Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Corporate Social Responsibility and Financial Performance in Developing Economies: The Nigerian Experience

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has the potential to make positive contributions to the development of society and businesses. Organisations are beginning to see the benefits from setting up strategic CSR agendas. The increasing attention to CSR is based on its capability to influence firms' performance. The CSR movement is spreading over the world and in recent years a large number of methods and frameworks have been developed, the majority being developed in the West. This study focuses on developing economies and on Nigeria specifically. Using a sample of forty audited financial statements of quoted companies in Nigeria, this study examines the impact of CSR activities on financial performance measured with Return on Equity (ROE) and Return on Assets (ROA). The results show that CSR has a positive and significant relationship with the financial performance measures. These results reinforce the accumulating body of empirical support for the positive impact of CSR on financial performance. Keywords: Corporate Social Responsibility, Financial Performance, Developing Economies-Nigeria
Accounting information systems effectiveness: evidence from the nigerian banking sector

Aim/Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the interrelationship among the quality measures of information system success, including system quality, information, quality, and service quality, that eventually influence accounting information systems effectiveness. Background It is generally believed that investment in an information system offers opportunities to organizations for business process efficiency and effectiveness. Despite huge investments in accounting information systems, banks in Nigeria have not realized the full potential benefits of using these systems because of persistent failures. Few studies have been conducted to address the problem. Methodology A survey research design was used to collect data, and a total of 287 questionnaires were retrieved from respondents in the Nigerian banking sector. Contribution This study contributes to the understanding of the most important antecedent factors of the quality measures, the interrelationship among the quality measures, and the influence of these measures on the accounting information systems effectiveness. Findings The result of the study revealed that security, ease of use, and efficiency are key features of system quality, while the information quality dimension includes accuracy, timeliness, and completeness. The result of the study further revealed that information quality and system quality have significant influences on accounting information systems effectiveness.Recommendations for Practitioners This study provides practitioners with important measures for evaluation of AIS effectiveness in the context of Nigerian banks.Determinants of AIS Effectiveness 310 Recommendation for Researchers Future researchers may build on the findings of current study to conduct further research in the area of AIS effectiveness in different contexts
Effect of Light Curing in the Marginal Internal Adaptation of Bulk Fill in Class-I Preparations

Conservative dentistry has been searching to simplify minimally invasive clinical treatments; subsequently, the dentist can perform with previously established protocols. Dental composites are considered one of the dental materials in high demand and are used daily in dental practice. These dental composites require an adequate wavelength and light energy intensity to activate photo initiator and initiate polymerization [1]. The incremental technique utilized in conventional dental composites is employed to resolve the shrinkage stress resulting from the reaction to light curing, ensuring that the composite curing is complete at the exposure of light between each layer no greater than 2 mm in thickness, thus minimizing the volume of material contracted, resulting in the decrease of risk of failure [2]. The disadvantages presented by the incremental technique usually refer to its being considered a slow and tedious procedure with a risk of constant contamination between layers and the generating of voids by the entrapment of air [3]. Abstract
Noisy Active Learning from a Bayesian Perspective

We approach the problem of active learning from a Bayesian perspective, working with a probability distribution over the solution space. In addition to the classical active selection of data points, we formulate the construction of minimum decision trees from noisy datasets as an active learning task. Building on the OASIS algorithm, we compare active learning score functions based on the EC2 criterion with uncertainty sampling, two GBS approaches, and random selection by performing experiments on several standard datasets. While constituting a unique approach in its original online setting, according to our findings, the OASIS algorithm does not generally offer performance benefits in a classical offline setting. Furthermore, for active learning from noisy data samples, we introduce a new intrinsic EC2-based stopping criterion and show that in many cases, it outperforms a standard information gain based method paired with the χ2-test on the decision tree learning problem. In particular, our criterion enables the effective construction of small decision trees, and may provide the first effective method to learn a close-to-minimal tree classifier with bounded expected error rates from noisy data samples.
CORRELATION BETWEEN TOTAL LIPIDS, LINOLENIC ACID AND MEMBRANE INJURY UNDER PEG-INDUCED DEHYDRATION IN LEAVES OF VIGNA GENOTYPES DIFFERING IN DROUGHT RESISTANCE

Membrane lipids contain trienoic fatty acids which enhance fluidity, an essential feature for optimal membrane performance. However highly unsaturated molecules are prone to lipoperoxidation processes. In V. unguiculata, linolenic acid (C18:3) accounts for more than 90% of the total fatty acids of galactolipids. High C18:3 contents causes galactolipids molecules, especially monogalactosyl-diacylglycerol (MGDG), to become more susceptible to drought-induced peroxidative or enzymatic degradation. In this work 8 Vigna genotypes differing in drought resistance in the field were compared to search for an eventual correlation between genotypes ability to resist to water stress and some characteristics of their membrane lipids in well-watered plants. Plants were grown in a greenhouse with semi-controlled environmental conditions, and kept fully hydrated. Leaves were collected from one month old plants to perform electrolyte leakage test under PEG-induced dehydration and lipid analysis. Results showed that both a reduced amount of total lipids, which reflects a small amount of membranes, and a reduced amount of C18:3 in MGDG, which indicates a low membrane fluidity, were strongly correlated with a high membrane resistance to dehydration, and therefore seem to be useful screening tools for drought-tolerant genotypes. Taking into account what is known concerning drought resistance of the genotypes under study, it was also concluded that the degree of membrane resistance to osmotic stress could be extrapolated to drought resistance in the field.
Changes in the Antioxidant Properties of Quince Fruit (Cydonia oblonga Miller) during Jam Production at Industrial Scale

The content of phenolic compounds and their relationship with the antioxidant capacity of quince fruit were evaluated before and after jam processing at industrial scale. Waste samples from industrial processing were also analyzed. Twelve phenolics and one organic acid were identified and quantified by HPLC-DAD-QTOF. According to the results, jam processing did not produce a decrease in polyphenolic content, and, in some cases, the polyphenolic content even increased. Antioxidant capacities determined by DPPH and FRAP assays showed similar results. On the other hand, the waste samples analyzed retained large amounts of polyphenols, even though their antioxidant capacity was lower than that in pulp samples. Boosted Regression Trees analysis showed a good correlation between phenolic profile and antioxidant capacity, with 5- -coumaroylquinic acid being the most relevant compound to explain the antioxidant capacity by both methods.
Home Bias and network effect of Indonesian migrant workers on Malaysia’s external trade

Limited studies on the effect of immigrant workers on trade have been carried out in Asia even though some Asian countries have become important labour sending or labour receiving countries. This study attempts to fill the gap by examining the effect of Indonesian migrant workers on the external trade of Malaysia. Three objectives are proposed. The first objective is to examine the long-run relationship between Indonesian migrant workers, and export and import, respectively. This is followed by examining the causality between Indonesian migrant workers and Malaysia’s external trade, as well as the extent to which Indonesian migrant workers affect Malaysia’s external trade in the third objective. The secondary data are analysed utilizing the Vector Autoregressive (VAR) framework. The findings show that Indonesian migrant workers do not have any significant effect on Malaysia’s import, thus indicating the insignificance of the home bias effect. The outcomes also reveal a negative and significant effect of Indonesian migrant workers on exports implying the absence of a network effect. This could be due to several factors, such as similarities in culture between Malaysia and Indonesia, low-skilled immigrant workers, the immigrants working in non-tradable sectors, the import substitution policy in Indonesia, and Indonesia not being the main trading partner of Malaysia.
Essays In Financial And International Macroeconomics by Seon Tae Kim A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy Approved March 2011 by the Graduate Supervisory Committee: Edward Prescott, Chair

I study the importance of financial factors and real exchange rate shocks in explaining business cycle fluctuations, which have been considered important in the literature as non-technological factors in explaining business cycle fulctuations. In the first chapter, I study the implications of fluctuations in corporate credit spreads for business cycle fluctuations. Motivated by the fact that corporate credit spreads are countercyclical, I build a simple model in which difference in default probabilities on corporate debts leads to the spread in interest rates paid by firms. In the model, firms differ in the variance of the firm-level productivity, which is in turn linked to the difference in the default probability. The key mechanism is that an increase in the variance of productivity for risky firms relative to safe firms leads to reallocation of capital away from risky firms toward safe firms and decrease in aggregate output and productivity. I embed the above mechanism into an otherwise standard growth model, calibrate it and numerically solve for the equilibrium. In my benchmark case, I find that shocks to variance of productivity for risky and safe firms account for about 66% of fluctuations in output and TFP in the U.S. economy. In the second chapter, I study the importance of shocks to the price of imports relative to the price of final goods, led by the real exchange rate shocks, in accounting for fluctuations in output and TFP in the Korean economy during the Asian crisis of 1997-98. Using the Korean data, I calibrate a standard small open economy model with taxes and tariffs on imported goods, and simulate it. I find that shocks to the price of imports are an important source of fluctuations in Korea’s output and TFP in the Korean crisis episode. In particular, in my benchmark case, shocks to the price of imports account for about 55% of the output deviation (from trend), one third of the TFP deviation and three quarters of the labor deviation in 1998.
Thermal structure of a gas-permeable lava dome and timescale separation in its response to perturbation

[1] The thermal boundary layer at the surface of a volcanic lava dome is investigated through a continuum model of the thermodynamic advection-diffusion processes resulting from magmatic gas flow through the dome matrix. The magmatic gas mass flux, porosity, and permeability of the rock are identified as key parameters. New, theoretical, nonlinear steady state thermal profiles are reported, which give a realistic surface temperature of 210°C for a region of lava dome surface through which a gas flux of 3.5 × 10−3 kg s−1 m−2 passes. This contrasts favorably with earlier purely diffusive thermal models, which cool too quickly. Results are presented for time-dependent perturbations of the steady states as a response to changes in surface pressure, a sudden rockfall from the lava dome surface, and a change in the magmatic gas mass flux at depth. Together with a generalized analysis using the method of multiple scales, this identifies two characteristic timescales associated with the thermal evolution of a dome carapace: a short timescale of several minutes, over which the magmatic gas mass flux, density, and pressure change to a new quasi-steady state and a longer timescale of several days, over which the thermal profile changes to a new equilibrium distribution. Over the longer timescale, the dynamic properties of the dome continue to evolve, but only in slavish response to the ongoing temperature evolution. In light of this timescale separation, the use of surface temperature measurements to infer changes in the magmatic gas flux for use in volcanic hazard prediction is discussed.
Characteristics And Management Of Solid Waste In Ghanaian Markets - A Study Of WA Municipality

Waste management occupies a vital place in the economies of both developed and developing countries. Urbanization in Ghana has made the management of solid waste very crucial in the areas of public health and the environment. Poor solid waste management in Ghana can be attributed to the failure of proper waste characterization in Ghana. Thus, the objective of this paper is to determine solid waste composition and bulk density in the Wa market. The study considered waste characterization at the Wa Central Market by determining the percentage by weight of the various solid waste components generated in the market within the months of June to August, 2013. Waste bins were placed at selected locations in the market for waste collection and sorting for the study. More information can be found in the full paper.
Wage Effects of Immigration in a Bargaining Economy

Most empirical studies on wage effects of immigration disregard common labour market institutions like the requirement of job offer before entry to the host country and wage bargaining. The model presented here accounts for these institutions and finds a rationale for the empirical studies’ treatment of the migrant share as a determinant of natives’ wages. A higher migrant share is shown to lower the native’s wage but only temporarily. After assimilation the wage subsequently returns to its original level. The results suggest that empirical studies of wage effects of immigration should focus on unassimilated immigrants having low reservation wages.
Sedimentary Processes in Douro Estuary (Portugal). A Heavy Mineral Study

This work focuses on the study of 90 heavy mineral samples from three different sand size classes (medium, fine and very fine sand) of three cores collected from the Douro estuary. These cores were obtained by rotary drilling. For each sample the heavy minerals were counted and twelve major non opaque species were identified. Studying the relative abundance of the heavy minerals, their roundness stage and the mean grain-size differences between sediment and heavy minerals it was possible to establish the hypothetic sediment grain sorting and transport mode. The finer sediment levels have lower mean grain size differences between sediment and heavy minerals being these minerals with predominant platy and lamellar forms. This information establishes that the sediment might have been sorted and eventually transported mainly as suspended load. Levels with coarser sediment show strong mean grain-size differences between sediment and heavy minerals, those being equant and rounded. In this case the sediment might have been sorted and eventually transported mainly as bedload. In the lower corer levels it was detected a high abundance of euhedral heavy minerals assemblage reflecting the provenance signal of the granite and gneissic bedrock. From the correlation of the heavy mineral and grain size sediment data with the information obtained from the sediment biogenic content it is possible to distinguish two fundamental situations: the sediment levels compatible with suspended load grain sorting were mainly deposited in a estuary environment; the sediment levels compatible with bedload grain sorting were likely deposited in a sandy barrier/beach face
The Effectiveness of a Core Muscles Stability Program in Reducing the Postural Sway of Adolescent Archers: A Panacea for a better Archery Performance

Background: Expert athletes in archery can rapidly achieve postural stability compared to beginners and novice athletes. This study investigated the effectiveness of a core stability training program in reducing the postural sway among adolescent archers. Methods: Participants (n=12) of this study were aged between 13-18 years; were divided into two groups (i.e., experimental and control). The experimental group underwent a supplementary eight-week core stability training program apart from their regular training program. Data were collected at three-time points; pre, after four weeks and post-training. Postural sway was measured in the anteroposterior plane and medio-lateral plane – center of pressure (CoP). Results: Mixed factorial ANOVA yielded significant interactions over time in the performance of the push up; plank; archery performance and postural sway. Postural sway between the experimental and control group was significantly different on both planes at T2; (CoP range x F(1,10) = 7.952, p <. 05, d = 1.302; CoP range y T2; F(1,10) = 7.887, p <. 05). The results were replicated at T3; CoP range x F(1,10)= 7.952, p <. 05; CoP range y F(1,10)= 11.105, p <. 05). Conclusion: The experimental group showed a smaller range in postural sway on both axes; indicating a reduction in the postural sway. A significant relationship was also evident between CoP range x, CoP range y and the participants’ performance in archery. It is recommended that a core stability training program is incorporated into an archery training program for adolescent archers.
Effects of vlogger race on perceived credibility, self-efficacy and behavioral intentions towards weight loss

Spokesperson race and expertise have exhibited an impact on audiences. This study examines the effect of race congruency between vlogger and audience in regards to weight loss. Using social psychology and communication theories, including Elaboration Likelihood Model, spokesperson effects, the Theory of Planned Behavior, social cognitive theory, and self-efficacy theory, the current study features independently produced vlogs (video blogs) discussing weight loss strategies. The race and expertise of the vloggers in the videos were manipulated to test the effects on perceived message and source credibility, self-efficacy towards exercising and dieting, and behavioral intentions towards exercising and dieting. Results reveal that, although race congruency demonstrates limited effect on the outcome variables, it interacts with participant race, ethnic identity, and vlogger expertise to predict perceived message credibility, self-efficacy towards exercising and dieting, and behavioral intentions towards exercising and dieting. Asian American participants report greater perceived message credibility and behavioral intentions towards exercising and dieting after watching an Asian American vlogger compared to a White American vlogger. Asian American participants with low ethnic identity report greater self-efficacy towards exercising and dieting after watching an Asian American vlogger compared to a White American vlogger, while White American participants with low ethnic identity report greater self-efficacy towards exercising after watching an Asian American vlogger compared to a White American vlogger. Furthermore, perceived message credibility mediates the effect of the interaction of race congruency and participant race on participant’s behavioral intentions towards exercising and dieting. This study provides insights for understanding spokesperson effect and designing health campaigns in the interactive media environment. EFFECTS OF VLOGGER RACE ON PERCEIVED CREDIBILITY, SELF-EFFICACY AND BEHAVIORAL INTENTIONS TOWARDS WEIGHT LOSS
EFFICACY OF GRANISETRON AND GRANISETRON PLUS DEXAMETHASONE AS PRE - EMPTIVE ANTI - EMETIC THERAPY FOR PONV IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING GENERAL ANESTHE SIA FOR ABDOMINAL SURGERY : A CONTROLLED, PROSPECTIVE & RANDOMIZED STUDY

BACKGROUND: Abdominal surgeries are associated with a very high rate of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), which can lead to dehydration, electrolyte-imbalance, aspiration-pneumonitis and wound-dehiscence, thereby delaying patient’s recovery and prolonging hospital stay. OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to compare the effectiveness of granisetron alone and in combination with dexamethasone for prevention of PONV in patients undergoing general anesthesia for abdominal surgeries as well as recognizing the limitations of routine antiemetic prophylaxis with a multimodal approach to anti-emesis. MATERIALS & METHODS: In this prospective, randomized and controlled study 75 patients undergoing general anesthesia for abdominal surgeries were randomly allocated to one of the three groups of 25 patients each. Group G received granisetron 40μg/kg, group G+D received granisetron 40μg/kg+dexamethasone 0.1mg/kg and group C received normal saline intravenously, before induction of anesthesia. Perioperative anesthetic protocol was standardized in all patients. Patients were observed for 24 hours postoperatively and all episodes of nausea and vomiting were recorded. RESULTS: The incidence of PONV was 20% with granisetron alone, 16% with granisetron and dexamethasone and 76% in the control group (p<.001). CONCLUSION: Granisetron is effective and safe drug for reducing the incidence of PONV in patients undergoing general anesthesia for abdominal surgeries and becomes more effective when combined with dexamethasone.
Wood zone plate fishnet metalens

Fresnel-zone plate lenses provide focusing performance while having low profile. Unfortunately, they usually display higher reflection losses than conventional dielectric lenses. Here, we demonstrate a low-profile Wood zone plate metalens based on the fishnet metamaterial working in a near-zero regime with an equivalent refractive index less than unity (n f = 0.51). The metalens is made of alternating dielectric and fishnet metamaterial concentric rings. The use of fishnet metamaterial allows reducing the reflections from the lens, while maintaining low profile, low cost and ease of manufacturing. The lens is designed to work at the W-band of the millimeter-waves range with a focal length FL = 22.8 mm (7.5 λ 0 ) aiming at antenna or radar system applications. The focusing performance of the lens along with its radiation characteristics in a lens antenna configuration have been studied numerically and confirmed experimentally, showing a gain improvement of ~2.5 dB with respect to a fishnet Soret metalens.