Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Determinants of Capital Structure: Empirical Evidence from Pakistan

This study investigates capital structure of nonfinancial firms registered on Karachi Stock Exchange (Pakistan) from 2003 to 2008 to find which independent variables determine the capital structure of Pakistani firms. We find statistically significant coefficients for profitability, size, tangibility, growth, dividend and inflation. The negative relationships between profitability and leverage; positive relationships between growth and long term debt and dividend and total debt of firms confirm the presence of pecking order theory in determining the financing behavior of Pakistani firms. The strong positive relationships between tangibility and leverage and size and leverage support the theortical predictions of trade-off theory. The positive relationship between expected future inflation and current borrowing supports market timing theory. The research finds significant change in financing behavior of firms across industries. We find partially different results from other studies in Pakistan as well as in developing countries. Conclusion from perior research from developed world is also valid in Pakistan.
THE IMPACT OF PERSONALITY TRAITS ON OUTCOMES OF CAREGIVERS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER IN THE TRANSITION

Yu, Yue.M.S., PurdueUniversity, May 2017. The Impact of Personality Traits onOutcomes of Caregivers of Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder in the Transition Period. Major Professor: John H. McGrew. The study examined the impact of the “big 5” personality traits on caregiver burden during the period when individuals with ASD transition from high school. Participants (N = 117) were caregivers of individuals with ASD who either will graduate within two years or graduated from high school within the past two years. Participants completed questionnaires measuring study variables predicted to be associated with caregiver burden as guided by the Double ABCX model of family adaptation, i.e., autism symptom severity, problem behaviors, pile-up of life demands, personality traits, social support, cognitive appraisals, and coping strategies. Primary caregivers reported moderate burden in the transition period. Specifically, although caregivers experienced stress in the transition period, they were less overwhelmed than the period when one’s child first receive the ASD diagnosis. Increased problem behaviors, higher neuroticism, lower extraversion, conscientiousness, and agreeableness, lower levels of social support, fewer use of challenge appraisals, and greater use of threat appraisals and passive-avoidance coping strategies predicted greater caregiver burden. Passive-avoidance coping mediated the relationship between caregiving stress and four personality traits respectively (i.e., neuroticism, extraversion, conscientiousness, and agreeableness). The results support the potential importance of personality traits in explaining differences in caregiver stress in families of those with ASD and further indicated that the association between personality and burden was mediated by caregivers’ use of maladaptive coping strategies, i.e., passive-avoidance coping. The findings also have potential applicability for interventions to reduce caregiver burden. Several factors were identified that could help alleviate the stress. For example, parents should be encouraged to avoid ix using threat appraisals and passive-avoidance coping strategies. In addition, interventions could be developed to provide support or strategies to parents to handle child’s behavioral problems and thus reduce stress.
The Principals’ Views on Parent Participation in Governance of Rural Schools

Abstract The aim of this article is to explore the views of principals on parent participation in governance of rural schools. Apart from a literature review on parent participation in school governance, the article reports on a study in which empirical investigation based on quantitative research paradigm was used to collect data from rural school principals. The literature findings revealed that parent participation in school governance is a critical component of education in South Africa. The study further revealed that empirical findings elicited that rural school principals would like parents to have a significant role to play in school governance. The study is concluded by the submission that it is essential for parents participating in the school governance of rural schools to be given necessary training so that they can have a working knowledge of school governance activities.
Parents' narcissism and aggression against children : When parents attribute misfortune to their child

Narcissists are more likely than non-narcissists to attack a person who threatens their self-evaluation, because of the vulnerability of the self-evaluation (Baumeister, Smart, & Borden, 1996). Based on this model, it was hypothesized that those parents who are more narcissistic would more commit aggressive acts toward their children in cases where they intensely attribute to the child interference with their own ability to demonstrate their work performance (i.e., their self-esteem feels threatened). A hierarchical regression analysis of the self-report data from 626 sampled parents supported the hypothesis: among high attribution (i.e., highly blaming) parents, the more narcissistic reported more aggressive acts toward their children; in contrast, among the middle or the low attribution parents, narcissism did not significantly correlate with reported aggressive acts. The moderator effects of attribution on narcissists' aggression toward their children were discussed. Correspondence concerning this paper should be addressed to Osamu Fukushima, Department of Psychology, Niigata University, Ikarashi, Niigata 950-2181, Japan. E-mail: ofuku@human.niigata-u.ac. jp
Sex differences in levels of physical, verbal, and indirect aggression amongst primary school children and their associations with beliefs about aggression

The present study examined sex differences in levels of physical, verbal, and indirect aggression amongst primary school children and their relationship with instrumental and expressive beliefs about aggression. Levels of aggression were examined using self ratings, peer ratings, and observations. The latter were collected during the mid-morning and lunchtime breaks using a wireless microphone and hidden video camera. Beliefs about aggression were assessed using modified versions of Campbell et als. ' [1992] EXPAGG questionnaire. The results revealed significantly higher levels of observed physical aggression amongst boys as compared to girls. However, although the means were generally in the directions predicted, there were no other significant sex differences, nor interactions between sex and age. The results also showed limited support for claims that instrumental versus expressive beliefs about aggression influence behaviour. Beliefs generally showed significant correlations with reported and observed levels of aggression, and three of these remained significant even after the variance associated with sex and age had been partialled out. On the basis of these results, we call for more longitudinal research while simultaneously acknowledging the possibility that children's beliefs about aggression and their aggressive behaviours may be shaped independently from one another.
Loosing Your Best Talent: Can Leadership Retain Employees? The Dilemma of the Banking Sector of Hyderabad Sindh, Pakistan: A Mediation Investigation

Country expects that commercial banking systems contribute to the overall development, but this development depends upon qualified and competent employees of the commercial banks institutions. Retaining this resource is of utmost importance for higher commercial banks. However, commercial banks are finding it hard to retain competent and qualified faculty in the face of competition from the industry. Retention is becoming a big dilemma for developing countries. The present study investigates the relationship between leadership style, job satisfaction, organization commitment and retention of employee in commercial banks of Sindh, Pakistan. The data was collected from the commercial bank of Sindh whereby, SmartPLS 2.0 was used for data analysis. The results have indicated a strong and positive relationship between leadership style and employee retention. Job satisfaction and organization commitment mediate the relationship between leadership style and employees retention. This study is significant for top management of commercial banks who are facing retention problems. Findings of study could provide them with guidelines regarding to how the leadership style retain talent employees in the commercial bank. Limitation and Future reconditions also discussed.
Simulation of land use scenarios in the Camboriú River Basin using the SWAT model

As mudancas de paisagem tem sido foco de pesquisas na area ambiental. Nesse contexto, os modelos hidrologicos se destacam como ferramentas para diferentes analises. Nesse trabalho, o objetivo foi utilizar o modelo hidrologico SWAT para simular os impactos das alteracoes no uso e ocupacao das terras da bacia hidrografica do Rio Camboriu (BHRC) entre os anos de 1957, 1978 e 2012. Os resultados indicaram que SWAT foi eficiente para simulacao da vazao e da perda de solo possibilitando a quantificacao dos impactos a partir da simulacao de cenarios. As mudancas na cobertura do solo acarretaram alteracoes significativas no regime hidrossedimentologico. Para a vazao, os impactos foram maiores nos extremos da curva de permanencia. O cenario 2012 se destacou negativamente por apresentar as maiores vazoes de pico e as menores vazoes em periodo de estiagem. Para a perda de solo, os maiores valores foram identificados nas sub-bacias com uso predominante para rizicultura e pastagens, o que foi atribuido, fundamentalmente, a alteracoes da taxa de escoamento superficial e aos fatores relacionados ao uso, manejo do solo e praticas conservacionistas. De maneira geral, a BHRC nao apresentou problemas severos de perda de solo, entretanto, as mudancas na paisagem associadas as caracteristicas edafoclimaticas podem favorecer a degradacao do solo, principalmente em anos com elevados volumes de precipitacao.
Seasonal differences in energy requirements of Garden Warblers Sylvia borin migrating across the Sahara desert

The Sahara desert acts as an ecological barrier for billions of passerine birds on their way to and from their African wintering areas. The Garden Warbler Sylvia borin is one of the most common migrants involved. We used body mass of this species from Greece in autumn and spring to simulate the desert crossing and to assess how body mass relates to fuel requirement. The flight range estimates were adjusted to the seasonal extent of the desert, 2200 km in autumn and about 2800 km in spring. In autumn, with an average fuel load of about 100% of body mass without fuel, birds were not able to cross the desert in still air, but northerly winds prevail during September and with the average wind assistance only one in 14 was predicted to fail to make the crossing. Body mass data from spring, after the desert crossing, was used to estimate departure body mass from south of the desert. The average wind assistance in spring is close to zero and departure body mass of the average bird arriving at Antikythira, a small Greek island, under such conditions was estimated to be 34.6 g, which corresponded to a fuel load of 116%. Calculations based on 1% body mass loss per hour of flight showed slightly larger body mass loss than that calculated from flight range estimates. The results suggest that passerine birds about to cross the eastern part of the Sahara desert need to attain a larger fuel load in spring than in autumn.
Relationship Between GDP, Inflation and Real Interest Rate with Exchange Rate Fluctuation of African Countries

This paper tries to explore the relationship between, gross domestic product, inflation and real interest rate with the exchange rate. 10 African countries with 15 years of data from 1996 to 2010 were used for this study. Three independent variables i.e. inflation, interest rate and Gross Domestic Product were used in order to investigate their relationship which causes exchange rate fluctuations. Three hypotheses served as a basis to analyze the results. Based on the analysis, it is found that that the GDP has significant relationship with the exchange rate where interest and inflation has non-significant relationship with the exchange rates of African countries.
Comparative Study of Post-Marriage Nationality Of Women in Legal Systems of Different Countries

In last few years, there are some critical problems such as racial discrimination, terrorism, and radicalism. The issues appear in many countries such as America, UK, and Indonesia. Multicultural based English learning is essential in promoting students’ sense of tolerance, especially from English textbooks. This research aims to investigate the multicultural values represented in the official English textbook authorized by MONEC. This content analysis research uses Bennet's four multicultural dimensions to analyse multicultural values. The results of this study tell that three dimensions of multicultural values occur from the textbook, such as (1) acceptance and appreciation of cultural diversity; (2) respect for human dignity and universal human right; and (3) respect for the earth. The implications suggest that English has a progressively vital part as a lingua franca; multicultural resources from the inner and outer circle of countries are essential in EFL textbooks. As a result, it is necessary to add more aspects of multicultural values: the world community's responsibility, because it is less represented in the EFL textbooks.
Age estimation by using aspartic acid racemization from purified elastin of aorta

Age estimation is the one of biological profiles which plays an important role in identification in forensic field. The application of biochemical approach known as aspartic acid racemization in human provides more accuracy and less error of estimated age in age determination. During aging, amino acids within protein transform between D-and L-form (racemization), which results in increasing concentration of D-amino acids. This change of amino acids is related to aging. Aspartic acid has been generally applied in racemization because it has fastest rate of racemization. Racemization of aspartic acid not only takes place in teeth and many kinds of bone, but also can occur in the flexible structure which contain mostly elastin. For example, skin yellow ligament, lung parenchyma, and aorta. Elastin is essential protein which is comprised most composition of several structures and it is major content in the elastic fibers. Additionally, elastin is the longest lasting protein in the body with slow metabolic turnover rate. Recently, there is a purification technique to obtain only single protein in human aorta. There was a good correlation between degree of racemization (D/L ratio) and age. Therefore, aspartic acid racemization by purifies elastin from aorta is a one of indicator for age estimation. This review provides an overview of aspartic acid racemization, elastin protein, purification method bases on racemization and the application of D/L ratio by purified of elastin in artery for age estimation.
Effect of Nutmeg (Myristica Fragrans) as an Additive on the Growth Performance of Juvenile Catfish (Clarias Gariepinus)

Three hundred and eighty (380) juvenile fish (Clarias garipienus) were used to examine the effect of nutmeg (Myristica Fragrans) on weight gain and carcass evaluation of juvenile catfish. The catfish were allocated into six (6) treatments with three (3) replicate each containing twenty (20) catfishes. Treatment A contained 0% of nutmeg while treatment B contained 0.5% of nutmeg, treatment C contained 1% of nutmeg, treatment D contained 1.5% of nutmeg, also, treatment E contained 2.0% of nutmeg and treatment F contained 2.5% of nutmeg inclusions. The feeding trial lasted for eight (8) weeks. Parameters measured include weight gain, feed intake and mortality rate. The result showed that there were significant differences (P<0.05) in weight gain with the catfish on treatment F having the highest value (5.2 g), followed by treatment E (4.6 g) while treatment D (3.8 g) and treatment C (3.8 g) while treatment B (3.4 g) and treatment A (2.9 g). There was significant difference (P<0.05) in the feed intake with the catfish on treatment F having the highest feed intake (6.9 g) compared to treatment A (control) which had the least feed intake (5.5 g). Therefore, it can be concluded that nutmeg at 2.5% inclusion in the diet of juvenile fish improved the weight gain of the fish and also reduced the mortality rate.
Right ventricular free wall motion abnormalities as a simple method of assessment in patients with pulmonary hypertension (RCD code: II‐1A.O)

Background : Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a cardiovascular pathology leading to right-sided heart failure. A qualitative assessment of right ventricular (RV) function in echocardiography provides valuable information on a patient’s condition. The standard echocar- diographic parameter, assessed in PH patients, is RV free wall motion. Aim : To verify the utility of RV free wall motion assessment via echocardiography in PH patients. Methods : Data from 30 PH patients, regardless of aetiology (except for left heart disease), was retrospectively analyzed. Based on the RV free wall motion visual echocardiographic assessment the population was divided into: group 1- normokinetic; group 2- hypokinetic RV. All patients underwent a medical interview, physical examination, basic laboratory work-up, echocardiography, and right heart catheterization (RHC). Twenty-one patients underwent a cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET). Results : The analysis revealed, that patients with RV free wall hypokinesis were characterized by impaired gas exchange parameters (higher values of ventilatory equivalents for oxygen and carbon dioxide, higher end-tidal oxygen pressures, lower end-tidal carbon dioxide pres- sures and higher minute ventilation – carbon dioxide production relation slope) and cardiovascular response to exercise (lower increase in O2 pulse during exercise) obtained in the CPET. RHC showed that patients with hypokinetic RV had higher diastolic and mean pul- monary artery pressures (dPAP, mPAP), lower cardiac index, and higher pulmonary vascular resistance. Conclusions : RV free wall motion abnormalities, assessed using echocardiography in PH patients, are found in those with more advanced disease. They are characterized by impaired ventilation in the CPET and more advanced haemodynamic abnormalities in RHC. The association between this parameter and prognosis requires validation in a larger population of patients. JRCD 2017; 3 (5): 161–167
Marché du travail urbain et pauvreté en Afrique subsaharienne : un modèle d’analyse

Ce travail avait pour objectif d’examiner la capacite des economies locales a reduire significativement la pauvrete par la creation d’opportunites d’emplois decents. A cet effet, il a tente de surmonter les difficultes d’ordre conceptuel relatives au fonctionnement du marche du travail urbain en Afrique subsaharienne en proposant un nouveau cadre theorique. Ce cadre a permis d’apprehender l’offre de travail local dans sa dynamique et de cerner les changements sur le marche du travail urbain en cas de chocs economiques et demographiques. De ces analyses, il ressort notamment que les politiques de relance des economies urbaines devront etre soutenues par des strategies de reduction de la pauvrete afin de limiter les effets pervers de la privation de capabilites sur la croissance economique. Par ailleurs, le succes de la relance des economies urbaines passe par des mesures d’amelioration des niveaux de vie dans les milieux ruraux pour eviter une precarisation persistante de l’emploi urbain liee aux effets pervers de l’exode rural. En Afrique subsaharienne, les politiques de developpement urbain doivent donc adopter une approche globale et integree de relance de l’economie locale et de lutte contre la privation de capabilites elementaires. This paper aimed to examine the capacity of the local economies to reduce poverty by the creation of decent jobs. To that effect, it tried to overcome the conceptual difficulties of the urban labour market in sub-Saharan Africa by proposing a new theoretical framework. With this framework, we apprehend the urban work supply in its dynamics and determine the changes on the urban labour market in the event of economic and demographic shocks. From these analyses, it comes out that the urban economies boost policies will have to be supported by poverty reduction strategies in order to limit the perverse effects of deprivation of capabilities on the economic growth. In addition, the success of these policies passes by measures of improvement of living standards in the rural areas to avoid a persistent degradation of urban employment related to the perverse rural migration effects. Thus, in sub-Saharan Africa, urban development policies must adopt a global and integrated measures to boost local economy and fight against the deprivation of elementary capabilities. (Full text in french)
Firm Size and Technical Efficiency in East African Manufacturing Firms

The main objective of this study was to establish the relationship between firm size and technical efficiency in East African manufacturing firms. This study used a two-step methodology to examine the relationships between technical efficiency and firm size in East African manufacturing firms. In the first step, technical efficiency measures were calculated using DEA approach. Secondly, using GLS technique, a technical efficiency equation was estimated to investigate whether technical efficiency is increasing in firm size. Contrary to our expectation, the results showed a negative association between firm size and technical efficiency in both Ugandan and Tanzanian manufacturing firms. The existence of a positive association between size squared and technical efficiency and a negative association between firm size and technical efficiency in Ugandan and Tanzanian manufacturing firms suggests an inverted U-relationship between firm size and technical efficiency in these countries.
Subdiffusion model with time-dependent diffusion coefficient: Integral-balance solution and analysis

The paper addresses approximate integral-balance approach to a time-fractional diffusion equation of order 0 < μ < 1 with a time-dependent diffusion coefficient of power-law type D(t)=D0tβ where 0 < β < 1. The form of the solution spreading in a semi-infinite medium through an analysis of the second moment of the approximate solution reveals that depending on the sum μ+β the solution can model subdiffusive (μ+β 1) or Gaussian (μ+β=1) process of transport. The optimal exponents of the approximate parabolic profiles have been determined by minimization the mean squared error of approximation over the penetration depth.