Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Radio News Source Preference by Residents of UYO Urban, Nigeria

Exposure to broadcast news by audience members is part of human information processing. Radio is believed to be a major source of news on many local and national issues for many people in many countries. But it was uncertain whether the assumption was tenable in Nigeria. Selectivity plays significant role in audience members’ exposure to broadcast news. The study set out to investigate which radio station(s) residents of Uyo residents tune to for news on important local and national issues. It also studied what factors influence their choice of radio station for news on socio-political crises in Nigeria. The findings showed that majority of the respondents prefer foreign radio stations – Voice of America (VOA) and British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) for news on socio-political crises in Nigeria. The survey also revealed that media credibility exerted great influence on audience exposure to broadcast news and choice of broadcast medium for news. It is the submission of this work that the continuous presentation of one-sided point of view, whether in government-controlled media or privately-owned ones not only makes the audience hold their news content suspect but also makes such mass medium to rank low in terms of perceived credibility. One of the implications of that situation is that mass mobilization through such media would be difficult to achieve. Consequently, it is the submission of this research that if broadcast media in Nigeria are to be reckoned trustworthy and reliable, diverse and balanced views on all issues in the news should always be presented.
The Effect of Self-Esteem and Depression on Smartphone Addiction among University Students

This study investigated the effect of self-esteem and depression on smartphone addiction among university students. A descriptive correlation study design was used with a convenience sample consisting of 349 university students. SPSS Win21.0 program was used for the descriptive analysis, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson`s correlation coefficient analysis, and multiple-regression analysis. The significant factors for Smartphone addiction were spent time on smartphone, improve test score, and depression. These factors explained 28% of the variance in Smartphone addiction. In conclusion, the results of this study indicated that for university students with smartphone addiction and depression, there is a need to develop an intervention program to prevent smartphone addiction and improve depression. Thus, it is important to provide services to reduce depression among university students.
A penalization approach in shape optimization

We introduce a new approximation technique in general shape optimization problems, involving unknown/variable domains, that penalizes the given boundary condition in the cost functional. The essential technical ingredient is provided by the implicit parametrization theorem, using Hamiltonian systems, recently developed by the author and his collaborators. The method is of fixed domain type and reduces the original problem to a distributed control problem.
Land use/cover change analysis and local community perception towards land cover change in the lowland of Bale rangelands, Southeast Ethiopia

Changes in ecosystem functions can be analyzed through changes in land use land cover (LULC) systems. This study was carried out to analyze the LULC changes and perception of local community towards land cover change in the lowlands of Bale, Southeast Ethiopia using remote sensing data, field observations and perception of local people. The results showed that cultivated land, settlement, bush land and bare land expanded by 13.81, 14.30, 12.62 and 22.3% respectively, between 1986 and 2016, whereas wood land, grassland and shrubby grassland declined by 33.82, 24.4 and 3.36% respectively. Local communities’ perceptions indicate that climatic, demographic and anthropogenic factors as well as implementation of inappropriate government policy and development interventions were major driving forces of LULC dynamics. Environmental and local livelihoods implications such as rangeland degradation, bush encroachment, soil degradation, livestock loss, biodiversity loss and poverty increase resulted from these changes. Cumulative effects contribute to rangeland degradation and poverty. Therefore, to halt the impact of LULC disturbance and its implication on the likelihood of the pastoralist, appropriate management measures and government policies have to be implemented. Key words: Bale rangelands, remote sensing, land use/cover change, socio-economic factor.
Should Investors Care Where Private Equity Managers Went to School?

In this paper, we investigate whether the educational background of private equity managers, which represents an important part of their human capital, impacts fund performance. In particular, we explore three potential channels how the educational background may influence fund performance: (i) institutional quality, (ii) individual performance, and (iii) academic variety. We find that a combination of top-tier education and work experience identifies individual performance in the management team. In addition, academic variety, in particular among graduates of high-ranked universities, rather than uniform institutional quality, is an important return driver.
Influence of seed nitrogen content and biofertilizer priming on wheat germination in salinity stress conditions

In order to study the effects of seed nitrogen content and biofertilizer priming on germination indices of wheat seeds under salinity stress, a factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design with four replications was conducted in 2009. Experimental factors consisted of: (1) the application of different nitrogen fertilizer rates (0, 55, 110 and 165 kg ha−1 N) on parent plants; (2) priming of achieved seeds by biofertilizers (Nitragin, Biophosphorus and distilled water); and (3) different levels of salinity produced by NaCl (0, −0.4, −0.8 and −1.2 MPa). Germination percentage, germination rate, mean germination time, germination index, radicle and plumule length, radicle and plumule dry weight and radicle number per seedling were measured. Nitrogen application increased seed nitrogen content in parent plants. All germination indices decreased with increasing in salinity levels. Biofertilizer priming, especially Nitragin, had a positive effect on germination percentage, radicle number and radicle and plumule length in most salinity levels. The highest values for germination factors were related to achieved seeds from parent plants that were treated with 110 kg ha−1 N. Overall, application of middle levels of N fertilizer (55 and 110 kg ha−1 N) on parent plants combined with seed priming with Nitragin biofertilizer improved the germination indices of wheat under salinity stress.
Screening of fecal droppings of wild birds for coxiellosis by a duplex PCR targeting Com1 and IS1111 genes of Coxiella burnetii

Many domestic and wild mammals, birds and arthropods such as ticks are known to act as reservoirs of Coxiella burnetii, the obligate intracellular bacterium that causes the most contagious disease - Q fever. However, the association of wild birds with this pathogen and their possible role in its perpetuation and spread has not been studied much. In the present study, 21 fecal samples of wild birds were screened for C. burnetii infection by duplex PCR targeting the Com1 and IS1111 genes of C. burnetii. Out of the 21 fecal samples of wild birds screened, only one (4.76%) blood tinged faecal sample from a free roaming bird of unknown source revealed positivity for only Com1 gene of C. burnetii, while all the remaining samples turned out negative for Com1 and IS1111 gene. The pathogen was isolated from this lone Com1 gene positive sample by chick embryo inoculation method and reconfirmed using nested Com1 gene PCR and sequencing. This study, which appears to be first of its kind in India, indicate the usefulness of the duplex PCR as a rapid and reliable molecular diagnostic tool for screening the samples, as it is capable of detecting either of the two specific genes of C. burnetii in a single PCR reaction, with an added advantage of com1 gene targeted-PCR being applicable to serum. Moreover, the association of wild birds with C. burnetii infection observed in this study on a limited samples calls for a systematic study on a larger population of birds of different origin and types for elucidation and extent of their role in the epidemiology of coxiellosis in the nature, especially in this part of the world.
Turbulent diffusivity in the free atmosphere inferred from MST radar measurements: a review

The actual impact on vertical transport of small-scale turbulence in the free atmosphere is still a debated issue. Numerous estimates of an eddy diffusivity exist, clearly showing a lack of consensus. MST radars were, and continue to be, very useful for studying atmospheric turbulence, as radar measurements allow one to estimate the dissipation rates of energy (kinetic and potential) associated with turbulent events. The two commonly used methods for estimating the dissipation rates, from the backscattered power and from the Doppler width, are discussed. The inference methods of a local diffusivity (local meaning here "within" the turbulent patch) by using the dissipation rates are reviewed, with some of the uncertainty causes being stressed. Climatological results of turbulence diffusivity inferred from radar measurements are reviewed and compared. As revealed by high resolution MST radar measurements, atmospheric turbulence is intermittent in space and time. Recent theoretical works suggest that the effective diffusivity of such a patchy turbulence is related to statistical parameters describing the morphology of turbulent events: filling factor, lifetime and height of the patches. It thus appears that a statistical description of the turbulent patches' characteristics is required in order to evaluate and parameterize the actual impact of small-scale turbulence on transport of energy and materials. Clearly, MST radars could be an essential tool in that matter.
Integrating Ethical Values into Fraud Triangle Theory in Assessing Employee Fraud: Evidence from the Malaysian Banking Industry

This study attempts to integrate ethical values into the fraud triangle theory in the context of Malaysian banking industry. Primary data were collected through the survey of 108 questionnaires administered to the employees of the top three largest banks in Malaysia. The findings revealed that ethical values were negatively related to employee fraud, and two elements of fraud triangle theory, namely, opportunity and rationalization, were positively related to employee fraud. This implies that high ethical value is crucial to mitigate employee fraud. To minimize employee fraud, the banking industry should reduce opportunities and employee negative rationalization through strong internal control. This study contributes to literature on the occurrences of employee fraud, which is not widely discussed, especially in the context of the banking industry in developing countries.
A 3D Non-Stationary Wideband Geometry-Based Channel Model for MIMO Vehicle-to-Vehicle Communication System

In this paper, we present a three-dimensional (3D) non-wide-sense stationary (non-WSS) wideband geometry-based channel model for vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication environments. We introduce a two-cylinder model to describe moving vehicles as well as multiple confocal semi-ellipsoid models to depict stationary roadside scenarios. The received signal is constructed as a sum of the line-of-sight (LoS), single-, and double-bounced rays with different energies. Accordingly, the proposed channel model is sufficient for depicting a wide variety of V2V environments, such as macro-, micro-, and picocells. The relative movement between the mobile transmitter (MT) and mobile receiver (MR) results in time-variant geometric statistics that make our channel model non-stationary. Using this channel model, the proposed channel statistics, i.e., the time-variant space correlation functions (CFs), frequency CFs, and corresponding Doppler power spectral density (PSD), were studied for different relative moving time instants. The numerical results demonstrate that the proposed 3D non-WSS wideband channel model is practical for characterizing real V2V channels.
Spherical symmetry as a test case for unconstrained hyperboloidal evolution II: gauge conditions

We present numerical solutions of the hyperboloidal initial value problem for a self-gravitating scalar field in spherical symmetry, using a variety of standard hyperbolic slicing and shift conditions that we adapt to our hyperboloidal setup. We work in the framework of conformal compactification, and study both evolutions that employ the preferred conformal gauge, which simplifies the formal singularities of our equations at null infinity, and evolutions without this simplification. In previous work we have used a staggered grid, which excludes null infinity, while now we include the option of placing a gridpoint directly at null infinity. We use both the generalized BSSN and conformal Z4 formulations of the Einstein equations, study the effect of different gauge conditions, and show that robust evolutions are possible for a range of choices.
Corporate Social Responsibility and Cost of Equity Capital: A Global Perspective

Manuscript Type: Empirical Research Question/Issue: This paper investigates how corporate social responsibility (CSR) influences the cost of equity capital from a global perspective. Research Findings/Insights: With a sample of 11,055 firm-year observations from 35 countries, the study finds that, in general, firms with better CSR scores are significantly associated with a reduced cost of equity capital in North America, Europe and Africa. In contrast, the results do not continue to hold in Asian countries. Theoretical/Academic Implications: Firms in North America and Europe can reduce the cost of equity capital through implementing effective CSR strategies. However, firms with better CSR performance in Asia face more expensive equity financing, which reveals that investor understanding and perception of CSR varies in different continents. Practitioner/Policy Implications: Our study provides implications for global regulators and policymakers when setting social reporting standards, suggesting that institutional and/or cultural factors affect top management’s social reporting behavior and regional investors’ impressions of CSR value. In particular, the Asian regulators should promote public understanding/awareness of CSR information. Additionally, our findings may be informative to international managers and investors when considering CSR as an indicator in their internal governance designation and decision-making. Firms should carefully evaluate the risk of CSR investing and its effect on equity financing in different regions.
The influence of role-related stressors on educator burnout.

This study examined the relationship between select role-related stressors, as measured by the Teacher Stress Measure, as well as the background variables of gender, years of experience as aspects of educator burnout, as measured by the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). From a sample of 104 educators from schools in the Pietermaritzburg region, it was found that burnout is exhibited largely through feelings of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and lack of personal accomplishment. While both males and females appear to be affected similarly, the less experienced educators appeared to be more susceptible to burnout than their more experienced counterparts. This study also indicated that stressors such as redeployment, promotion and salary correlated with burnout, although not significantly. Learner pressures, lack of support and recognition, poor interpersonal relationships, role ambiguity, role conflict, lack of decision-making and role insufficiency (which encapsulates the issue of Outcomes Based Education) were found to have a significant influence on educator burnout.
Reproductive biology of Leporinus taeniatus Lütken (Pisces, Anostomidae) in Juramento Reservoir, São Francisco River basin, Minas Gerais, Brazil

A biologia reprodutiva do piau-jejo Leporinus taeniatus Lutken, 1875, especie endemica da bacia do rio Sao Francisco, foi estudada utilizando-se tecnicas biometricas, macroscopicas e microscopicas. Capturaram-se no reservatorio de Juramento, MG, em coletas trimestrais, 121 machos e 94 femeas, no periodo de marco de 2002 a fevereiro de 2003. Observou-se que femeas sao maiores do que os machos indicando dimorfismo sexual. Determinaram-se os estadios de maturacao gonadal atraves de analise histologica e do indice gonado-somatico. Os picos de maturacao/maduro e de peixes desovados/espermiados ocorreram no trimestre dezembro/janeiro/fevereiro. L. taeniatus apresentou desova total e desenvolvimento grupo-sincronico dos ovocitos. O indice gonadossomatico acompanhou a maturacao das gonadas e o indice de gordura celomica apresentou menores valores no estadio maturacao/maduro, indicando consumo de reservas graxas no periodo reprodutivo. O indice de replecao estomacal apresentou maiores valores no estadio desovado/espermiado, indicando que a especie alimenta-se mais apos a reproducao.
Population Growth as an Impediment to the Realization of Universal Primary Education in Ethiopia

Educational planners often attribute low level of educational participation to low level of supply and governments' efforts are directed at · expanding the supply of schools teachers, books and other educational materials. Little attention is given to the effect of demographic factors on educational participation. Therehave been surprisingly few attempts to quantify the impact of rapid population growth on the quantitative expansion of education in Ethiopia. This study, therefore, aims at exploring, through document analysis, the manner in which the present and future demographic trends militate against the achievement of educational goals in Ethiopia. Ethiopia 's population gr.owth greatly increases the number of childreff seeking access to school and increases the number ofpotential illiterates. Oespite a considerable increase in primary school enrollment from about 3.0 million in 1992193 to 5.2 million in 1998/99, the number of those out of school rose to 7.7 million in 1998/99. If the present population trend continues, the primary school-age population is further projected to reach 19. 1 million in 2015 and 20.6 in 2020. The government of Ethiopia is hard pressed to provide educational facilities for the numbers knocking at the doors of ducational institutions. Furthermore, the government has planned to realize universal primary. education in Ethiopia in 2015. However, under the present population trend, achieving an eight years of universal primary education remains a long way off. This study concludes that the high birth rate of the Ethiopian population isa barrier to the early attainment of universal primary education in Ethiopia. Hence a variety of population projections and their implications need to be studied when long-term educational plans are formulated.
Information-Seeking Behavior of Clergy: The Research, the Results, and the Future

This article examines information-seeking studies carried out on the professional roles of the clergy, their use of information resources, the place of the Internet in their information-seeking behavior, and the amount of studies conducted on the clergy across different religions. Results show significant relationship between clergy's doctrinal position and their information-seeking behavior, which changes with work roles of the clergy. The clergy use both formal and informal sources depending on the particular work role they assume. However, not many models of information-seeking behavior have been tested in studies of religious professionals. This article argues that most previous studies of the information-seeking behavior of clergy resulted in similar findings because the areas of focus have been limited in scope. Hence, there is a need to look at the issue from different perspectives using diverse methods and contexts to broaden the understanding of the clergy and their information-seeking habits. This article points out areas for further research with recommendations of suitable theoretical frameworks, which, if applied or tested in information-seeking research with religious clergy, will add value to the understanding of this issue.
Accomodating the urban informal sector in the public policy process

The role of the urban informal sector (UIS) in development has been one of many contentious issues in the public policy area. In Indonesia, evaluations of and policy attentions toward the UIS is mainly concerned with the high growth rate of this sector and with its perceived negative effects on the urban built environment. This is especially true for street enterprises, the most dominant sub-group of the UIS in the country. Their continued presence in the markets and sidewalks of the cities produces various conflicting opinions about the importance of their retailing activities to the overall urban economy of Indonesia. The objectives of this project are to analyze the social and economic factors which underlie street vending activities; to raise policy issues and develop policy options in the urban development planning of Bandung Metropolitan Region (BMR); and to write a research and policy paper for city administrators, urban planners, member of parliament, academia, NGO workers, mass media reporters, and street traders (including street trader associations) in BMR. As a result, the project will produce two interrelated papers, namely a research paper and a policy paper. The main aim of research paper is to provide some basic information concerning the socioeconomic characteristics of street enterprises in BMR, as well as detail the major existing policy measures and legislation relating to the operation of street enterprises in the study area. The policy paper uses the findings of the research paper to enhance the public policy making process and to suggest open and integrated policy measures concerning the operation of street enterprises within the urban built environment.
Predatory interactions between Centruroides scorpions and the tarantula Brachypelma vagans

Abstract In the Yucatan Peninsula, the tarantula Brachypelma vagans Ausserer 1875 is commonly associated with human settlements, as are the scorpions Centruroides gracilis Latreille 1804 and C. ochraceus Pocock 1898. Nonetheless, scorpions are virtually absent from villages showing a high density of tarantulas. Predatory interactions between these predators could explain the lack of local overlap. To test this hypothesis, we observed the behavioral interactions between B. vagans and C. gracilis or C. ochraceus in experimentally controlled conditions, and we compared these interactions to interactions between the tarantula and two prey species: cricket and cockroach. For observations, a pre-adult tarantula was placed in an experimental arena in which we introduced either a scorpion or an insect. In all, 115 trials were performed. We recorded time elapsed and behavioral responses: avoidance, attack, escape, capture, and attack success. Tarantulas preyed on all prey with the same attack success (63.8% ± 0.8%), but they attacked and captured cockroaches quicker and more often than the other prey (87% vs. 50%, and 57% vs. 30%, respectively). Scorpions attacked tarantulas in 25.5% of occasions, but they were never successful, and were killed in 9% of occasions. We conclude that tarantulas are potential predators of scorpions. Moreover, in villages where tarantulas are abundant they might prevent the presence of scorpions. Thus the presence of this non-aggressive tarantula may be beneficial from the human perspective.