Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Deepening decentralisation through non-partisan district assembly system in Ghana

There is no consensus among scholars as to whether competitive partisan elections at Ghana’s district assembly level can help deepen the country’s decentralization system. It remains unclear whether a non-partisan district Assembly can work in Ghana. To address this issue, extensive qualitative interviews were conducted with local government officers in five municipalities. An in-depth analysis of the legal framework within which decentralisation reforms are implemented was also undertaken. The study found that a non-partisan district Assembly system seems more of an illusion than reality due to the enduring strength of informal ties, heavy politicization of the district assemblies and numerous challenges confronting the Assembly members. In addition, the constitution still empowers the president to appoint District Chief Executives and one third of the membership of the district assemblies. It is recommended that in order to deepen the country’s democracy, the legal framework need to be revised for competitive partisan elections to be pursued and Assembly members must be paid for their work. Keywords : Decentralisation, devolution, district assembly, informal ties, Ghana
Vision influence on whole-body human vibration comfort levels

The well being of people needs to be a priority in the modern world. In that respect, vibration cannot be one more cause of stress. Besides that, vibration comfort is very important, since high levels may cause health or even tasks' accomplishment problems. Several parameters may influence the levels of vibration a human being supports. Among them, one can mention the influence of gender, age, corporeal mass index (CMI), temperature, humor, anxiety, hearing, posture, vision, etc. The first three parameters mentioned were already investigated in previous studies undertaken by GRAVI (Group of Acoustics and Vibration) researchers. In this paper, the influence of vision is evaluated. The main objective with this series of tests performed is to try to quantify in a future the influence of each parameter in a global vibration comfort level. Conclusions are presented for the parameter investigated.
Measures of non-Markovianity: Divisibility versus backflow of information

We analyze two recently proposed measures of non-Markovianity: one based on the concept of divisibility of the dynamical map and the other one based on distinguishability of quantum states. We provide a toy model to show that these two measures need not agree. In addition, we discuss possible generalizations and intricate relations between these measures.
Literacy, speech and shame: the cultural politics of literacy and language in Brazil

This article examines the relationship between shame, literacy and social relations by analyzing shame narratives told to the author by youth and adult literacy students during a 24‐month ethnographic research project conducted in two Brazilian cities. Employing Bourdieu’s theoretical framework and literature from the anthropology of emotions, the article asks: What is accomplished through the micropolitics of shaming? What can it teach us about theories of literacy, language and power more broadly? The article shows how speech shaming in Brazil contributed to the cultural production of inequality by individualizing, psychologizing and embodying responsibility or blame for illiteracy. It argues that sociocultural theories of literacy, language and power need to account for the influence of emotions in communicative interactions.
Effects of Bullying and Victimization on Friendship Selection, Reciprocation, and Maintenance in Elementary School Children

This study examined the effects of elementary school children’s bullying and victimization experiences on their friendships over time. The majority of children experience acts of aggression or bullying before the end of elementary school, and bullying and peer victimization is associated with academic, social, behavioral, and psychological difficulties. This study used social networks analysis (R SIENA 4.0) to examine whether peer reports of forms of bullying and victimization (i.e., overt and relational) affect the likelihood of friendship selection, reciprocation, and maintenance in 2-4 grade children. Children (N = 143) from the Midwestern region of the United States completed a peer nomination inventory that included questions pertaining to their friendships and classmates’ bullying behaviors and peer victimization experiences. Analyses compared unique models containing novel effects with traditionally tested selection-only models. Results from the unique effects models showed that friendship maintenance was less likely for children who engaged in overt bullying or experienced relational bullying. Selection-only models were not sufficient in detecting the maintenance effect, and instead showed only a decreased likelihood to receive friendship nomination for children who engage in overt bullying or experience relational victimization. Results point to friendship maintenance as a potentially important area for focused intervention in bullying and victimization.
The Effect of Fruit Extracts of Black Pepper on the Fertility Potential of Male Albino Mice

This study aimed to determine the effects of black pepper fruit extract on serum testosterone status and fertility potential in male subjects. Twenty seven healthy male mice, four months old, weighing between 25-30 g, were used as experimental animals and grouped into three. The first group was given pellets that do not contain black pepper extract as the control. The second and third groups, respectively were treated with pellets containing water extract and ethanolic extract. Pellets given ad libitum every day for 90 days. Serum testosterone measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA) techniques. Left testis of mice removed, weighed and dissected. Cauda epididymis was separated from testis and squeezed to determine epididymal sperm concentration, motility, and morphology. To determine the diameter of the seminiferous tubules, the number of spermatocytes and spermatids, testes were fixed in Bouin solution, processed and cut at a thickness of 5 um, stained with hematoxylin and eosin and examined under a light microscope at 400x magnification. When compared with control group, male mice treated with fruit extract of black pepper showed significant increase in the serum testosterone level, epididymal sperm concentration, spermatocyte counts, spermatid counts, and the weight of epididymis tubules. As the conclusion, fruit extract of black pepper has a positive effect on androgenic hormone level and fertility potential in male mice.
Attunement as the Core of Therapist-Expressed Empathy

The communication of empathic understanding was examined in relation to three qualities of therapist interventions (attunement, tentativeness, and meaning exploration) and tested for its relationship to client in-session processing. High and low client-process segments, from sessions of 20 mild-moderately depressed clients treated in brief experiential therapy, were rated for therapist empathy and manner of responding. Client responses were evaluated for depth of experiencing and manner of perceptual processing. Empathy was significantly greater in high than in low client-process segments. Analyses revealed that together the three qualities of therapist interventions predicted level of empathy, but attunement emerged as the sole significant individual predictor.
Rational Expectations Models with Higher-Order Beliefs

This paper develops a general method of solving rational expectations models with higher order beliefs. Higher order beliefs are crucial in an environment with dispersed information and strategic complementarity, and the equilibrium policy depends on infinite higher order beliefs. It is generally believed that solving this type of equilibrium policy requires an infinite number of state variables (Townsend, 1983). This paper proves that the equilibrium policy rule can always be represented by a finite number of state variables if the signals observed by agents follow an ARMA process, in which case we obtain a general solution formula. We also prove that when the signals contain endogenous variables, a finite-state-variable representation of the equilibrium may not exist. For this case, we develop a tractable algorithm that can approximate the solution arbitrarily well. The key innovation in our method is to use the factorization identity and Wiener filter to solve signal extraction problems conditional on infinite observables. This method can be used in a wide range of applications. We demonstrate its strong practicability by solving several classical models featuring higher order beliefs, and also a full-blown business cycle model that is driven by confidence shocks.
Comparison of the Effects of Gender Variable on Attitudes Towards the Teaching Profession by Random and Fixed Effects Model: Meta-Analysis

Attitude is a dual-poled essence: possessing positive thoughts on a course or subject, liking a course or exhibiting positive affective nature in relation with it, or having negative thoughts on a course or subject, disliking it or exhibiting negative affective features in relation with it (Bloom, 1979). Attitudes are different from opinions, values and beliefs. Attitudes and opinions resemble each other, but they differ from attitudes in terms of degree of generalizability and the measuring technique. Opinions are personal reactions to specific occurrences and conditions. But attitudes should be taken in a more general sense, as they influence people's reactions against sets of events and groups of people, in a more broad sense. The teaching profession has been mentioned among the favorite occupations, and researchers wanted to know if attitudes have anything to do with this tendency. It has been a subject for many researches that attitudes towards teaching profession differ by gender (Cook & Medley, 1954; Capri & Celikkaleli, 2008; Cetin, 2003; Dogan & Coban, 2009). The aim of this research is to determine the impact of gender variable on the teaching profession via meta-analysis method. Effect models specified for meta-analysis have been compared. This research covers the results of meta-analysis combining 27 researches determined useful by master's theses and doctorate dissertations which take gender as the variable. Effect size of the gender in relation with the attitude towards the teaching profession is found to be 0.301 for the fixed effect model, and 0.304 for the random effect model. When a frequency table for directions of effect sizes is created, 20 researches (74%) showed a positive effect size. Together with this result, 74% of the researches explain that females have more positive attitudes over males. Absence of any 0 effect size in this research explain that there has been no research indicating that attitudes towards the teaching profession do not differ between males and females. It has been concluded that medium differences exist according to Cohen's classification, and small differences exist according to Thalheimer's classification. It has been inferred from these findings that gender is an important variable in terms of attitudes towards the teaching profession, and that the medium effect it possesses over attitude should be examined.
The Accelerating Integration of Banks and Markets and its Implications for Regulation

The banking landscape is in flux. Financial institutions and markets have become deeply intertwined and competitive pressures have intensified. Stability issues have become paramount, aptly illustrated by the credit crisis of 2007-2009. In this paper we review the existing literature to analyze the various implications of these developments and what they portend for bank regulation. We begin by discussing the economics of banking to better understand the fundamental forces driving the financial services industry. We discuss how banks choose between relationship and transaction lending, the role of debt versus equity instruments, and the economic functions of banks. We conclude that banks and markets have become increasingly integrated and co-dependent, and that this is at the root of the 2007-2009 credit crisis. In this context, we also focus on credit rating agencies and new intermediaries like private equity firms, which one could interpret as intermediation driven from the equity side, and examine their impact on financial fragility. We address the regulatory challenge coming from financial fragility, and focus on this in the context of the “mushrooming” of the financial sector with greater diversity in institutions and an increasingly blurred distinction between intermediaries and financial markets.
Comparative Advantage, Industry Specialization, and the Role of Investment Banks in M&As

This paper examines the value added role of industry specialist advisors in M&A transactions using the Additive Revealed Comparative Advantage (ARCA) index to proxy advisors’ relative level of industry specialization prior to deal announcement. After controlling for endogeneity, we find that industry specialist advisors are able to generate higher returns for their acquirer clients, with the value creation resulting primarily from the selection of more synergistic targets and negotiating to pay a lower takeover premium. Additionally, while our results suggest specialist advisors are less likely to complete a deal, they are able to complete tender offers in less time. The findings are consistent with the traditional perception of the superiority of industry specialists and show that specialization is beneficial to the M&A advisory market. We find that specialist advisor charge lower fees, suggesting that in addition to superior advice, they are able to pass some cost efficiencies onto their bidder clients.
Consensus of the Distributed Varying Scale Wireless Sensor Networks

Consensus problems are investigated for a type of the distributed varying scale wireless sensor network (VSWSN), where the scale of the network is increasing or decreasing due to the new nodes joining in or the invalid nodes quitting from WSN, respectively. In order to demonstrate the communicating behaviors more realistic, we offer the node attached component sequence for each valid node under the general sleep algorithm. Based on the component sequences, several concepts, such as the local limited intersection connection (LLI connection) and the global limited intersection connection (GLI connection), are provided to display the connectivity of the varying topology. Under certain conditions, the designed protocol ensures that all sensors arrive at the component consensus or the global consensus if the communicating graph is LLI connected or GLI connected, respectively. By the basic theoretical analysis, several consensus criterions are obtained. In the meanwhile, the consensus regions are investigated. The numerical example shows the reliability of the proposed results.
The Impact of Audit Committee and External Auditor Characteristics on Financial Reporting Quality among Malaysian Firms

The quality of a financial reporting system is highly dependent upon the mechanism of corporate governance, such as effectiveness of the audit committee, external audit, financial expertise and board structure. This study examines the relationship between audit committee characteristics and external auditors’ characteristics (independent variables) and financial reporting quality (dependent variable). The study used a sample of firms from Bursa Malaysia, explicitly the top 100 performing firms according to the Bursa Malaysia stock exchange. The analysis of annual reports proves that audit committee (independence, expertise, and diligence) has the prediction capability to financial reporting quality. However, results indicate that industry leadership has significant impact on financial reporting quality, but on the other hand, large audit firms do not have any significant effect on financial reporting quality. This study adds to the knowledge of audit committee practices and procedures in accounting literature regarding the Malaysian context. The results of this study cannot be generalized because the study used the top 100 performing firms from Malaysia irrespective of particular industries. The results of this study might be changed if future researches use different sets of sample firms. Keywords: Audit committee, external auditor, financial reporting quality, Discretionary Accruals
Determination of the theoretical pressure distribution for twenty airfoils

This report gives the theoretical distribution of pressure at lift coefficients of 0, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 for 20 airfoils, calculated on the basis of a rigorous potential theory of arbitrary airfoils. It also provides tables from which the characteristics of the airfoils for any angle of attack in 2-dimensional potential flow are readily calculable. The theoretical values of the angles of zero lift, the lift and moment coefficients, and the ideal angles of attack are listed and some comparisons with experiment are indicated. The results presented may be of value in predicting structural loads and also in a correlation of theoretical pressure gradients with profile resistance.
Evaluation of tree height and number of trees using LiDAR data

The aim of this study is to detect and to analyse individual trees and their heightin young and mature coniferous forest stands using local maxima method based on LiDAR (Light Detecting and Ranging) data, which are currently being obtained for the territory of Latvia. Empirical data about the tree height and number of trees for this study are obtained from the National forest inventory (NFI) sample plots and additional surveying is not conducted. LiDAR data are obtained from the Latvian Geospatial Information Agency. LiDAR surveying is done separately from NFI measurements. Sample plots are selected so that LiDAR data are obtained within 1 calendar year leeway from field measurements forNFI surveying of sample plots. Step by step instructions on the applied method are included in this paper. Average tree height and number of trees are compared between the remotely obtained and in field measurements based data sets. The best results are achieved in determination of the average tree height in mature forest stands. Remote sensing based data on the height and numberof trees in young forests is less accurate because of insufficient density of LiDAR point cloud and possible spatial offset of study plots in the NFI database.In order to obtain results with higher accuracy, LiDAR data with higher point density are needed.
Prevalence of asymptomatic malaria and anaemia among elderly population in Osun state Southwestern, Nigeria

Background: Malaria has remained a global burden for many centuries. It remains a major public health disease particularly in the tropic despite several interventional efforts targeted at its elimination. Malaria if not treated early enough could result in patients becoming anaemic. In Nigeria, elderly (60 years and above) represent a vulnerable group of individuals, they enjoy very little attention in terms of specific health related interventions and facilities. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and proportion of asymptomatic malaria infections and anaemia among the geriatric population in Osun state, Southwestern Nigeria.Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 396 elderly with average age of 69.14±7.27 years. Blood samples were collected for the preparation of Giemsa stained blood films for the detection and quantification of malaria parasites microscopically. Packed cell volume (PCV) was assessed using hematocrit.Results: Malaria parasites were present in the peripheral blood of 16.2% of the population and only 9.3% of the elderly were found to be anaemic. The ‘Very old’ age group of >85 years years had highest prevalence of malaria (33.3%) but this was not statistically significant (p=0.17). Male respondents (24.4%) were more infected than females (13.7%) and this was found statistically significant (p=0.015). Having malaria parasite and living in the rural areas were significantly associated with being anaemic, p<0.05 in each case.Conclusions: Considerable proportion of asymptomatic elderly individuals with parasitaemia were found anaemic. This group also represents a silent reservoir for malaria transmission in the country, if not addressed.
Clothing, age and the body: a critical review

Clothes are central to the ways older bodies are experienced, presented and understood within culture, so that dress forms a significant, though neglected, element in the constitution and experience of old age. Drawing on a range of secondary literature, this article traces how clothing intersects with three key debates in social gerontology, concerning the body, identity and agency. It examines the part played by clothing in the expression of social difference, and explores the role of age-ordering in determining the dress choices of older people, and its enforcement through moral discourses that discipline their bodies. Dress is, however, also an arena for the expression of identity and exercise of agency, and the article discusses how far older people are able to use clothing to resist or redefine the dominant meanings of age. Lastly the paper addresses questions of the changing cultural location of older people, and the role of consumer culture in the production of Third Age identities.
THE PLACENTAL RENIN ANGIOTENSIN SYSTEM

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and preeclampsia are major and common complications of human pregnancy. Not only do they represent life threatening events for mothers and babies but they also enhance the susceptibility of the baby to diseases like hypertension, coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus in adult life. One of the major causes of IUGR and preeclampsia is impaired placentation. Development of the placenta requires a complex interplay between proliferation of trophoblast cells and their invasion of the maternal decidua and maternal spiral arterioles, which they plug so that the early placenta (<12 weeks gestation) normally develops in a hypoxic milieu. The placenta contains its own renin-angiotensin system (RAS). Angiotensin II, the end-product of the renin-renin substrate reaction, acting through its type 1 receptor stimulates placental angiogenesis and trophoblast invasion and migration and is involved in placental development. This chapter outlines the expression and localisation of the placental RAS, the role of the placental RAS in placental development and function throughout pregnancy and how disturbances in the placental renin angiotensin system likely contribute to the pathogenesis of PreE and IUGR. Kirsty.Pringle@newcastle.edu. au
Solid State Fermentation of Overheated Soybean Meal (Waste) For Production of Protease Using Aspergillus Oryzae

Biochemical conversion of agro-industrial wastes is an effective way of value addition. During the extraction of oil from soybean seed, due to supply of excessive heat or being retained for more time in desolventizer, the meal quality is reduced due to overheating and hence rejected for animal feed. The solid state fermentation using Aspergillus oryzae (NCIM No.649) to recover protease shows excellent potential of the overheated soybean meal (waste) as source. During the study the effect of varying particle size, pH, moisture content, incubation time and Protease activity has been measured.