Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The level of compliance with the public procurement act (act 663) in Ghana

The Public Procurement Act (Act 663) 2003 was introduced in Ghana to streamline the anomalies in public procurement. The objective of the law is to promote fairness, transparency and ensure that public procurement is non-discriminatory. The implementation of the Public Procurement Act 2003 (PPA) has been quiet challenging coupled with a number of inefficiencies. The aim of this study is to observe and compare the extent to which selected public procurement entities have complied with the processes and requirements of the Law during the year 2008. The entities were chosen from the Ashanti and Brong Ahafo regions of Ghana. Structured questionnaire and face-to-face interviews were used to obtain data for this study. The overall compliance levels in the Ashanti and Brong Ahafo Regions lies at 19.58% and 17.8% respectively. This indicates low compliance levels of public entities. The study confirms that the Public Procurement Act 2003 (Act 663) is observed to proffer solutions but not without challenges. In the pursuit to improve compliance with the Act the study recommends that public entities recruit procurement personnel and organize intensive and regular procurement training for the personnel handling public procurement especially in the area of procurement processes.
Clinical Applications of Hypnosis for Brief and Efficient Pain Management Psychotherapy

Abstract This paper describes four specific clinical applications of hypnosis that can make psychotherapy for pain management briefer, more goal-oriented, and more efficient: (1) the assessment of hypnotizability; (2) the induction of hypnotic analgesia and development of individualized pain coping strategies; (3) direct suggestion, cognitive reframing, hypnotic metaphors, and pain relief imagery; and (4) brief psychodynamic reprocessing during the trance state of emotional factors in the patient's experience of chronic pain. Important theoretical and clinical issues regarding the relationship of hypnotizability to the induction of hypnotic analgesia are presented, and attempts to individualize pain treatment strategies on the basis of assessed differences in hypnotizability and patients' preferred coping strategies are described. Some ways are also presented of integrating direct hypnotic suggestion, cognitive reframing, hypnotic metaphors and imagery for alleviating the sensory and affective components of pain with an exploratory, insight-oriented, and brief psychodynamic reprocessing approach during trance for resolving unconscious sources of resistance to treatment and reducing the emotional overlay associated with chronic pain. Some basic assumptions underlying the use of this approach are discussed, and a brief step-by-step protocol is outlined.
The optic nerve head as a biomechanical structure: initial finite element modeling.

PURPOSE To study the relationship between intraocular pressure (IOP) and the IOP-related stress (force/cross-sectional area) it generates within the load-bearing connective tissues of the optic nerve head. METHODS Thirteen digital, three-dimensional geometries were created representing the posterior scleral shell of 13 idealized human eyes. Each three-dimensional geometry was then discretized into a finite element model consisting of 900 constituent finite elements. In five models, the scleral canal was circular (diameters of 0.50, 1.50, 1.75, 2.00, and 2.56 mm), with scleral wall thickness (0.8 mm) and inner radius (12.0 mm) held constant. In three models, the canal was elliptical (vertical-to-horizontal ratios of 2:1 [2.50 x 1.25 mm], 1.5:1 [2.1 x 1.4 mm], and 1.15:1 [1.92 x 1.67 mm]), with the same constant scleral wall thickness and inner radius. In five additional models, scleral canal size was held constant (1.92 x 1.67 mm), and either scleral wall thickness (three models, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 mm) or inner radius (two models, 13.0 and 14.0 mm) was varied. In all models, each finite element was assigned a single isotropic material property, either scleral (modulus of elasticity, 5500 kPa) or axonal (modulus of elasticity, 55 kPa). Maximum stresses within specific regions were calculated at an IOP of 15 mm Hg (2000 Pa). RESULTS Larger scleral canal diameter, elongation of the canal, and thinning of the sclera increased IOP-related stress for a given level of IOP. For all models, maximum IOP-related stress ranged from 6 x IOP (posterior sclera) to 122 x IOP (laminar trabeculae). For each model, maximum IOP-related stress was highest within the laminar trabecular region and decreased progressively through the laminar insertion, peripapillary scleral, and posterior scleral regions. Varying the inner radius had little effect on the maximum IOP-related stress within the scleral canal. CONCLUSIONS Initial finite element models show that IOP-related stress within the load-bearing connective tissues of the optic nerve head is substantial even at low levels of IOP. Although the data suggest that scleral canal size and shape and scleral thickness are principal determinants of the magnitude of IOP-related stress within the optic nerve head, models that incorporate physiologic scleral canal and laminar geometries, a more refined finite element model meshwork, and nonisotropic material properties will be required to confirm these results.
An experimental 0.6-V 57.5-fJ/conversion-step 250-kS/s 8-bit rail-to-rail successive approximation ADC in 0.18µm CMOS

An experimental 0.6-V 57.5-fJ/conversion-step 250-kS/s 8-bit rail-to-rail successive approximation (SA) analog-to-digital converter (ADC) implemented in a standard CMOS 0.18 µm digital process is presented. To overcome the input sampling switches limitation imposed by the low supply voltage we make use of a track-and-hold circuit based on a low-voltage, low-stress and reliable clock signal with a novel rail-to-rail track-and-latch comparator circuit. Power and area saving are achieved using splitarray charge redistribution-based SA ADC. Successive approximation and control logic is implemented using a robust single clock phase D flip-flop. Preliminary simulation results show that the ADC consumes only 3.68 µW.
The Effect of Ozone Gas on Dentin Shear Bond Strength

Introduction The basic aim in the prevention of dental decay is to reduce the factors creating decay and to increase the protective approaches [1]. Complete elimination cannot be provided of the pathogen bacteria in the dentin to remove the decay lesion. When minimally invasive cavity design is planned to prevent excessive substance loss, this problem becomes more important. Bacteria remaining in the dentin tissue under a restoration may cause secondary decay and pulpal inflammation [2]. After physical removal of the decay lesion, the elimination of bacteria and bacterial by-products is necessary [2,3]. In previous studies, cavity disinfectants, antibacterial restorative materials, laser, light-activated disinfection systems and ozone have been used for this purpose [3].
Liberalisierung von Monopolmärkten

LIBERALISIERUNG VON MONOPOLMäRKTEN This site isn`t the same as a solution manual you buy in a book store or download off the web. Our Over 40000 manuals and Ebooks is the reason why customers keep coming back. If you need a liberalisierung von monopolmärkten, you can download them in pdf format from our website. Basic file format that can be downloaded and read on numerous devices. You can revise this using your PC, MAC, tablet, eBook reader or smartphone.
Essays in Asset Management and Risk Management

We apply a stationary bootstrap approach that enables us to test the value added of rebalancing for stock-bond portfolios using historical data from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany. Analyzing the Sharpe ratio, the Omega measure, and the Sortino ratio as simple measures of value added, our history-based simulation results provide strong evidence that all rebalancing strategies significantly outperform a buy-and-hold strategy. This outperformance is attributable to reduced risk, while there are no statistical differences in returns between rebalancing and buy-and-hold. Therefore, it is a risk management argument which justifies the widespread use of rebalancing in investment practice.
Mental Illness Training for Licensed Staff in Long-Term Care

Licensed care staff working in long-term care facilities may be poorly prepared to work with residents with mental illness. This research reports on the program evaluation of Caring Skills: Working with Mental Illness, a training program delivered on the Internet. It was tested with a randomized treatment-control design, with an eight-week follow-up. The training provided video-based behavioral skills and knowledge training. Measures included video situations testing and assessment of psycho-social constructs including empathy and stigmatization. ANCOVA analysis at 4-weeks posttest showed significant positive effects with medium-large effect sizes, which were largely maintained at the 8-week follow-up. The training was well-received by the users.
Analysis of the Pumpkin Phloem Proteome Provides Insights into Angiosperm Sieve Tube Function*S

Increasing evidence suggests that proteins present in the angiosperm sieve tube system play an important role in the long distance signaling system of plants. To identify the nature of these putatively non-cell-autonomous proteins, we adopted a large scale proteomics approach to analyze pumpkin phloem exudates. Phloem proteins were fractionated by fast protein liquid chromatography using both anion and cation exchange columns and then either in-solution or in-gel digested following further separation by SDS-PAGE. A total of 345 LC-MS/MS data sets were analyzed using a combination of Mascot and X! Tandem against the NCBI non-redundant green plant database and an extensive Cucurbit maxima expressed sequence tag database. In this analysis, 1,209 different consensi were obtained of which 1,121 could be annotated from GenBank™ and BLAST search analyses against three plant species, Arabidopsis thaliana, rice (Oryza sativa), and poplar (Populus trichocarpa). Gene ontology (GO) enrichment analyses identified sets of phloem proteins that function in RNA binding, mRNA translation, ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis, and macromolecular and vesicle trafficking. Our findings indicate that protein synthesis and turnover, processes that were thought to be absent in enucleate sieve elements, likely occur within the angiosperm phloem translocation stream. In addition, our GO analysis identified a set of phloem proteins that are associated with the GO term “embryonic development ending in seed dormancy”; this finding raises the intriguing question as to whether the phloem may exert some level of control over seed development. The universal significance of the phloem proteome was highlighted by conservation of the phloem proteome in species as diverse as monocots (rice), eudicots (Arabidopsis and pumpkin), and trees (poplar). These results are discussed from the perspective of the role played by the phloem proteome as an integral component of the whole plant communication system.
DETERMINANTS OF INCREASING EU FUNDS ABSORPTION CAPACITY IN ROMANIA

The study found that, during the early post-accession years, Romania failed toattract European funds, at least to the same extent to the national contribution at thecommunity budget, registering a net expenditure as an EU member. The determinants ofincreasing EU funds absorption rate are related, among other, to the availability of internalresources for projects co-financing, adequate administrative capacity at central and locallevels, appropriate inter-institutional coordination and public-private partnerships, highskills and motivation of human resources working in operational programs ManagementAuthorities and intermediary bodies. Activating these determinants could be an opportunityfor sustaining economic growth of Romania and recovering the development gap, which issupposed to alleviate also the adverse effects of international financial crisis on EU countries.
Rural Wealth Creation and Emerging Energy Industries: Lease and Royalty Payments to Farm Households and Businesses

New technologies for accessing energy resources, changes in global energy markets, and government policies have encouraged growth in the natural gas and wind industries in the 2000s. The growth has offered new opportunities for wealth creation in many rural areas. At a local level, households who own land or mineral rights can benefit from energy development through lease and royalty payments. Using nationally-representative data on U.S. farms from 2011, we assess the consumption, investment, and wealth implications of the $2.3 billion in lease and royalty payments that energy companies paid to farm businesses. We estimate that the savings of current energy payments combined with the effect of payments on land values added $104,000 in wealth for the average recipient farm.
SPONTANEOUS FRACTURES OF LONG BONES ASSOCIATED WITH JOINT CONTRACTURES IN BEDRIDDEN ELDERLY INPATIENTS: CLINICAL FEATURES AND OUTCOME

To the editor: It was recently reported that influenza A was cultured in 62 double rooms at the Wisconsin Veterans Home over six seasons. The roommate was infected in 12 (19.4%). During 3,294 resident-seasons, influenza was cultured in 208 single rooms (6.3%). Those who lived in double rooms with a culture-positive roommate had a 3.07 relative risk (95% confidence interval 5 1.61–5.78) of acquiring influenza A. Identical methodology was used to analyze the 1992/ 1993 influenza season, in which influenza B was encountered. Case finding was based on intense prospective surveillance by research staff and has been previously described. This study compared the relative risk of influenza B in residents whose roommate had a positive culture with that of those who resided in single rooms. It is possible that a second infected roommate became infected outside of the room. To control for this possibility, the number of single rooms and the number of cases in single rooms each year were determined for comparison. Influenza B was introduced to 29 double rooms. A second culture-confirmed case was noted in 10 (34%). The second cases occurred 0 to 11 days (mean 3.9 days) after the initial case. Seven of these second cases had been vaccinated (70%). Overall, 85% of residents were vaccinated. During 489 resident-seasons in single rooms, influenza was cultured in 65 rooms (13%). Those who lived in a double room with a culture-positive roommate had a relative risk of 2.6 (95% CI 5 1.2–5.6) of acquiring influenza B compared to those who resided in single rooms As expected, the data confirm a greater relative risk of acquiring influenza B in roommates of residents with influenza B than in residents who did not have roommates. The excess risk associated with having a culture-positive roommate is troublesome because it has been demonstrated that culture-confirmed influenza B was associated with an excess 30-day mortality of 3.9% over baseline mortality (1.5%/30 days) in nursing home residents. A private room is optimal, but this is not possible in most nursing homes. Other interventions might include using any curtain or barrier that may exist between roommates. The roommates should be counseled to maintain hand hygiene and 3-foot separation with extra environmental hygiene provided by staff. The unaffected roommate should probably be offered chemoprophylaxis with a neuraminidase inhibitor, even if the entire unit is not placed on chemoprophylaxis.
Effectiveness of Independent Boards of Luxembourg Funds

To protect fund investors against conflicting interests with fund management companies, U.S. mutual funds have mandatory independent directors. That is not the case for funds in Europe, set-up in accordance with the UCITS Directive. Benefitting from the cross-border distribution possibilities of this E.U. legislation, Luxembourg has developed into the second largest fund domicile globally. Although it is not mandatory, many Luxembourg fund boards do have independent members on a voluntary basis. Using a sample of Luxembourg UCITS, this paper finds no consistent evidence that more independent boards have lower costs or achieve better investment performance. However, there are consistent and significant differences between fund management companies that are part of banks or insurers and independent fund management companies. Funds of the latter category have higher costs, but perform better after costs. "Keywords:""Investment funds; European Union; Governance; Board of directors; Fund costs; Fund performance. """
Currency Wars in Action: How Foreign Exchange Interventions Work in an Emerging Economy

This paper investigates the impact of central bank interventions on the level and volatility of exchange rates. We explore the case of Brazil, the 7th largest economy in the world in 2012, which since 1999 has adopted a floating exchange rate. As Central Bank decisions to intervene in the exchange market are not independent of market conditions, we estimated a Central Bank reaction function using a logit model including market fundamentals and macroeconomic surprises as explanatory variables. We employed the nonparametric Propensity Score Matching (PSM) method to find counterfactual pairs of intervention and non-intervention days. This indicated that the effectiveness of foreign exchange interventions depends on the period analyzed. For instance, from 1999 to 2003, with scarce and smaller interventions, the buying operations of U.S. Dollars depreciated the Brazilian Real whereas from 2004 to 2012, a period with larger and frequent interventions, only selling interventions were significant, and tended to increase the currency’s volatility. JEL Classification: C14, G14, G15, F31
Anti-gliadin Antibodies and Gluten Neuropathies: A Borderline Link.

The aim of this research was to estimate the prevalence of gluten sensitivity in neurologic diseases of unknown etiology and to determine their clinical and biological characteristics in a Moroccan population. Patients and Methods: A prospective case-control study was performed on 60 patients and 57 controls. Patients and controls underwent a screening for IgG and IgA anti-gliadin antibodies (ELISA anti-Gliadin, Orgentec, threshold: 12 IU/ml), and IgA anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies (ELISA IgA-tGTA, DRG, threshold: 10 IU/m). Results: The median age of patients was 43±13.91 years (ranges: 13-67), versus 39.4±9.12 (ranges: 19-58) for controls. Male to female sexe-ratio was 0.7 for patients vs 2.1 for controls. IgG Original Research Article Bouroumane et al.; BJMMR, 11(12): 1-10, 2016; Article no.BJMMR. 21929 2 and/or IgA anti-gliadin antibodies (AGA) were positive in 26.7% of cases (n=16) vs 15.8% (n=9) in controls (p=0.15), while IgA-tTGA was negative in all patients, but positive in 1 control. Positive AGA cases corresponded to peripheral neuropathy (n=4), ataxia (n=3), ischemic stroke (n=3), myopathy (n=2), and 1 case for each of the following conditions: multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, cerebral thrombophlebitis and myelopathy. Among the positive AGA cases, IgA isotype was more prevalent, but IgG AGA titers were higher and clinically more relevant. Conclusion: Gluten Sensitivity is a potential cause of unknown etiological neurologic diseases in young adults, particularly peripheral neuropathy, ataxia and ischemic stroke. AGA testing especially IgG isotype might be a suitable marker to screen for gluten neuropathies.
Praktik Intellectual Capital Disclosure Perusahaan yang Terdaftar di Bursa Efek Indonesia

The objective of this research is to examine the level of intellectual capital disclosure in annual report prepared by listed firms on IDX. This research examines the relationship between intellectual capital disclosure as a dependent variable and firmâ€™s characteristic (size, profitabilÂ¬ity, leverage, and length of listing on IDX and corporate governance provisions) as independent variables. This research used 80 annual reports 2007 of Indonesian listed firms. Sample was selected using proportional purposive sampling method. The result shows that the average level of intellectual capital disclosure is only 35%. Multiple regression analysis is used to test the hypothesis. Statistical analysis demonstrates that Firmâ€™s Size and Profitability are predictors to the level of intellectual capital disclosure. The implication is that firmâ€™s with high total asset and profitability should be more concern to report intellectual capital information because itâ€™s the one of crucial information that considered by investor, to reduce â€œinformation gapâ€ and to increase shareholder value. Keywords: intellectual capital disclosure, firmâ€™s characteristics
Banking Efficiency in China : Application of DEA and Tobit Analysis

In this paper, Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and super efficient DEA (SE-DEA) are employed to measure the efficiency of Chinese commercial banks. Incorporating Tobit regression analysis, the determinants of banking efficiency are investigated based on Panel data. Overall, the DEA results show relatively low average efficiency levels and state-owned banks are more inefficient than that of joint-equity banks. And Tobit regression indicates that bank size and ownership are the main influencing factors on banking efficiency, while little evidence suggests that the capital ratio can explain the bank efficiency levels.
The Manager's Guide to Competitive Marketing Strategies

Strategy and its Basic Principles Competitive Strategies in Action Framework for Competitive Analysis External Analysis Internal Analysis Marketing Research and Planning Developing a Marketing Intelligence System Marketing Research Techniques Strategic Marketing Planning Developing the Marketing Plan Specific Competitive Strategic Market Strategies Product/Service Strategies Pricing Strategies Promotion Strategies Distribution Strategies A Global Marketing Perspective and Strategy Teams Appendix: Checklist for Developing Competitive Strategies
Spectral reflectance characteristics of eucalypt foliage damaged by insects

Variables related to foliar damage, leaf morphology, spectral reflectance, chlorophyll fluorescence and chlorophyll content were measured from leaves sampled from mature eucalypts exhibiting symptoms of crown dieback associated with bell miner colonisation located in Olney State Forest, near Wyong, New South Wales. Insect-damaged mature leaves and healthy young expanding leaves of some species exhibited a conspicuous red coloration caused by the presence of anthocyanin pigmentation. For the mature leaves, the level of red coloration was significantly correlated with insect herbivory and leaf necrosis. Significant correlations were also found between the level of red pigmentation and the following four spectral features: maximum reflectance at the green peak (550 nm); the wavelength position and maximum slope of the red edge (690-740 nm) and the maximum reflectance at 750 nm in the near-infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. While it has been shown that anthocyanin pigments are synthesised in some eucalypt species in response to certain abiotic stresses causing photoinhibition and activation of photoprotective mechanisms, this work proposes that biotic agents such as leaf damaging insects and fungal pathogens may induce a similar response in eucalypt foliage resulting in increased levels of anthocyanins. The potential of anthocyanin levels to be related to leaf ontogeny for some eucalypt species was also illustrated in the reflectance spectra. Thus, it is essential that leaf age be considered. This work demonstrates that the identification of a number of key features of leaf spectra can provide a basis for the development of a robust forest health indicator that may be obtained from airborne or spaceborne hyperspectral sensors.