Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Female Bank Executives: Impact on Performance and Risk Taking Substitutes?

This paper studies the impact of female executives on the performance and risk taking of US banks. With a sample of US banks from 2002 to 2010, we find that the inclusion of female executives increases bank performance after addressing endogeneity and reverse causality issues. We also provide evidence that female executives decrease the risk taking of banks. These results suggest that there is added value to having female executives on the executive team. We also find that a more balanced gender ratio results in a greater impact on bank performance and risk taking. This supports the argument to increase gender diversity in executive level positions for females.
Evaluation of the ECOSSE model for simulating soil carbon under short rotation forestry energy crops in Britain

Understanding and predicting the effects of land‐use change to short rotation forestry (SRF) on soil carbon (C) is an important requirement for fully assessing the C mitigation potential of SRF as a bioenergy crop. There is little current knowledge of SRF in the UK and in particular a lack of consistent measured data sets on the direct impacts of land use change on soil C stocks. The ECOSSE model was developed to simulate soil C dynamics and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in mineral and organic soils. The ECOSSE model has already been applied spatially to simulate land‐use change impacts on soil C and GHG emissions. However, it has not been extensively evaluated under SRF. Eleven sites comprising 29 transitions in Britain, representing land‐use change from nonwoodland land uses to SRF, were selected to evaluate the performance of ECOSSE in predicting soil C and soil C change in SRF plantations. The modelled C under SRF showed a strong correlation with the soil C measurements at both 0–30 cm (R = 0.93) and 0–100 cm soil depth (R = 0.82). As for the SRF plots, the soil C at the reference sites have been accurately simulated by the model. The extremely high correlation for the reference fields (R ≥ 0.99) shows a good performance of the model spin‐up. The statistical analysis of the model performance to simulate soil C and soil C changes after land‐use change to SRF highlighted the absence of significant error between modelled and measured values as well as the absence of significant bias in the model. Overall, this evaluation reinforces previous studies on the ability of ECOSSE to simulate soil C and emphasize its accuracy to simulate soil C under SRF plantations.
Evaluation of the quality of autochthonous plum cultivars in the area of Bosanski Petrovac.

History of our autochthonous fruit cultivars is very long. Balkan Peninsula is one of the most important and richest centers of genetic diversity of fruit species in Europe. In the process of domestication many fruit species came into contact with their wild relatives, intersecting different genetic material and adjusting to the given environmental conditions. In this way, there was enrichment of biodiversity with many landraces that now constitute our unique biological heritage. Autochthonous fruit varieties were suppressed by industrial and commercial varieties. The objective of this study was to investigate main pomological characteristics as well as fruit quality of the selected autochthonous plum cultivars from the region of Bosanski Petrovac. The fruits of selected cultivars could be processed, particularly into plum brandy, or they could be used fresh or dried. Also, can be used both in breeding programmes and as rootstocks as well as in further disease related systematic studies under field and laboratory conditions. In our region conservation of indigenous varieties is a prerequisite for the preservation of biodiversity, and the recognizable quality of our national products that have preserved specificity of our natural and cultural heritage. Also the potential for branding our traditional food products could represent good strategy for future rural development.
Effects of temperature on aquatic organism sensitivity to selected chemicals

This research evaluates the effect of temperature on the sensitivity of food web organisms to selected chemicals. Test organisms included planktonic algae, zooplankton, microbenthos, macrobenthos, and fishes. The chemicals used were copper, zinc, chromate, chlorine, cyanide, and phenol. The sensitivity of the test organisms to these chemicals was studied over a temperature range of 5 to 35C. The specific temperatures studied varied with each species. Results indicate considerable variation in the sensitivity of each species, depending on the chemical and the test temperature. Generally, the algal responses to the temperature and chemicals varied depending on the thermal sensitivity of the algal species in question. The invertebrates usually exhibited the classic response of increased sensitivity to chemicals at higher temperatures.
Effects of the US Stock Market Return and Volatility on the VKOSPI

Abstract The KOSPI (Korea Composite Stock Price Index) 200 options are one of the most actively traded derivatives in the world. This paper empirically examines (a) the statistical properties of the Korea’s representative implied volatility index (VKOSPI) derived from the KOSPI 200 options and (b) the macroeconomic and financial variables that can predict the implied volatility process of the index, using augmented heterogeneous autoregressive (HAR) models with exogenous covariates. The results suggest that the elaborate HAR framework is proficient at describing the dynamics of the VKOSPI and that some domestic macroeconomic variables explain the VKOSPI. More importantly, we find that the stock market return and implied volatility index of the US market (i.e., the S&P 500 spot return and the VIX from the S&P 500 options) play a key role in predicting the level of the VKOSPI and explaining its dynamics, and their explanatory power dominates that of domestic macro-finance variables. Further, while the domestic stock market return does not predict the VKOSPI, the US stock market return does so rather well. When two global factors, both the US stock market return and the US implied volatility index, are incorporated into the HAR framework, the model exhibits the best performance in terms of both in-sample fitting and out-of-sample forecasting ability.
Assessment Of Timing Of First Antenatal Care Booking And Associated Factors Among Pregnant Women Who Attend Antenatal Care At Health Facilities In Dilla Town, Gedeo Zone, Southern Nations, Nationalities, And Peoples Region, Ethiopia, 2014

Introduction: Yet in developing regions overall, only half of all pregnant women receive the minimum recommended number of antenatal visits four and lately timing of ANC booking. Objective: The main objective of this study was assessing timing of first ANC booking and associated factors among pregnant women in Dilla town, SNNPR, 2014. Methods: Facility based Cross-Sectional study design was conducted to assess the timing of first ANC booking and associated factors. Study subjects were selected using systematic random sampling. Data were entered onto a computer using Epi-info 3.5. 1 statistical program then exported to SPSS version 20 for analysis. Logistic regression model was used to predict timing of first ANC booking and associated factors. Significance of association was declared if p value is < 0.05 and also OR was calculated to determine strength of association. Result: The study finding revealed that 35.4% respondents were booked first Antenatal care timely. The mean gestational age of timing of first ANC booking was 4 + 1.4 months. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that respondents age(OR=0.2, 95% CI, 0.03-0.5, P=0.005), Education (OR=0.4, 95% CI, 0.2-0.9, P=0.04), Parity(OR=1.8, 95% CI, 1.1-3, P=0.01), knowledge on importance timely booking (OR=2, 95% CI, 1.3-3.3, P=0.003), those informed before to book ANC(OR=3, 95%CI, 1.1-9, P=0.03) and past ANC experience (OR=1.7, 95%CI, 1.1-2.8, P=0.022) were found as significant factors that influence timing of first Antenatal care booking. Conclusion and Recommendation: The findings of this study showed that 35.4% were booked timely. Thus, women’s educational status, knowledge of women on importance of timely booking, quality of ANC have to be considered when antenatal care programs are planned, implemented and evaluated to ensure timely booking of first ANC.
THE PREVALENCE OF PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS AMONG HIV POSITIVE ATTENDING HIV CLINICS IN EASTERN NEPAL

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. More than 2 billion people are infected with TB bacilli worldwide. It is a leading public health problem particularly in the developing countries. The HIV epidemic has increased the global tuberculosis burden. TB is the commonest opportunistic infection and leading cause of mortality of People living with HIV (PLHA). Tuberculosis is a major public health problem in Nepal. The objective of the study is to determine prevalence of Pulmonary Tuberculosis among HIV positives attending HIV clinics in Eastern Nepal, and to assess the socio-demographic factors associated with TB and HIV/AIDS. Methodology: Cross-sectional prospective study was carried out among HIV positive attending different VCT and HIV clinics from Sunsari Morang and Jhapa district of Eastern Nepal. Face to face interview was performed and sputum sample were collected using convenience sampling technique. Data was collected from PLHA on related information on Socio-demographic profi le, risk taking behavior with the help of pretested semi-structured questionnaire. Univariate and bivariate analysis were performed using SPSS 15.0. Chi-squire test was performed to establish statistical signifi cance between dependent and independent variables. Results: Out of total 242 PLHA, 75.2% were males and 24.8% females; around half of them (48.8%) were in the age group of (30-39) yrs, 23% in (25-29) yrs, and 15.7% in (20-24) years. Prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis was found to be 27.3% (n=66). PTB was high among IDU’s (48.6%), followed by clients of CSWs (21%), housewife (13.6%), highway truck drivers (10.6%) and CSWs (6%). Conclusion: Prevalence of PTB is very high among PLHA attending VCT & HIV clinics of Eastern Nepal. This study reveals that PTB is signifi cantly associated with increasing age, risk taking behavior and place of residence. There is urgent need of active case fi nding as well as periodic screening among people living with HIV/AIDS of this region to address HIV-associated TB morbidity and mortality.
Characteristics of Young Children Close to the Onset of Stuttering

Five factors (gender, handedness, some aspects of general health, family history, and intelligence) that could assist speech–language pathologists in identification of children who stutter (CWS) in 42 CWS and 34 fluent control children (children who do not stutter [CWNS]) were investigated. The data reported here were obtained from assessments made within 1 year of the reported onset of stuttering. The results from the initial assessments showed significant differences between CWS and CWNS on the five factors considered. Although there were some differences on intelligence scores, it is emphasized that the scores of all CWS were within normal limits, and in fact, both groups scored higher than the population average. These factors are important for the initial assessment of stuttering and may be useful for establishing what intervention is appropriate.
Social Interaction in Regional Labour Markets

Social interaction, i.e. the interdependence of agents' behaviour via non-market activities, has recently become the focus of economic analysis. Social interaction has been used to explain various labour market outcomes. An important result arising from the literature is the proposition that labour markets are characterised by multiple equilibria. Thus, social interaction is used as an explanation for regional unemployment disparities. Building on this, we construct a Pissarides (2000) type search model with social interaction. Despite social interaction, this type of model is characterised by only one stable equilibrium. Using a unique data set on un-/employment spell data for Germany we analyse whether multiple equilibria in regional labour markets exist. After controlling for structural differences we are able to show that the data supports the assumption of a unique equilibrium. As such, social interaction cannot explain regional unemployment disparities.
Trophic linkage among heterotrophic nanoflagellates, ciliates and metazoan zooplankton in a hypereutrophic pond

We examined seasonal abundance, production and loss to predation of heterotrophic nanoflagellates (HNF) and ciliates in order to clarify food linkages among HNF, ciliates and metazoan zooplankton in a hypereutrophic pond. Production and loss rates of the protists were estimated using size fractionation (< 5 µm, < 30 µm and total) experiments. There were coupled oscillations in seasonal abundance between HNF and ciliates, whereas we found none between the protists and metazoan zooplankton. Seasonal trends in production of HNF (-12.4 to 86.4 ng C ml -1 d -1 ) and predation rates on them by ciliates (-25.6 to 52.2 ng C ml -1 d -1 ) were similar. There were significant correlations (p < 0.05) between HNF production and predation on HNF by ciliates. These results indicate that ciliates are major consumers of HNF, but we have insufficient evidence of predation on HNF by metazoan predators to do more than suggest that food linkage between HNF and metazoan predators is not substantial. The dominant ciliate species were Cinetochilum margaritaceum, Urotricha spp. , Halteria grandinella and Cyclidium glaucoma. Growth rates of Urotricha and Cyclidium populations were enhanced by removal of metazoan predators when the ciliates were dominant. We detected substan- tial predation pressure on Urotricha spp. during its period of dominance and found a significant cor- relation (p < 0.02) between production and predation of C. glaucoma. Thus, we suggest that there are active food linkages between these 2 ciliates and metazoan predators. For C. margaritaceum and H. grandinella, we did not have enough evidence to suggest predation by metazoan predators. Thus, we showed over a 1 yr period that HNF production was almost balanced by loss to predation by ciliates, and that loss processes other than predation might be important for some ciliate taxa.
Analysis of high-molecular-weight glutenin subunits in five amphidiploids and their parental diploid species Aegilops umbellulata and Aegilops uniaristata

Amphidiploids serve as a bridge for transferring genes from wild species into wheat. In this study, five amphidiploids with AABBUU and AABBNN genomes were produced by spontaneous chromosome doubling of unreduced triploid F1 gametes from crosses between diploid Aegilops (A. umbellulata accessions CIae 29 and PI 226500, and A. uniaristata accession PI 554419) and tetraploid Triticum turgidum (ssp. durum cultivar Langdon and ssp. dicoccum accessions PI 94 668 and PI 349045) species. The composition of high-molecular-weight glutenin subunits (HMW-GS) in these amphidiploids and in their parental A. umbellulata and A. uniaristata species was analysed. As expected, the amphidiploids from T. turgidum ssp. dicoccum accession PI 944668 or PI 349045 and A. umbellulata accession CIae 29 or PI 226500 and A. uniaristata accession PI 554419 showed the same HMW-GS patterns as those of their Aegilops parents, because HMW-GS genes were all silenced in the T. turgidum ssp. dicoccum parents. The amphidiploids from CIae 29 and Langdon inherited all of the HMW-GS genes from their parents except for the Uy type. Using 10 and 15% sodium dodecyl sulphate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS–PAGE) and 10% urea/SDS–PAGE, 11 Ux and ten Uy types in 16 combinations were observed in 48 A. umbellulata accessions, and two Nx and two Ny types in two combinations were detected in six A. uniaristata accessions. These novel HMW-GS variants may provide new genetic resources for improving the quality of wheat.
Determination of spatially varying Van der Burgh's coefficient from estuarine parameter to describe salt transport in an estuary

Abstract. The estuarine parameter v is widely accepted as describing the relative contribution of the tide-driven and density-driven mixing mechanism of salt transport in estuaries. Van der Burgh's coefficient K is another parameter that also determines the relative strength of two mechanisms. However, a single value of K, which has been considered in previous studies, can not represent the spatial variation of these mechanisms in an estuary. In this study, the spatially varying K has been determined from the v value calculated using intensively observed longitudinal salinity transects of the Sumjin River Estuary with exponential shape. The spatially varying K describes the spatial variation of these mechanisms reasonably well and is independent of the river discharge downstream of the estuary where the strong tides cause well mixed conditions. However, K values increase upstream and are found to depend on the freshwater discharge, with suppressing vertical mixing. The K value has been scaled on the basis of the v value and ranges between 0 and 1. If K 0.8, the salt transport is almost entirely by density-driven circulation in the upper most regimes. In addition, another K-based dispersion equation has been solved by using this spatially varying K. The spatially varying K demonstrates density-driven circulation more prominently at the location of strong salinity gradient compared with a single K value.
Sequence analysis of the Leishmania mexicana amastigote specific gene a600

Various species of the genus Leishmania infect millions of people, causing a wide spectrum of diseases collectively termed as leishmaniases, with a wide distribution in tropical and sub-tropical areas. The parasite alternates between the promastigote form predominately in the insect vector and the intracellular amastigote form in the vertebrate host, including human. Accumulating evidences suggest that developmental stagespecific genes are responsible for morphological, physiological and biochemical differences between the two life stages. Particularly, the amastigote-specific genes are of great importance in term of the host-parasite relationship. The a600 gene, previously identified in our lab, is amastigote-specific in Leishmania mexicana. In the present study, the gene was sequenced using Nested Deletion. Sequence analysis indicated that the a600 gene encodes a novel 93-amino acid polypeptide. Predictions based on the amino acid sequence indicated that the putative polypeptide is likely a membrane protein as a transmembrane helix region is predicted. However, the putative polypeptide was neither detected in cell lysate nor in the medium of the promastigotes transfected with the Leishmania expression vector pLexSat containing coding region of a600 attached with the Flag sequence. Nevertheless Northern Blot showed the presence of the R N A transcribed from the insert, suggesting the involvement of post-translational regulation. Sequence variation was also observed at the 3'-untranslated region of the a600 gene, suggesting the a600 a multiple copy gene family. The approaches for further experiment were discussed.
Biochemical and Radiological Changes in Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Diseases Compare with Obesity

Background: NAFLD is considered the most common cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. In the general US population, the prevalence of NAFLD is estimated to be approximately 30%, but much higher estimates are reported in selected high-risk populations, such as Hispanics, obese persons, and patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) or with metabolic syndrome. The purpose of this study to correlate the biochemical & radiological changes in non alcoholic fatty liver disease patients compare with obese patients. Material & Methods: 41 cases out of which 25 were male and 16 females recruit for this study. In this study biochemical and radiological parameters were determined. Statistical Analysis: Comparison of radiological grade of fatty liver and biochemical parameters we used Pearson Chi square test. Results: All the biochemical parameters were increased. When the radiological grade was compared with the biochemical findings (FBS, TG and SGPT) individually through Pearson’s formula the p value (>0.05) thus found were not statistically significant for any of the biochemical tests. Conclusion: In this study we concluded that Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), radiological and biochemical findings give a good correlation and are equally helpful in assessing the severity of NAFLDS. Keyword: NAFLD, obesity, body mass index, CHD, Diabetes Mellitus. Introduction Non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease since its prevalence is estimated to be 20-30% in general population of Western countries (1) . Studies introduced that NAFLD may progress to cirrhosis, liver failure, and hepatocellular carcinoma (2) . It has been shown that NAFLD is strongly associated to the features of metabolic syndrome. Insulin resistance is a key pathogenic factor in both NAFLD and metabolic syndrome. Available data from clinical, experimental and epidemiological studies indicate that NAFLD may be the hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome (3) . The prevalence rate of NAFLD increases with body mass index (BMI) (4) . An analysis of liver histology obtained from liver www.jmscr. igmpublication.org Impact Factor 5.84 Index Copernicus Value: 83.27 ISSN (e)-2347-176x ISSN (p) 2455-0450 DOI: https://dx.doi. org/10.18535/jmscr/v5i5.177
Tax Revenue and Government Expenditure in Sri Lanka: An Econometric AEG Testing Approach

In the global economic administration, tax revenue has been identified as the engine of the government expenditure, but the relationship of them was not investigated econometrically, this situation formulated a research gap for tasting the relationship of them. The aim of this study was to examine the Cointegration relationship among the tax revenue and the government expenditure in Sri Lanka. This study considered two time series variables such as the tax revenue and the government expenditure. The tax revenue was considered as the independent variable and the government expenditure was considered as the dependent variable. The sample period of this study was from 1950 to 2013.The Cointegration technique was used to check the long run relationship and the Error Correction Mechanism was employed to investigate the short run behavior of the tax revenue on the government expenditure. According to the empirical results, the R- squared of the estimated model was 0.99. In the meantime, the Durbin Watson statistics was 0.828. However, this model did not suffer from the spurious problem because the residual of this model was stationary. The tax revenue has sustained positive relationship with government expenditure. And also, the partial coefficients of tax revenue and its probability values in the estimated model were 0.695 (0.000) in short run and 1.031 (0.000) in long run periods. Therefore, the tax revenue and government expenditure had cointegrated at level form I(0) and maintained the long and short run relationship between them.