Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Strategic Approach to Strengthening the International Competitiveness in Knowledge Based Industries: Non-electrical Machinery Industry

This study examines some major issues regarding competitiveness in one of the medium-high technology industries namely non-electrical machinery industry. Besides a review of the evolution and structure of the industry, the growth performance of the component industries is examined at the three-digit ASI level. A detailed analysis of exports as well as imports at the four-digit ITC classification is undertaken to examine the impact of liberalisation on specific machinery categories. The study indicates the inward orientation of the industry. Low tariffs and liberal imports including imports of second hand machinery have affected some industries like textile machinery and machine tools. The study considers two specific issues that are important for establishing export competitiveness namely developing technological capability and FDI in the industry. A case study of machine tool industry is incorporated for a better understanding of these issues. The report concludes with suggestions for strengthening competitiveness in the industry.
SOCIAL MEDIA SECURITY POLICIES: GUIDELINES FOR ORGANIZATIONS

The introduction of Social Media into the workplace has created the need for a new way of thinking for employers. Social Media's growth into corporations has opened opportunities and benefits that many corporations did not foresee in the past. However, the use of these services has also created many risks for the company's reputation and has developed vulnerabilities in corporate culture and security policies. Some risks are so great that businesses are putting an all out ban on the use of the Social Media services. This paper examines the impact of social networks on corporate culture as well as on corporate information security policies. Guidelines are offered for an organization to enhance their presence with social networks as well as employee participation.
Ownership Structure and Corporate Performance: Evidence from Qatar

This study examines the effect of different dimensions of ownership structure in corporate performance. The data that is used in this study includes 29 non-financial firms listed on the Qatar Exchange during the period of 2006-2011. The different dimensions of ownership structures that are included in the study are: board ownership, concentrated ownership, foreign ownership, and institutional ownership. In addition, firm performance is estimated by three measures: Tobin’s Q, ROA, and ROE. The two regression models that are used to test the effects of ownership structure and firm performance are the panel data regression model and linear regression model. The empirical evidence in this study shows that concentrated ownership, board ownership and foreign ownership have a positive effect on firm performance. Furthermore, the board ownership has a positive and significant relationship with ROA and ROE, whereas concentrated ownership has a positive and significant effect on ROA, ROE and Tobin’s Q. On the other hand, institutional ownership has a negative significant effect on Tobin’s Q.
Contracting Innovations and the Evolution of Exchange Clearinghouses

Defining futures contracts as substitutes for associated cash transactions enables a discussion of the evolution of controls over contract nonperformance risk. These controls are incorporated into exchange methods for clearing contracts. Three clearing methods are discussed: direct, ringing and complete. The incidence and operation of each are described. Direct-clearing systems feature bilateral contracts with terms specified by the counterparties to the contract. Exchanges relying on direct clearing systems chiefly serve as mediators in trade disputes. Ringing is shown to facilitate contract offset by increasing the number of potential counterparties. Ringing settlements reduce counterparty credit risk by reducing the accumulation of dependencies as contracts are offset. Ringing settlements also lower the cost of maintaining open contract positions, chiefly by lowering the amount of required margin deposits. Exchanges employing ringing methods generally adopted a clearinghouse to handle payments. Complete clearing interposes the clearinghouse as counterparty to every contract. This measure ensures that contracts are fungible with respect to both the underlying commodity and counterparty risk.
Early steps of replication of moloney murine leukemia virus in resting lymphocytes.

We explored the role of cell type in the early steps of replication of Moloney murine leukemia virus (Mo-MLV) by comparing viral entry and reverse transcription in physiologically quiescent peripheral blood B and T lymphocytes. Virus entry was identical in both cell types. In contrast to previous results, full-length viral DNA was synthesized in resting B lymphocytes, but in agreement with earlier reports, reverse transcription was abortive in resting T lymphocytes. The addition of exogenous nucleosides in the culture medium of resting T lymphocytes allowed reverse transcription to proceed in these cells, without inducing cell cycling. These data suggest that the difference in the ability of quiescent T and B lymphocytes to sustain reverse transcription of Mo-MLV can be explained by a difference in the dNTP pool sizes of these two populations of quiescent cells.
Formulation and optimization of solid lipid nanoparticles of buspirone HCl for enhancement of its oral bioavailability

Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) of buspirone HCl as a water-soluble drug were prepared by emulsification-evaporation, followed by the sonification method. A preliminary screening of the most effective parameters on the production of nanoparticles by a Taguchi L8 orthogonal array showed that the lipid type, surfactant percentage, speed of homogenizer, and acetone:dichloromethane (DCM) ratio had a significant effect on particle size. In the next step, the lipid was fixed on cetyl alcohol, surfactant on Tween 20, lecithin:lipid weight ratio on 20:70, sonication time on 30 seconds, and the other effective, independent factors aforementioned were studied each at three levels by a three-factor, three-level Box-Behnken design. The percentage of drug entrapment, mean particle-size diameter, and zeta potential were studied as the responses. Contour plots were constructed to further elucidate the relationship between the independent and dependent variables. A pharmacokinetic study was conducted in male Wistar rats after oral administration of 15 mg.kg−1 buspirone in the form of free drug or SLNs. The optimized SLNs had aq particle size of 345.7 nm, loading efficiency of 32.8%, and zeta potential of −6.8 mV. Buspirone released about 90% during 4.5 hours in vitro. It was found that the relative bioavailability of the drug in SLNs was significantly increased, compared to that of the drug solution.
A new representation of protein structure: vector diagram

A vector diagram was devised for representation of protein structure. This was done by giving each nucleic acid triplet a corresponding vector, and expressing a protein as a set of vectors which were aligned in the order of peptide sequence. The magnitude of each vector was made to reflect the hydrophilicity of amino acid, and the direction of the vector was chosen so that similar amino acids had similar directions. The diagram not only shows the primary sequence but suggests the folding structure of proteins.
Population genomics of drug resistance in Candida albicans

We followed adaptation in experimental microbial populations to inhibitory concentrations of an antimicrobial drug. The evolution of drug resistance was accompanied in all cases by changes in gene expression that persisted in the absence of the drug; the new patterns of gene expression were constitutive. The changes in gene expression occurred in four replicate populations of the pathogenic fungus Candida albicans during 330 generations of evolution in the presence of the antifungal drug fluconazole. Genome-wide expression profiling of over 5,000 ORFs identified 301 whose expression was significantly modulated. Cluster analysis identified three distinct patterns of gene expression underlying adaptation to the drug. One pattern was unique to one population and included up-regulation of the multidrug ATP-binding cassette transporter gene, CDR2. A second pattern occurred at a late stage of adaptation in three populations; for two of these populations profiled earlier in their evolution, a different pattern was observed at an early stage of adaptation. The succession of early- and late-stage patterns of gene expression, both of which include up-regulation of the multidrug major facilitator transporter gene, MDR1, must represent a common program of adaptation to this antifungal drug. The three patterns of gene expression were also identified in fluconazole-resistant clinical isolates, providing further evidence that these patterns represent common programs of adaptation to fluconazole.
Design and Implementation of a Novel High-performance Stand-alone Photovoltaic LED Lighting System

This paper presents a novel high-performance standalone photovoltaic (PV) lighting system which can provide functional illumination based on high power White LEDs. An improved incremental conductance Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) method is proposed in PV system to maximize the photovoltaic array output power, irrespective of the temperature and irradiation conditions and of the load electrical characteristics. A novel strategy to charge the battery is designed from the analyses and comparison results. In order to provide a steady-state operating environment for high power White LEDs, a specially designed LED drive module is implemented. Further more, a self-adapting dimming control is designed to maintain a stable indoor illuminance. Experimental results show the performance of the proposed photovoltaic lighting system.
An empirical investigation of the influence of ownership concentration and identity on firm performance of Egyptian listed companies

Purpose – The paper aims to empirically investigate the influence of ownership concentration and identity on firm performance using a sample of 99 of the most active publicly listed companies on the Egyptian Exchange (EGX). Design/methodology/approach – Firm performance of the sampled companies was measured by two different accounting measures, namely return on assets “ROA”, return on equity “ROE”, then the ordinary least square (OLS) regression analysis and the two‐stage least square (2SLS) regression analysis were employed.Findings – OLS and 2SLS regression analyses show that ownership concentration has significant impact on firm performance when measuring by ROE. Regarding ownership identity, OLS regression analyses by both ROA and ROE show that the overall ownership identity has a significant impact on firm performance, as well as particular types of investors such as funds. Further, ownership identity and firm performance (when measured by ROA) had a significant endogeneity problem supporting the use .
Role of Mycorrhizal Colonization in Plant Establishment on an Alkaline Gold Mine Tailing

The potential role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in the revegetation of an alkaline gold mine tailing was studied in Barberton, South Africa. The tailing, characterized by a slow spontaneous plant succession, is colonized by the shrub Dodonaea viscosa and the grasses, Andropogon eucomus and Imperata cylindrica, all colonized by AMF. The effectiveness of mycorrhizal colonization in grasses was tested under laboratory conditions using fungal isolates of various origins. Both grasses were highly mycorrhiza dependent, and the presence of mycorrhizal colonization significantly increased their biomass and survival rates. The fungi originating from the gold tailing were better adapted to the special conditions of the tailing than the control isolate. Although the total colonization rate found for native fungi was lower than for fungi from non-polluted sites, they were more vital and more effective in promoting plant growth. The results obtained might serve as a practical approach to the phytostabilization of alkaline gold tailings.
Sex Differences in Physical , Verbal , and Indirect Aggression : A Review of Recent Research

The study of female aggression as a phenomenon in i tse l f has only recer l t lv begun to receive due at tent ion. Buss (1961) c la i rned that rvomen are so seldom aggressive, that female aggression is not worth the t rouble to s tudv. Aggression is , accordingly to h is v iew (at that t ime), a typ ical ly nta le phenomenon. Olweus (1978), who invest igated bul ly ing, i . e . , aggressive harassment , among adolescent school ch i ldren, was of the opin ion that bul ly ing occurs so rare ly among female adolescents that he excluded g i r ls as s l lb j t -c ts
Continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion in type 1 diabetes

Almost 25 years ago the BMJ published our account of a new technique for achieving long term strict blood glucose control in type 1 diabetes. Continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion,1 or insulin pump therapy, mimics physiological delivery by using a portable electromechanical pump to infuse insulin at a slow, basal rate throughout 24 hours, with patient activated boosts when food is eaten. Developed by us as a research tool to investigate the impact of greatly improved glycaemic control on diabetic complications, continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion is now used in everyday treatment by at least 130 000 people worldwide, more than 80 000 in the United States alone. Personal testimony from patients shows that many can achieve better control and lead a more flexible life with a continuous insulin infusion than with other methods. Ironically, in the United Kingdom, the country of its invention, only a few hundred people use it, though there is growing pressure from patients to increase its availability. Doctors' commendable caution about an unfamiliar technique that places new demands on patients and carers has been massively reinforced by the NHS's reluctance to pay for continuous insulin infusion: funding in …
Oral lesions and conditions associated with human immunodeficiency virus infection in 300 south Indian patients.

Introduction: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is a major health problem in India. The importance of oral lesions as clinical features of HIV infection and their gender specificity have been reported worldwide. However, there are very few reports on this aspect from the Indian subcontinent. Materials and Methods: The study population comprised 1000 consecutive HIV seropositive patients presenting to YRG CARE, a non-governmental organisation in Chennai, South India. The oral lesions were diagnosed based on clinical appearance using international criteria. Data were entered into a database and analysed using the SPSS package. Results: The male-to-female ratio was 3.4:1, and 95% of the patients had acquired infection via heterosexual contact. Majority of the patients (84%) were in the 21- to 40-year-old age groups. Pulmonary tuberculosis (12%) was the most common systemic finding. Oral lesions were seen in 86.6% of the patients. Gingivitis (72.3%) and periodontitis (33.2%) were the most common lesions followed by oral pigmentation (26.3%), oral candidiasis (23.8%), angular cheilitis (7.9%), oral ulcers (3.3%), oral hairy leukoplakia (2.1%), oral submucous fibrosis (0.9%) and leuko- plakia (1.5%). The prevalence of oral candidiasis, periodontitis and oral hairy leukoplakia was higher in males than in females. Conclusions: Oral lesions occur commonly in HIV infection. A comprehensive oral examination plays an important role not only in the management of the patients, but also in assessing the immune status and in their follow-up. Ann Acad Med Singapore 2004; 33(Suppl):37S-42S
The Employees' Awareness and Attitudes Towards Islamic Banking Products: a Survey of Islamic Banks in Bahrain

This study is aimed at analyzing the employees' awareness and attitudes towards the Islamic banking products. Each of the contructs; awareness and attitude are derived from theories and previous researches. Based on the descriptive analysis of 102 collected data of employees in the five Islamic retail banks in Bahrain, the study concluded that the respondents largely had knowledge of Islamic banking products but do not use it and majority of the respondents have a positive attitude towards Islamic banking practices. These findings invariably convey the standard of employees' awareness and attitude towards the Islamic banking products and services in Bahrain. This information will be useful for further evaluating and benchmarking the competitiveness of employees in Islamic Banking and Financial Institutions.
Customer Satisfaction in Private Banking

The paper at hand presents a customer satisfaction model for the private banking industry. We empirically assess the postulated model with the help of partial least squares (PLS) and use formative measurement models for the predictors of customer satisfaction and customer loyalty. The results of the structural model show good quality of the overall model. Customer satisfaction in the private banking industry is mainly determined by service value and the relationship manager. In addition, the relationship manager is an essential predictor of customer loyalty and relationship quality.
The Impact of Moral Intensity on Accountants’Intentions to Whistleblow Externally

Fraud is abounding. But where are the whistle-blowers? The ability to exercise judgment and interpret GAAP provides opportunities for earnings management - one of the most important ethical issues affecting the accounting profession. There are many pressures on the internal accountants and officers to manage earnings, but accountants have a level of knowledge about properly measuring and reporting earnings and a code of ethics to report on the fairness of financial statements. If earnings are managed unethically, improperly and/or illegally, will the accountants recognize it? If so, will they blow the whistle?
Consensus Sequence of 27 African Horse Sickness Virus Genomes from Viruses Collected over a 76-Year Period (1933 to 2009)

ABSTRACT We announce the complete consensus genome sequence of 27 African horse sickness viruses, representing all nine African horse sickness virus (AHSV) serotypes from historical and recent isolates collected over a 76-year period (1933 to 2009). The data set includes the sequence of the virulent Office International des Epizooties AHSV reference strains which are not adapted to cell culture.
A Dyadic Remediation Program for Care Recipients with Dementia

A cognitive remediation intervention was tested for its effect on functional outcomes of older care recipients with the diagnosis of dementia of the Alzbeimer's type. The 78 community-dwelling care recipients were assessed on cognitive and behavioral functioning and randomly assigned to one of three conditions. Care recipients were expected to benefit most from active cognitive stimulation training as compared to placebo (passive) activity or wait-list control conditions. Following each weekly instruction session, the intervention was executed in the home by the family caregiver. Care recipients in the experimental group improved in cognitive and behavioral performance with treatment, but returned to former level of functioning by the 9th month. In contrast, the control group declined, while the placebo group remained static on these variables. These findings support the viability of remediation interventions in dementia despite the trajectory of cognitive decline.
The Initial Discount for New Audit Engagements: Case of UK 1998-2012

In this paper we examine evidence and patterns of the pricing of initial audit engagements covering various types of audit firms and auditees. In contrast to existing empirical studies we use a very large sample of UK private and public companies of all sizes covering a long time period, 1998-2012, utilising 792,705 company-year observations. We employ a novel hybrid panel data estimator to explore time variant features of audit market discounting as it responds to changes in the competitive and regulatory landscape and statutory audit requirements. We confirm and replicate some of the findings of earlier studies and document the average market-wide initial discounting from data that covers both listed and private companies. We investigate the temporal stability of previous findings. Our results suggest that discounting across the whole audit market is more complex than within the listed segment alone and that figures on ‘average discount rates’ disguise some interesting variations in discount pricing across the audit market and observed changes over the estimation period. We find that changes from lower quality auditor to the higher quality auditors are rarely associated with additional discounts. Moreover, we present evidence that listed companies enjoyed higher discounts than unlisted companies. We document that the initial discounts do not lead to ‘short-cutting’ and that the audit fees revert to normal levels within a five-year period. Contributing to the recent debate on auditor choice and competition in the segment of listed companies we find evidence of strong price competition between the Big 4 Auditors in some of the estimated time periods.
Game Analysis on Implicit Contract about Unit Cooperation within Cluster

The key of the sound development of the cluster lies in unit cooperation focusing on flexibility and specification within a cluster. Moreover,a powerful institutional guarantee must be established for efficient cooperation between various units. From the perspective of new institutional economics,if a firm decides to take long-term contact instead of integration operation,both explicit and implicit contract can be available. However,due to the insufficiency of the contract and the future uncertainty,the implementation cost of explicit contract is to increase a lot. By contract,the implicit contract provides forceful guarantee for regulating business activity of a cluster. Based on this point,the paper gives a game analysis on how implicit contract prevent opportunism activity of cluster units through dynamic game theory under condition of full information disclosure and non-full information disclosure. Also it explains the essential mechanism of implicit contract operation. Furthermore,on the basis of above-mentioned analysis,this paper presents some suggestions on how to regulate the cooperation within a cluster.
Effects of Internal Entrepreneurshıp as an Innovative Activity: a FieldResearch on Manufacturing Industry

Intraperneurship is an entepreneurship activity in existence foundation. Intrareneurship is an innovative activity which is very important for competition. In this study, intrapreneurship is considered within the scope of innovativeness, it is discussed what the efficient causes are on the formation of internal entrepreneurship structures and what sort of effect internal entrepreneurship has on company achievement. In this study, in which internal entrepreneurship is considered as an innovative activity was used and questionnaire method was used for the purpose of data acquisition. According to the results of research, there are significant relationships between innovation and intrapreneurship. In addition corporate entrepreneurship and innovation were higher tendency in research organizations.