Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Review of Teacher Self-Efficacy, Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK) and Out-of-Field Teaching: Focussing on Nigerian Teachers

Teachers are crucial to the success of any educational system and the success of any nation in general. In fact, it is not an overstatement to say the teacher is the most important educational resource in school. The world is not static but dynamic. Therefore, systems in a dynamic world are changing every day. Based on this conjecture this paper reviewed three educational constructs as related to teacher development in a changing world. These are teacher self-efficacy, pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) and out-of-field teaching. The paper observed that these constructs are paramount to the success of any teacher because studies indicate their influence on students’ academic performance. The conclusion of the paper was that these constructs are yet to be taken seriously by the stakeholders in the Nigerian educational system. The paper suggested some recommendations for improving teachers’ self-efficacy, PCK and reduction in out-of –field teaching in Nigeria.
Epidemiological investigation of pathogenic Leptospira spp. harbored by water buffalo (Bubalis bubalis) in the Philippines

Title Epidemiological investigation of pathogenic Leptospira spp. harbored by water buffalo (Bubalis bubalis) in the Philippines [an abstract of dissertation and a summary of dissertation review] Author(s) Villanueva, Marvin Ardeza Citation 北海道大学. 博士(獣医学) 甲第12398号 Issue Date 2016-09-26 Doc URL http://hdl.handle. net/2115/63593 Rights(URL) http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.1/jp/ Type theses (doctoral abstract and summary of review) Additional Information There are other files related to this item in HUSCAP. Check the above URL. File Information Marvin_Ardeza_Villanueva_abstract. pdf (論文内容の要旨)
The Sumerian Takeoff

Economic geographers correctly note that regional variations in economic activity and population agglomeration are always the result of self-reinforcing processes of resource production, accumulation, exchange, and innovation. This article proposes that essentially similar forces account for the emergence of the world’s earliest cities in the alluvial lowlands of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers (Southern Mesopotamia), sometime during the second half of the fourth millennium BC. That emergence of early cities in the southern Mesopotamian alluvium must be understood in terms of the unique ecological conditions that existed across the region during the fourth millennium, and the enduring geographical framework of the area, which allowed for the efficient movement of commodities via water transport and facilitated interaction between diverse social units alongside natural and artificial river channels. These conditions promoted evolving long-term trade patterns that, inadvertently, differentially favored the development of polities in the southern Mesopotamian alluvium over contemporary societies in neighboring regions. More specifically, my contention is that by the final quarter of the fourth millennium the social and economic multiplier effects of trade patterns that had been in place for centuries – if not millennia – had brought about substantial increases in population agglomeration throughout the southern alluvial lowlands. Concurrent with these increases, and partly as a result of them, important socio-economic innovations started to appear in the increasingly urbanized polities of southern Mesopotamia that were unachievable in other areas of the Ancient Near East where urban grids of comparable scale and complexity did not exist at the time. Most salient among these innovations were (1) new forms of labor organization delivering economies of scale in the production of subsistence and industrial commodities to southern societies, and (2) the creation of new forms of record keeping in southern cities that were much more capable of conveying information across time and space than the simpler reckoning systems used by contemporary polities elsewhere. These innovations furnished southern Mesopotamian polities of the fourth millennium with what turned out to be their most important competitive advantage over neighboring societies. More than any other factor, they help explain why complex regionally organized city-states emerged earlier in southern Iraq than elsewhere in the Near East, or the world.
Current Account ‘Core–Periphery Dualism’ in the EMU

Current account dispersion within EU member states has been increasing since the 1990s. Interestingly, the persistent deficits in many peripheral countries have not been accompanied by a significant growth process that is able to stimulate a long-run rebalancing, as neoclassical theory predicts. To shed light on the issue this paper investigates the determinants of eurozone current account imbalances, focusing on the role played by financial integration. The analysis considers two samples of 22 OECD and 15 EU countries; three time horizons corresponding to various steps in European integration; different control variables; and several panel econometric methods. The results suggest that within the OECD and EU groups, financial integration helped to explain CA deterioration in the peripheral countries, especially in the post-EMU period. The business cycle seems to have played a growing role over time, whereas the role of competiveness seems to have diminished.
Public Social Expenditure Mix and Economic Growth in Nigeria

Armed with the need for optimum balance in Nigerian government expenditures on social sector of the economy and the need to find out economically why the effect of the increasing government expenditures is not reflecting on the economic development of Nigeria in comparison with other economies with even less social spending, this study was carried out to find out the interaction effect of education and health expenditure on economic growth. Secondary data from CBN statistical bulletin and World Bank was used for the estimated using the Autoregressive Distributive Lag model (ARDL) and the study found that though the interaction term is highly significant, it is negative, even, in the midst of positive individual effect of education expenditure and health expenditure on economic growth in Nigeria. This is a wide prove that the current mix of education and health expenditures in Nigeria is harmful to the economy and there is an urgent need to fashion out a better mix if possible. There is also a need for to establish an optimum education and health expenditure mix, since, the current mix has been found to be statistically significant. Keywords: education expenditure, health expenditure, economic growth, interaction, government expenditure
Implications of Fraud on Commercial Banks Performance in Nigeria

Fraud is a global phenomenon that has been in existence for long and it increases every day by day. This studyis set at evaluating the impact of fraud on the performance of commercial banks in Nigeria. It also sought toascertain the relationship between bank ATM Fraud, Forged Cheque, Clearing Cheque Fraud and bankperformance. The methodology adopted in testing objective of this study was regression analysis. The outcomeof the research revealed that there is significant impact of fraud on the performance of commercial banks inNigeria. The implication of this is that if the level of fraud in commercial bank did not reduced to the baerestminimum, it may not allow commercial banks to perform well and as well contribute to the growth of Nigeriaeconomy. We recommend that there is an urgent need for effective monitoring of bank fraud through the use ofATM to allow for the growth of Nigeria commercial banks performance. This is necessary especially this periodthat the world is going cashless and ATM is the main instrument for cashless banking system of payment.
Supervisor Self-Other Agreement, Family-Supportive Supervisor Behaviors and Job Attitudes

This paper joins the literature on family-supportive supervisor behavior research and the self-other agreement (SOA) paradigm to ask the question, how does a congruent perspective in the supervisor-employee dyad relate to service-member workplace attitudes and work-family relationships? Supervisors rated themselves on Family-Supportive Supervisor Behaviors (FSSB) and were in turn rated by their service-member employees. Results of a polynomial regression and surface-response analysis point to the conclusion that as supervisor and service-members’ ratings of the supervisors FSSB rise in tandem, self-reported service-member workplace outcomes (job satisfaction, organizational commitment) rose as well. The variance in work-to-family conflict and work-to-family enrichment was not captured to a large enough extent by the SOA model to support the surface-response analysis. Contained within are further results and a discussion about the importance of congruence between both perspectives.
Chapter 2 Deep Brain Stimulation : The Perspective of Brain Connectivity

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has been demonstrated as a treatment option to alleviate patient symptoms in movement disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease (PD) and dystonia, and has emerged as an alternative treatment for medically intractable epilepsy. However, complete understanding of the mechanism of DBS remains elusive despite recent human and nonhuman studies that have provided mechanistic clues. The precise mechanisms of action for DBS remain unclear. This review provides an up-to-date overview of the detailed procedures of DBS and reviews the actions of DBS on brain networks. Studies regarding the structural and functional connectivity of the brain are also reviewed.
Different performance in reversal learning paradigm for low BIS and high BIS individuals: A difference in ability to form stimulus-reinforcement association

The behavioral inhibition system (BIS) and behavioral activation system (BAS) were two general motivational systems proposed by Grey (1981). These 2 systems were hypothesized to reveal individual’s sensitivity to punishment and reward respectively. The present study examined the performance of healthy individuals with high and low BIS score in a probabilistic response reversal task. The probabilistic response reversal task, adapted from Budhani et al. (2006), used photos of facial expressions of different emotions as stimuli, including happy, sad, angry and neutral. Other measures were also employed to explore for any difference in participants’ mental health, including BDI, STAI-Y2, RSQ, NEO-FFI and SASS. Participants were asked to listen to a boring music before conducting the probabilistic response reversal task in order to calm down both the BIS and BAS systems of the participants. Their heart rate, blood pressure and affect (measured by PANAS) were assessed across the experiment. The results showed that the low BIS group was less likely to stay with their response after being rewarded in the first reversal phase. They also tended to have lower total score in the task. The results were close to the finding of performance of psychopathic adults in the study done by Budhani and colleagues (2006). The results were considered to support the integrated emotion systems (IES) model proposed by Blair (2005) and the BIS/ BAS model. Limitations of the study were discussed and further research was suggested. ii Table of contents Acknowledgement -------------------------------------------------------------------------------i Abstract -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ii------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ii Table of contents --------------------------------------------------------------------------------iii List of Tables -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------iv List of Figures ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------v Chapter 1 — Introduction -----------------------------------------------------------------------1 Chapter 2 — Method ----------------------------------------------------------------------------9 Chapter 3 — Results -----------------------------------------------------------------------------19 Chapter 4 — Discussion & Limitation --------------------------------------------------------23 Reference ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------27 Appendix A: Chinese version of BIS/BAS Scale --------------------------------------------32 Appendix B: Instruction for probabilistic response reversal task --------------------------33
Exploring students' entrepreneurial identity matching through cross-cultural learning :

Entrepreneurship education programs have shown to be powerful identity workspaces, where students, through real-life practice, make sense of who they can be as entrepreneurs. Through identity matching, they personalize their observations, experiment with new entrepreneurial behaviors, and make judgements about concrete role model behaviors in the practice and whether or not these match with their own personal identity. This phenomenological in-depth study explores how students’ identity matching process unfolds through an international internship in the United States. We conducted qualitative research using the focus group method on student cohorts from two university master’s programmes. Our findings show that all students were confronted with new ways of doing entrepreneurial tasks. The cross-cultural learning experience contributed to developing a higher level of self-awareness. The cultural contrasts and comparative learning made their own values more explicit and additionally served to define and protect the students’ own personal integrity and identity. Moreover, the cross-cultural learning experience added a richer repertoire of entrepreneurial behaviors that may be internalized in a future possible self. The study highlights the value of cross-cultural learning in entrepreneurship courses. We additionally develop a conceptual model of identity matching process through transformational cross-cultural learning.
Assessment of Soil Fertility Variation in Different Land Uses and Management Practices in Maybar Watershed, South Wollo Zone, North Ethiopia

The study was conducted at the Maybar watershed, which is located in the Albuko District of South Wello Zone in the Amhara National Regional State. The aims of the study were to identify the effects of different land uses on the magnitudes and directions of major soil fertility parameters and within and among land use types and soil depths. The results showed that soil organic carbon declined exponentially following deforestation and subsequent conversion to cultivated land. The imbalance in soil organic carbon addition from the crops and loss of soil organic carbon have led to the continuous decline of soil organic carbon in the cultivated land soils by 41.6% and 86.5% as compared to the forest and grazing lands, respectively. Soil texture (sand, silt and clay), water retention at field capacity and permanent wilting point and all of the soils chemical properties studied were significantly affected (P ≤ 0.05 and/or P ≤ 0.01) by land use. Generally, comparisons between the crop fields that have been prolongly cultivated on one hand and the forest and grazing lands on the other revealed a highly significant difference on major soil fertility parameters. For instance, the highest average mean values of exchangeable Ca (10.75 cmol(+)/kg), exchangeable Mg (5.02 cmol(+)/kg) and CEC (28.17 cmol(+)/kg) were observed under the forest land as compared to the lowest values (3.96, 0.81 and 11.83 cmol(+)/kg), respectively, in the cultivated land. Furthermore, considering the soil depths, higher mean values of total N (0.153%), exchangeable Ca (7.71 cmol(+)/kg), base saturation (58.11%) and Fe (38.59 mg/kg) were recorded in the surface ( 0-20 cm) soil layer than in the subsurface (20-40 cm) depth. The results obtained from the study indicated that the direction and magnitude of changes in soil attributes under land uses reflect the long-term impact of human being on the landscape as the consequences of increasing human as well as livestock populations. The cumulative values of land use changes without proper management were negative. The manner in which soils are managed has a major impact on agricultural productivity and its sustainability. In order to be sustainable, development must not be only economically sustainable but also socially acceptable and environmentally sound. Therefore, strategies to feed the expanding population in the country have to seek a sustainable solution that better addresses soil fertility management.
Students’ Perception of Own Preparedness for Higher Education: Case Study

Abstract South African universities have been grappling with access issues and low preparedness of first-time entering students with the post-1994 widening of access to students with a non-English speaking background. The purpose of this paper is to discuss student preparedness at a University of Technology in South Africa and to analyse how first year students perceive their readiness for tertiary studies. Qualitative and quantitative designs were used in this study. A survey questionnaire was designed and distributed amongst 1500 first-year students to collect data on the following: whether these students were enrolled in programmes of their choice; attendance of orientation; ability to communicate in English; and their possession of basic computer and numeracy skills. Descriptive statistics were employed to analyse the results. Generically speaking, the students’ perceptions are contrary to the literature evidence and statistics at the institution, with the students perceiving themselves as possessing the requisite critical skills for success in higher education. However, the performance in assessment outcomes at the case university does not necessarily confirm this. Regardless of how students perceive their preparedness, this study will hopefully contribute to the institution improving the quality of support programmes and ensuring students’ full participation in academic support programmes.
Effect of body weight on reproductive performance of Micromus tasmaniae

Micromus tasmaniae Walker is an important predator of a number of economically important pests such as aphids. The ‘larger-the-better’ theory predicts that reproductive fitness is positively linearly associated with body size or weight. To test whether larger insects perform better reproductively, the insect population was divided into three weight groups: light, average and heavy, and the reproductive performance of nine breeding treatments (three male weights × three female weights) was assessed. The body weight of female M. tasmaniae had no significant effect on reproductive fitness in terms of fecundity, fertility, fertility rate, oviposition period and longevity, suggesting that female size variation is of secondary importance in determining reproductive fitness in this species. Male size had significant positive effect on female fecundity, fertility and fertility rate and reproductive period. This suggests that heavy males may transfer larger ejaculates that provide more sperm and male-derived nutrients to females than light males.
Evaluation of the Anti-plasmodial Activity of the Methanolic Root Extracts of ＂Anthocleista nobilis＂ G. Don, ＂Nauclea latifolia＂ Smith and ＂Napoleona imperialis＂ P. Beauv

The emergence of resistant strains of the malaria parasite has necessitated the continued search for other effective, safe and cheap plant-based anti-malarial agents. This study was carried out to evaluate in vivo the anti- plasmodial effect of the extract of a combination of three plants as used in traditional medicine in South-east, Nigeria. Dried and ground roots of the three plants: Anthocleista nobilis, Nauclea latifolia and Napoleona imperialis were extracted in 70% methanol as a combination of equal weight and individually. The extracts were thereafter administered singly and in combination to albino mice of both sexes. From the result, N. latifolia extract exhibited the highest potency, in the curative test, with 78.7±0.7 mean parasite inhibition (p<0.05). This was followed by the compound extract, with mean parasite inhibition of 70.4±0.4, whereas Chloroquine (standard control) caused mean parasite inhibition of 91.6±0.2 (p<0.05). The study also shows that N. imperialis extract has a significant anti-pyretic activity, similar to that of the control (p<0.05). The results suggest that the individual plants have anti-plasmodial effect in varying degrees; however when used in combination, it gives improved symptomatic relief from malaria and extended the mean survival time of the treated mice.
Does Jensen's Free Cash Flow Hypothesis Explain European Lbos Today?

Jensen's Eclipse of the public corporation (1989) predicts that LBO transactions solve the agency problems of publicly listed companies with high levels of undistributed free cash flows (FCFs) and low growth opportunities. So far, empirical evidence in this context is mixed. This study is the first that provides evidence on the application of Jensen's FCF hypothesis (1986) to Leveraged Buyouts (LBOs) in the European market. My univariate and multivariate findings indicate that European companies with high Cash Flows before distribution and few investment opportunities whose P/E ratio is significantly lower than that of their industry peer group are more likely to be an LBO target. I do not find any evidence that European LBO targets suffer from agency problems prior to the transaction.
Growing Like Spain: 1995-2007

Spanish GDP grew at an average rate of 3.5% per year during the expansion of 1995-2007, well above the EU average of 2.2%. However, this growth was based on factor accumulation rather than productivity gains as TFP fell at an annual rate of 0.7%. Using firm-level administrative data for all sectors we show that deterioration in the allocative efficiency of productive factors across firms was at the root of the low TFP growth in Spain, while misallocation across sectors played only a minor role. Cross-industry variation reveals that the increase in misallocation was more severe in sectors where government influence is more important for business success, which represents novel evidence on the potential macroeconomic costs of crony capitalism. In contrast, sectoral differences in financial dependence, skill intensity, innovative content, tradability, or capital structures intensity appear to be unrelated to changes in allocative efficiency. All in all, the observed high output growth together with increasing firm-level misallocation in all sectors is consistent with an expansion driven by a demand boom rather than by structural reforms.
Onychomycosis: Clinical findings, etiological agents and evaluation of laboratory methods

The aim of this study was to identify the etiological agents in patients with suspected onychomycosis, and to carry out comparative testing of individual or combinations of tests: direct microscopy with KOH and Blankophor (BP), culturing on Sabouraud’s dextrose agar (SDA), diluted Sabouraud’s dextrose agar (D-SDA) and dermatophyte test medium (DTM). From 70 nail samples (65 toenails, 5 fingernails), 46 (60.5%) had at least one of five positive tests. Isolation was possible in 41, while in 5 samples the presence of fungi was observed by KOH and/or BP. Dermatophytes were most frequently isolated (80.5%) where Trichophyton rubrum was predominant. Candida spp. was isolated in 9.8%, Aspergillus spp. 4.9%, Alternaria spp. 2.4% and Fusarium spp. 2.4%. Application of BP as an individual test was the most sensitive method. The combination of BP with DTM or D-SDA provides the best sensitivity and allows the identification of fungi to the species/genus level.