Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
'Environmental policy to community action' : methodology and approaches in community-based environmental education programmes in Uganda

This research was conducted in Luwero, a rural district in central Uganda, over a period of three years, half of which entailed fulltime engagement in a participatory action research process with VEDCO, an indigenous NGO. The study focuses on the educational processes involved in the translation of Uganda's environmental policy into action at community level. It looks at community-based education and development activities run by VEDCO among smallholder farmers. The study addressed four objectives. For the first objective I developed a conceptual framework through a review of theories informing education in general and environmental education, adult education, community education, and community development in particular. The second objective was to conduct a situational analysis to identify contextual issues related to policy implementation at community level. The third objective was to engage in a participatory action research process with the NGO in the farming community in response to the identified contextual issues, and the fourth was to explore and comment on environmental education methods used within a community context. PRA techniques, interviews, and other participatory data collection methods were used to generate the data. The study reveals contradictions that limit NGO capacity to make appropriate use of participatory education processes in implementing policy-related training at community level. Elements in the National Plan for the Modernisation of Agriculture, for example, conflicted with the principle of sustainable development underlying the policy. VEDCO itself was changing from a social-welfareoriented organisation into a commercial enterprise pursuing economic goals, which conflicted with its social goals. The capitalist development ideology of the donor was being adopted by VEDCO, which contradicted the goals of people-centred development. This was exacerbated by VEDCO's dependency on donor funds for its activities. Contextual issues like people's history; poverty, gender and inconsistent land policies further complicated the policy implementation processes. There were also inconsistencies in the epistemological assumptions and didactic approaches evident in the implementation. The study shows that the intended emancipatory education processes are more often supplanted by technicist methodologies. Thus, it exposes the underlying historical, ideological and epistemological tensions and contradictions within the field of education, particularly in relation to the `paradigmatic' orientations (neo-classical, liberal and socially critical/emancipatory) outlined in the literature.
FDA's Critical Path Initiative: A Perspective on Contributions of Biostatistics

This article describes the motivation for, description of, and the objectives and plans for the FDA's initiative that was introduced in March of 2004 by way of a report titled ‘Innovation or Stagnation? – Challenge and Opportunity on the Critical Path to New Medical Products’. The FDA initiative is very much an outreach effort and a wake‐up call to many constituencies to contribute and partner to improve the product development process and thereby to contribute to the success rate of new products that will benefit the public. We discuss in general terms where some of the opportunities and challenges exist for the discipline of biostatistics to make contributions to this effort over the next few years. In particular, guidance development in five areas is considered as is the need to devote new energy and efforts to quantitative risk assessment and safety evaluation, an area that has lagged the attention received in the efficacy evaluation area. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Does Judicial Monitoring Deter Domestic Violence Recidivism?

A growing number of courts mandate convicted domestic violence offenders to ongoing judicial monitoring. However, the effectiveness of monitoring has barely been examined with this population. Accordingly, matched samples were created between 387 offenders sentenced to judicial monitoring in the Bronx and 219 otherwise similar offenders whose sentences did not include monitoring. Propensity score matching techniques were used to balance the samples on arrest charges, criminal history, relationship to victim, and other case characteristics. The study found that judicial monitoring failed to reduce the re-arrest rate for any offense, for domestic violence, or for domestic violence with the same victim.
Malignant glioma biology: Role for TGF‐β in growth, motility, angiogenesis, and immune escape

Characteristics of human malignant glioma are excessive proliferation, infiltrative growth, angiogenesis and suppression of anti‐tumor immune surveillance. Transforming growth factor‐beta (TGF‐β), a versatile cytokine, is intimately involved in the regulation of these processes. Here, we discuss the interactions of TGF‐β with growth factors, such as basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF) and platelet derived growth factor (PDGF), metalloproteinases (MMP‐2, MMP‐9) and their inhibitor, plasmin activator inhibitor‐1 (PAI‐1), and immune cells, like natural killer cells, T‐cells and microglia. The differential effects of TGF‐β in glioma biology are outlined with emphasis on the induction of a survival advantage for glioma cells by enforced cell growth, migration, invasion, angiogenesis and immune paralysis. By virtue of its growth regulatory and immunomodulatory properties, TGF‐β promises to become a novel target for the experimental therapy of human malignant glioma. Microsc. Res. Tech. 52:401–410, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Synthetic Shorting with ETFs

We provide novel evidence that arbitrageurs use exchange-traded funds (ETFs) as an avenue to circumvent short-sale constraints at the stock level. Using a large sample of U.S. equity ETF holdings, we document that shorting activity on ETFs rises with the difficulty of shorting the underlying stocks. Stocks that are heavily shorted via their holding ETFs underperform those lightly shorted by 94 basis points per month. The return predictability of ETF short selling on individual stocks is distinct from stock-level shorting measures, and is concentrated among stocks that face the most severe arbitrage constraints. Across a broad set of capital market anomalies, we find that anomaly returns are significantly attenuated when ETF ownership is high. Our evidence suggests that ETFs contribute to a more informationally efficient market by allowing arbitrageurs to target overpriced stocks that are otherwise difficult to short.
Prophylactic action of oral fluconazole against fungal infection in neutropenic patients

Fluconazole is used widely for fungal prophylaxis. Although studies with bone marrow transplantation (BMT) recipients clearly showed the usefulness of oral fluconazole, results of the studies in neutropenic patients other than BMT recipients have been inconsistent. Therefore, the authors performed a meta–analysis to evaluate the efficacy of fluconazole prophylaxis during chemotherapy‐induced neutropenia.
Cyclin D1 genotype in areca-associated oral squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common malignancy in areca-chewing regions, accounting for up to 50% of malignant tumors in some South Asian countries. Amplification and/or over-expression of cyclin D1 (CCND1) is a frequent event in human malignancies, including OSCC. CCND1 G870A polymorphism (codon 242) gives rise to two isoforms of the protein. The objective of the present study was to evaluate if the risk, onset, and prognosis of areca-associated OSCC is related to CCND1 genotypes. METHODS We analyzed the CCND1 genotype in 70 OSCC cases and 93 control Taiwanese using single-strand conformation polymorphism techniques. RESULTS Statistical analysis showed that CCND1 genotype had no impact on the risk, onset, or survival of areca-associated OSCC. However, buccal squamous cell carcinoma (BSCC) appeared to be less frequently associated with AA genotype than non-BSCC (P = 0.02). In addition, amplification of CCND1 was significantly more prevalent in OSCC cases (22%) than in control subjects (2%, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION This study demonstrates that the CCND1 genotype may confer different risks for BSCC and non-BSCC.
Disparities in Maternal Hypertension and Pregnancy Outcomes: Evidence from North Carolina, 1994–2003

Objectives. To better understand disparities in pregnancy outcomes, we analyzed data from North Carolina to determine how the pattern of maternal hypertensive disorders differs among non-Hispanic white (NHW), non-Hispanic black (NHB), and Hispanic women across the range of maternal ages. In addition, we explored whether rates of poor birth outcomes, including low birthweight (LBW) and preterm birth (PTB), among hypertensive women differed by race. Methods. We restricted our analyses to births occurring between 1994 and 2003, constructing six five-year maternal age categories: 15–19 years, 20–24 years, 25–29 years, 30–34 years, 35–39 years, and 40–44 years. We used logistic regression to determine the relative contribution of race and age to incidence of maternal hypertension. All analyses controlled for the standard covariates of maternal education, marital status, and tobacco use. To assess the impact of maternal hypertension on birth outcomes, we limited the dataset to women with any hypertensive disorder and used linear regression to determine how particular race-age combinations affected outcomes. We also used logistic regression to find out how particular race-age combinations affected the likelihood of LBW and PTB. Results. The risk of hypertension differed by race, with NHB women exhibiting the highest risk and Hispanic women the lowest risk. Further, rates of hypertension increased with age. Among hypertensive women, pregnancy outcomes differed by race and age, with NHB women having the poorest outcomes (i.e., LBW and PTB) and age exhibiting a dose-response relationship in PTB and very PTB. Conclusions. Patterns of maternal hypertension and subsequent outcomes are important contributors to persistent disparities in pregnancy outcomes.
Epidemiology of fractures of the forearm. A biomechanical investigation of bone strength.

1. In an urban population of 209,473, the age-and-sex-specific rate of inicidence of 2,672 fractures of the forearm that occurred during a five-year period were determined. The fractures were classified as to location (distal, shaft, or proximal), degree of trauma (moderate or severe), and displacem
Effect of Competitive Intelligence on Competitive Advantage in Innoson Technical and Industry Limited, Enugu State, Nigeria

The instrument used for data collection was primarily questionnaire and interview. Out of 303 copies of the questionnaire that were distributed 283 copies were returned while 20 were not returned. The survey research design was adopted for the study. The hypotheses were tested using Pearson product moment correlation coefficient, chi-square, and simple linear regression statistical tools. The findings indicated that strategic intelligence significantly affects technological know-how in Nigeria manufacturing firm (r = 0.602; F = 3. 426E3; 1 = 4.426; p <0.05). Innovation significantly relationship affects brand reputation in the Nigeria manufacturing firms (X2 0 = 68.270 is greater than the Chi-square table value X2 1 = 9.49; p< 0.05). There is a significant relationship between human intelligence network and employee loyalty in the manufacturing firm (r = 705, P<05). The study concluded that competitive intelligence is a vital tool for strategic planning and competitive advantage. The study recommended that there should be an adequate investment in competitive intelligence process, facilities, and activities by manufacturing firm so as to be innovating in their product, services and competitive dispositions. In implementing competitive intelligence in an organization, employees should be equipped with the knowledge, skill and technical know-how of handling intelligence product.
Electroconvulsive Shock Reduces Inositol 1,4,5‐Trisphosphate 3‐Kinase mRNA Expression in Rat Dentate Gyrus

Abstract: We investigated the expression of inositol 1,4,5‐trisphosphate (InsP3) 3‐kinase mRNA after a single electroconvulsive shock (ECS) with in situ hybridization histochemistry in rat brain. At 6 h after ECS, the expression was markedly decreased in the dentate gyrus, and the decrease was maintained until 9 h with a slight recovery. The InsP3 3‐kinase mRNA content returned to basal levels after 12 h. We could not detect any apparent changes in the expression of InsP3 3‐kinase mRNA in the CA1–CA3 areas of hippocampus, the striatum, and the cerebral cortex at any time point examined. In the temporal pattern, the reduction of the expression in the dentate gyrus was preceded by the induction of c‐ fos after ECS. These observations suggest that the InsP3 3‐kinase might be one of the genes whose expression can be altered by ECS.
Two Years of Follow‐Up Validates the Echocardiographic Criteria for the Diagnosis and Screening of Rheumatic Heart Disease in Asymptomatic Populations

Objectives: Out of 1,059 school children aged 6–15 years, screened 2 years ago, 54 children were diagnosed with rheumatic heart disease (RHD) and put on penicillin prophylaxis. Significant regurgitation of mitral valves was detected in 39 cases of echocardiography diagnosed RHD, and in 15 cases significant regurgitation was detected to coexist with valve deformities. Three children had isolated mitral valve thickening without regurgitation. They were not given penicillin prophylaxis. These cases were followed up for 2 years. Methods: After 2 years, 54 children diagnosed with RHD and three children with isolated mitral valve thickening, were evaluated again. Lot quality assurance sampling was employed to screen a selected group of school children declared normal during the earlier evaluation. Lot was to be rejected, if, one child with significant regurgitation of mitral valve was found among the first 10 screened children of each of the 10 lots. Findings: No lot was rejected and thus it was inferred that the prevalence of new onset RHD was negligible in the subset declared normal 2 years ago. Isolated significant mitral regurgitation disappeared more often when present (35.9%) in comparison to when it (26.7%) was originally found coexistent with valve deformities. Conclusions: Highlight of the study is the greater reversibility of earlier lesions as compared to the later stages of RHD. Spontaneous regression of isolated mitral valve thickening in two‐thirds of the cases even without antibiotic prophylaxis, undermines the value of morphological criteria for the diagnosis of RHD. (Echocardiography 2011;28:929‐933)
Beneficial effects of eplerenone versus hydrochlorothiazide on coronary circulatory function in patients with diabetes mellitus.

CONTEXT Impaired coronary circulatory function predicts cardiovascular events, the leading cause of death in patients with diabetes mellitus. Aldosterone causes cardiovascular injury and is not suppressed by chronic angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor therapy. OBJECTIVE Our objective was to assess whether mineralocorticoid receptor activation contributes to coronary circulatory dysfunction in patients with diabetes who are already receiving ACE inhibitor therapy. DESIGN AND SETTING A randomized, double-blind, crossover study with an intervening washout period of at least 4 wk was conducted with ambulatory patients from the community. PATIENTS Patients included 16 subjects (11 men, eight Caucasians; mean age, 53 yr; mean body mass index, 38.0 kg/m2) with diabetes and albuminuria but without clinical cardiovascular disease. INTERVENTIONS ACE inhibitors were switched to enalapril 20 mg daily, and other antihypertensives were discontinued. Amlodipine 5-10 mg daily was added to achieve blood pressures less than 130/80 mm Hg. Subjects then received, in random order, 6 wk of the mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist eplerenone 50 mg (with placebo pill) daily and 6 wk of another diuretic, hydrochlorothiazide 12.5 mg (with potassium 10 mEq) daily. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Before and after each 6-wk treatment period, we measured coronary circulatory function (adenosine-stimulated myocardial perfusion reserve) and endothelial function (brachial artery reactivity and peripheral arterial tonometry). RESULTS The eplerenone and hydrochlorothiazide groups had similar blood pressures, serum potassium, glycemia, and endothelial function. Although pretreatment myocardial perfusion reserve did not differ between groups, myocardial perfusion reserve was significantly higher after eplerenone than after hydrochlorothiazide (median 1.57 vs. 1.30; P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS Mineralocorticoid receptor blockade improves coronary circulatory function compared with hydrochlorothiazide in patients with diabetes already receiving ACE inhibitor therapy.
Social capital as the missing link in community development planning process in Africa: lessons from Ghana

Conventional community development strategies have focused on the importance of physical, natural, financial, and human capitals. In spite of the emphasis on these in the pursuit of development, a number of community development problems persist. Given the huge evidence that social capital matters in community development efforts, it appears that the missing link in community development is social capital. Yet this has not been adequately explored. This paper explores the role of social capital in the community development planning process. Comparative case study design was used. Two rural communities were selected from the Ejisu-Juaben Municipal Area for in-depth study. Interviews were conducted with the principal and assistant Municipal Planning officers and two Principal Community Development Officers from the Municipal Assemblies and the traditional leaders of both communities. Assembly members were used as key informants. Focus group discussions were held with community groups. Forty respondents were randomly selected at the household level and interviewed. The analysis focused on social networks, trust, civic engagement and social norms. It was found that social capital could facilitate the community development planning process by promoting the participation of community members in community activities, increase their ability to work together and engender overall development. There is a correlation between community development and the level of social capital. The paper recommends that development planning at the sub-national levels can be more responsive if it utilizes networks and social ties in the preparation and implementation of plans. Keywords: Social Capital, Development, Planning, Ghana, Participation
Expression of the Kdp ATPase Is Consistent with Regulation by Turgor Pressure

ABSTRACT The kdpFABC operon of Escherichia coliencodes the four protein subunits of the Kdp K+ transport system. Kdp is expressed when growth is limited by the availability of K+. Expression of Kdp is dependent on the products of the adjacent kdpDE operon, which encodes a pair of two-component regulators. Studies with kdp-lac fusions led to the suggestion that change in turgor pressure acts as the signal to express Kdp (L. A. Laimins, D. B. Rhoads, and W. Epstein, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 78:464–468, 1981). More recently, effects of compatible solutes, among others, have been interpreted as inconsistent with the turgor model (H. Asha and J. Gowrishankar, J. Bacteriol. 175:4528–4537, 1993). We re-examined the effects of compatible solutes and of medium pH on expression of Kdp in studies in which growth rate was also measured. In all cases, Kdp expression correlated with the K+ concentration when growth began to slow. Making the reasonable but currently untestable assumptions that the reduction in growth rate by K+ limitation is due to a reduction in turgor and that addition of betaine does not increase turgor, we concluded that all of the data on Kdp expression are consistent with control by turgor pressure.
Influence of Institutional Ownership on Earnings Quality: Evidence for Firms Listed on the Pakistan Stock Exchange

Prior studies have shown that ownership structure of firms affects their performance, decision making and earnings. Studies have found that institutional owners are well informed, organized and proactive as compared to other owners. In this study we empirically examined the impact of institutional ownership on earnings quality for the listed firms of the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX). The data of 200 non-financial listed firms from 2002 to 2014 is collected for this study. The conceptual framework of Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB, 1980) is used to measure the earnings quality. The four dimensions of earnings quality studied are: predictive value, neutrality, timeliness and representational faithfulness. Results showed institutional ownership is positively related with earnings quality. Moreover, a greater level of institutional shareholding brings more oversight and enhances earnings quality.
The effect of finance, infrastructure and training on the performance of small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria

Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) play significant roles in providing employment opportunities, alleviating poverty, empowering communities, provision of goods and services, contributing toward the GDP, and achieving sustainable growth and development of the Nigerian economy. The aims of this research is to examine the effect of finance, infrastructure, and training on the performance of SMEs in Nigeria. This study used Kano State as a case study, and descriptive survey research design was used in this study. Sample size of 310 SMEs was drawn through simple random sampling out of the population of 1530 registered SMEs in Kano State, Nigeria. Primary data was employed in this study, and the data was collected through administering of close-ended structured questionnaires, but only 299 respondents respond to the questionnaires that were used for this study analysis. Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) software was used to analyze the respondent’s profile while Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) through Analysis of Moment Structure (AMOS) software was used to test the hypotheses of this study. The findings indicate that finance, infrastructure, and training have a positive and significant effect on the performance of SMEs in Nigeria. This suggests that there is a dire need for finance, infrastructure, and training to be given adequate concentration as they serve as the engine of boosting the performance of SMEs in Nigeria. Thus, it is recommended that the Government should undertake policy development work aimed at making access to fund easier for SMEs with growth potential and reduce the interest rate. The existing infrastructural facilities such as road, electricity, water supply, and telecommunication should be improved to a high standard by the Government. The Government should also encourage the SMEs entrepreneurs to make use of Entrepreneurial Development Programme (EDP) that is aimed at improving the 1 MOHAMMED SANI ABDULLAHI, Department of Business Administration and Management, School of Management Studies, Kano State Polytechnic, Nigeria, P.M. B: 3401 Kano State, Nigeria, Email: abdulmohdsani@gmail.com, Tel: +2348036609594. 2 PUSPA LIZA GHAZALI, Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Gong Badak Campus, Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia. 3 ZAINUDIN AWANG, Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Gong Badak Campus, Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia. 4 IZAH MOHD TAHIR, Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Gong Badak Campus, Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia. 5 NOR AZMAN MAT ALI @ SALIM, Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Gong Badak Campus, Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia. Mohammed Sani Abdullah, et al. / The Effect of Finance, Infrastructure and Training.