• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.3205-3211
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• 2013

Background: Bladder cancer is the second most incident malignancy among Lebanese men. The purpose of this study was to investigate potential risk factors associated with this observed high incidence. Methods: A case-control study (54 cases and 105 hospital-based controls) was conducted in two major hospitals in Beirut. Cases were randomly selected from patients diagnosed in the period of 2002-2008. Controls were conveniently selected from the same settings. Data were collected using interview questionnaire and blood analysis. Exposure data were collected using a structured face-to-face interview questionnaire. Blood samples were collected to determine N-acetyltransferase1 (NAT1) genotype by PCR-RFLP. Analyses revolved around univariate, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression, along with checks for effect modification. Results: The odds of having bladder cancer among smokers was 1.02 times significantly higher in cases vs. controls. The odds of exposure to occupational diesel or fuel combustion fumes were 4.1 times significantly higher in cases vs controls. The odds of prostate-related morbidity were 5.6 times significantly higher in cases vs controls. Cases and controls showed different clustering patterns of NAT1 alleles. No significant differences between cases and controls were found for consumption of alcohol, coffee, tea, or artificial sweeteners. Conclusions: This is the first case-control study investigating bladder cancer risk factors in the Lebanese context. Results confirmed established risk factors in the literature, particularly smoking and occupational exposure to diesel. The herein observed associations should be used to develop appropriate prevention policies and intervention strategies, in order to control this alarming disease in Lebanon.

• THE INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE & LAW REVIEW
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• v.33
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• pp.91-118
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• 2007

In the transaction of credits, banks must examine the presentation to determine, on the basis of the documents alone, whether or not the documents appear on their face to constitute a complying presentation. And bank shall each have a maximum of five banking days following the day of presentation to determine if a presentation is complying. This period does not depend on any upcoming expiry date or last day for presentation. Data in a document, when read in context with the credit, the document itself and international standard banking practice, need not be identical to, but must not conflict with, data in i) that document; ii) any other stipulated document; or iii) the credit. When a bank determines that a presentation is complying, it must honour or negotiate. But, when a bank determine that a presentation does not comply, it may refuse to honour or negotiate. When a bank decides to refuse to honour or negotiate, it must give a single notice to that effect to the presenter. That notice must be given by telecommunication or, if that is not possible, by other expeditious means no later than the close of the fifth banking day following the day of presentation.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.86-100
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• 2005

This paper has examined how ugliness has aesthetically been portrayed in modern make-up. In the past, ugliness was regarded as an antonym of beauty, but it recently plays a role on part of beauty, as independent portion of art. It was Schegel who initially maintained the view. According to his theory, ugliness represents interesting things including suffering reality, shock, attention, humor, surprises brought by distort and deformation. Hegel had a different view on it. As for him, he had the notion that ugliness was the opposite to beauty and that it had to be dependent in art, he argued that art was subordinate to philosophy, and that it was just nostalgia for the past, not representing reality, therefore, it could not be a foothold in contemporary art. In this context, some images of ugliness can be classified accordingly to Schegel's view deteste, decadence and androgynous can be fallen into a category describing reality; fetish, kitsch and grotesque can be included in interesting things. There is no fine line between the two. There are sometimes things they have in common. They mutually draw attentions by distancing themselves from general images of beauty, or making many changes and distorts in its part, using unique materials, unprecedented attempts of colors which result in creative and shocking images. Attempts made in ugly images in modern art are widening its concept to depicting reality on the body of human beings, also creating its new definition, playing a major role in independent part of modern art, not in the past way like wearing make-up on the face to make it look better.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.427-436
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• 2022

Ethnocentrism in users plays an important role in predicting user behavior when deciding between imported and domestic goods. The purpose of this study is to look into the influence of ethnocentrism in customer behavior on brand image, perceived value, perceived quality, brand trust, and brand buy intention. Vietnamese customers prefer homegrown brands. The moderate role of consumer ethnocentrism in the conceptual framework emphasizes the country origin of the product is the most important factor. It also demonstrates how the intention of Vietnamese consumers to buy domestic brands is substantially influenced. To test the hypothesis, this article used a quantitative technique utilizing PLS-SEM software. With 917 samples, the study used the quota sampling approach to collect data from students at 10 universities in Ho Chi Minh City. The data suggest that all players have a positive association and that consumer ethnocentrism has a moderate impact in the Vietnamese brand context. Following that, suggestions are made to help Vietnamese firms create and retain their brands in the face of severe competition from global brands in the domestic market. To increase consumer intent in purchasing behavior, the Vietnamese local company needs to establish a strong brand.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.495-508
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• 2020

Economic integration is an indispensable trend in all countries. However, besides the advantages that economic integration brings, there are also disadvantages, such as competition between businesses among states in export activities. Vietnam is a developing country with many advantages, especially, the seafood exporting industry. However, with competitive pressure as well as strategic constraints, Vietnamese seafood exporters still face many difficulties. Therefore, the case study of the Kien Giang province of Vietnam is used to analyze the factors affecting the competitiveness of seafood exporting enterprises. The study applied quantitative research methods with a survey of 350 seafood exporting enterprises in Kien Giang province to achieve the research objectives. The research results identified eleven key factors affecting the competitiveness of seafood exporting enterprises, including (1) vision and strategy of leader; (2) human resources management capability; (3) organization capability; (4) customer-responsive marketing capability; (5) relationship management capability; (6) technical capability; (7) competitors reaction capability; (8) business environment adoption capability; (9) financial capability; (10) products and services innovation capability; and (11) branding management. The research results provided the basis to propose some managerial implications to improve the competitiveness of exporting enterprises in the context of the global economic integration.

• The Journal of Industrial Distribution & Business
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• v.14 no.7
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• pp.9-18
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• 2023

Purpose: The ability of a firm to acquire resources through marketing networks is crucial for its competitiveness. Nonetheless, the influence of these networks on the performance of a firm's innovation is still uncertain, particularly in the face of environmental uncertainty. This research investigates the impact of marketing networks, specifically network embeddedness and structural holes, on the performance of innovation in situations characterized by environmental uncertainty. Research design, data and methodology: The empirical examination was carried out within the framework of internal network entities, specifically the manufacturer-supplier-sub supplier relationships, involving the primary suppliers of a Korean engineering firm. Construct measures utilized in this study were derived from existing measures and prior research. A questionnaire survey was conducted with a major first-tier supplier of a Korean engineering firm. Proposed hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling. Results: The survey findings suggest that only network embeddedness has an impact on the perception of major first-tier suppliers regarding the buyer's innovation performance. Conclusions: To strengthen the empirical evidence regarding the effects of marketing networks on innovation performance, future research should take into account cultural factors such as collectivism, which is indicative of the distinctive business-to-business marketing relationships observed in the Korean context.

• Asian Journal of Business Environment
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.31-37
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• 2013

Purpose - This paper objectively analyzes the effects of globalization on Zimbabwe's business and economic development using the Business in Context (BIC) model. Research design, data, and methodology - We employed a qualitative research methodology, following an exploratory secondary research design in this paper. Results - The findings reveal that businesses in Zimbabwe have benefited from globalization as it has drawn investments from international companies in the country. In addition, the business sector is benefiting from the economies of scale realized from the investments made by companies in Africa, East Asia, Europe, and America. However, we also discover that globalization has resulted in the proliferation of cheap sub-standard goods and services from East Asia, and has increased competition between indigenous companies and foreign-owned multinationals. Conclusion - Our findings suggest that globalization has both positive and negative effects on business and economic development in Africa in general, and Zimbabwe in particular. However, we note that the advantages, to a certain extent, outweigh the disadvantages. What, then, could be the way forward for Zimbabwe, in the face of globalization? As a solution, this paper recommends the development of a policy on global associations by the Zimbabwean government, to enhance business and economic development.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.573-585
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• 2021

The banking sector is one of the most important sectors in Pakistan's struggling economy. Recent studies have recommended that suitable methods can be applied to predict bankruptcy. In this context, this work analyzes Pakistan's banking sector's financial status through the five-factor Altman Z-score model, which determines the probability of bankruptcy for an organization. Banking data has been collected through the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) in the period 2013-2017. The Z-score assessment criteria is defined as: Z> 2.99 - "safe" zone; Z> 1.8 Z>2.98- "grey" zone; and Z <1.8 - "distress" zone. Results show good predictions for the local banking industry, while most foreign Pakistani banks were found bankrupt with the Z-score below 1.1. One of the financial risks investors face when investing in any company is the risk of bankruptcy. One of the most used models for predicting financial distress for any company is Altman's Z-score model. On the other hand, the Z-score analysis suggests that all banking establishments are not bankrupt because they have sufficient ability to control bankruptcy. At the same time, foreign banks failed financially and would not be able to be sustained in the future because they do not have the ability to pay the short-term and long-term debt.

• The Korean Journal of Archival Studies
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• no.1
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• pp.137-188
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• 2000

Korea was highly successful in maintaining a strong tradition of record preservation. However, Japanese imperialism and the Korean war over this century has seen a huge quantity of these once plentiful records either destroyed or relocated overseas. Many of Korea records remain in the custody of foreign archival institutions. Additionally, many records of foreign states concerned with korean affairs, for example, records of the Department of state, in the U.S.A., are of great relevance to Korean modern history. These records which exist in foreign countries are a necessary and invaluable resource in the advancement of Korea studies. After the 1980s, as research interest in Korean modern history increased gradually, much historical material related to Korea was extensively introduced, removed, collected from the U.S.A., Japan, Russia and China etc. by the efforts of pioneering scholars and institutions. Several attempts at collating and publishing this material have been made. Despite this encouraging result, individual scholars and institutions's efforts face problems in relation to removal of records. Firstly, it is repeated nonproductively to remove and collect the same records, for we didn't establish a comprehensive information system, through which the condition of foreign record removal and management is able to be administrated. Secondly, there is no system for arrangement, preservation, use of removed records. For example, finding aids, such as inventory, register, description, isn't prepared for user. A user may usually not understand an accurate context of their creation, preservation removal. Thirdly, almost institution has arranged the removed records among other materials and books. Each institution has a different classification criteria, too. These conditions seem to make a difficulty in national management. This study investigated how the materials for Korea history which has been removed from foreign countries should be managed for effective preservation and use. For these purpose, we investigated the present conditions of removal and management of these materials. Also, we investigated examples of the foreign state, U.S.A. and Japan to have a idea for removal and management policy. Then, This study propose a establishment of information network system as management policy. To administrate removing and managing records effectively, an idea that records belong to the public should be accepted commonly. The policy for management of the record is followings. Firstly, unification of classification is necessary. The records which were removed from foreign countries had better to be classified according to their origins of states and institutions. Secondly, Finding aids should be prepared for user. There are many accession aids such as catalog, register, inventory for user in archives. This will be a efficient method for management. When a record is removed, a card for description of contents must be composed. Thirdly, a digital input and network system establishment is necessary. It will help to manage a condition of removed records. A digital input and management system establishment is not just a project of digitalizing records. At present, various finding aids need to be introduced to make a database for records and archives. An search using only 'search engine' may make a difficulty in finding materials because such method is apt to have too much or little result. So, classification, arrangement, description, response-service should be integrated in these system. The recent technical advancement give a opportunity to realize this idea. Above all, these procedure should be archival process.

• The Journal of Art Theory & Practice
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• no.5
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• pp.109-133
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• 2007

What a concept of theatricality in modern art became more controversial is through a review "art and object-hood" on Michael Fried's minimal art, as having been already known broadly. As he had been concerned, the art following the minimalism is accepting as the very important elements such as the introduction of temporality, the stage in the exhibition space, and the audience's positive participation, enough to be no exaggeration to say that it was involved in almost all the theatricality. Particularly even in the installation art and the environment art, which have substantially positioned since the 1970s, the space is staged, and the audience's participation is greatly highlighted due to the temporal character and the site-specific in works. In such way, the theatricality in art work is today regarded as one of the most important elements. In this context, it is thought to have significance to examine theatricality, which is shown in the works of Arte Povera artists, who had been active energetically between 1967-1971. That is because the name of this group itself is what was borrowed from "Poor Theatre" in Jerzy Grotowski, who is a play director and theorist coming from Poland, and because of having many common points in the aspect of content and form. It reveals that the art called Arte Povera is sharing many critical minds in the face of commanding the field called a play and other media. Grotowski's theatre theory is very close to the theory and substance in Arte Povera in a sense that liberates a play, which was locked in literature, above all, renews the relationship between stage and seat and between actor and audience, and pursues a human being's change in consciousness through this. That is because Arte Povera also emphasizes the communication with the audience through appealing to a human being's perception and through the direct and living method, not the objective art concept of centering on the work. In addition, the poor play or poor art all has tendency that denies a system, which relies upon economic and cultural system, and seeks for what is anti-cultural, elemental, and fundamental. It is very similar even in a sense that focuses on the exploration process itself rather than the result, excludes the transcendental concept, and attaches importance to empiricism. However, Arte Povera accepts contradictoriness and complexity, and suggests eclecticism and tolerance, thereby being basically the nomadic art and the art difficult to be captured constitutively. On the other hand, there is difference in a sense that the poor play is characterized by purity, asceticism, seriousness, and solemnity. If so, which significance does this theatricality, which was introduced to art, ultimately have? As all the arts desire to be revealed with invisible things beyond the visual thing, theatricality comes to play a very important role at this time. If all the artists and audiences today came to acquire actual or virtual freedom much more, that can be said to be a point attributable to that art relied upon diverse conditions in a play.