Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Deregulation, Market Power and Competition: An Empirical Investigation of the Zambian Banking Industry

One of the main objectives of financial sector reforms undertaken in Zambia in the early 1990s was to stimulate competition and efficiency in the commercial banking industry. Although some indicators depict improvements in the performance of banks, major weaknesses still remain in the industry. Bank interest spreads, fees and other charges have remained high, undermining intermediation and accessibility to banking services. Thus, despite many years after the reforms were initiated, competition in the banking sector remains low but rising. Using the Panzar-Rosse approach, this study exploits panel data techniques to estimate the degree of competition in the Zambian commercial banking industry in post-liberalisation period. The results show that Zambian banks earned their revenue under conditions of monopolistic competition. The results also show that the level of competition for interest revenue is more intense than for total income. Equally, foreign private banks exhibit a higher degree of competition than their domestic counterparts. However, the same is not true with large banks versus small banks. The former are more competitive than the latter. On regulatory distortions, well-capitalised banks appear to bear the brunt of regulatory burden than undercapitalised banks. These results have important policy implications in the design of second generation policy reforms aimed at deepening the degree of banking competition and promoting prudential regulations. Hence, future policy design should aim at dismantling structural and institutional impediments that have prevented banks from operating more competitively.
How to Stop Firing Your Customers

Asserts that too often, service employees forget that there is no such thing as the average customer; that each customer has different needs every time they are seen or spoken to. Discusses presumptuous behaviour, employee responsibility and measuring service quality, together with difficulties in employee/customer communication. Suggests ways of improving customer contact and of measuring employee attitude towards customers. Argues that a multidimensional model of service quality must measure individual employee attitudes and make sure that customers′ views are heard.
Average outage duration of diversity systems over generalized fading channels

A "classical" probability density function (PDF)-based approach relying on the cumulative distribution function (CDF) of the combined output signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) as well as the joint PDF of the combined output SNR and its time derivative, is used to obtain exact closed form expressions for average outage duration (AOD) of maximal-ratio combiners (MRC) over independent and identically distributed (i.i.d.) Rayleigh and Rice fading channels. On the other hand, relying on numerical techniques for inverting Laplace transforms of CDFs and for the computation of the joint characteristic function (CF) of the combined output SNR random process and its time derivative, a CF-based approach is adopted to calculate the AOD of MRC over non-i.i. d. Rician diversity paths. The mathematical formalism is illustrated by presenting some numerical results/plots showing the impact of the power delay profile and the distribution of the angle of arrivals on the AOD of diversity systems operating over typical fading channels of practical interest.
The role of female directors in corporate investment in China

This paper investigates the effects of regional market environment and organisational-power environment on the relationship between female directors and corporate-investment efficiency in the Chinese institutional context. Our results show that although a higher proportion of female directors is, in general, associated with a lower level of investment efficiency, both a stronger market environment and a lower power concentration may attenuate the negative effect of female directors on investment efficiency. The association between female directors and investment efficiency is negative and significant in regions with a weaker market environment and in firms with a higher power concentration, but insignificant in regions with a stronger market environment and in firms with a lower power concentration. These findings indicate the importance of considering a regional environment and organisational environment when examining the role of female directors in board governance.
Knowledge, awareness and compliance with universal precautions among health care workers at the University Hospital of the West Indies, Jamaica.

BACKGROUND Universal precautions are not well understood or implemented by health care practitioners, though crucial in the prevention and transmission of blood-borne pathogens like HIV. OBJECTIVE To assess knowledge, awareness and compliance of universal precautions among health care workers at the University Hospital of the West Indies, Jamaica. METHODS A cross-sectional survey was conducted in September and October 2007. A 28-item self-administered questionnaire was provided to 200 health care workers including medical doctors, medical technologists, nurses and porters to assess their knowledge, awareness and practice towards universal precautions. RESULTS Almost two-thirds (64.0%) of the respondents were very knowledgeable of universal precautions with significantly more females (75.4%) than males (42.9%) (p<0.0001). More nurses (90.0%), medical doctors (88.0%) and medical technologists (70%) were very knowledgeable of universal precautions (p<0.0001). More respondents (92.9%) who were employed in the health sector for 16 years and over reported high levels of awareness of universal precautions than those who were employed for less than five years (p<0.0001). 28.6% of males and only 6.2% of females reported that they do not use protective gear. More nurses reported frequent use of protective equipment followed by medical technologists and medical doctors (p<0.0001). CONCLUSION There was adequate knowledge and a fair level of awareness among medical doctors, medical technologists, and nurses towards universal precautions.
Larval growth in the dominant polychaete Polydora ciliata is food-limited in a eutrophic Danish estuary (Isefjord)

Food limitation in larval growth of the spionid polychaete Polydora ciliata was examined in a typical eutrophic estuary, Isefjord, in Denmark. In the field, food availability and the energetic requirements of the P. ciliata larval population were measured during 2 different periods in 2004 and 2007 that together cover the productive part of the year for plankton. In the laboratory, specific growth rates (µ) of larvae reared on natural food suspensions (~0.10 d -1 ) were always lower than those of larvae reared on phytoplankton-enriched food suspensions (100% retention efficiency for Rhodomonas salina; ~0.21 d -1 ). Total meroplankton biomass (average: 3.72 µg C l -1 , range: 0.11 to 26.05 µg C l -1 ) was frequently similar to or exceeded that of holoplankton (average: 5.70 µg C l -1 , range: 0.08 to 29.89 µg C l -1 ), suggesting a trophic significance of meroplankton in the estuary. P. cil- iata was commonly the dominant meroplanktonic larvae (average: 0.5 µg C l -1 , range: 0.03 to 2.51 µg C l -1 ). The available food in the optimal prey size fraction (2004, average: <20 µm; range: 99 to 274 µg C l -1 ; 2007, average: 7 to 18 µm; estimated carbon demand: 119 µg C l -1 ; range: 19 to 474 µg C l -1 ) seemed to be sufficient to cover the energetic carbon requirements of the population through- out the study (0.09 to 3.15 µg C l -1 d -1 ), but insufficient to attain the maximum specific growth rates reported in previous laboratory experiments. This suggests that P. ciliata larvae probably exhibit a low feeding efficiency and their maximum specific growth rates are consequently attained at food concentrations even higher than those found in this eutrophic environment.
Personal Digital Branding as a Professional Asset in the Digital Age

In recent years, society’s rapid adoption of social media has made the boundary between professional and private life nearly indistinguishable. The literature provides guidance on how to demonstrate professionalism via social media platforms. Social media policies within health professions education tend to be legalistic in nature, serving primarily to highlight behaviors students should avoid. One missing element in social media literature is the concept of online invisibility. In this paper, we define personal digital branding, discuss the professional implications of choosing to abstain from social media use, and urge educators to recognize that the personal digital branding may be an emerging asset for young professionals in the twenty-first century.
A New Approach for Teaching Customer Personality Types in the Personal Selling Course

Knowledge of the "styles" of salespeople and customers has long been associated with effective selling performance. Therefore, numerous sales scholars and trainers have developed ways of classifying salespeople and customers. However, those approaches typically entail much cognitive effort and skill to ensure appropriate categorization of a salesperson’s customers (or prospects). Given this dilemma, students in personal selling courses likely require a relatively easy-to-use method to enhance their ability to accurately classify individuals (a la customers in a sales context). Accordingly, we present an alternative— psycho-geometrics—that is potentially easier and more efficient to utilize than extant personal style classification schema. In particular, we develop and psychometrically analyze a scale designed specifically to assess personality types of psycho-geometric “types. ” Implications for educators teaching personal selling courses and/or interested in undertaking germane research in the area are also provided.
Stakeholder Management in Social Ventures – Exploring the Effects of Stakeholder Salience, Trust and Conflict on Social Enterprise Performance

The aim of this article is to provide the reader with empirical data in the domain of stakeholder management in social ventures, as empirical findings are currently missing in this area of research. In order to show how social entrepreneurs manage different constituencies towards higher success of the organization, a stakeholder identification and salience framework is applied to the social enterprise model trying to explain how key stakeholders are able to influence the organization. Furthermore, different performance metrics for social enterprises are explored. Finally, stakeholder salience as well as antecedents of each relation, notably conflicts and trust are linked to a multi-dimensional performance indicator. Based on these considerations a survey measuring each construct in order to test the model empirically on a sample of German social enterprises is developed.
Borderline Personality among Outpatients Seen by a Pain Management Specialist

Objective: We examined the prevalence of borderline personality disorder among a sample of outpatients who were being initially evaluated by a pain management specialist. Method: Using two self-report measures for borderline personality disorder, the borderline personality scale of the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire-4 (PDQ-4) and the Self-Harm Inventory (SHI), we explored prevalence rates of this Axis II disorder in a sample of 117 participants. Results: According to the PDQ-4 and the SHI, 9.4% and 14.5% of participants, respectively, met the criteria for borderline personality, with 6.8% meeting criteria on both measures. Conclusions: In this insured population of pain patients, rates of borderline personality, as determined by both measures, were comparable to rates of borderline personality in the general population.
Fundamentals of Power Semiconductor Devices 1 3

Download PDF Ebook and Read OnlineFundamentals Of Power Semiconductor Devices%0D. Get Fundamentals Of Power Semiconductor Devices%0D By reading fundamentals of power semiconductor devices%0D, you can recognize the knowledge as well as points even more, not only regarding what you obtain from individuals to individuals. Reserve fundamentals of power semiconductor devices%0D will certainly be much more trusted. As this fundamentals of power semiconductor devices%0D, it will truly provide you the good idea to be successful. It is not only for you to be success in particular life; you can be successful in everything. The success can be started by recognizing the basic expertise as well as do activities. How an idea can be got? By staring at the superstars? By visiting the sea as well as checking out the sea weaves? Or by checking out a book fundamentals of power semiconductor devices%0D Everyone will certainly have certain particular to obtain the motivation. For you which are passing away of publications and constantly obtain the inspirations from publications, it is truly wonderful to be below. We will certainly show you hundreds collections of guide fundamentals of power semiconductor devices%0D to review. If you such as this fundamentals of power semiconductor devices%0D, you could additionally take it as yours. From the mix of expertise and also actions, an individual can boost their skill and ability. It will certainly lead them to live and also function much better. This is why, the pupils, employees, and even employers need to have reading habit for publications. Any kind of book fundamentals of power semiconductor devices%0D will certainly provide certain expertise to take all benefits. This is just what this fundamentals of power semiconductor devices%0D informs you. It will add more understanding of you to life and also work better. fundamentals of power semiconductor devices%0D, Try it as well as prove it.
The Elusive Quest for Global Governance Standards

Researchers and shareholder advisers have devoted much attention to developing metrics for assessing the governance of public companies around the world. These important and influential efforts, we argue, suffer from a basic shortcoming. The impact of many key governance arrangements depends considerably on companies’ ownership structure: measures that protect outside investors in a company without a controlling shareholder are often irrelevant or even harmful when it comes to investor protection in companies with a controlling shareholder, and vice versa. Consequently, governance metrics that purport to apply to companies regardless of ownership structure are bound to miss the mark with respect to one or both types of firms. In particular, we show that the influential metrics used extensively by scholars and shareholder advisers to assess governance arrangements around the world—the Corporate Governance Quotient (CGQ), the Anti-Director Rights Index, and the Anti-Self-Dealing Index—are inadequate for this purpose.We argue that, going forward, the quest for global governance standards should be replaced by an effort to develop and implement separate methodologies for assessing governance in companies with and without a controlling shareholder. We also identify the key features that these separate methodologies should include, and discuss how to apply such methodologies in either country-level or firm-level comparisons. Our analysis has wide-ranging implications for corporate-governance research and practice.
Vector Magnetometry Using Silicon Vacancies in 4 H -SiC Under Ambient Conditions

The spins of point defects in silicon carbide are promising candidates for qubits and sensors under $a\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}m\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}b\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}i\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}e\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}n\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}t$ conditions. Unlike defect-bearing diamond, SiC is regarded as an industry-friendly platform, with an existing market for high-purity SiC wafers and a mature fabrication technology. The authors detect the magnitude and direction of a magnetic field using magnetic resonance with optical readout of the spin-3/2 states of silicon-vacancy defects in SiC, plus optimized pulse sequences for spin manipulation. This yields a solid-state quantum vector magnetometer in a material available for wafer-scale production.
Using Data Envelopment Analysis to Rate Pharmaceutical Companies; A case study of IRAN

Efficiency analysis and performance comparison among homogeneous firms provides the field of using tools and economic indicators in financial management, allocation of resources and other managerial decisions. The aim of this research is measuring and identifying the productivity changes of some Pharmaceutical Companies. This research has done on the efficiency of 28 Companies, using DEA. In this study we used Total assets/ net working capital, Total assets/ net profit, Total Debt/ Cash Flow and profit margin and the Total assets/Total Debt as well as the Total assets/Long term debt as outputs and input variables. The findings show that which companies have efficiency and which companies need to change their processes.
Opportunities and risks of the revised European import regime

The EU has new requirements for the import of organic products replacing the import authorizations by a system where certification bodies operating in Third countries will be approved by the EU Commission. The new system has the potential to increase the efficacy of the control system in Third Countries, to reduce the bureaucracy for international trade and competitive disadvantages for non-European certification bodies. However clear criteria for the assessment of compliancy and equivalency and thorough supervision of certification bodies are necessary to maintain and improve the organic integrity for imported products.
Area-selective atomic layer deposition of Ru on electron-beam-written Pt(C) patterns versus SiO2 substratum

Area selectivity is an emerging sub-topic in the field of atomic layer deposition (ALD), which employs opposite nucleation phenomena to distinct heterogeneous starting materials on a surface. In this paper, we intend to grow Ru exclusively on locally pre-defined Pt patterns, while keeping a SiO2 substratum free from any deposition. In a first step, we study in detail the Ru ALD nucleation on SiO2 and clarify the impact of the set-point temperature. An initial incubation period with actually no growth was revealed before a formation of minor, isolated RuOx islands; clearly no continuous Ru layer formed on SiO2. A lower temperature was beneficial in facilitating a longer incubation and consequently a wider window for (inherent) selectivity. In a second step, we write C-rich Pt micro-patterns on SiO2 by focused electron-beam-induced deposition (FEBID), varying the number of FEBID scans at two electron beam acceleration voltages. Subsequently, the localized Pt(C) deposits are pre-cleaned in O2 and overgrown by Ru ALD. Already sub-nanometer-thin Pt(C) patterns, which were supposedly purified into some form of Pt(Ox), acted as very effective activation for the locally restricted, thus area-selective ALD growth of a pure, continuous Ru covering, whereas the SiO2 substratum sufficiently inhibited towards no growth. FEBID at lower electron energy reduced unwanted stray deposition and achieved well-resolved pattern features. We access the nucleation phenomena by utilizing a hybrid metrology approach, which uniquely combines in-situ real-time spectroscopic ellipsometry, in-vacuo x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, ex-situ high-resolution scanning electron microscopy, and mapping energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy.
Improving the performance and reliability of mobile applications

The mobile application ("app") ecosystem has grown at a tremendous pace with millions of apps and hundreds of thousands of app developers. Mobile apps run across a wide range of network, hardware, location, and usage conditions that are hard for developers to emulate or even anticipate during lab testing. Hence, app failures and performance problems are common in the wild. Scarce resources, shift away from familiar synchronous programming models, and poor development support has made it more difficult for app developers to overcome these problems. This dissertation focuses on systems that make it significantly easy for app developers to diagnose and improve their mobile apps. To reduce user annoyance and survive the brutally competitive mobile app marketplace, developers need systems that (i) identify potential failures before the app is released, (ii) diagnose problems after the app is deployed in the wild, and (iii) provide reliable app performance in the face of varying conditions in the wild. This dissertation presents systems that satisfy these needs. VanarSena makes it easy to diagnose common failures in mobile apps before deployment, AppInsight makes it easy to monitor mobile apps after deployment, and Timecard allows mobile apps to adapt to conditions in the wild and provide consistent performance. For the legion of amateur app developers with fewer resources at hand, these systems significantly reduce the barrier for diagnosing and improving mobile apps. The systems are built on top of a binary instrumentation framework that automatically rewrites app binary at bytecode level. Hence, using them requires minimal effort on part of the app developer. The systems include novel instrumentation techniques to automatically track the runtime behavior of the app. To cope with the scarcity of resources, they include resource-aware mechanisms that incur negligible overhead. To make them immediately deployable, they are designed to require no modification to the OS or runtime. We have built VanarSena, AppInsight, and Timecard for the Windows Phone platform. VanarSena does automated app testing by systematically emulating user interactions and fault conditions from the wild to uncover app failures. VanarSena uncovered 2,969 distinct crashes in more than 1,100 apps in the app store. AppInsight does light-weight monitoring of mobile apps in the wild. It automatically instruments the app binary to track performance and failures. AppInsight uncovered several performance bottlenecks and crashes in the wild and has provided useful feedback to developers. Timecard enables apps to adapt at runtime and provide consistent performance in the face of varying conditions in the wild. Timecard can tightly control the response time around a desired user-perceived delay. Thesis Supervisor: Hari Balakrishnan Title: Professor
Drug prices and value for money: the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) was established as a part of the British National Health Service in 1999 to set standards for the adoption of new health care technologies and the management of specific conditions. In doing so it was required explicitly to take into account both clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness. This article describes how NICE has responded to the challenge and considers whether its experience of balancing quality, innovation, and value for money holds policy lessons for the United States.