Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
What Explains Stock Markets'Vulnerability to the 2007-2008 Crisis?

This paper examines the determinants of stock markets'vulnerability to the 2007-2008 crisis. Given that the United States (US) was the crisis epicenter, the authors analyze the factors driving the co-movement between US returns and stock returns in 83 countries. The analysis distinguishes between the period before and after the collapse of Lehman Brothers. The findings indicate that the main channel of transmission was financial. There is also evidence of a"wake-up call"or"demonstration effect"in the first stage of the crisis, because countries with vulnerable banking and corporate sectors exhibited higher co-movement with the US market. However, despite a collapse in trade across countries, the analysis does not find support for this channel of transmission.
Mental Toughness in Relation with Mental Health of Sports Persons

The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between mental toughness and mental health viz; depression, anxiety and stress among sports persons. Participants were 80 athletes (Male = 40; Female = 40) within the age range of 17 to 21 years. Data were collected using Mental toughness questionnaire (MTQ-48) – Peter Clough, (2002) and Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale (DASS-21) – Lovibond & Lovibond (1995). Results revealed that there existed significant negative relationship of mental toughness with depression and anxiety but not with stress of sports persons. The implications for the present study were discussed.
THE PROCESS OF PATIENT'S PRIVACY: A GROUNDED THEORY

Introduction: Ethics, customs, and divine and human values in all scientific and non-academic issues are accepted among all human societies in different eras. The purpose of this study was to understand the experiences of nursing professionals about the patient's privacy. Methods: 21 participants were selected by theoretical sampling which was guided by emerging categories. All participants were interviewed individually. Subjects were interviewed in a private setting and transcription was done after each interview. In-depth interviews and semi-structured questions were used for data collection. Corbin and Strauss’ Ground theory methodology was applied in order to explain the process of patient's privacy. Data analysis was an ongoing process which was started during data collection. Data analysis method included a three-step coding process including open coding, axial and selective coding through repeated line by line reading of transcripts. Results: Four central categories were identified from transcripts' constant comparative analysis: weakness of system, actors with serious effort, trying to maintain privacy and tension creation. Conclusion: Familiarity with how nurses deal with patient’s privacy can improve professional development, client satisfaction and observation of their rights. Nurses with sensitivity to patient’s privacy can manage their expectations respectfully.
DOES A HIGH DIVIDEND PAYOUT RATIO SIGNAL PROPER CORPORATE GOVERNANCE OR HIGH AGENCY COST OF DEBT

This paper examines the relationship between dividend policy and the cost of debt in Morocco. The results show that high dividend payments reflect a low level of agency costs of equity and low information asymmetries. Consequently, creditors demand lower return for providing their capital to high dividend-paying firms. The findings reveal that creditors are less concerned with agency costs of debt. The study shows that the negative relationship between dividend payout ratios and cost of debt is more pronounced in firms with higher information asymmetries.
Effects of biofuels properties on aircraft engine performance

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of heat capacity and density of biofuels on aircraft engine performance indicated by thrust and fuel consumption. Design/methodology/approach – The influence of heat capacity and density was examined by simulating biofuels in a two-spool high-bypass turbofan engine running at cruise condition using a Cranfield in-house engine performance computer tool (PYTHIA). The effect of heat capacity and density on engine performance was evaluated through a comparison between kerosene and biofuels. Two types of biofuels were considered: Jatropha Bio-synthetic Paraffinic Kerosene (JSPK) and Camelina Bio-synthetic Paraffinic Kerosene (CSPK). Findings – Results show an increase in engine thrust and a reduction in fuel consumption as the percentage of biofuel in the kerosene/biofuel mixture increases. Besides a low heating value, an effect of heat capacity on increasing engine thrust and an effect of density on reducing engine fuel consumption are observed. Pr.
Influence of Manager’s Self-Management on Performance of Life Assurance Companies in Nairobi, Kenya

This study is undertaken to understand the performance of managers in Life Assurance companies in Nairobi, Kenya. The study focused on the effect of manager’s self-management on performance of life assurance companies. The study adopted a survey research design where the researcher utilised both primary data and secondary data. The sample was chosen through convenience sampling where data was collected from managers who were picked on their willingness and availability. The realised sample was 5 sales managers from 18 life assurance companies giving a total of 90 managers. The Study concludes that managing emotions through self-management is a critical element to manager’s performance. The study is of use to stakeholders, public sector partners’ government and anyone with an interest in the current and future skills of labour market issues facing the insurance industry.
A review of Neogene and Quaternary snakes of central and eastern Europe. Part 1: Scolecophidia, Boidae, Colubrinae

Remains of Neogene and Quaternary seoleeophidians, boids and «eolubrine» eolubrids, including snakes previously deseribed and those undeseribed yet, eoming fram Poland, Ukraine, Moldavia, Czeehoslovakia, Austria, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, and Greece are diseussed. The following taxa, including 7 extinet speeies, were reeognized: Seoleeophidia indet. ; Boidae: Bransateryx septentrionalis, Bransateryx sp. , Albaneryx volynicus, cf., Gongylophis sp. , Eryx jaculus, Eryx sp. , eL Eryx sp. , Eryeinae indet. ; Colubridae: Texasophis bohemiacus, Coluber dolnicensis, Coluber planicarinatus, Coluber viridij1avus, cf. Coluber viridiflavus, Coluber caspius, Coluber gemonensis, cf. Coluber gemonensis, Coluber sp. , Coronella austriaca, Coronella sp. , cf. Coronella sp. , Elaphe kohfidischi, cf. Elaphe kohfidischi, Elaphe paralongissima, Elaphe longissima, cf. Elaphe longissima, Elaphe quatuorlineata, cf. Elaphe quatuorlineata, eL Elaphe situla, Elaphe sp. , cf. Malpolon sp. , Telescopus sp. , «Colubrinae» indet.
AN INITIAL EVALUATION OF IBI VIZEDIT: AN RSHINY APPLICATION FOR OBTAINING ACCURATE ESTIMATES OF AUTONOMIC REGULATION OF CARDIAC ACTIVITY

Title of dissertation: AN INITIAL EVALUATION OF IBI VIZEDIT: AN RSHINY APPLICATION FOR OBTAINING ACCURATE ESTIMATES OF AUTONOMIC REGULATION OF CARDIAC ACTIVITY Matthew George Barstead, Doctor of Philosophy, 2018 Dissertation directed by: Professor Kenneth H. Rubin Department of Human Development & Quantitative Methodology Photoplethysmogram (PPG) sensors are increasingly used to collect individual heart rate data during laboratory assessments and psychological experiments. PPG sensors are relatively cheap, easy to use, and non-invasive alternatives to the more common electrodes used to produce electrocardiogram recordings. The downside is that these sensors are more susceptible to signal distortion. Often, the most relevant measures for understanding psychological processes that underlie emotions and behaviors are measures of heart rate variability. As with all measures of variability, outliers (i.e., signal artifacts) can have outsized effects on the final estimates; and, given that these scores represent a primary variable of interest in many research contexts, the successful elimination of artefactual points is critical to the ability to make valid inferences with the data. Prior to the development of IBI VizEdit, there was no single, integrated processing and editing pipeline for PPG data. The present pair of studies offers and initial evaluation of the program’s performance. Study 1 is focused on the efficacy of a novel approach to imputing sections of particularly corrupted PPG signal. Study 2 tests the ability of trained editors to reliably use IBI VizEdit as well as the validity of estimates of cardiac activity during a prescribed set of laboratory tasks. Study 1 suggests that the novel imputation approach, under certain conditions and using certain parameterizations may hold promise as a means of accurately imputing missing sections of data. However, Study 1 also clearly demonstrates the need for further refinement and the consideration of alternative implementations. The results from Study 2 indicate that IBI VizEdit can be reliably used by trained editors and that estimates of cardiac activity derived from its output are likely valid. AN INITIAL EVALUATION OF IBI VIZEDIT: AN RSHINY APPLICATION FOR OBTAINING ACCURATE ESTIMATES OF AUTONOMIC REGULATION OF CARDIAC ACTIVITY
Aerosol properties associated with air masses arriving into the North East Atlantic during the 2008 Mace Head EUCAARI intensive observing period: an overview

Abstract. As part of the EUCAARI Intensive Observing Period, a 4-week campaign to measure aerosol physical, chemical and optical properties, atmospheric structure, and cloud microphysics was conducted from mid-May to mid-June, 2008 at the Mace Head Atmospheric Research Station, located at the interface of Western Europe and the N. E. Atlantic and centered on the west Irish coastline. During the campaign, continental air masses comprising both young and aged continental plumes were encountered, along with polar, Arctic and tropical air masses. Polluted-continental aerosol concentrations were of the order of 3000 cm−3, while background marine air aerosol concentrations were between 400–600 cm−3. The highest marine air concentrations occurred in polar air masses in which a 15 nm nucleation mode, with concentration of 1100 cm−3, was observed and attributed to open ocean particle formation. Continental air submicron chemical composition (excluding refractory sea salt) was dominated by organic matter, closely followed by sulphate mass. Although the concentrations and size distribution spectral shape were almost identical for the young and aged continental cases, hygroscopic growth factors (GF) and cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) to total condensation nuclei (CN) concentration ratios were significantly less in the younger pollution plume, indicating a more oxidized organic component to the aged continental plume. The difference in chemical composition and hygroscopic growth factor appear to result in a 40–50% impact on aerosol scattering coefficients and Aerosol Optical Depth, despite almost identical aerosol microphysical properties in both cases, with the higher values been recorded for the more aged case. For the CCN/CN ratio, the highest ratios were seen in the more age plume. In marine air, sulphate mass dominated the sub-micron component, followed by water soluble organic carbon, which, in turn, was dominated by methanesulphonic acid (MSA). Sulphate concentrations were highest in marine tropical air – even higher than in continental air. MSA was present at twice the concentrations of previously-reported concentrations at the same location and the same season. Both continental and marine air exhibited aerosol GFs significantly less than ammonium sulphate aerosol pointing to a significant organic contribution to all air mass aerosol properties.
Heavy Metals in Soils and Tomatoes Grown in Urban Fringe Environment in Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria

Pb, Cu, Ni, Zn, Cr, Mn and Fe in soils and tomato leaves and fruits from peri-urban environments in Asaba, Delta State were determined after acid digestion by using atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). The concentrations of metals in the soil samples were 10.14, 2.28, 3.96, 7.88, 0.15, 14.53 and 66.00 mg/kg site A; 7.01, 2.01, 2.03, 5.53, 0.16, 12.15, and 70.12 mg/kg site B, and 9.12, 2.24, 3.01, 4.35, 0.01, 11.52, and 61.22 mg/kg site C for Pb, Cu, Ni, Zn, Cr, Mn and Fe respectively. The concentrations of metals in the tomato leaves samples were 4.01, 1.91, 1.83, 4.89, 0.16, 4.51 and 7.13 mg/kg in site A; 3.84, 1.56, 2.07, 4.00, 0.41, 4.48 and 8.15mg/kg in site B, and 4.03, 1.75, 2.01, 4.52, 0.01, 4.42 and 8.11 mg/kg in site C for Pb, Cu, Ni, Zn, Cr, Mn and Fe respectively while in the tomato fruits, the concentrations of metals in mg/kg were 2.96, 0.41, 1.35, 3.33, 0.01, 3.83 and 6.38 mg/kg in site A; 3.01, 1.35, 1.88, 2.98, 0.15, 3.01 and 5.09 mg/kg in site B, and 3.92, 1.44, 1.82, 3.73, 0.01, 3.05 and 6.00 mg/kg in site C for Pb, Cu, Ni, Zn, Cr, Mn and Fe respectively. These values obtained in the soils for all sites were below the given values for naturally occurring metals in soil and Department of Petroleum Resources target and intervention values for metals in soil while the values recorded for tomatoes leaves and fruit are below the levels recommended by WHO/FAO and NAFDAC for metals in foods and vegetables but are within the normal range of metals in plants. There was positive correlation among metals except Pb/Cr, Cr/Mn and Cr/Fe. The values of transfer factor (tf) obtained for all the metals except Fe in leaves and fruits for all the sites were above 0.2 indicating anthropogenic contamination of the sites and also high take up and accumulation of the metals from the soil by the tomatoes thus the need for environmental monitoring of the area.
In vitro Free Radical Scavenging Activity of Ethanolic Extract of Cucumis trigonus Roxburxii fruit

ABSTRACT Cucumis trigonus Roxburghii of family Curcurbitaceae is a perennial scabrid monoecious tendrillar herb commonly used in Indian folklore medicine. The present study investigates the antioxidant potential of ethanolic extract of the fruits of Cucumis trigonus. They were investigated for 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical, Superoxide radical, Nitric oxide radical, hydroxyl radical scavenging activity and reducing power assay. The extract showed strong antioxidant capabilities, which were subjected for their dose dependent activity at different concentration to calculate IC50 values. Key words: Antioxidant, Cucumis trigonus, DPPH free radical, Superoxide radical and reducing power assay
Use of Markers as a Tool to Investigate the Presence of Disease Resistance Genes in Common Bean Cultivars

The molecular marker-assisted selection has a great potential as a breeding tool in common beans. The identification of RAPD markers allows association (pyramiding) of genes for disease resistance or the identification of high potential cultivars with different resistance genes that were not previously identified due to limitations in the screening methodology. In this study previously identified molecular markers were used as a tool to investigate the presence of disease resistant genes as well as to identify pyramided genes that are present in the lines tested in the elite lines trials coordinated by Embrapa Rice and Beans. Fourteen out of 21 elite lines possessed different molecular markers linked to disease resistant genes for anthracnose, angular leaf spot, rust and bean golden mosaic virus. Lines FEB 163 (5) and TB 94-01 (8) presented seven molecular markers linked to different resistance genes. It was not possible to detect the presence of any known sources of disease resistance genes, based in the pedigree of lines LM 93204319 (12), LM 93204328 (13), LM 93203246 (18) and PR 93201472 (21).
STRUCTURE OF A PRIMITIVE NOTOUNGULATE CRANIUM' BY GEORGE GAYLORD SIMPSON

Constituting, as they did, the most abundant and varied element in the vertebrate fauna of a large continent throughout the long duration of the Tertiary, the notoungulates are of exceptional interest and importance. Adding to, rather than detracting from, this interest are their origin, the peculiarity of their structure, and the difficulty of interpreting their history. Study of the later forms, particularly those of the Santa Cruz and of the relatively impoverished Pampean, has revealed most of the surface morphology of a number of divergent lines. In the endeavor to interpret these data and to approach solutions to the many problems which arise from them, we are now turning to the oldest known forms, and especially those of the Casamayor Formation (so-called "Notostylops Beds"), of Eocene age. This study of the older notoungulates embraces two points of view and bears on the study of the notoungulates in two ways. First, the early forms may be considered as the culmination of still more ancient development. They may be compared with an abstraction or hypothesis as to the generalized ancestral ungulate, subungulate, or protoungulate, and they may be compared with actual groups which developed elsewhere in the world, such as the condylarths or the hyracoids. These Casamayor notoungulates stand somewhere near a possible phyletic union with these other groups, and their study is the best approach now available for the study of the genetic origin of notoungulates and of the morphologic origin of their peculiarities. Second, these early forms may be considered as the root or base of later notoungulate development. Within the Notoungulata they can or may clarify structural problems, by showing the form in which the structural peculiarities first appeared. They should also greatly illuminate phylogenetic obscurities, not only by giving criteria for distinguishing basic ordinal characters from those progressive in or peculiar to the various phyla but also by showing these phyla at a period when they were so little divergent that
Hearing problems in the learning disability population: is anybody listening?

We undertook this project because we believed that hearing loss experienced by the target population was greater than the referral figures suggested. Therefore, we set up a trial service initiative designed to examine the efficacy of different referral routes into audiology services for adults with learning disability. This retrospective analysis focuses on the generation of data on hearing loss on a small population sample (n = 136) gathered over a 6-month period in 2012. We suggest remedial action now to prevent more problems in the future.
Spacecraft Multiple-Impulse Trajectory Optimization Using Differential Evolution Algorithm with Combined Mutation Strategies and Boundary-Handling Schemes

Since most spacecraft multiple-impulse trajectory optimization problems are complex multimodal problems with boundary constraint, finding the global optimal solution based on the traditional differential evolution (DE) algorithms becomes so difficult due to the deception of many local optima and the probable existence of a bias towards suboptimal solution. In order to overcome this issue and enhance the global searching ability, an improved DE algorithm with combined mutation strategies and boundary-handling schemes is proposed. In the first stage, multiple mutation strategies are utilized, and each strategy creates a mutant vector. In the second stage, multiple boundary-handling schemes are used to simultaneously address the same infeasible trial vector. Two typical spacecraft multiple-impulse trajectory optimization problems are studied and optimized using the proposed DE method. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed DE method efficiently overcomes the problem created by the convergence to a local optimum and obtains the global optimum with a higher reliability and convergence rate compared with some other popular evolutionary methods.
Miscarriage and early first trimester growth restriction by ultrasound

Background: Concern about the possibility of spontaneous miscarriage is one of the most common reasons women seek evaluation in the emergency department during their first trimester. According to the obstetrics and gynecology literature, it is estimated that 20% to 25% of all clinically recognized pregnancies result in spontaneous miscarriage. The objective of the study is to examine with whether viable early pregnancies that subsequently end in miscarriage exhibit evidence of first-trimester growth restriction. The prospective cohort study design used for this purpose with setting of Antenatal clinic of a teaching hospital. Women attending the clinic between 5 and 10 weeks of gestation took part in the study. Methods: Women with spontaneously conceived intrauterine, viable singleton pregnancies with certain last menstrual period and regular cycles were included. The deviation between the observed and expected crown-rump length (CRL) for gestation was calculated and expressed as a z-score. Pregnancies were followed up until 11-14 weeks, and the deviation between those that remained viable and miscarried subsequently was calculated. Viability at 11-14 weeks was measured. Results: Over 12 months, 320 women met the inclusion criteria. Twenty women were excluded. Of the remaining 300, the pregnancy remained viable in 248 (82.6%) and 52 (17.4%) suffered a miscarriage. At the first transvaginal ultrasound, the z score of the mean measured CRL for pregnancies that remained viable was -0.69 while in pregnancies that subsequently miscarried the z-score was -2.95 and the CRL was significantly smaller (P < 0.048). In the latter group, the initial CRL was below the expected mean for gestational age in all women. Conclusions: CRL was significantly smaller in pregnancies that subsequently ended in miscarriage. This suggests that early first trimester growth restriction is associated with subsequent intrauterine death.
Impact of Government and Other Institutions’ Support on Performance of Small and Medium Enterprises in the Agribusiness Sector in Ghana

The focus of the study is to examine the impact of government and other Institutions’ support on the performance of small and medium-sized enterprises in agribusiness sector of Ghana. The research adopts quantitative research design. Research evidence was gathered via a questionnaire-based survey of selected agribusiness companies in Ghana. The variables used for study were tested through correlation and regression analysis. The results posit that government support had a statistically significant and direct effect on other institutions’ support and performance of SMEs. The results also indicate that government support had a positive and significant effect on performance of SMEs via the partial mediation effect of other institutions’ support. Conclusions of the study may help academics and managers in implementing the outcome in sequence to enhance other institutions’ support and upgrade performance of SME’s.