Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Caring Heart Program Enhancement in Ondo State through Augmented E-Government Implementation Code:[S43NH33]

This study appraised e-Government implementation in Ondo state government ministries, agencies and departments. It determined the availability of e-Government resources and infrastructure, the stage of e-government implementation and the challenges. Siau and Long, 2005 five phase of e-Government model was used for analysis. Survey design approach was adopted. Data were collected with a structured questionnaire administered to the Director of IT and administrators in the ministries, agencies and departments, result shows 96.42% participation. Collected data were structured into grouped frequency distributions. Findings revealed that Ondo state had made an entrance into e-Government. Resources and infrastructure for e-Governance were available and the State was found to be at the second phase (interaction) of e-Government process and has not effectively demonstrated its capacity to progress towards the higher phases of e-government. The study indentified factors that inhibit the implementation of e-Government in Ondo state and recommended how e-government implementation can be further improved in order to accomplished various present and future government programs and delivered the present and future expectation of citizen, Ondo state vision 20: 2020 and make it a truly Sunshine state. This research work is done using Ondo state as study case; it can be apply to any state in developing countries.
Innovation, technology and the global knowledge economy: Challenges for future growth

This paper discusses the role of knowledge, technology and innovation in economic growth within the context of the “Green roads to growth” project. It summarizes the current state of the art in this area, illustrates this with selected graphs and tables based on published statistics and raises issues for discussion. The main focus is on the big shift of our understanding of economic growth that has taken place in recent decades, exemplified by emergence of terms such as “the knowledge based economy”, “the ICT revolution” and “innovation”, which - although not an entirely new issue – did not get much attention a few decades ago. Particular emphasis is placed on reviewing the new micro-evidence on innovation and the knowledgebased economy that has emerged in recent years. However, since extensive micro-evidence on innovation and knowledge-based growth is available only for a limited number of developed economies, we also consider other types of indicators (that are available for a larger set of countries), and present a synthetic overview of the differences in performance across different parts of the globe. Finally we summarize the main trends and discuss the challenges posed by these for future growth, sustainability and policy.
Effects of inbreeding in the Glanville fritillary butterfl y (Melitaea cinxia)

Previous studies suggest that inbreeding depression may be strong enough to elevate the rate of extinction of local populations in a metapopulation of the Glanville fritillary butterfl y. Laboratory experiments were conducted to assess the consequences of inbreeding for fi tness components through two generations of inbreeding. Clutch size, egg hatching rate, survival of the progeny until diapause and larval weight at diapause were measured in crosses between individuals from different small populations and in within-family crosses. The magnitude of inbreeding depression did not differ signifi cantly between the two generations, with the exception that there was a marked increase in the proportion of pairs that failed to produce any offspring in the second generation of full-sib mating. As expected, the effect of inbreeding on clutch size was evident only in the second generation, where the parents themselves were highly inbred. Inbreeding depression of the magnitude reported here can explain the increased extinction risk of natural small populations of the Glanville fritillary butterfl y.
Applicability of the photogrammetry technique to determine the volume and the bulk density of small soil aggregates

Aggregate density (ρ) is defined as the relationship between the mass and the volume occupied by an aggregate. Previous studies have characterised ρ on large to medium-sized soil aggregates (>4 mm diameter); however, little information is available for smaller aggregates ( 0.99, P < 0.0001) between the volumes estimated on rough stones with the PHM and Archimedes methods demonstrates that this technique can be satisfactorily used to estimate the volume and, consequently, the ρ of small soil aggregates. The results showed an increase in ρ with decreasing aggregate size. A general trend of increasing ρ with the degree of soil disturbance by tillage was also observed.
An interdisciplinairy analysis of genetically modified vaccines: from clinical trials to market.

Background: Immunization is considered the most effective strategy for infectious disease control and maintaining global health. Conventional vaccines have successfully targeted a broad spectrum of pathogens. However, a large number of untargeted diseases still remain. Introduction of novel Genetically Modified (GM) vaccines allow development of new improved vaccines and immunotherapeutics. Moreover, GM vaccines can also target non-communicable diseases outside the range of infectious diseases, including cancer, autoimmune diseases, and allergies. Methods: We compiled novel and unique datasets encompassing data from literature, patent documents, clinical trials, and vaccine registers in order to provide a thorough overview of the GM market. Results: Based on patent data, we found that most patent applications were filed in North America, Asia, and Europe, which coincides with the locations of the largest companies and institutes. Looking at clinical trial data we forecast marketing of two next generation GM vaccines, targeting cancer and malaria. In addition, we calculated phase transition success rates of 82% (phase 1-2) and 76% (phase 2-3). Conclusions: These findings indicate viable regions for GM vaccine research and development. Phase transition success rates of 82% (phase 1-2) and 76% (phase 2-3) predict a relatively high chance of marketing approval. Increased registrations of GM vaccines complemented by rising numbers of patent applications suggest global growth of the GM vaccine market, which currently holds a proportion of nearly 20% of the total vaccine market.
Interactive comment on “Quantifying methane emissions from rice paddies in Northeast China by integrating remote sensing mapping with a biogeochemical model” by Y. Zhang et al

General comments Overall this paper is clearly-written and demonstrates the use of the DNDC model in combination with satellite images to calculate CH4 fluxes from rice paddies in a high latitude region. The authors need to be a little clearer about what assumptions they used for their regional results (e.g. climate year and management practices). Some other minor points are addressed in more detail below. Response:
CEREBROVASCULAR RISK FACTORS, ARTERIOLAR SCLEROSIS, AND COGNITIVE DECLINE IN THE KENTUCKY APPALACHIAN “STROKE-BELT”

OF THESIS CEREBROVASCULAR DISEASE RISK FACTORS, ARTERIOLAR SCLEROSIS, AND COGNITIVE DECLINE IN THE KENTUCKY APPALACHIAN “STROKE-BELT. ” The relationship between cerebrovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and cognitive impairment or dementia has been widely studied with significant variability in findings between groups. We hypothesized that chronic small vessel injury in the form of arteriolar sclerosis, measured quantitatively using MRI to measure total white matter hyperintensity (WMH) volumes, would identify specific association of CVD risk factors and patterns of cognitive decline, associated with mild cognitive impairment of the cerebrovascular type, that represent the core features of vascular cognitive impairment in our cohort. A Cross-sectional analysis of clinical and quantitative MRI data on 114 subjects with normal cognitive function (n=52) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI; n=62) was performed. Quantitative total WMH volumes were examined in relation to potentially causative CVD risk factors and resultant test scores across cognitive domains using linear regression models adjusted for age, gender, and education. Among CVD risk factors analyzed, age (p< 0.001), education (p= 0.003), hypertension (p= 0.012), and hyperlipidemia (p= 0.008) demonstrated the strongest associations with WMH volumes. Conversely, diabetes, smoking, history of heart attacks, atrial fibrillation, and history of stroke that have shown associations with CVD pathology on imaging in other studies were not statistically associated with increased WMH in this cohort. WMH volumes were associated with decrease performance on the Trial Making Test type A & B and long delayed free recall on the California Verbal Learning Test. Our findings suggest similarities and yet differences in comparison to other studies. Hypertension and hyperlipidemia appear to represent common shared risks across geographically disparate groups. Our findings, like others, suggest CVD pathology impact processing speed and executive function and provide further evidence for CVD effects on short-term memory in those at risk for cognitive decline and the future development of dementia in our cohort.
CONSUMERS’ LOYALTY TOWARD ISLAMIC BANKING SYSTEM: DOES ḤALA̅L BRAND AWARENESS MATTER?

In a competitive market structure, brand awareness helps to create a basis of trust and acceptance. Brand awareness is the first step to creating brand equity, an asset that provides companies with sustainable competitive advantages. However, in the Islamic banking context, the majority of consumers are still unable to distinguish between Islamic and conventional banks despite their awareness of the Islamic banking existence. This concern is critical to be addressed particularly in a dual banking environment such as in Malaysia, where consumers have choices between the Islamic and the conventional banking systems. Accordingly, this paper aims at investigating the influence of halal brand awareness on consumer loyalty toward the Islamic banking system. The model also includes brand loyalty as it is the core asset of brand equity. Using survey method, data of 454 respondents have been analyzed using PLS-SEM. The findings reveal that halal brand awareness shows greater influence on consumer loyalty toward the Islamic banking system than brand loyalty. Thus, Islamic bank managers must operationalize effective marketing communication strategies by promoting the Islamic banking products with simplicity to facilitate greater consumer understanding. This is not merely for enhancing organizational competitiveness, but more importantly is to ensure long term Islamic banking industry resilience.
Interactive comment on “ Chemically-resolved aerosol volatility measurements from two megacity field studies ” by J . A . Huffman et al .

[RC2.0] This interesting paper reports the results of ambient measurements using a thermodenuder (TD) coupled to a high-resolution Aerosol Mass Spectrometer (AMS), from two field campaigns, one in Riverside, CA and the other in Mexico City (MILAGRO). The temperature dependencies of the following were studied: (1) major AMS "species" (e.g., sulfate, nitrate, organic carbon); (2) individual m/z and marker ion concentrations; (3) species defined from PMF analysis of the study data set (e.g., HOA and several types of OOA). While some results, such as the volatility of sulfate species relative to other species, confirmed expectations, a rather surprising finding was that the volatility of species with low O:C ratios, associated with the HOA fraction, was higher than the volatilities of more oxidized organic carbon species. This work merits
Canadian Retirement Savings Plans and the Foreign Property Rule

This paper argues that the Foreign Property Rule (FPR), which limits the foreign content of a Registered Savings Plan to no more than 20 percent of book value, should be removed as quickly as possible. Given the globalization of financial markets, the FPR does not protect what it is meant to protect - a pool of savings for investment in Canada. Instead, it distorts the allocation of credit among firms, and forces agents to use more costly instruments - derivatives - to achieve desired foreign risk exposure. Since the FPR lowers the return on registered savings without benefiting any identifiable group, removing it would be an unequivocal gain to Canadians.
Extratropical cyclone statistics during the last millennium and the 21st century

Abstract. Extratropical cyclones in winter and their characteristics are investigated in depth for the Atlantic European region, as they are responsible for a significant part of the rainfall and extreme wind and/or precipitation-induced hazards. The analysis is based on a seamless transient simulation with a state-of-the-art fully coupled Earth system model from 850 to 2100 CE. The Representative Concentration Pathway 8.5 (RCP8.5) scenario is used in the 21st century. During the Common Era, cyclone characteristics show pronounced variations on interannual and decadal timescales, but no external forcing imprint is found prior to 1850. Thus, variations of extratropical cyclone characteristics are mainly caused by internal variability of the coupled climate system. When anthropogenic forcing becomes dominant in the 20th century, a decrease of the cyclone occurrences mainly over the Mediterranean and a strong increase of extreme cyclone-related precipitation become detectable. The latter is due to thermodynamics as it follows the Clausius–Clapeyron relation. An important finding, though, is that the relation between temperature and extreme cyclone-related precipitation is not always controlled by the Clausius–Clapeyron relation, which suggests that dynamical processes can play an important role in generating extreme cyclone-related precipitation – for example, in the absence of anomalously warm background conditions. Thus, the importance of dynamical processes, even on decadal timescales, might explain the conundrum that proxy records suggest enhanced occurrence of precipitation extremes during rather cold periods in the past.
Geographic variation in floral traits is associated with environmental and genetic differences among populations of the mixed mating species Collinsia heterophylla (Plantaginaceae)

Relatively few studies have investigated how geography, environmental factors, and genetics affect floral trait variation. We used mixed-mating Collinsia heterophylla Buist to explore variation in a suite of floral traits related to mating system in populations representing four geographic regions of California, USA, and relate this variation to geography, climatic factors, and local site characteristics. We evaluated the environmental vs. genetic trait variability in the greenhouse. Stage of anther–stigma contact correlated positively with temperature, stage of stigma receptivity was negatively associated with vegetation cover, and flower size differed among populations without any clear relation to environmental factors. Greenhouse data indicated heritability for stage of anther–stigma contact, flower size, and time to flowering, and positive correlations between field and greenhouse for stage of stigma receptivity and flower size; however, stage of anther–stigma contact showed a high degree of environm.
The impact of reduced ownership control on the M&A currency decision : empirical study of the payment method choice in corporate acquisitions

This thesis seeks to expand the knowledge on key determinants for the payment method choice in corporate takeovers. Specifically, we examine the importance of ownership control for the financing choice. While most previous studies have taken a static acquirer-focused approach when investigating the importance of corporate control, we also take the target’s ownership characteristics into account to measure the real impact on acquiring shareholders. We expect acquiring shareholders that face serious dilution of influence to have a reluctance for equity-financed acquisitions. We empirically test this using a comprehensive, global sample of 1,909 acquisitions announced between 2008 and 2014. Our sample consists of public companies, that were matched with extensive and detailed pre-deal ownership structures to test for the importance of maintaining corporate control after the acquisition. We propose a segmentation of control into absolute and relative component parts and introduce two new variables to measure them in the payment method equation. The variables seek to capture a more dynamic mechanism of control concerns than previously accounted for. Our findings suggest that acquiring shareholders do care about maintaining control, both relative and absolute control, as both our proposed dynamic ownership variables significantly reduce the probability of observing stock-financed acquisitions. These findings prove robust after controlling for numerous deal-, acquirerand target specific characteristics proven by related studies to affect the payment method choice. We find weaker evidence for the importance of control concerns for the fraction of shares offered in the consideration. The latter finding suggests that bidding shareholders will stay clear of diluting payment methods altogether if they are faced with the threat of losing control, but that maintaining corporate control is a weaker determinant of stock usage at the margin. Previous studies have proven an effect of ownership structures, but our findings suggest that the real dilution of influence acquiring shareholders will experience has an effect on the choice of offering shares at the outset. Further, we find supporting evidence for the importance of information asymmetries, cash availability and acquirer capital structure. On the other hand, we do not find evidence supporting the importance of target financials or the investment opportunities hypothesis in our empirical analysis.
LINKING INNOVATION TO PRODUCTIVITY GROWTH USING TWO WAVES OF CIS 1

Using two waves of the Community Innovation Survey for the Netherlands we integrate recent lines of research to estimate the contribution of innovation to manufacturing multi-factor productivity (MFP) growth. The model exploits the CIS data to control for the complementarity between internal and external knowledge bases and also investigates the importance of within-firm time interdependencies for inputs into innovation and innovation output. Our results show the benefits of including more information on the technological environment of firms. Furthermore, our model shows that we have a lower persistence of innovativeness measured from the output side than for R&D if we track the innovation performance of the same firms across time. It has also been found that the contribution of innovation to MFP increases if we use all available data. The latter result reflects the difficulty to account properly for the non-rivalry of innovation and the associated inter-firm “spillovers” of knowledge creation when using firm-level panel data only.
Employees’ Financial Literacy, Behavior, Stress and Wellness

A successful financial wellness initiative may provide people with the information and support they need to achieve an ideal state of being, the balance of which is unique to every person. This correlational study aimed to examine the financial wellness of the employees of a maritime school and the factors that influence it. A survey was administered to 96 employees of the institution. Findings revealed that the employees have a fair level of financial wellness, a moderate level of financial literacy, a very satisfactory level of financial behavior, and a low level of financial stress. The employees were found to be comparably the same in their state of financial wellness regardless of their age, family status, sex, tenure, and job position. Overall, the data implied that what the employees earn was just enough to support their basic needs but not enough to cover for cases of sickness, job loss, or any form of emergency. The employees were comparably the same in terms of their financial literacy, all variables considered. They also demonstrate a comparable financial behavior, except when they were grouped according to age. Results of this study also indicate financial behavior being related to financial literacy. This result implies that being financially literate could improve the employees’ ability to manage their financial resources. Financial literacy was found to be the best predictor of financial wellness.
Evaluation of a new middle-lower tropospheric CO 2 product using data assimilation

Abstract. Atmospheric CO 2 retrievals with peak sensitivity in the mid- to lower troposphere from the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) have been assimilated into the GEOS-5 (Goddard Earth Observing System Model, Version 5) constituent assimilation system for the period 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2006. A corresponding model simulation, using identical initial conditions, circulation, and CO 2 boundary fluxes was also completed. The analyzed and simulated CO 2 fields are compared with surface measurements globally and aircraft measurements over North America. Surface level monthly mean CO 2 values show a marked improvement due to the assimilation in the Southern Hemisphere, while less consistent improvements are seen in the Northern Hemisphere. Mean differences with aircraft observations are reduced at all levels, with the largest decrease occurring in the mid-troposphere. The difference standard deviations are reduced slightly at all levels over the ocean, and all levels except the surface layer over land. These initial experiments indicate that the used channels contain useful information on CO 2 in the middle to lower troposphere. However, the benefits of assimilating these data are reduced over the land surface, where concentrations are dominated by uncertain local fluxes and where the observation density is quite low. Away from these regions, the study demonstrates the power of the data assimilation technique for evaluating data that are not co-located, in that the improvements in mid-tropospheric CO 2 by the sparsely distributed partial-column retrievals are transported by the model to the fixed in situ surface observation locations in more remote areas.
Undergraduates’ Academic Performance, Self-Esteem and Perceived Social Support as Determinants of Perceived Stress

The aim of current paper is to investigate the relationships between academic performance, self-esteem, perceived social support and perceived stress among the undergraduates in both Malaysian public and private universities. Research data is gathered from a sample of 144 of undergraduates from public and private universities in Malaysia. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) is employed to examine the influences of academic performance, self-esteem, perceived social support and perceived stress among the undergraduates. The results demonstrate that self-esteem and perceived social support are viewed as potential predictors of perceived stress among undergraduates. However, there is no significant relationship between academic performance and perceived stress. Future researchers are suggested to conduct similar researches in qualitative or experimental setting in order to minimize personal bias in a longitudinal design. Current paper provides new in-depth and practical implications to all parties to pay attention in efforts to improve undergraduate’s well-being and achievement in their tertiary education stage. This paper offers new insight into the predicting factors of perceived stress among undergraduates in Malaysian context.