, and Problems

One hundred and thirty‐nine entrepreneurs in Ankara, Turkey were surveyed to determine their motivations for business ownership, the factors contributing to their success, and their problems. Based on survey responses, the primary reasons for starting a business are to increase income, to obtain job security, and to secure independence. According to the factor analysis, small and medium‐sized enterprises owners are driven more by income rewards than intrinsic rewards. The most important business success variables are the entrepreneurs' reputation for honesty and friendliness. Social skills and good customer service were also cited as critical success factors. The most serious problem faced by entrepreneurs in Turkey is the complex and confusing tax structure. Other important problems include unreliable employees, the inability to maintain good records, and a weak economy.
The new right and the welfare state: The electoral relevance of welfare chauvinism and welfare populism in the Netherlands

Next to their well-documented authoritarian cultural agenda, new-rightist populist parties have developed specific views on the welfare state: welfare chauvinism and welfare populism. This article studies the electoral relevance of these views for Dutch new-rightist populist parties by means of survey data representative of the Dutch population (N = 1972). The electorate of those parties shows high levels of both welfare chauvinism and welfare populism. However, only welfare populism underlies support for new-rightist populist parties in addition to well-known cultural motives. Based on these findings, ideological and electoral competition between political parties is discussed, and suggestions for further research are provided.
Determination of capital structure in India: a partial adjustment approach

We investigate the role of adjustment costs and other firm-specific variables like tangibility, growth opportunity, size of the company, profitability, volatility, nondebt tax shields and uniqueness of the company in the determination of capital structure in the case of 793 Indian manufacturing companies for the period 1995–1996 to 2006–2007. A dynamic partial adjustment model, more specifically the Generalised Method of Moments (GMM) technique, is used to test the dynamics of capital structure. The results indicate that firms do have a target capital structure. The adjustment speed towards the target capital structure is reasonably high and it varies with the definition of leverage ratio. All these results are consistent with the tradeoff theory of corporate capital structure.
Patterns of gestational weight gain and its association with birthweight in Nigeria

Background: Despite the increasing global importance of gestational weight gain (GWG) and its impact on birthweight, little is known about the patterns of GWG in African populations. Objectives: To determine the pattern of GWG and its association with birthweight in Nigeria. Methods: It was a longitudinal study of 200 pregnant women receiving antenatal care at two tertiary hospitals in Enugu, south eastern Nigeria. The women were consecutively recruited at <14 weeks gestation and their body mass indexes recorded upon recruitment. Thereafter, weight measurements were taken at each visit until 38–39 weeks. Results: Mean total GWG was 10.7 ± 3.4 kg, while mean birthweight was 3.3 ± 0.6 kg. GWG in second trimester had positive correlation with birthweight (r = 0.164, P = 0.02). Obese women gained above the recommended limits by the “institute of medicine” while underweight women gained below the limits. Excessive total GWG was associated with higher risk of macrosomia [8/21 (38.1%) vs. 7/179; RR: 9.74; 95% CI: 3.9–24.2; P < 0.001] while inadequate total GWG was associated with higher risk of low birth weight [7/72 (9.7%) vs. 3/128 (2.3%; RR: 4.15; 95% CI: 1.1–15.4; P = 0.03]. Maternal age of <35 years, high social class, nulliparity, and regular antenatal care were associated with normal GWG while maternal age <35 years and regular antenatal care were associated with normal birthweight (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Women should be counseled on the factors that influence GWG and birthweight. Interventions to assist women achieve appropriate GWG may need to include components related to improved dietary intake for the underweight and increased physical activity for the obese.
A Schumpeterian Growth Model with Equilibrium Unemployment

We introduce efficiency-wage unemployment in a model of growth with endogenous technical change. Our research aim is twofold. First, we try to provide an analytically tractable model of growth with efficiency-wage unemployment that can be viewed as alternative to the standard models of growth and search unemployment. Second, we try to analyze the steady-state effects of some labor market policies on unemployment and growth. We find that a positive relationship between growth and unemployment exists and that the effectiveness of any labor market policy aimed at improving the performance of the labor market crucially depends on how individuals discount future income.
ALCOHOL REGULATION AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TOWARDS CHILDREN

In recent years, economists have paid much attention to the demand for alcohol and the negative externalities associated with excessive drinking. Largely ignored in the literature is the link between alcohol use and domestic violence. Given the established positive relationship between alcohol consumption and acts of violence, the purpose of this paper is to examine the role that changes in the determinants of the demand for alcohol may play in reducing the incidence of violence aimed at children. Data on violence come from the 1976 Physical Violence in American Families survey. We estimate a model in which violent outcomes are affected by the state excise tax rate on beer; illegal drug prices, and other regulatory variables such as availability measures and laws restricting the advertising of alcohol. Results show that increasing the tax on beer can be an effective policy tool in reducing violence. Laws designed to make obtaining beer more difficult also may be effective in reducing violence, while restrictions on advertising and increases in illegal drug prices have no effects. Copyright 1998 Western Economic Association International.
Defense and Welfare under Rivalry

Two small countries facing a constant probability of war with each other import arms for consumption goods from the rest of the world. The defense good, produced by combining arms and army, is a public good. The reaction curve depicting the optimal supply of the defense good turns out to be backward-bending. Nevertheless, at least one of the reaction curves is positively sloped at the unique Nash equilibrium. Several comparative statics results are derived. For example, if one country's reaction curve is negatively sloped, military aid to the rival leads to a decline in its optimal supply of the defense good.
The Arl3 and Arl1 GTPases co‐operate with Cog8 to regulate selective autophagy via Atg9 trafficking

The Arl3‐Arl1 GTPase cascade plays important roles in vesicle trafficking at the late Golgi and endosomes. Subunits of the conserved oligomeric Golgi (COG) complex, a tethering factor, are important for endosome‐to‐Golgi transport and contribute to the efficient functioning of the cytoplasm‐to‐vacuole targeting (Cvt) pathway, a well‐known selective autophagy pathway. According to our findings, the Arl3‐Arl1 GTPase cascade co‐operates with Cog8 to regulate the Cvt pathway via Atg9 trafficking. arl3cog8Δ and arl1cog8Δ exhibit profound defects in aminopeptidase I maturation in rich medium. In addition, the Arl3‐Arl1 cascade acts on the Cvt pathway via dynamic nucleotide binding. Furthermore, Atg9 accumulates at the late Golgi in arl3cog8Δ and arl1cog8Δ cells under normal growth conditions but not under starvation conditions. Thus, our results offer insight into the requirement for multiple components in the Golgi‐endosome system to determine Atg9 trafficking at the Golgi, thereby regulating selective autophagy.
sst2 Somatostatin Receptor Inhibits Cell Proliferation through Ras-, Rap1-, and B-Raf-dependent ERK2 Activation*

The G protein-coupled sst2 somatostatin receptor is a critical negative regulator of cell proliferation. sstII prevents growth factor-induced cell proliferation through activation of the tyrosine phosphatase SHP-1 leading to induction of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27Kip1. Here, we investigate the signaling molecules linking sst2 to p27Kip1. In Chinese hamster ovary-DG-44 cells stably expressing sst2 (CHO/sst2), the somatostatin analogue RC-160 transiently stimulates ERK2 activity and potentiates insulin-stimulated ERK2 activity. RC-160 also stimulates ERK2 activity in pancreatic acini isolated from normal mice, which endogenously express sst2, but has no effect in pancreatic acini derived from sst2 knock-out mice. RC-160-induced p27Kip1 up-regulation and inhibition of insulin-dependent cell proliferation are both prevented by pretreatment of CHO/sst2 cells with the MEK1/2 inhibitor PD98059. In addition, using dominant negative mutants, we show that sst2-mediated ERK2 stimulation is dependent on the pertussis toxin-sensitive Gi/o protein, the tyrosine kinase Src, both small G proteins Ras and Rap1, and the MEK kinase B-Raf but is independent of Raf-1. Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and both tyrosine phosphatases, SHP-1 and SHP-2, are required upstream of Ras and Rap1. Taken together, our results identify a novel mechanism whereby a Gi/o protein-coupled receptor inhibits cell proliferation by stimulating ERK signaling via a SHP-1-SHP-2-PI3K/Ras-Rap1/B-Raf/MEK pathway.
Relationships between mobilization of free fatty acids from adipose tissue, and the concentrations of calcium in the extracellular fluid and in the tissue.

Injection of 50 U adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) in rabbits produces 3 hr later a 260–680 % increase in serum FFA concentration, a 27% reduction in the concentration of calcium in serum, and a 500–1100% increase in the concentration of calcium in adipose tissue. Incubation of adipose tissue slices from rabbit, hamster or rat in the homologous serum containing 10 μg/mlACTH or epinephrine causes, in association with the hormone-stimulated lipolysis, a 40–49 % decrease in medium calcium and a 150–460% increase in tissue calcium. When the incubation medium is Krebs-Ringer buffer +bovine serum albumin instead of serum, a similar degree of lipolysis is stimulated in rabbit adipose tissue by ACTH, but no detectable redistribution of calcium from medium to tissue occurs. (Endocrinology 84: 926, 1969)
Mineralization of the s-triazine ring of atrazine by stable bacterial mixed cultures

Enrichment cultures containing atrazine (2-chloro-4-ethylamino-6-isopropylamino-1,3,5-triazine) at a concentration of 100 ppm (0.46 mM) as a sole nitrogen source were obtained from soils exposed to repeated spills of atrazine, alachlor, and metolachlor. Bacterial growth occurred concomitantly with formation of metabolites from atrazine and subsequent biosynthesis of protein. When ring-labeled [14C]atrazine was used, 80% or more of the s-triazine ring carbon atoms were liberated as 14CO2. Hydroxyatrazine may be an intermediate in the atrazine mineralization pathway. More than 200 pure cultures isolated from the enrichment cultures failed to utilize atrazine as a nitrogen source. Mixing pure cultures restored atrazine-mineralizing activity. Repeated transfer of the mixed cultures led to increased rates of atrazine metabolism. The rate of atrazine degradation, even at the elevated concentrations used, far exceeded the rates previously reported in soils, waters, and mixed and pure cultures of bacteria.
The promise of large, longitudinal data sets.

In a study in this issue, Gören and colleagues used longitudinal data to assess whether providers followed guidelines when prescribing antipsychotics. This is an advanceover studies thathaveassessed thequality of carewithcross-sectionaldata. The point prevalence of antipsychotic polypharmacy may be of interest when assessing the quality of care. However, starting a patient with schizophrenia on antipsychotic polypharmacy immediately, rather than reserving it until other treatments have failed, has different implications.
Baby you can drive my car: using local community customers to develop marketing communications

This research details a community collaboration in Dubai, UAE between a car dealership that trades some of the world's most prestigious automobiles, a group of 62 final year undergraduate marketing students in agency groups of four and five and a leading international university. The car dealer is launching a new youth-centric model and has challenged 14 student marketing communication agencies to devise a promotional concept pitch to be used as the new car launch campaign. The results suggest a mutually advantageous outcome for all community members; whereby the car dealer has its campaign tailor-made by its ultimate consumer, the students acquire experience and fuller curriculum vitae from one of the most recognised global brands and the university enhances its standing with the wider stakeholder community.
Development and Social Welfare: Indonesia's Experiences Under the New Order

This pioneering work demonstrates the complexity and pervasiveness of the Chinese junk trade before the 1850s. Cushman shows the depth and scope of the longstanding economic relationship between China and its southern neighbors in the years before European colonial domination. Cornell's Southeast Asia program has performed a major service in making this important study available to a wider audience. Rooted as it is in Asia before European domination, Fields from the Sea is important for all who would understand emergent trends in Asia today. As China once more resumes her place as the dominant political and economic force in Asia, many of the same conditions, relationships, and considerations will regain significance. While it would be simplistic to suggest that the past will repeat itself, it is nonetheless true that relations among Asian states have been distorted by the colonial experience. The withdrawal of the West from this region has meant a resumption of earlier patterns of state-to-state relations. The increasing importance of the Sino-Thai relationship is a case in point. Cushman's work offers valuable insights and observations on the attitudes of Chinese officials toward foreign trade and on the significance of regional differences among the Chinese. Her discussions show the complexity of Chinese views of their neighbors. While 200 years have passed since the period she studied, the distance between Beijing and Bangkok remains the same. So, too, does the difference in economic orientation between the conservative and official-dominated north, and the dynamic maritime region of south China.
Novel Isoform of Lymphoid Adaptor FYN-T-binding Protein (FYB-130) Interacts with SLP-76 and Up-regulates Interleukin 2 Production*

T-cell activation involves the participation of protein-tyrosine kinases p56 lck and ZAP-70/SYK as well as lymphoid proteins such as SLP-76 and FYB/SLAP. FYB/SLAP has the hallmarks of an adaptor protein that binds to the SH2 domains of the Src kinase FYN-T and SLP-76. Whereas two forms of FYB at 120 and 130 kDa have been identified biochemically, a cDNA encoding only the lower molecular weight isoform has been cloned (termed FYB-120 or SLAP-130). In this study, we report the isolation of an alternative isoform of FYB with a molecular mass of 130 kDa (FYB-130) that has the same structure as FYB-120 except for an insertion of 46 amino acids toward the carboxyl-terminal region of the protein. FYB-120 and FYB-130 share an ability to bind to the SH2 domains of FYN-T and SLP-76, to act as substrates for p59FYN-T, and to be expressed in the cytoplasm and nucleus of T-cells. Differences were noted between the isoforms in the efficiency of binding to SLP-76 and in the preferential expression of FYB-130 in mature T-cells. When co-expressed together with FYN-T and SLP-76, FYB-130 caused a significant increase in anti-CD3-driven NF-AT transcription. Finally, fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis localized the FYB gene to human chromosome 5 at position p13.1. FYB-130 therefore represents a novel variant of FYB protein that can up-regulate T-cell receptor-driven interleukin 2 production in mature T-cells.
New paradigms for functional HIV-specific nonneutralizing antibodies.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW Although a large number of novel broadly neutralizing antibodies has been recently described, the induction of such antibodies via vaccination has proven difficult. By contrast, nonneutralizing antibodies arise early during infection and have been repeatedly associated with both protection from infection and disease progression. RECENT FINDINGS We are beginning to gain new insights into the broader landscape of antiviral mechanisms that nonneutralizing antibodies may harness to fight HIV, providing an unprecedented breadth of approaches by which HIV can be blocked and contained. SUMMARY In this review, we summarize the characteristics of nonneutralizing antibodies, their role in HIV infection, and new paradigm-shifting functions that may be exploited by next-generation vaccine approaches aimed at blocking HIV infection.
Association of muscle power with functional status in community-dwelling elderly women.

BACKGROUND Identification of the physiologic factors most relevant to functional independence in the elderly population is critical for the design of effective interventions. It has been suggested that muscle power may be more directly related to impaired physical performance than muscle strength in elderly persons. We tested the hypothesis that peak muscle power is closely associated with self-reported functional status in sedentary elderly community-dwelling women. METHODS We used baseline data that were collected as part of a 1-year randomized controlled clinical trial of a combined program of strength, power, and endurance training in 80 elderly women (mean age 74.8 +/- 5.0 years) with 3.2 +/- 1.9 chronic diseases, selected for baseline functional impairment and/or falls. RESULTS Functional status at baseline was related in univariate analyses to physiologic capacity, habitual physical activity level, neuropsychological status, and medical diagnoses. Leg power had the strongest univariate correlation to self-reported functional status (r = -.47, p < .0001) of any of the physiologic factors we tested. In a forward stepwise regression model, leg press power and habitual physical activity level were the only two factors that contributed independently to functional status (r = .64, p < .0001), accounting for 40% of the variance in functional status. CONCLUSIONS Leg power is a strong predictor of self-reported functional status in elderly women.
Social embeddedness, entrepreneurial orientation and firm growth in ethnic minority small businesses in the UK

Entrepreneurial orientation (EO) of ethnic minority small businesses (EMSBs) and its antecedents and consequences are under-researched. Grounded in ethnic entrepreneurship theory and the social embeddedness approach, this article examines the relationships of EMSBs’ access to various networks, their EO and firm growth. Drawing on quantitative data collected through 258 face-to-face structured interviews with Chinese- and Turkish-owned EMSBs in London, UK our findings reveal that family and co-ethnic advice and labour do not have a significant impact on firms’ EO. Instead, both access to co-ethnic products and access to co-ethnic suppliers of utilities and facilities have a significant impact on firms’ EO, which in turn has a significant positive effect on employment growth. Moreover, Chinese-owned EMSBs demonstrate a higher level of EO and pursue different paths to growth (that is, they are more likely to grow through acquiring more business premises) compared with Turkish-owned EMSBs. The findings have important implications for the understanding of growth patterns of EMSBs, particularly the role of EO in the EMSBs’ break-out strategies and growth.
Externalities and Corporate Objectives in a World with Diversified Shareholder/Consumers

Abstract If shareholders own diversified portfolios, and if companies impose externalities on one another, shareholders do not want value maximization to be corporate policy. Instead, shareholders want companies to maximize portfolio values. This occurs when firms internalize between-firm externalities. Any kind of externality, pecuniary or nonpecuniary, vertical or horizontal, suffices. What matters is simply that one company's actions affect another's value. Thus, besides the traditional benefit of risk reduction, portfolio diversification offers additional benefits to shareholders through helping internalize externalities. This paper documents the extent of diversification and cross-ownership of stocks among companies where these externalities are likely to be large and provides a capital market test of how merger offers vary with the extent of cross-ownership.