Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Public governance vs good governance: Outlining the concepts

The transformation of public sector has been changed all over the world since last quarter of twentieth century.The rapid changes in the public sector are due to the globalizations demands and complexity in the fast-changing world. Thus, the changes had led to the rise of the corporate governance in the public sector which had changed the future of the public sector itself and growth as well.The changes in the public sector had strengthened the core and functions of the public sector at the same time.Hence, the rise of the corporate governance had response to the failure, incompetent, corruption and efficient as well. This paper will examine the elements in the governance which focus on two points in the corporate governance; public governance and good governance.The corporate governance in the public sector can be seen in the elements of public governance and good governance which had changed the perspectives of public management entirely
Functional-Coefficient Regression Models for Nonlinear Time Series

Abstract The local linear regression technique is applied to estimation of functional-coefficient regression models for time series data. The models include threshold autoregressive models and functional-coefficient autoregressive models as special cases but with the added advantages such as depicting finer structure of the underlying dynamics and better postsample forecasting performance. Also proposed are a new bootstrap test for the goodness of fit of models and a bandwidth selector based on newly defined cross-validatory estimation for the expected forecasting errors. The proposed methodology is data-analytic and of sufficient flexibility to analyze complex and multivariate nonlinear structures without suffering from the “curse of dimensionality. ” The asymptotic properties of the proposed estimators are investigated under the α-mixing condition. Both simulated and real data examples are used for illustration.
On Two Fresh-Water Planarians from Chile

The material of this article was presented by Dr. Patricio Sanchez of the Catholic University of Santiago, Chile, who found himself in need of identification of two species of fresh-water planarians on which he has been conducting experiments to be reported elsewhere. Dr. Sanchez provided photographs of the worms in life, several sets of serial sections of them, and preserved specimens, from which I have made additional series of sections. Dr. Sanchez had already correctly determined that both species belong to the genus Dugesia, family Planariidae, and I have established that one is a described, the other an undescribed, species. The worms were fixed in 0.7 per cent sodium chloride saturated with mercuric chloride, a fixative very suitable for fresh-water triclads. Some series were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, others with Mallory's triple stain.
Investigation of fracture zone properties using reflected seismic waves from passive microseismicity

A new method has been developed for imaging seismic reflectors using seismogram data recorded by a few standard triaxial geophones. A directional migration approach reduces imaging artefacts due to the low aperture of the sensor array. This is possible by measuring the polarisation in the seismogram coda and considering all four reflected body-waves: PP', PS', SP' and SS'. This technique has been applied to seismograms recorded by deep borehole sensors at Williams mine, Canada, in order to invert for fracture zone properties surrounding the open pit. A fracture zone thickness of 20 m, with average rock quality designation (RQD) of 75%, best matches the seismic data, and is closely correlated to the mine's borehole core observations. This finding has useful implications for efforts to remove tunnel reflections from seismograms recorded by standard (short borehole) geophones underground. As such, it is a necessary first step before standard microseismic monitoring arrays can be used to image the rock mass beneath and ahead of a working underground mine using reflection seismology.
Utilization of Agro-industrial by-products for prod uction of bioactive natural products from endophytic fungi

The utilization of four different agro-industrial b y-products, Sugarcane Bagasse (SB), CornBran (CB), Wheat-Bran (WB), Fenugreek Straw(FS), in addition to the well known solid medium, Cooked Rice (CR) without any supplemental addition as productive media for fungal natural products were described. Endophytic fungal strain, Alternaria alternate was isolated from the Egyptian land-weed Euphorbia helioscopia, and grown in the fine grounded and autoclaved media by the system steady state fer mentation for about 30 days at 30oC. The growing fungi and its products were homogenized in the presence of methyl alcohol (MeOH). The main products of this fungus extracted were: Al ternariol ( 1), alternariol methyl ether ( 2) and tenuazonic acid ( 3), purified and identified using different spectros copic analysis. Cytotoxic and antimicrobial activities of the isola ted compounds were tested.
Modelling galaxy merger time-scales and tidal destruction

We present a model for the dynamical evolution of subhaloes based on an approach combining numerical and analytical methods. Our method is based on tracking subhaloes in an N-body simulation up to the latest epoch that it can be resolved, and applying an analytic prescription for its merger time-scale that takes dynamical friction and tidal disruption into account. When applied to cosmological N-body simulations with mass resolutions that differ by two orders of magnitude, the technique produces halo occupation distributions that agree to within 3 per cent. This model has now been implemented in the GALFORM semi-analytic model of galaxy formation.
Collective Action in Diverse Sierra Leone Communities

Scholars have pointed to ethnic and other social divisions as a leading cause of economic underdevelopment, due in part to their adverse effects on public good provision and collective action. We investigate this issue in post-war Sierra Leone, one of the world's poorest countries. To address concerns over endogenous local ethnic composition, and in an advance over most existing work, we use an instrumental variables strategy relying on historical ethnic diversity data from the 1963 Sierra Leone Census. We find that local ethnic diversity is not associated with worse local public goods provision across a variety of outcomes, regression specifications, and diversity measures, and that these "zeros" are precisely estimated. We investigate the role that two leading mechanisms proposed in the literature - enforcement of collective action by strong local government authorities, and the existence of a common national identity and language - in generating these perhaps surprising findings.
Chapter 5 Ascites : Treatment , Complications , and Prognosis

Ascites is the most common complication in patients with cirrhosis. It can lead to several life-threatening complications resulting in a poor long-term survival outcome. Ascites is due to the loss of compensatory mechanism to maintain effective arterial blood volume secondary to splanchnic arterial vasodilatation in the progression of liver disease and portal hypertension. Refractory ascites, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP), hyponatremia, and hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) are complications that can occur with ascites, all of them leading to a worse quality of life and short-term mortality. When complication appears, liver transplantation as a definitive and curative treatment should be considered. Other common therapeutical approaches to control ascites such as diet, sodium restriction, or the use of diuretics are needed to avoid these complications, although some patients will require further treatments when ascites becomes refractory to standard treatment. This chapter will review the complex treatment of ascites, and its related complications.
STUDYING ABROAD: MALAY STUDENTS ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE UK EDUCATION SYSTEM AND PERSONAL ADJUSTMENT

The Malaysian government is concerned about the significance of studying abroad and has therefore been very active in sending students abroad to study. Malaysia has an elaborate foreign scholarship program which sees 10,000 or more students relocate abroad annually and the majority of them are Malays or Bumiputera . Studying abroad is seen as a backbone to produce a potential citizen that functions effectively in society and plays a role in economic and national development. This paper provides an analysis of Malay undergraduate students’ narratives of their perceptions and attitudes towards studying abroad and the UK’s education system. The purpose of this paper is to investigate, share and understand their process of adjustment and adaptation as well as the challenges they encounter while abroad. The findings support the previous literature that studying abroad has a significant impact on the students’ life experience. The problems students encountered as being of three general types: socio-cultural adjustments; language issues; and learning and teaching approach. It is argued here that these experiences and problems, along with other aspects of their previous education system, interaction with the locals/ host national, religion, culture and language, had an influence on their attitudes towards study in the UK.
INFLUENCE OF TALENT ATTRACTION ON ORGANISATIONAL PERFORMANCE IN PUBLIC UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES IN COUNTY GOVERNMENT OF NAKURU, KENYA

ABSTRACT Public universities in Kenya are operating in an environment which is faced with a lot of competition. This is because over the years the number of Universities has drastically increased and there has been advancement in technology bringing about shortage of talent. Institutions are increasingly looking at talent as a unique asset that can provide sustainable competitive advantage and superior performance. This research sought to establish the influence of talent attraction on organizational performance. The study was guided by Maslows theory. The target population for the study was; managers, academic staff and non-academic staff in campuses of public universities in county government of Nakuru, Kenya. Stratified random sampling and simple random sampling techniques were used to determine the sample of each stratum of various sub population of total sample unit size of 102. Structured questionnaire was used to collect data. The instrument was pilot tested to ascertain the reliability of the research instrument using Cronbach Alpha. The reliability of the research instrument was found to be 0.794 which was considered reliable. The study employed both descriptive and inferential statistics to present and analyze the data. The Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) a computer programme for windows aided the data analysis. The study established that talent attraction showed strong positive relationship against organizational performance in Public University Campuses in County Government of Nakuru with correlation of ( r = 0.640, p < 0.05) . The study recommends that HR departments to be responsive to needs and constantly changing requirements of workforce in order to improve programmes and policies as need may be. It is also important that institutions adopt talent management to improve on its performance. The study also recommends that further research could be carried out in private universities to establish the differences
Equity Versus Non-Equity International Strategic Alliances: The Role of Host Country Governance Management

A substantial literature has evolved focusing on the ownership structure of international strategic alliances (ISAs). Most of the relevant studies are theoretical in nature and concentrate on the conceptual factors that influence the choice between equity and non-equity structures. A smaller number of studies provide some empirical evidence on the importance of some of the conceptual factors. The theoretical literature highlights the potential influence of relational capital and transaction costs as determinants of ISA structure; however, there is little empirical evidence on the relative importance of these potential determinants. Moreover, there is only limited and indirect evidence bearing upon the impact of host country governance attributes on ISA ownership structure. In this study, we provide statistical evidence on the importance of potential determinants of governance mode choice for a sample of ISAs involving Danish firms. Our study documents how the determinants of governance mode choice vary in importance depending upon the "quality" of the governance infrastructure of the host country.
AGE-SPECIFIC STOPOVER ECOLOGY OF BLACK BRANT AT HUMBOLDT BAY, CALIFORNIA

Abstract We analyzed capture-mark-recapture (CMR) data from 1,061 Black Brant (Branta bernicla nigricans) using Humboldt Bay, California, during northward migration (Jan–May), 2000–2001. We estimated immigration and emigration rates, and calculated stopover duration (length of stay), volume (total number of birds using the Bay), and chronology (time frame of the migration at this site). Migration of Brant through Humboldt Bay began in late December and ended in mid-May with peak numbers occurring in mid-March (i.e., 13% of the entire flyway population). Median age of newly arrived birds was highest in the first half of February. Immigration probability was nearly constant, but emigration probability increased through time, indicating a seasonally progressive migratory state. Mean (±SE) stopover duration from all birds for January–April at Humboldt Bay was 26 ± 2 days. Stopover duration was inversely related to bird age due to age-specific emigration probabilities; older birds arrived sooner and stayed for less time than younger birds. Estimates of stopover duration from concurrent radiotelemetry of 12 birds were consistent with CMR model selection-derived estimates. Humboldt Bay was visited by approximately 28% of the Pacific Flyway Black Brant population in 2000 and 58% in 2001. Estimates derived from this technique offer statutory authorities improved information upon which to base management action along migratory pathways.
Different levels of policy change: A comparison between the public discussion on social security in Sweden and in Finland

The deep economic recession that hit Sweden and Finland at the beginning of the 90s, and the fall in public revenues and rapidly growing public debts that followed on it, triggered a development of cutbacks and restructuring measures which has resulted in a scientific debate over what this has meant for these countries’ systems of social policy, traditionally resting on the Nordic welfare state paradigm. In this connection, questions of to what extent changes made can be ascribed mainly to the economic constraints posed by the recession at all, or rather, to other more long-term societal trends or phenomena, including globalisation, European integration and/or ideational or ideological shifts among influential (elite) groups, have often been touched upon. Applying an ideas-centred approach, this paper attempts to contribute to the knowledge on the reasoning of influential elite societal groups in social policy issues before, during and after the 90’s recession, by empirically analysing their statements on social security made in the press. A distinction is made between three different levels of proposed policy changes, reaching from minor alterations of single programs to changes of the policy paradigm. Results show that the 1990s did not only mean the emergence of suggestions for minor cutbacks in and alterations of prevailing programmes. The share of suggestions implying de facto a (further) departure from the basic features of the social security system also showed that the model was under continuous pressure throughout the 90s. However, many of the changes suggested were not justified by any clear references to a policy paradigm in either country (or not justified at all). Instead, references to “purely” structural justifications did become more common over time. In this respect, as regards social security, our results cannot confirm the fairly popular notion among many researchers of a clearly ideological attack on the welfare state. However, it remains uncertain whether and to what extent the increased proportion of references to “structural realities” in the 90s should be interpreted as an indication of a change in the idea of what the welfare state is and what the goals behind it are. Results further show that the patterns of the discussion in the two countries studied bore a remarkable resemblance at a general level, whereas there are indications of differences in the driving forces behind suggestions for similar reforms in these two countries.
OSTRACODES AND FORAMINIFERA FROM THE ?MIDDLE MIOCENE OF THE WESTERN COAST OF THE GULF OF SUEZ, EGYPT

The microfauna described here come from the marine sediments of the Miocene Hommath Formation, from the west coast of the Gulf of Suez. Fifty five ostracod species have been distinguished including five new ones. The co-occurring foraminifera served as stratigraphical and ecological indicators. The age of the fauna has been determined as Middle Miocene though with hesitation. A similar assemblage of microfauna, especially ostracodes has been found in Miocene sediments from the Sirte Basin of Central Libya.
GROWING SPINACH (Spinacia oleracea L.) IN A FLOATING SYSTEM WITH DIFFERENT CONCENTRATIONS OF NUTRIENT SOLUTION

This study was conducted in a greenhouse in Izmir/Turkey during the winter-early spring of 2016-2017, on spinach grown in the floating water culture system. Cultivation was carried out in aerated nutrient solutions on seedling trays, and peat was used as germination and rooting medium. Each seed was inserted to each hole (17 cc) in trays with 210 cells (957 plant m). Following germination in the germination chamber, trays were moved to climate controlled greenhouse. After emergence, the seedlings were transferred to water culture on 07.12. 2016 and 10.03. 2017 for the 1 and 2 period, respectively. The nutrient solution was applied as "full dose" (mg L: N 150, P 50, K 150, Ca 150, Mg 50, Fe 5.0, Mn 0.50, Zn 0.05, B 0.50, Cu 0.03, Mo 0.02), "half dose" (with macro elements reduced by 50%) and "without nutrients" (water). Plants as baby leaves were harvested 3 times in both periods. Results showed that plant growth, yield, quality, and water consumption vary depending on the concentration of nutrient solution as well as the temperature during the growing season. Especially in the 2 period when the temperatures were higher, plant water consumption and yield increase and earliness were achieved. It was observed that as the concentration of nutrient solution decreased, vitamin C, leaf Ca content and pH value of the nutrient solution increased while leaf N, P, K and Fe contents, EC value of the nutrient solution, leaf nitrate content, yield and plant biomass decreased. There was no statistical difference between full and half dose applications in many measured parameters. It is concluded that spinach can be grown as a baby leaf in a floating water culture and that in addition to reducing nitrate content, half-dose application may be preferred in terms of yield and water consumption, and production should be done during early spring season in greenhouse conditions for high yield and quality.
miRNA Lentiviral Vector Integration and Gene Targeting Efficacy in Cardiac Progenitors

Stem and progenitor cardiac cells are challenging for possible cell therapy application. Several research laboratories are exploiting the feasibility of autologous cell therapy approach to get rid of immunosuppressive treatments responsible for undesirable side effects. Recently, we showed that cardiac progenitors isolated from Sgcb null mice, animal model of limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2E, undergo an aberrant differentiation in vitro and in vivo due to the dysregulation of miR669. This miRNA family is able to inhibit the skeletal myogenic program directly targeting MyoD 3’ UTR. Using lentiviral technology we provided evidence that it is possible to rescue the dystrophic aberrant phenotype by miRNA669overexpression without gene correction. However, how the viruses carrying the miRNAs were positioned in the genome upon transduction and how their localization site could influence the rescue potential was not analysed. Here we investigate the integration profile of lentiviral vector carrying the pre-miR669 in infected polyclonal and clonal populations derived from Sgcb cardiac progenitors. Our study reveals that the retroviral insertion sites (RIS) are largely restricted to coding genes (65%). Although with the limitation of our analysis, we found no hits for cancer-related genes and several sequenced RIS brought to light genes mainly involved in muscle function. Thus our data show that lentiviral vector insertional profile is cell-specific, however, the chromatin state of target cells positively influences the viral integrations.
Epidemiological correlates of under-nutrition in under-5 years children in an urban slum of Ludhiana.

To determine the prevalence and risk factors of under-nutrition amongst under-five children living in an urban slum of Ludhiana a cross-sectional survey of 200 randomly selected under-five children was carried out. The selected samples were taken out of the total 1450 children living in Field Ganj an urban slum area of Ludhiana Punjab. The median weight-for-age height-for-age and weight-for-height of the NCHS standard were used as reference anthropometric indices. The findings reveal that 74 per cent of the children were found to be stunted 42 per cent of them wasted and 29.5 per cent of them were under-weight. Female children children aged 48-59 months children born to older mothers aged 30-49 years children with >3 siblings low birth weight those exclusively breast-fed for >6 months or <4 months having an illiterate mother or unskilled labourer father were observed to be at the highest risk of being under-nourished. Birth spacing of <2 years incomplete vaccination status frequent infections and worm infestation were also found to be important predisposing factors for childhood malnutrition. The study demonstrates the multiple risk factors for childhood malnutrition requiring a multi-pronged and multi-sectoral approach in the fight against the silent killer of childhood malnutrition.