Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Measuring the Impact of Financial Sector Development on Nigeria's Economic Growth

The low industrial capacity utilization and poor technological level of developing countries can be improved upon by a sound financial sector. This study investigates financial sector development and economic growth nexus in Nigeria. The study employed the Johansen cointegration and Granger causality, techniques as well as the vector error correction model (VECM) technique to measure the impact of financial sector development on Nigeria’s economic growth. The Empirical result of the Johansen cointgration test revealed the presence of long run equilibrium relationship between GDP and financial sector development variables SMC, BSC, DCU and GNS. The Granger causality test result showed that GDP causes financial sector development variables. Basically, growth leads and finance follows. The VECM revealed a speed of adjustment of 34 per cent, indicating that the previous year disequilibrium from long run equilibrium was corrected by 34 per cent. This implies that there is a relatively slow feedback effect from the long run relationship to the short run dynamics of the model. The implication of this study is that ignoring the need to reengineer financial sector development policies that will affect economic growth will only relegated development process.
Land Suitability Evaluation for Plantation Forest Development Based on Multi-criteria Approach

Information of land suitability is needed to prioritize suitable forest plantation for land use development. This is important to increase land productivity and eficiency on forest management decision making process. This research aimed to: (1) to evaluate land suitability based on pedo-agroclimate characteristics for plantation forest development; (2) to identify the farming-based socio-cultural and economic characteristics; (3) to determine the priority level of trees that will be cultivated through plantation forest development. This research was conducted from January to May 2015 in four districts namely: Kapontori, Lasalimu, South Lasalimu, and Siotapina (KALALASSI region). These are located in Buton Island, Southeast Sulawesi Province, Indonesia. The research method used was a spatial research method using GIS [1];[3]. The research has three main activities: data collection, evaluation, and mapping. Data collection included data on land biophysics, climate, and forest management development using survey method. Land evaluation was carried out on FAO method [14] and [15]. The major of trees were determined using LQ method [16] and the priority level of trees determine using MCDM method through the application of AHP [3];[4]. The last but not the least, spatial data development was used to map recommended forest land uses. The results showed that: (1) there were three major of trees in the research area, namely: Teak, Mahogany and Silk Tree; (2) based on land suitability classification, there are two classes found in the KALALASSI region, namely: moderately suitable (S2) which were located 3,836.05 ha for Teak and Mahagony, and Marginally Suitable (S3), which are located 3,343.45 ha for Teak, 3,467.20 ha for Mahagony, and 10,106.22 ha for Silk Tree; (3) the sequence of trees priority in KALALASSI region is Teak, Silk Tree, and Mahogany, then based on these recommendation, forest land uses and management plan were developed.
Assessment of Heavy Metals in Some Marine Fish Species Relevant to their Concentration in Water and Sediment from Coastal Waters of Ondo State, Nigeria

Due to oil exploration activities and urbanization as well as continuous industrial and agricultural growth in Ondo State, Nigeria. The coastal water has been heavily impacted by a number of pollutants originating from different sources including heavy metals. This investigation assessed and monitored accumulation levels of ( Cr, Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, and Ni ) in different organs ( Gill, Head, Bone, Muscle and Eye ) of five fish species (Pentanemus quinquarius, Pseudoltolithus senegalensis, Trichirus lepturus, Plectorhynchus meditarraneus and Pseudotolithus typus together with water and sediment collected from the ocean shoreline in the coastal waters of Ondo State, Nigeria. Heavy metals concentrations in fish tissues, water and sediment samples were analyzed after treatment using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Dissolve total metal in water (in mg/l) Zn 0.12-0.22 , Cu 0.26-0.27 and Ni BDL-0.01 recorded in the water samples in this study were low and within the maximum permissible level (MPL) recommended by WHO and USEPA, while higher concentrations above the MPL were recorded for Cr 0.31-0.34 Cd 0.08 -0.21 and Pb 0.57-0.79. The concentrations of these metals in sediment in (mg/kg) were in the range Cr (0.16-4.19, Cd 0.35-0.38, Pb 0.9-1.00, Cu 0.24-1.44, Zn 2.12-3.11 and Ni BDL-0.01. They are all lower than their probable effect concentrations (PEC) in sediment. Mean Concentrations of the heavy metals in fish species were of the order: Zn>Cu>Cr>Cd>Pb>Ni. Levels of heavy metals varied depending on different tissues in the fish species. Correspondingly, high concentrations of the metals were found in gills and eye compared to other tissues. While the concentration of Zn (0.34 mg/kg-1.29 mg/kg), Cu (BDL-1.88 mg/kg), Ni (BDL-0.01 mg/kg) , and Cr (BDL-1.28) in the fish tissues were within the maximum allowable level (MAL) for a food source, the findings of this study shows higher value above the allowable limit for Cd(BDL-1.14 mg/kg) and Pb (BDL-0.71 mg/kg), thus constituting potential health hazard to consumers of these fish species.
THE IMPACT OF OWNER’S IDENTITY ON CORPORATE CAPITAL STRUCTURE

This paper examines how the identity of corporate owners affects corporate leverage in the UK. Using data from a sample of 643 listed UK firms, the results show that family-controlled firms have higher debt ratios than companies controlled by financial institutions. The implication is that family-controlled companies prefer debt to equity in their capital structure due to either a control-enhancing mechanism and/or firm’s protection from take-over threats. The paper, further confirms that corporate control contestability has also a positive impact on debt ratio. In essence, a smaller value of control contestability signifies more equal distribution of the voting power between the two largest shareholders. This finding is in line with the monitoring hypothesis of the second largest shareholder, hence suggesting that the involvement of the second largest shareholder in monitoring the activities of the largest shareholder reduces the second-order agency costs, the agency conflict between minority and majority shareholders.
Multiple mating by females is a natural outcome of a null model of mate encounters

Why do females of so many species mate multiply? The question makes use of an implicit null model that females by default should be monandrous and that polyandry requires an explanation. Here, we make the simple point that females encounter mates over their lifetime in a stochastic manner, and as they should accept at least one male, acceptance of all males may be a better null model than the more advanced strategy of accepting the first satisfactory one and rejecting all others. The advantage of this view is that it makes it explicit that females must accept and reject mates without precise knowledge of future mate encounters. In insects, for example, limitations of cognitive and sensory capabilities make it hard for females to compare many potential mates simultaneously. It is then not always possible for a female to be very choosy (i.e., to reject a large proportion of encounters) without simultaneously increasing the expected time spent as a virgin and decreasing the overall expected number of mates she accrues during her lifetime. We show that this fact easily leads to a pattern where choosiness is reduced and most females mate with more males than their optimal mate number. Our results suggest that monandry and polyandry may be less distinct strategies than they first appear as they may, to a large extent, reflect chance events influencing mate encounters. Polyandry can arise as a side effect of avoiding the risk of encountering too few acceptable mates – a viewpoint that is easily missed if females that have remained unmated are not included in datasets.
Competition, Cash Holdings, and Financing Decisions

We use a dynamic model of cash management in which firms face competitive pressure to show that competition increases corporate cash holdings as well as the frequency and size of equity issues. In our model, these effects are driven by small, financially constrained firms, in contrast with the theories based on strategic interactions in which large leaders or incumbents value more cash. We test these predictions on Compustat firms for the period 1980-2007 and show that product market competition has first order effects on the cash holdings and financing decisions of constrained firms, in ways consistent with our theory.
Tradables: developing output and price measures for Australia's tradable and non-tradable sectors

Despite the importance of the tradable/non-tradable division to economic theory, there has been little empirical analysis reflecting this division due to a lack of reliable data. This working paper seeks to address the lack of adequate information on the classification, output and prices for the tradable and non-tradable sectors of the Australian economy, using a classification system developed by Dwyer (1992) as a starting point. In most previous analyses, the classification of output as tradable or non-tradable is based upon untested a priori reasoning. The output and price measures developed in this paper have attempted to address the acknowledged weaknesses of previous measures and the adopted methodology is an improvement upon previous methods. The improvements are due to the use of an objective and consistent classification system, the disaggregated level of the analysis, the ability to capture changes in the composition of sectors, the breakdown of the tradable sector into its importable and exportable components, the consideration of the choice of price index formula, and the detailed matching of price data to input-output industry. Several important features have been revealed in Australian data. The size of Australia's tradable sector is significantly smaller than many previous estimates have indicated. The composition of the tradable and non-tradable sectors has changed significantly between 1977- 78 and 1989- 90, and the importance of the exportable and tradable sectors has increased over the past decade. The relative importance of individual industries within the tradable and non-tradable sectors has also been identified. The development of price indexes for the tradable and non-tradable sectors of the Australian economy has revealed the relative volatility of the prices of tradable (especially exportable) commodities compared to non-tradable commodities, and a significant improvement in Australia's internal competitiveness (as measured by relative domestic prices) since 1980. Valuable information has been obtained about the size, composition and price movements for the tradable and non-tradable sectors in Australia over the period 1977 to 1995. To the extent that the adopted methodology provides an accurate representation of the tradable and non-tradable sectors, the data presented in this paper can be applied to the empirical analysis of a range of topics to which the tradable/non-tradable dichotomy is relevant. Given the importance of this division to modelling the features of a small, open economy such as Australia, the development of this dataset opens up empirical research opportunities which the lack of adequate data had previously served to limit. Consideration is being given to releasing a tradables database, containing the series outlined in this working paper, on a regular basis. However, this is dependent upon sufficient interest being demonstrated in the sectoral profile, output and price index data compiled in this project.
PRESENTATION OF RETIREMENT BENEFITS EXPENSE AND EARNINGS ATTRIBUTES: EVIDENCE FROM JAPAN

This research examines how the amendment of retirement benefits accounting affects earnings attributes and corporate management of Japanese companies. The results show that the existing net income before taxes is more persistent, predictable, smoothed, and value relevant, while that the approach 1 income that recommended by the International Accounting Standards Boards (IASB) is more timely. I suppose that the earnings attributes of persistency, predictability, and smoothness are suitable for the Japanese corporate system. This research suggests that Japanese companies possibly shift the organization-oriented corporate system to the market-oriented corporate system, if the ASB of Japan (ASBJ) adopt the presentation of the approach 1 income that is recommended by the IASB (2008). So they may have severe impacts on their corporate system or employment system because they will make it difficult to maintain the long-termrelationship between other stakeholders, which is the source of competitiveness.
Highly active antiretroviral therapy during early HIV infection reverses T‐cell activation and maturation abnormalities

Objectives:To evaluate the impact of early initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on disease-induced T-cell activation and maturation abnormalities during asymptomatic HIV infection. Design:A prospective open-label trial of zidovudine, lamivudine and ritonavir in treatment-naive asymptomatic HIV-infected individuals with CD4 cells ≥ 400 × 106/l. Methods:Peripheral blood CD4+ and CD8+ T cells derived from 15 asymptomatic HIV-infected individuals (median baseline CD4+ cells, 608 × 106/l; CD8+ cells, 894 × 106/l; plasma HIV RNA, 3.93 log10 copies/ml) undergoing therapy with zidovudine (300 mg twice daily), lamivudine (150 mg twice daily), and ritonavir (600 mg twice daily) were assessed for changes in expression of phenotypic markers of T-cell activation (HLA-DR and CD38) and maturation (CD45RA and CD45RO). At weeks 0, 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20 and 24, T-cell subsets were quantified by flow cytometry and plasma HIV viral loads determined using reverse transcription PCR. Results:HAART-induced decrease in plasma HIV RNA levels coincided with a significant reduction in numbers of activated CD4+/HLA-DR+ (maximum change, −36%; P ≤ 0.05), CD8+/HLA-DR+ (maximum change, −66%; P ≤ 0.005) and CD8+/CD38+ (maximum change, −51%; P ≤ 0.01) T cells. A concomitant significant increase in numbers of naive CD4+/CD45RA+ (maximum change, +12%; P ≤ 0.005) and memory CD4+/CD45RO+ (maximum change, +6%; P ≤ 0.05) T cells was also evident, which contrasted with a significant decrease in memory CD8+/CD45RO+ cells (maximum change, −42%; P ≤ 0.005). Conclusion:The observed ability of HAART during early asymptomatic HIV infection to initiate rapid reversal of disease-induced T-cell activation and maturation abnormalities, while preserving pretherapy levels of immune function, supports the concept that therapeutic advantage is to be gained by commencing early aggressive antiretroviral therapy.
Calcaneal bone density as a screening tool for osteoporosis

Introduction: Osteoporosis is a common disease in elderly associated with high morbidity and economic burden. Low bone mass is the strongest predictor of low and moderate energy fracture risk. As there are accurate as well as safe diagnostic tests available and treatment is effective, early diagnosis and quantification of bone loss and fracture risk have become more important so that it can slow or even reverse the progression of osteoporosis. Material and Methods: This is a prospective study, conducted on patients with intertrochantric and neck of femur fractures in the age group of 50 to 75 years. The period of study is 6 months from May 2017 to October 2017. 96 Patients (34 neck of femur and 62 intertrochantric fractures) were selected into the study from those presenting to Victoria hospital and Bowring hospital, Bangalore medical college and research institute, Bangalore. The calcaneal X ray of the uninjured limb was taken along with the X ray of pelvis with both hip joint. The films were then scored based on the trabecular pattern by 2 different observers and recorded in separate charts. After a minimum of 2 weeks, the same observers scored the radiographs again for assessment of intra-observer reproducibility. Calcaneal index score and Singhs index scores were compared. Results: As the age progressed there is a linear relationship in the bone density and the calcaneal index scored. However there is some discrepancy in the score of Singhs index and Calcaneal index. But this difference is not a statistically significant. Conclusion: Calcaneal index can be used as a screening tool for diagnosing osteoporosis, it is cost effective, requires less radiation dose exposure and the radiation directed away from the gonads, even though it does not predict the exact bone density.
Accounts Receivable Overdue and Market Dynamics: A Case Study

Aim: This study aims to find out which market dynamics are currently relevant for accounts receivable levels (specifically overdues), and how lessons learned can be used by credit management.Design / Research methods: The unique research strategy is characterised as a single case study with design elements at two country units of a company to be named FEED. The classification and overview of relevant market dynamics provide valuable insights for determinants and intercompany differences in receivables, and whether these arise at the country or market level.Conclusions / findings: The classification and overview of relevant market dynamics provide valuable insights for determinants and intercompany differences in receivables, and whether these arise at the country or market level.Originality / value of the article: The findings suggest adjustments of the literature in that the interest rate is currently not a relevant factor. Moreover, instead of focussing on costs of capital, an emphasis on default risk is more applicable nowadays, and hence researchers should focus on overdue instead of on receivables in general.
Status of the KM3NeT project

KM3NeT is a deep-sea research infrastructure being constructed in the Mediterranean Sea. It will be installed at three sites: KM3NeT-Fr, offshore Toulon, France, KM3NeT-It, offshore Portopalo di Capo Passero, Sicily (Italy) and KM3NeT-Gr, offshore Pylos, Peloponnese, Greece. It will host the next generation Cherenkov neutrino telescope and nodes for a deep sea multidisciplinary observatory, providing oceanographers, marine biologists, and geophysicists with real time measurements. The neutrino telescope will search for Galactic and extra-Galactic sources of neutrinos, complementing IceCube in its field of view. The detector will have a modular structure and consists of six building blocks, each including about one hundred Detection Units (DUs). Each DU will be equipped with 18 multi-PMT digital optical modules. The first phase of construction has started and shore and deep-sea infrastructures hosting the future KM3NeT detector are being prepared in France near Toulon and in Italy, near Capo Passero in Sicily. The technological solutions for KM3NeT and the expected performance of the detector are presented and discussed.
AN ENHANCED, CONSTANT ENVELOPE, INTEROPERABLE SHAPED OFFSET QPSK (SOQPSK) WAVEFORM FOR IMPROVED SPECTRAL EFFICIENCY

Shaped BPSK (SBPSK) and Shaped Offset QPSK (SOQPSK), as defined in various MIL standards, are widely employed on SATCOM links because they offer an attractive combination of good spectral efficiency, constant envelope characteristics, and interoperability with legacy equipments. More recently, numerous terrestrial applications of OQPSK and similar waveforms (Feher-patented FQPSK) have been proposed. The present paper describes a simple non-proprietary modification of the MIL-STD SOQPSK waveform which offers spectral containment and detection efficiency comparable to or better than FQPSK-B (Revision A1), while preserving a constant envelope characteristic and backward compatibility with existing equipment.
Limnological study of Dokan, Derbendikhan and Duhok lakes, Kurdistan region of Iraq

The present study deals with the assessment of physico-chemical characteristics of Dokan, Derbendikhan and Duhok lakes. The physico-chemical characteristics of these lakes have been studied and analyzed for a year, during January-April-July and October 2009. Seasonal variations of two sampling sites of the lakes have been observed. Various parameters including air temperature, water temperature, electrical conductivity, TDS, pH, total alkalinity, total hardness, dissolved oxygen, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, sulfate, chloride, nitrite and phosphate have been analyzed. The study has revealed that there are significant seasonal variations in some physico-chemical parameters and as a whole most of the parameters are different in the three lakes.
Oral Vocabulary as a Predictor of English Language Proficiency among Malaysian Chinese Preschool Children

Normal 0 21 false false false MS ZH-CN X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 The vocabulary of children is an important indication of their language ability during the preschool years. This study examined whether oral vocabulary is a good predictor of the English language proficiency of Malaysian Chinese preschoolers by examining the correlation of oral vocabulary and English language proficiency. A total of 204 Chinese preschoolers aged between 3 to 6 years participated in this study. A parental report was used to gauge the English language proficiency level of the children; while a set of stimulus pictures containing 160 basic and easy vocabularies were used to determine the oral vocabulary abilities of the children. The results showed that preschoolers’ oral production of English vocabulary had a significant and positive correlation with their English language proficiency. Older children showed more correct production of English vocabulary compared to younger children. There were no gender effects in their oral productions. The findings of the present study could serve as a way to gather information on preschoolers’ level of English language proficiency, to inform instructional practice and to rule out second language learning problems or language delay. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.17576/3L-2014-2001-11 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:. 0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:SimSun; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
Training and Search on the Job

The paper studies human capital accumulation over workers' careers in an on the job search setting with heterogenous firms. In renegotiation proof employment contracts, more productive firms provide more training. Both general and specific training induce higher wages within jobs, and with future employers, even conditional on the future employer type. Because matches do not internalize the specific capital loss from employer changes, specific human capital can be over-accumulated, more so in low type firms. While validating the Acemoglu and Pischke (1999) mechanisms, the analysis nevertheless arrives at the opposite conclusion: That increased labor market friction reduces training in equilibrium.