Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Why Open Learning

In the present climate of social and political accountability, education is facing an ever increasing demand for value for money. Value, in the quality of the education being offered and in the ease of access to this education. Employers are demanding graduates with generic and transferable skills, who have the ability to go on learning after graduation. New types of learners, with wide differences in background, learning styles, fields of interest and study habits, are enrolling in tertiary institutions. These modern students, a large proportion of whom are mature age, have a greater need for flexibility in the provision of their education. Academics, and the institutions that employ them, have to be prepared to meet these challenges. Open learning could provide the answer, it is both a process focusing on access to educational opportunities, and a philosophy of education which makes learning more student centred. However, adopting such a philosophy, requires commitment, motivation and flexibility at all levels of the university. This paper discusses the characteristics and benefits of open learning, the hazards and potential abuses that will be faced when institutions adopt its more open and flexible practices.
Perceptions Towards Iso Certification in the UAE Telecommunication Company

This paper examines the employees' perceptions about the ISO 9000 certification process in the UAE Telecommunication Company (Etisalat). It first examines the reasons for and the expectations from this certification process. Then, the main obstacles to this process are identified. This paper also examines the role of top management in this process. This will be helpful for Etisalat management to ensure a smooth implementation of ISO standards. It is also expected to be beneficial to other companies seeking to be ISO certified.
Corporate governance, incentive schemes, and safety performance in the construction industry

Addressing workplace health and safety has been identified as a dimension of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). A socially responsible business is characterised by good corporate governance that provides a healthy and safe work environment. Under the umbrella of CSR, this study examined a specific element of corporate governance, i.e. senior executive incentive schemes, which are the key mechanism used by Boards of Directors to align senior management's interests with organizational interests. The specific focus here is long-term incentive plans (LTIPs). This study investigated what senior management have been incentivized to achieve by LTIPs, and whether, or how, the incentives are aligned with the organizational strategic objective of safety performance. Annual Reports of publicly listed construction companies in Australia were collected and subjected to content analysis. The research found that LTIPs were exclusively related to financial measures with safety indicators not included in any LTIPs. This suggests that the structure of LTIPs may only incentivize senior executives to focus on financial performance thus overlooking safety performance. The design of LTIPs may not contribute to corporate governance capable of producing good safety outcomes. Future research is needed to explore ways to align incentives, senior management motivations and safety performance in the construction industry.
The role of communication concerning employees in successful privatization: the case of Sanpaolo Bank's acquisition of Egypt's Bank of Alexandria

APA Citation El Agamy, M. (2011). The role of communication concerning employees in successful privatization: the case of Sanpaolo Bank's acquisition of Egypt's Bank of Alexandria [Master’s thesis, the American University in Cairo]. AUC Knowledge Fountain. https://fount.aucegypt. edu/etds/1298 MLA Citation El Agamy, Mahmoud. The role of communication concerning employees in successful privatization: the case of Sanpaolo Bank's acquisition of Egypt's Bank of Alexandria. 2011. American University in Cairo, Master's thesis. AUC Knowledge Fountain. https://fount.aucegypt. edu/etds/1298
Bivariate Distribution and Hazard Functions When a Component is Randomly Truncated

In random truncation models one observes the i.i. d. pairs (Ti Yi ), i=1, . , n. If Y is the variable of interest, then T is another independent variable which prevents the complete observation of Y and random left truncation occurs. Such a type of incomplete data is encountered in medical studies as well as in economy, astronomy, and insurance applications. Let (Y, Y) be a bivariate vector of random variables with joint distribution function F(y, x) and suppose the variable Y is randomly truncated from the left. In this study, nonparametric estimators for the bivariate distribution and hazard functions are considered. A nonparametric estimator for F(y, x) is proposed and an a.s. representation is obtained. This representation is used to establish the consistency and the weak convergence of the empirical process. An expression for the variance of the asymptotic distribution is presented and an estimator is proposed. Bivariate ``diverse-hazard'' vector is introduced whic h captures the individual and joint failure behaviors of the random variables in opposite ``time'' directions. Estimators for this vector are presented and the large sample properties are discussed. Possible applications and a moderate size simulation study are also presented. 1997 Academic Press
A Comparison of the Discretization Approach for CST and Discretization Approach for VDM

The preprocessing data is the most important task in data mining steps. Discretization process is known to be one of the most important data preprocessing tasks in data mining. Presently, many discretization methods are available. Discretization methods are used to reduce the number of values for a given continuous attributes by dividing the range of the attribute into intervals. Discretization makes learning more accurate and faster. This paper will investigate the effects of discretization of continuous attributes in a dataset to the performance of Case Slicing Technique as a classification method and compared it with another classification approach which will be a generic version of the VDM algorithm" the discretized value difference metric (DVDM).
The density-magnetic field relation in the atomic ISM

We present numerical experiments aimed to study the correlation between the magnetic field strength, $B$, and the density, $n$, in the cold atomic interstellar medium (CNM). We analyze 24 magneto-hydrodynamic models with different initial magnetic field intensities ($B_0=$0.4, 2.1, 4.2, and 8.3 $\mu$G) and/or mean densities (2, 3, and 4 cm$^{-3}$), in the presence of driven and decaying turbulence, with and without self-gravity, in a cubic computational domain with 100 pc by side. Our main findings are: i) For forced simulations, which reproduce the main observed physical conditions of the CNM in the Solar neighborhood, a positive correlation between $B$ and $n$ develops for all the $B_0$ values. ii) The density at which this correlation becomes significant ($\lesssim 30$ cm$^{-3}$) depends on $B_0$ but is not sensitive to the presence of self-gravity. iii) The effect of self-gravity, when noticeable, consists of producing a shallower correlation at high densities, suggesting that, in the studied regime, self-gravity induces motions along the field lines. iv) Self-gravitating decaying models where the CNM is subsonic and sub-Alfv\'enic with $\beta\lesssim 1$ develop a high density positive correlation whose slopes are consistent with a constant $\beta(n)$. v) Decaying models where the low density CNM is subsonic and sub-Alfv\'enic with $\beta>1$ show a negative correlation at intermediate densities, followed by a high density positive correlation.
Crystallization kinetics of a colloid-polymer system with depletion interaction

Compared to systems with only a steric interaction, a colloidal system with an attractive interaction, caused by addition of a polymer, exhibits a richer set of phases. Richer because more phases are possible; for example, one can actually see the coexistence of liquid, gas and crystal phases in equilibrium. In this thesis, we studied the crystallization of colloid particles in a colloid-polymer system. To understand how crystals nucleate within different phases, the samples investigated were in the three-phase region of the colloid-polymer phase diagram. Experiments were carried out in a microgravity environment on board the International Space Station (ISS). The samples were photographed as they crystallized and captured images were sent to Earth. Python scripts were developed to analyze data from the images. One key observation similar to that observed in a hard-sphere system was the formation of dendrites in one of the samples suggesting diffusion-limited growth.
The Role of Religion, Idea, and Identity in Taliban Alliance with Al Qaeda in Afghanistan

: This study examines the alliance between Al Qaeda and the Taliban from 1996-2001. The alliance between Taliban and Al Qaeda was transformed since the Taliban governed Afghanistan. The Taliban regime and Al Qaeda terrorist network were sharing similar world, the Taliban sheltered Osama bin Laden and also allowed him to operate various terrorist camps in Afghanistan in which militants all over the world could be trained in terror tactics. Mullah Mohammed Omer, the Taliban leader, wanted Afghanistan to be a pure Islamic state, while Osama bin Laden had the same objective for the entire Islamic world. Both hated the West, especially the US. The Taliban provided security and a sanctuary for Al Qaeda where they trained thousands of recruits, established a state-of-the-art network, and planned various operations, including September 11. This study has found that the Taliban and Al Qaeda alliance in Afghanistan can be analyzed based on three factors religion, idea and identity: the particular goal is to replace corrupt and heretical government with the rule of “Sharia” (Islamic law) and establish an Islamic state. The paper first present the introduction and literature review of the study, and next the methodology and result, and in the discussion section addressing the role of three factors between the alliance of Taliban and Al Qaeda, and conclusion of the study.
Relationships between vocational training centres and industrial SMEs in the Basque Country: a regional innovation system approach

Purpose: The aim of this document is to analyse the reach of the relation between vocational training (VT) centres and industrial SMEs in the Basque Country (Spain), and its influence on innovation processes developed by companies. Design/methodology/approach: We employ the conceptual framework offered by the Regional Innovation System (RIS) perspective and the information supplied, on the one hand, by relevant actors within the vocational training system, through in-depth interviews, and, on the other, by the response of industrial SMEs to a survey. Findings: The results obtained suggest that vocational training centres are an agent of significance within the RIS, contributing through its main lines of action (formal education, continuous training and company services) to improving the competitiveness of companies and to stimulating their innovation processes. Research limitations: Although this paper has described the nature of the main mechanisms of relation between VT centres and industrial SMEs, there is a need for ongoing research to analyse the contribution of the educational system to innovation processes in industrial SMEs. For this purpose it would be interesting to measure how the skills of qualified workers and technicians coming from the VT system mesh with company innovation processes. Originality/value: The results of this study highlight a positive relationship between vocational training and innovation.
Ontogenetic shifts in terrestrial reliance of stream-dwelling brown trout

This study focuses on terrestrial reliance of brown trout ( Salmo trutta ) and compared it to the potential prey available (macrozoobenthos and drifting invertebrates) in three temperate rivers (Galicia, NW Spain), with special emphasis on variations in terrestrial energy intake through the ontogeny of brown trout. Additionally, we paid particular attention to individual variation of terrestrial resource use within and between age classes. Prey items were grouped in four categories: i) aquatic invertebrates; ii) imagoes of aquatic invertebrates; iii) terrestrial invertebrates; and iv) fish prey. Next, energy composition was measured according to dry weight-energy equations for each individual in line with above-mentioned prey categories. Our findings illustrate that terrestrial invertebrates appeared to be scarce in the environment, whereas aquatic food resources were rather abundant and accessible. The use of terrestrial invertebrates tended to increase with age, but with a high degree of inter-individual variation in resource use. In fact, the individual reliance of brown trout on terrestrial invertebrates may vary considerably (between 0% and 76.9%). Besides, the frequency of terrestrial foragers, i.e . , individuals with terrestrial invertebrates in their stomachs, increased with age, except in one population which had the maximum value in the age-2 class. The acquisition of terrestrial invertebrates thus appears to be a process strongly dependent upon the actual food availability in the environment, but with a high degree of individual variance in resource use within the same age class. Finally, we discuss that terrestrial invertebrates may largely contribute to cover the energy intake of the species, highlighting the interface between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, and thereby the importance of riparian canopy cover as a key factor for food supply of stream-dwelling salmonids species.
Village Level Labor Market Development in Tanzania: Evidence from Spatial Econometrics

While many empirical studies show that participation in rural labor markets is an important household livelihood strategy, data on Tanzania show that the participation in the rural labor markets is still relatively low. This study examines the factors behind the development of village labor markets in Tanzania. Using spatial econometric techniques, the study shows that, despite their incipient development, rural labor markets in Tanzania are significantly interlinked across space. Furthermore, underlying factors for development of rural labor markets, such as access to roads and availability of credit, have varying impacts across space. This implies that policy interventions such as making credit available to the rural households and investment in rural transport infrastructure would also have varying effects across space. The study reveals that interventions that reduce cash constraints such as rural credit schemes are likely to have greater impacts in the western part of the country than in the eastern part. However, interventions that reduce the time used in collecting firewood are likely to have more pronounced impacts in the eastern parts than in the western parts of the country. While east-west variations of most of these interventions are significant, most of the north-south variations are not significant. This phenomenon is partly attributed to east-west alignment of key infrastructure such as transport networks.
AN ISOGENIC STEM CELL MODEL OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE: DIRECT EXPRESSION OF AMYLOID-BETA

iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . v LIST OF TABLES . viii LIST OF FIGURES . ix CHAPTER ONE: ALZHEIMER’S IS A CHRONIC, PROGRESSIVE, AND COMPLEX DISEASE Background . 1 Neuropathology . 2 Proteolytic Production of Aβ. 3 Where is Aβ Produced? 5 Tau Tangle Formation and Its Pathological Appearance in AD . 6 Vesicular Accumulation in AD . 7 The Genetics of AD . 7 Current Models . 9 Constructing a New Human ES Cell Based Model . 12 CHAPTER TWO: NEURONAL DEVELOPMENT App and Aβ Insert Expression . 14 Alzheimer’s is Not a Developmental Disease . 17 CHAPTER THREE: ALZHEIMER’S-LIKE PHENOTYPES Aβ Aggregation . 22 Synapse Decrease . 24 Neurodegeneration . 26 Changes in Gene Expression and Pathway Analysis . 28
Phonoaudiological assessment of patients with obstructive sleep apnea

Study was carried out at Universidade Federal de São Paulo. 1 Departamento de Psicobiologia da Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo (SP), Brazil. 2 Department of Odontology of Universidade Metodista de São Paulo, São Paulo (SP), Brazil. 3 Department of Otorhininolaryngology of Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo (SP), Brazil. Financial support: none. Conflict of interests: nothing to declare. Corresponding author: Lia Rita Azeredo Bittencourt – Rua Napoleão de Barros, 925 – Zip Code 04024-002 – São Paulo (SP), Brazil – E-mail: lia@psicobio.epm. br. Received: March 16, 2010; Accepted: March 3, 2011 ABSTRACT Introduction: Studies relating otorhinolaryngological with phonoaudiological and polysomnographic assessments in patients with the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) are rare, and the paucity of information on this topic is apparent when outlining treatments for the OSAS. Objectives: The purpose of this investigation was to thoroughly describe possible alterations in orofacial motricity structure and function in the OSAS patients by means of a phonoaudiological evaluation model. Methods: Orofacial structures and functions were examined in male OSAS patients with respect to anthropometric, otorhinolaryngological, and phonoaudiological parameters. Results: A total of 22 patients was recruited, with an average age of 47±11 years old, body mass index of 26.2±4.9 kg/m, and cervical circumference of 43.9±3.4 cm. The otorhinolaryngological and phonoaudiological assessments revealed that 73% of patients had reductions related to tongue tension; 64% of them showed an elevated genioglossus with the tip of the tongue laying behind the inferior central incisive teeth; 55% showed failed teething; 27% exhibited normal occlusion; 18% had class II occlusions; 100% had facial asymmetry; 36% had a narrow, deep, hard palate; 55% had nasal obstruction; 100% presented with oropharynx alterations; 72% showed unilateral chewing; 63% had ineffective chewing, and 83% exhibited advanced tongue projection during swallowing. Conclusions: The phonoaudiological model adopted in this study produced relevant findings about modifications in orofacial motricity in the treatment of OSAS patients.
Did Local Lenders Forecast the Bust? Evidence from the Real Estate Market

This paper shows that mortgage lenders with a physical branch near the property being financed have better information about home-price fundamentals than nonlocal lenders. During the real estate run-up from 2002-06, home price growth negatively correlates with the share of loans made by local lenders, namely lenders with a branch in the respective county. Moreover, home prices fell less from 2006-09 in areas where more of the loans were made by local lenders. California foreclosure rates during the crisis are negatively correlated with local lending during the run-up. A 1 standard deviation increase in local loans is associated with 5 fewer foreclosures for every 1,000 houses. When local lenders retain loans for their portfolio rather than securitizing, the results for both home price growth and foreclosures are even stronger.
Cytotoxicity of current adhesive systems: in vitro testing on cell culture of L929 and balb/c 3T3 fibroblasts

Purpose : The aim of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxicity of three current adhesives: Prime&Bond NT (PBNT), Single Bond (SB) and XENO III (XENO). Methods : After embedding and curing circles of filter paper with the tested adhesives, the filters were placed in contact with the solidified agar surface over L929 monolayer cells plated in 6-well cell culture plate and incubated for 24 h. The inhibition zone around the filter papers was measured in mm. MTT assay was performed using fibroblasts Balb/c 3T3 cell lines in multiwell culture plates. All assays were done in triplicate. Results : All materials were cytotoxic (Kruskal-Wallis, P 0.05). For intra-groups analysis, SB presented the lowest cytotoxicity (P 0.05). MTT assay confirmed the cytotoxicity of the tested adhesives. Conclusion : Considering the limits of this work, all adhesives tested were as cytotoxic as latex.
Thermogravimetric analysis and dynamic Young's modulus measurement of N,N‐dimethylacetamide‐impregnated wood polymer composites

Mercerized wood species were impregnated with N,N‐dimethylacetamide. Their Fourier transform infrared spectra then showed enhanced absorption at 1419 cm−1 (C/CH3), and the 1267‐cm−1 (N/CH3) stretching band confirmed the occurrence of a modification reaction. Thermogravimetric investigation of the resultant wood polymer composites (WPCs) indicated a better thermal stability in comparison with that of the raw wood. The dynamic Young's modulus of the WPCs was significantly increased compared with that of raw wood. After modification, analysis by scanning electron microscopy showed porous cells of raw wood filled with the polymer, which led to the better stability of WPCs. Analysis by XRD indicated that the crystallinity of WPCs increased because of an increase in the stiffness and the thermal stability of the composites. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL. , 2011. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers
FOR BREAST CANCER Updates from the 2005 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium

Here, Oncology Exchange presents an update based on presentations made at the 2005 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS). These confirmed the unquestionable benefit of trastuzumab, both qualitatively — it works — and quantitatively — it reduces over 40% of breast cancer events in women with HER2-expressing tumours. The symposium also confirmed that other biological therapies such as bevacizumab are on the horizon. Further, the field of molecular markers that may predict benefit of trastuzumab, enabling more precise determination of patients likely to benefit from this expensive therapy, is rapidly advancing. Top-line summary BIOLOGICAL THERAPIES FOR BREAST CANCER Updates from the 2005 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium
Cross-National Trends in Earnings Instability and Earnings Inequality*

Changes in inequality of yearly earnings can arise from changes in the distribution of lifetime earnings (permanent changes) and changes in the stability of earnings (transitory changes). Past research has found increases in both components in the United States over the past several decades. We extend this literature by comparing the United States with Germany and Great Britain. We use data from the Cross-National Equivalent Files (Cornell University) to document trends in cross-sectional and long-run earnings inequality. These data enable us to examine earnings dynamics during the years 1979-1996 for the United States, 1983-1997 for Germany, and 1990-1997 for Great Britain. Despite differences in labor market structure, our descriptive models reveal similar basic patterns of earnings mobility and dynamics in these countries. We then apply a method of moments approach to estimate the parameters of a heterogeneous growth model of permanent and transitory earnings. The results indicate that although there are substantial differences in overall cross-sectional inequality across these countries, the persistent component of earnings inequality was quite similar in each in the 1990s