Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
State-Joint Local Government Account and Governance Crisis at the Local Government in Nigeria

The paper evaluates the efficiency and effectiveness of State Joint Local Government Account (SJLGA) in the governance of local government in Nigeria. It also assesses impact of SJLGA on rural development. It examines the relationship between SJLGA and crisis of Governance. The paper adopted a survey approach to analyse primary data obtained from questionnaire and in-depth interviews. A sample size of 844 respondents was selected using proportionate random sampling from the study population (6,757). Data were analysed using regression, Pearson correlation and chi-square statistics. The study showed that State-Joint local government account (SJLGA) has not been efficient and effective in the governance of local government in Nigeria. The results also revealed that the SJLGA has made no positive significant impact on rural development rather it has eroded the principle of separation of powers between the state and local governments. The results further showed that the SJLGA has contributed to governance crisis at the local government in Nigeria. The paper concluded that the SJLGA is hindering the local government councils in Nigeria from performing their constitutional and statutory roles which is to enhance rural development and provide dividends of good governance. Keywords : Efficiency, Effectiveness, State Joint Local Government Account , Governance Crisis, Rural Development
Growth Potential and Constraints of Micro and Small Enterprises

The majority of enterprises in industrial sector are micro and small indicates that established enterprises find it difficult to grow to the next stages of middle and large scale industries and hence contribute less to the economy due to the existence of so many business constraints in the sector. In academic literature, yet relatively little is known and emphasized about growth of these enterprises. Thus, critical assessment of on growth and constraints of enterprises is needed. This book, therefore, examines the extent to which the growth potential of MSEs is linked with the constraints on a total of 224 sampled enterprises. To investigate this both descriptive and econometric analysis were employed. Regarding an econometric analysis three sets of models were utilized: the principal component, multiple regression and logistic regression analyses. The analysis and findings of this work should help shed some light on small business sector as unexplored pathway to growth and an effective weapon for poverty reduction, and should be especially useful to professionals in such field of study. Besides it helps anyone else who may have a stake on the small business development.
RNase H domain of Moloney murine leukemia virus reverse transcriptase retains activity but requires the polymerase domain for specificity

The reverse transcriptase-associated RNase H activity of Moloney murine leukemia virus specifically cleaves within the polypurine tract region of the viral genome to generate the primer for plus-strand DNA synthesis and removes the tRNA primer after minus-strand initiation by preferentially cleaving the RNA one nucleotide before the RNA-DNA junction. Moreover, the enzyme is unable to cleave the extended tRNA substrate at the RNA-DNA junction even at high enzyme concentrations. The RNase H domain of the reverse transcriptase was expressed as a glutathione S-transferase fusion protein and purified from Escherichia coli extracts. Following removal of the glutathione S-transferase portion of the protein, the specificity of the isolated RNase H domain was determined in the plus-strand primer reaction and in the tRNA primer removal reaction. Although the isolated domain lacked specificity in both cases, it was still unable to cleave the tRNA substrate precisely at the RNA-DNA junction. Specificity in both cases could be restored by adding back a truncated form of Moloney murine leukemia virus reverse transcriptase lacking the RNase H domain. These results implicate the polymerase domain as a specificity determinant for the RNase H activity of reverse transcriptase. The isolated RNase H domain had higher activity in the presence of Mn2+ than in the presence of Mg2+, but neither the RNase H domain alone nor the RNase H domain coupled to the polymerase domain in wild-type protein exhibited the normal cleavage specificities in the presence of the nonphysiological divalent cation.
The effects of non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma irradiation on expression levels of matrix metalloproteinases in benign melanocytic tumors in RET-transgenic mice

Large congenital melanocytic nevi (LCMN) have been defined as congenital melanocytic nevi having a projected adult size exceeding 20 cm in diameter and they are benign melanocytic tumors [1]. Previous studies have shown a high risk of development of melanoma from LCMN [1]. Tumor formation by inoculation of malignant cells into mice provides a useful model for studying the effects of in vivo anti-melanoma treatment. However, formation of a benign tumor by inoculation of cells is impossible, because [. ]
p-Coumaric Acid Influenced Cucumber Rhizosphere Soil Microbial Communities and the Growth of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cucumerinum Owen

Background Autotoxicity of cucumber root exudates or decaying residues may be the cause of the soil sickness of cucumber. However, how autotoxins affect soil microbial communities is not yet fully understood. Methodology/Principal Findings The aims of this study were to study the effects of an artificially applied autotoxin of cucumber, p-coumaric acid, on cucumber seedling growth, rhizosphere soil microbial communities, and Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cucumerinum Owen (a soil-borne pathogen of cucumber) growth. Abundance, structure and composition of rhizosphere bacterial and fungal communities were analyzed with real-time PCR, PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and clone library methods. Soil dehydrogenase activity and microbial biomass C (MBC) were determined to indicate the activity and size of the soil microflora. Results showed that p-coumaric acid (0.1–1.0 µmol/g soil) decreased cucumber leaf area, and increased soil dehydrogenase activity, MBC and rhizosphere bacterial and fungal community abundances. p-Coumaric acid also changed the structure and composition of rhizosphere bacterial and fungal communities, with increases in the relative abundances of bacterial taxa Firmicutes, Betaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria and fungal taxa Sordariomycete, Zygomycota, and decreases in the relative abundances of bacterial taxa Bacteroidetes, Deltaproteobacteria, Planctomycetes, Verrucomicrobia and fungal taxon Pezizomycete. In addition, p-coumaric acid increased Fusarium oxysporum population densities in soil. Conclusions/Significance These results indicate that p-coumaric acid may play a role in the autotoxicity of cucumber via influencing soil microbial communities.
Decreased lactate concentration and glycolytic enzyme expression reflect inhibition of mTOR signal transduction pathway in B‐cell lymphoma

The application of kinase inhibitors in cancer treatment is growing rapidly. However, methods for monitoring the effectiveness of the inhibitors are still poorly developed and currently rely mainly on the tracking of changes in the tumor volume, a rather late and relatively insensitive marker of the therapeutic response. In contrast, MRS can detect changes in cell metabolism and has the potential to provide early and patient‐specific markers of drug activity. Using human B‐cell lymphoma models and MRS, we have demonstrated that the inhibition of the mTOR signaling pathway can be detected in malignant cells in vitro and noninvasively in vivo by the measurement of lactate levels. An mTOR inhibitor, rapamycin, suppressed lactic acid production in lymphoma cell line cultures and also diminished steady‐state lactate levels in xenotransplants. The inhibition was time dependent and was first detectable 8 h after drug administration in cell cultures. In xenotransplants, 2 days of rapamycin treatment produced significant changes in lactic acid concentration in the tumor measured in vivo, which were followed by tumor growth arrest and tumor volume regression. The rapamycin‐induced changes in lactate production were strongly correlated with the inhibition of expression of hexokinase II, the key enzyme in the glycolytic pathway. These studies suggest that MRS or 18F‐fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG PET) detection of changes in glucose metabolism may represent effective noninvasive methods for the monitoring of mTOR targeting therapy in lymphomas and other malignancies. Furthermore, the measurement of glucose metabolic inhibition by MRS or FDG PET imaging may also prove to be effective in monitoring the efficacy of other kinase inhibitors given that the rapamycin‐sensitive mTOR lies downstream of many oncogenic signaling pathways. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Review of Website Quality Framework for Low Cost Carrier

The current trend in travel witnessed, travelers prefer to book their flight ticket online. As such, a good website design for an airline company is essential. Based on review of service quality and website design studies, this study proposes a framework for a low cost carrier website. The framework includes five dimensions for a low cost airline website such as content information, navigation, responsiveness, personalization, and security and privacy. This paper concludes with the framework as contribution to both academic and practical aspects.
The Analysis of the Effect of Liqudity Risk and Credit Risk to the Profitability in Conventional Banks of Indonesia

: This paper aims to analyze the effect of liquidity risk and credit risk to the profitability in conventional banks. The method used is explanatory survey. The data used in this study was secondary data from the annual financial statements of each of the banks listed on the stock exchanges of Indonesia in 2007 - 2016. The samples used are top 10 conventional Banks (chosen by asset). The method used is panel data regression model. Liquidity risk is measured by Loan to Deposit Ratio (LDR), credit risk is measured by Non-Performing Loan (NPL) and profitability is measured by Return On Assets (ROA). The result showed that liquidity risk (LDR) and credit risk (NPL) have significant negative impact on the profitability (ROA) in conventional banks.
Determining the Significance of Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci Isolated From Blood Cultures at a Community Hospital A Role for Species and Strain Identification

Abstract Objectives: To determine the degree to which species identification or strain relatedness assessment of successive blood culture isolates of coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) may improve the clinical diagnosis of bloodstream infection (BSI). Setting: 400-bed community hospital. Design: Prospective laboratory survey during which all CNS blood culture isolates obtained between mid-August 1996 and mid-February 1997 (study period) were saved and later identified to the species level; selected isolates were genotyped using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Retrospective review of medical records of 37 patients with multiple cultures positive for CNS. Results: During the study period, 171 patients had blood cultures positive for CNS; 130 had single positive cultures and 41 had ≥2 positive cultures. Of these 41, 23 (62%) were from patients with signs and symptoms of BSI according to CDC surveillance definitions. Species identification and strain clonality of CNS isolates from patients with ≥2 positives revealed 3 (13%) of the 23 patients did not have a consistent CNS species, and another 3 (13%) did not have a consistent genotype in the ≥2 positive cultures, suggesting that CNS from these patients probably were contaminants. Thus, species identification and strain clonality assessment reduced by 27% the number of patients with BSI diagnosed based on the presence of symptoms and ≥2 positive blood cultures. Conclusions: Routine species identification and selected strain genotyping of CNS may reduce the misinterpretation of probable contaminants among patients with ≥2 positive blood cultures.
Cell-cycle-stage specificity of 4'-(9-acridinylamino)methanesulfon-m-anisidide (m-AMSA) and interaction with ionizing radiation in mammalian cell cultures.

The acridine derivative 4′-(9-acridinylamino)methanesulfon-m-anisidide (m-AMSA) is at present being evaluated for antitumor activity in phase II clinical trials. At low concentrations this agent displays cycle-phase-dependent toxicity for Chinese hamster ovary cells in culture, the initial D0 of the survival curve for S-phase cells being approximately three-fold lower than for late ${\rm G}_{2}/\text{early}$ G1-phase cells. Treatment with m-AMSA immediately prior to irradiation reduces the extrapolation number of the radiation survival curve in air or nitrogen without altering the D0. This effect is seen under conditions where m-AMSA itself causes significant toxicity. When analyzed using a Steel and Peckham isobologram (G. G. Steel and M. J. Peckham, Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. 5, 85-91 (1979)) the interaction between the two agents can be described as a mode II addition, and it is at least in part due to the selective killing of the most radioresistant (S-phase) subpopulation by the drug. Consist.
Glucagon effects on brain carbohydrate and ketone body metabolism of rainbow trout.

The levels of glycogen in brain, lactate and acetoacetate in brain and plasma, glucose in plasma and the activities of brain key enzymes of glycogen metabolism (glycogen phosphorylase, GPase, glycogen synthetase, GSase), gluconeogenesis (fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase, FBPase), and glycolysis (6-phosphofructo 1-kinase, PFK) were evaluated in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, from 0.5 to 3 hr after intraperitoneal injection of 1 ml/kg(-1) body weight of saline alone (controls) or containing bovine glucagon at three different doses: 10, 50, and 100 ng/g(-1) body weight. The results obtained demonstrate, for the first time in a teleost fish, the existence of changes in brain carbohydrate and ketone body metabolism following peripheral glucagon treatment. A clear stimulation of brain glycogenolytic potential was observed after glucagon treatment, as judged by the time- and dose-dependent changes observed in brain glycogen levels (up to 88% decrease), and GPase (up to 30% increase) and GSase (up to 42% decrease) activities. In addition, clear time- and dose-dependent increased and decreased levels were observed in brain of glucagon-treated rainbow trout for lactate (up to 60% increase) and acetoacetate (up to 67% decrease), respectively. In contrast, no significant changes were observed after glucagon treatment in those parameters related to glycolytic/gluconeogenic capacity of rainbow trout brain. Altogether, these in vivo results suggest that glucagon may play a role (direct or indirect) in the regulation of carbohydrate and ketone body metabolism in brain of rainbow trout.
Evolution of maternal provisioning in ophiuroid echinoderms: characterisation of egg composition in planktotrophic and lecithotrophic developers

For free-spawning marine invertebrates, the egg is the unit of maternal investment in off- spring. For many taxa, there is a major life-history trade-off between production of many small, nutri- ent-poor eggs in high-fecundity species and fewer large, nutrient-rich eggs in low-fecundity species. In echinoderms, the switch from small eggs in species with ancestral-type feeding larvae to large eggs and non-feeding larvae is a significant change with major consequences for larval ecology and juvenile suc- cess. In this first comparative study of maternal investment in the Ophiuroidea across species with a range of egg sizes and larval types, the egg protein and lipid content of 4 species with planktotrophic and 6 species with lecithotrophic larvae were charac- terised. The planktotrophs produced eggs dominated by protein with triacylglycerol as the main energy storage lipid. The switch to lecithotrophy in the Ophiuroidea is associated with an increase in energy storage lipids to produce an energy-dense egg, as is typical of echinoderms with this mode of develop- ment. The eggs of the lecithotrophs, however, con- tained several novel lipid classes not found in ances- tral-type ophiuroid eggs. These eggs also differed from those of other echinoderms with lecithotrophic development in the presence of these novel lipids rather than up-scaling of the ancestral maternal pro- visioning strategy. Our findings support the hypothe- sis of independent evolution of lecithotrophy multi- ple times in the Echinodermata. In the Ophiuroidea, this is seen in the evolution of different lipid pro - visioning patterns between species with large eggs.
Homeworkers' usage of mobile phones; social isolation in the home-workplace

Purpose – When working remotely, homeworkers are provided with various technologies which may help them to avoid experiencing feelings of social isolation from colleagues. These include the mobile phone, which provides homeworkers with the means of engaging in interaction with colleagues irrespective of time and location. This paper aims to investigate how the mobile phone is used by homeworkers for social interaction purposes.Design/methodology/approach – Data are collected from 25 respondents working in a telecommunications organisation using in‐depth, semi‐structured interviews.Findings – Upon analysis, it emerges that a significant number of respondents use their mobile phone for retaining social interaction with colleagues outside of their designated work time and space. It also emerges that certain organisational factors help to explain why interaction is maintained in this way.Practical implications – Implications for organisations employing homeworking are also presented, together with how the lim.
Variable Selection for Kernel Classification

In this article, a variable selection procedure, called surrogate selection, is proposed which can be applied when a support vector machine or kernel Fisher discriminant analysis is used in a binary classification problem. Surrogate selection applies the lasso after substituting the kernel discriminant scores for the binary group labels, as well as values for the input variable observations. Empirical results are reported, showing that surrogate selection performs well.
Optimizing the grain size distribution of allografts in bone impaction grafting

In bone impaction grafting, allografts in the form of bone chips are used for reconstruction of defects and to induce bone remodeling. Optimizing grain size distribution of this allograft material should help prevent implant subsidence by achieving higher primary stability of the graft. We evaluated the influence of grain size distribution on the mechanical stability of allograft material. Bone tissue was rinsed, and the grain size distribution of the allograft material was determined by performing a sieve analysis. Uniaxial compression tests were carried out before and after a standardized compaction procedure for samples with controlled grain size distribution and a control group. Allografts with controlled grain size distribution showed a yield limit almost twice as high as in the control group after a standardized compaction procedure. A better interlocking between bone particles was observed compared to the control group. Thus, grain size distribution has a major impact on the mechanical stability of bone grafts. By controlling the grain size distribution of allograft material, a tighter packing can be achieved and subsequently implant subsidence of implants could be avoided. © 2014 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 32:1024–1029, 2014.
Pengaruh Penerapan Sistem Akuntansi Pemerintah Daerah, Penerapan Anggaran Berbasis Kinerja, Kejelasan Sasaran Anggaran, Sistem Pelaporan Kinerja Dan Pengendalian Akuntansi Terhadap Akuntabilitas Kinerja Instansi Pemerintah (Akip) (Study Kasus Skpd Di Prov

The research aims to examine the influence of implementation local government accounting system, implementation performance based budgeting, Clarity of target budget, performance reporting system, and accounting system to the performance accountability for government agencies. Object of this research is local government unit who worked in Riau Province. There are 60 questionnaires were sent, and all of questionnaires are returned. The sample in this study are amounted to 60 respondents, 20 in government agencies and 3 sample in each agencies. The data ware using analyzed by linear regression method and SPSS program version 20. The variables were examined are influence of implementation local government accounting system, implementation performance based budgeting, Clarity of target budget, performance reporting system, and accounting system to the performance accountability for government agencies. Each independent variables, gives the strong influence to dependent variable, it means implementation local government accounting system, implementation performance based budgeting, Clarity of target budget, performance reporting system, and accounting system could explain the performance accountability for government agencies.
On the Performance of Egyptian Mutual Funds

Purpose: The purpose of this research is to investigate the financial performance of Islamic and conventional mutual funds in the Egyptian financial market. Design/methodology/approach: This research is based on analyzing the risk and return of Islamic and conventional mutual funds using financial performance and risk measures. The analysis is based on the weekly returns of a sample of 6 Islamic equity mutual funds and 15 conventional equity mutual funds from April 2008 to May 2015. Both the Egyptian market index and the Morgan Stanley Capital International indices for Egypt are used as market benchmarks for the Egyptian market. Findings: The results show that Islamic mutual funds underperformed both conventional mutual funds and the Egyptian market index. As for risk measures, Islamic funds had the lowest total and systematic risk whether compared to conventional mutual funds or the Egyptian market indices. Thus, Islamic funds do provide hedging opportunities as showed during the period under study. Practical implications: The low risk characteristics of Islamic mutual funds suggest that investment managers can use them as tools to adjust the risk features of relevant portfolios. Originality/value: The research points out to Egyptian Islamic mutual funds' performance relative to other benchmarks. This area is relevant to investors who are attracted to Islamic Sharia compliant financial securities and other investors who are willing to reduce their overall risk levels.