Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Determinants of Life Insurance Demand, Consumer Perspective - A Case Study of Ayeduase-Kumasi Community, Ghana

This study finds out the determinants of life insurance demand in the Ayeduase-Kumasi community from the perspective of consumers. The study adopted Logistic regression modeling technique with 256 cross section observations. Income, higher education, number of dependents, employment by someone else and better perception about insurance firms improved the chances of taking life insurance. Age however, has negative relationship with the odds of taking life insurance. Number of dependents was statistically significant at 1%. Age and Type of employment were both significant at 5% while’s income and education level were significant at 10%. Overall the Chi-Square showed that the model was statistically significant at less than 0.001. This study had similar results to previous studies and deviates as well. Celik and Kayali found a positive relationship between income and odds of taking insurance and that was not different from the results of this study. Contrary to Celik and Kayali, higher education influences positively the odds of taking life insurance. Moreover, segmenting customers into different groups by using the type of employment as basis of segmentation could help insurance firms to prescribe policies that customers may patronize.
Clinical Profile and Management in Children with Rheumatic Heart Disease in a Tertiary Cardiac Care Center of Nepal

Backgrounds and Aims: Rheumatic heart disease is the commonest acquired heart disease in children of developing world presenting earlier and with a more severe valvular lesion. This study was conducted to assess the clinical and demographic profile, pattern of valvular involvement and management modalities among children with rheumatic heart disease. Methods: This was a hospital-based observational study, performed at Shahid Gangalal National Heart Center where all children less than 15 years of age with confirmed echocardiographic diagnosis of rheumatic heart disease from June 2015 to May 2016 were evaluated and relevant data were recorded. Results: Two hundred and eleven children were diagnosed with rheumatic heart disease. The mean age was 11.9 ± 2.2 years with (100) 47.4% male and (111) 52.6% female. The median duration of symptoms among new cases was 1 year (interquartile range of 0.5 to 2 years). The most common symptom was dyspnea present in (187) 88.6% children followed by palpitation (34.5%). Mitral valve was most commonly affected in (141) 96.5% while isolated aortic valve involvement was seen in (8) 3.5%. Isolated mitral regurgitation was the most common lesion present in 118 (55.9%) children, while 50 (23.7%) children had combination of mitral and aortic regurgitation. Mitral valve was significantly more commonly affected in females and aortic valve commonly affected in males (p= 0.003). Conclusions: Rheumatic heart disease although declining in developed countries, remains to be the commonest acquired heart disease in developing and underdeveloped countries. Efforts are needed to improve primary and secondary preventive measures. Nepalese Heart Journal 2016; 13(2): 33-36
Investigating the strategic relationship between information quality and e-government benefits

This paper presents a review of the literature on information quality and the benefits and outcomes of e-Government. According to Ge and Helfert (2007), research on information quality is related to three aspects, such as: information quality management, information quality assessment, and the quality of the contextual information. Literature suggests that there are two primary contributors to high information quality: information systems themselves and organisational factors. This paper presents crucial key findings and concepts from the literature examining one or other of these two factors. First, the contribution of information systems is examined; second, an array of writings on information quality is presented, painting a composite picture of the role of organisational factors and their contribution to information quality.
Weathering of Zinc-(Zn)-bearing Mine Wastes in a Neutral Mine Drainage Setting, Gunnerside Gill, Yorkshire

Numerous areas throughout the world are affected by circum-neutral pH, low iron (Fe) drainage with high concentrations of zinc (Zn) arising from discharges from, and weathering of, mine wastes. Gunnerside Gill, a small upland tributary in the headwaters of the River Swale in Yorkshire, is such a site affected by historic lead and zinc mining. The aim of the study is to assess the controls on Zn mobilisation from the mine tailings and floodplain sediments to the river water through a column leaching experiment. Sphalerite has been identified as the primary Zn mineral in the bedrock within Gunnerside Gill. However, there is more evidence of secondary phases of Zn were including Fe oxides and phosphates present within the samples and the BCR data suggests it is these phases that appear to be undergoing the majority of the Zn dissolution. © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. Peer-review under responsibility of the organizing committee of WRI-15.
Efficiency Convergence Towards International Standard: Evidence from Malaysian Listed Government Linked Companies (GLCs)

This paper investigates the efficiency convergence of Malaysian listed government-linked companies towards the benchmarked foreign owned firms that represent international standard. We use stochastic frontier analysis to estimate production efficiencies of 31 GLCs and 15 FFs over a period of 12 years (2001–2012). The results of the σ convergence test show a process of convergence although the speed is relatively slow. The study also observes a significant negative link between output generation and labour input, suggesting overcapacity in human capital investment, and a significant positive link between financial firms and inefficiency implying the need to enhance productivity driven personnel and knowledge based investments for firms in this sector.
Judgements as a basis for informal workplace learning - preliminary research findings

Informal learning can be broadly characterised as learning found in everyday opportunities where learners interact with the world around them. It can be distinguished from formal learning where the purpose, structure and content for learning are imposed on the learner. When informal learning occurs in the context of work or organised settings, factors such as performance, practice, sociocultural dynamics and situational context influence its nature and quality. Previous research by Beckett, Hager and Halliday (Beckett, 1996; Beckett & Hager, 2000, 2002; Hager, 2001; Halliday & Hager, 2002) asserts that productive informal learning is better characterised as a growing capacity to make contextual-sensitive judgements – a discretionary and discriminating process that involves holistic and embodied knowing. Our paper reports on progress in an Australian Research Council funded Discovery project designed to test this judgement-as-learning approach. Detailed case studies of critical incidents in a range of workplaces are being constructed and the learning or otherwise by key players involved in these incidents is being elucidated and analysed. This empirical investigation provides a means of analysing significant workplace events in order to develop a model of informal learning and an associated theory of practice. The paper outlines the overall project rationale and discusses findings from one initial case study. Additional findings from other case studies developed after submission of this paper, will be presented and discussed at the conference.
Incidence of Aspergillus contamination of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) in Eastern Ethiopia

The production of groundnut is constrained by several factors, among which is Aspergillus spp. In addition to causing quantitative losses, Aspergillus spp. produce highly toxic and carcinogenic chemical substances known as aflatoxins. This study was conducted with the objectives to (i) identify Aspergillus species associated with groundnuts, (ii) determine the frequency of seed contamination, and (iii) survey agro-ecological conditions related to groundnut contamination by Aspergillus spp. About 270 groundnut samples were collected from farmers’ storage, fields and local markets of three districts that is, Babile, Darolabu and Gursum of Eastern Ethiopia for mycological analysis in the year 2010. Results of the mycological analysis suggested heavy infestation of groundnut samples by various molds including Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus ochraceus, Aspergillus parasiticus and Pencillium species. At the district level, the incidence of infected groundnut kernels ranged from 50 to 80%. Within the district kernel infection varied between 36.3 and 100%. The common Aspergillus symptoms (yellowing or chlorotic leaves, wilting, drying and brown or black mass covered by yellow or greenish spores) were also observed in groundnut fields. The current results were consistent with our earlier report of heavy aflatoxin contamination of groundnut from the same places, suggesting the urgent need to apply control measures against toxigenic fungi and associated mycotoxins. Key words: Aspergillus spp. , groundnut, Penicillium spp. , Ethiopia.
Identifying the impact of deterrence on crime: internal versus external instruments

We consider estimation of the economic model of crime exploiting instrumental variables (IV) techniques for panel data. We extend the empirical analysis of Cornwell and Trumbull (1994) and show that their instruments are very weak. We propose an alternative identification strategy based on the sequential moment conditions of Arellano and Bond (1991). The resulting GMM estimates of deterrence effects on crime are considerably more precise.
Geomechanics of hydraulic fracturing Environmental effects in the Australian context

A decade ago, the greater public had not heard of hydraulic fracturing and today, many people outside the resources sector consider it to be a recent technical innovation. Although it’s true that the broad application of hydraulic fracture stimulation for gas recovery in tight and low-permeability shale is comparatively recent, the technique has been utilised in the oil sector for more than 65 years for well stimulation, to enhance recovery from conventional petroleum reservoirs.
Indigenous patient migration patterns after hospitalisation and the potential impacts on mortality estimates

This study analysed interregional migration for Indigenous patients in the Northern Territory, Australia. Individual-level linked hospitalisation data between July 1998 and June 2011 were used to describe the migration patterns and associated factors. Micro-simulations were conducted to assess the impacts on mortality estimates. Indigenous patients were 35% more likely to migrate from remote to urban areas after hospitalisation than in the reverse direction (risk ratio 1.35, 95% confidence interval 1.30-1.41). The likelihood was positively associated with hospitalisations, age and the Central Australia region. Indigenous patients with diabetes, renal disease or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease had higher risks of urban migration. Non-Indigenous patients were included for comparison. The micro-simulations indicated the patient migration may result in a 6% under-estimation of Indigenous mortality in remote and very remote areas and 3% over-estimation of mortality in urban areas. The results are pertinent to a sound understanding of health outcomes across remoteness categories.
In vitro evaluation of plant extracts, bioagents and fungicides against Alternaria porri (Ellis) Cif., causing purple blotch disease of onion

Purple blotch of onion caused by Alternaria porri (Ellis) Cif. is an economically important disease posing threat to onion cultivation in warm and humid regions. Bioefficacy of six plant products (Clerodendron, cinnamon, garlic, neem oil, pongamia oil and turmeric), five biocontrol agents (Trichoderma harzianum, Chaetomium sp. Beauveria bassiana, Verticillium lecanii and Metarhizium anisopliae) was evaluated under in vitro conditions and compared with commonly used fungicides viz., mancozeb, chlorothalonil, propineb and copper oxy chloride. Among plant products evaluated, fresh aqueous extract of garlic (20%) was effective in causing 100 per cent inhibition of mycelial growth. Neem oil and pongamia oil (20%) caused 76.94 and 69.94 per cent inhibition. Among the biocontrol agents evaluated, maximum inhibition (79.5%) was recorded in T. harzianum. Among the fungicides, mancozeb and propineb (0.3%) caused 100 per cent inhibition of mycelial growth. The present study indicated that plant products and biocontrol agents have shown significant inhibition of A.porri and were comparable with fungicides.
A dynamic evaluation of the impacts of an Emissions Trading Scheme on the Australian economy and emissions levels

Using an environmentally extended MONASH model and a database containing detailed energy sectors, this paper evaluates the effects of an Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) on the Australian economy and the emissions levels. The simulation results indicate that the price of carbon permits would increase from A$4.6 in 2015 through A$13.3 in 2020 to A$43.5 in 2030. The main buyer of permits would be the agricultural sector, black-coal electricity sector and brown-coal electricity sector. Compared with the business as usual scenario, Australia’s GDP is projected to be 0.77% and 1.84% lower in 2020 and in 2030, respectively. The result also lends strong support towards the transition to renewable energy because the price of electricity will increase considerably with the ETS. The income of households and household welfares in terms of equivalent variations are also considerably reduced.
IDENTIFYING LOCAL WISDOM IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ANTI-CORRUPTION EDUCATION IN MALANG

There are very few discussions on instructional communication analysis or known as education communication focusing on anti-corruption and local wisdom. Instructional communication may become preventive solution to prevent corruption. The study discusses local wisdom-based anti-corruption instructional communication. Local wisdom becomes the focus of the study since culture acts as facilitator for internalization of anti-corruption principles. Malang is selected as the setting as the study due to its “arek” tradition. “Arek” tradition is transparent, straightforward and assertive; these are relevant to the principles of anti-corruption. The objective of the study was to identify local wisdom in anti-corruption education. The study was explorative qualitative and the method was focus group discussion. The subjects were teachers in SDN 2 Dinoyo Malang, SD Sang Timur Malang, and SD Insan Amanah Malang. These three elementary schools were selected as the setting because they have different religious orientation. The basis for selecting these schools was to describe different integration of the local wisdom and religious orientation each of the schools have. The findings stated that local wisdom had yet been utilized to facilitate the anticorruption education. Local wisdom was considered as government education embedded in the school activities. Some schools applied the program as a whole while some others were selective towards the program. Based on the findings, anti-corruption principles were embedded through religious and moral values that worked in the society.
Blocking, hand-off and traffic performance for cellular communication systems with mixed platforms

Cellular communication systems that support a mixture of platform types distinguished by different mobility characteristics are considered. A tractable analytical model for traffic performance analysis is developed using multidimensional birth-death processes and the method of phases. The framework allows consideration of homogeneous and nonhomogeneous systems, a broad class of dwell time distributions, and missed handoff initiations. Cut-off priority for handoffs and several platform types are considered to demonstrate the approach. The effects of different mobility parameters and of imperfect detection of handoff needs are examined. Theoretical performance characteristics are obtained. These exhibit carried traffic, handoff activity, blocking probability, and forced termination probability for each platform type. The realizable exchange of blocking for handoff performance is shown. <<ETX>>
Nest-site selection by golden plover: why do shorebirds avoid nesting on slopes?

It is widely known that many upland-breeding shorebirds tend to nest on plateaus but to date no studies have put forward explanations for this phenomenon. We examined the effect of slope and habitat on the distribution of ground-nesting golden plover Pluvialis apricaria at two study sites in County Durham, U.K. Golden plovers showed strong selection for nesting on flat ground. Habitat significantly affected nest-site location on one study site (heather burnt within the past 2 years was favoured and older stands of heather were avoided) but not on the other. Fifty-nine per cent of all nests failed. We attributed 95% of all losses to predation. Seventy-five per cent of nests, in which the predator was identified, were taken by ground predators, mainly stoats Mustela erminea. Nests on flat ground had significantly higher rates of survival than those on slopes. Nest survival did not vary significantly with habitat type nor with vegetation height or density around the nest. Neither habitat type, vegetation height nor vegetation density around nests differed between nests on slopes and on flat ground. In addition, individuals that nested on flat ground tended to have less black on their underparts (a suggested indicator of dominance). We suggest that birds nesting on slopes are less efficient at avoiding nest predation than those nesting on the flat. The nature or degree of a bird's response to a predator may be related to the efficiency of individual anti-predator responses and/or to visibility from the nest. This study cannot differentiate between these two explanations. We encourage further work to investigate differences in behaviour between individuals nesting on slopes and those on flat ground.
Multiplicative Dirac structures

In this paper we introduce multiplicative Dirac structures on Lie groupoids, providing a unified framework to study both multiplicative Poisson bivectors (i.e., Poisson group(oid)s) and multiplicative closed 2-forms (e.g., symplectic groupoids). We prove that for every source simply connected Lie groupoid $G$ with Lie algebroid $AG$, there exists a one-to-one correspondence between multiplicative Dirac structures on $G$ and Dirac structures on $AG$, which are compatible with both the linear and algebroid structures of $AG$. We explain in what sense this extends the integration of Lie bialgebroids to Poisson groupoids carried out in \cite{MX2} and the integration of Dirac manifolds of \cite{BCWZ}. We also explain the connection between multiplicative Dirac structures and higher geometric structures such as $\mathcal{LA}$-groupoids and $\mathcal{CA}$-groupoids.
Organizational Effectiveness: Social Capital and Competitive Advantage Approach

This study is aimed at developing the model of organizational effectiveness in university through social capital and competitive advantage. The populations of this study are the head of study programs and the structural officials in some Universities in Semarang. In this case, We used Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) in AMOS 21.0 program as the analysis tool. The result of the study and model analysis showed that even though the social capital had significant positive influenced to the competitive advantage in the university, the improvement of social capital and competitive advantage at university could not improve the university organizational effectiveness. Then, between two factors which influenced the competitive advantage (internal social capital and external social capital), it is obtained that external social capital got the dominant influenced factor to competitive advantage. The managerial implication suggested the policies should focus on improving the quality of cooperative relationships with external parties in the university. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah membangun model efektifitas organisasi pada perguruan tinggi melalui modal sosial dan keunggulan bersaing. Populasi dalam penelitian ini adalah ketua program studi maupun pejabat struktural pada perguruan tinggi di Semarang. Alat analisis data yang digunakan adalah Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) pada program AMOS 21.0. Hasil pengujian dan analisis model menunjukkan bahwa pada meskipun modal sosial memiliki pengaruh positif signifikan terhadap keunggulan berasingn pada perguruan tinggi namun peningkatan modal sosial dan keunggulan kompetitif pada perguruan tinggi belum mampu meningkatkan efektifitas organidsasi perguruan tinggi tersebut. Selanjutnya diantara kedua faktor yang mempengaruhi keunggulan bersaing (internal social capitaldan external social capital), didapatkan bahwa external social capital merupakan faktor yang paling dominan pengaruhnya terhadap keunggulan bersaing. Implikasi manajerial yang dapat disarankan oleh penelitian ini adalah kebijakan yang menitikberatkan pada peningkatan kulitas hubungan kerjasama dengan pihak eksternal pada perguruan tinggi. JEL Classification: L, L2, L20