Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Stock Market Development and Economic Growth in Nigeria: A Time Series Study for the period 1980-2007

This research empirically examines the relationship between stock market development and economic growth in the context of Nigeria. The question guiding this study is focused on whether the development of the stock market has had an impact on economic growth in Nigeria. The thesis examines the long run causal relationship between the stock market and economic growth. It uses one bank and three measures of stock market development: the loans to deposit ratio of banks, Market capitalisation ratio, value traded to market capitalisation ratio as well as value traded to GDP ratio. Essentially the study uses the endogenous growth theory as a basis of its theoretical foundation. The study exploits time series analysis techniques to test for the existence of a relationship and, where one is found to exist, the casual nature of that relationship. The study particularly applies Multivariate vector autoregressive models (VAR) and Vector Error Correction Models (VECM) in testing for the existence of a relationship. The evidence obtained from the study shows the existence of co-integration between the stock market development and economic growth in the short as well as the long run. This suggests that stock market development has impacted on economic growth in Nigeria. The Granger causality test findings indicate the presence of a bi-directional relationship between stock market development and economic growth. The findings of the study support the view that stock market development and economic growth in Nigeria are complementary and any improvements in the stock market would have a positive impact on economic growth in Nigeria. The findings also support the hypothesis of endogenous growth models that financial development causes higher economic growth. The contribution of this study lies in the fact that it provides additional evidence on the ongoing debate of the impact stock markets on the economic growth process within a specific country.
Distributed optimal equilibrium selection for traffic flow over networks

In this paper, we present two distributed algorithms to compute an equilibrium, that is optimal with respect to strictly convex and separable cost functions, for controlled traffic flow dynamics over networks under constant exogenous inflows. The dynamics is modeled in continuous time by the Cell Transmission Model and a non-FIFO Dynamic Network Loading Model, with traffic control. The two algorithms are adaptations of the alternating direct method of multipliers (ADMM) and the accelerated dual descent (ADD) method from network flow optimization literature. When the demand and supply inequality constraints in the uncontrolled dynamics are relaxed to be independent over links, the resulting feasible set is convex if the demand and supply functions are concave, thereby imparting convexity to the optimal equilibrium selection problem. Each point in the feasible set is an equilibrium for the original dynamics under appropriately designed control. For the ADMM method, explicit expressions for the primal update show that no auxiliary variables are necessary. Convergence analysis for the primal variables is also provided. The standard ADD method is extended to also incorporate non-negativity constraints on the density and flow variables, and demand and supply inequality constraints. Illustrative simulation results are also presented.
[Results of radiosynoviorthesis with yttrium 90 in chronic synovitis: a long-term prospective study. I. Total results and effect of local factors].

The purpose of the presented study was to investigate, whether the results of radiosynovectomy were dependent on different characteristics of the chronic synovitis. In our unit, from October 1978 to April 1981 193 joints--174 knee joints and 19 shoulder joints--of 107 patients underwent radiosynoviorthesis. 93 patients (169 joints) suffered from rheumatoid arthritis of different ARA-stages (I = 16, II = 31, III = 27, IV = 19; 67 seropositive, 26 seronegative), 14 patients with 24 treated joints had chronic synovitis other than rheumatoid arthritis. Only joints with chronic synovitis in the local stages I and II were treated if they did not respond to medical therapy and intraarticular applications of corticosteroids, respectively. Joints with local stage III and IV, respectively, with instability or with a secondary osteoarthrosis were excluded from radiosynovectomy. Every six months the patients were reinvestigated, and pain, swelling, mobility, stability of the joint, frequency of effusions and intraarticular steroid applications were assessed as well as the overall activity of the disease, SR, hemoglobin and effectivity of medical treatment. The overall result was good in 60% of cases after 6 and 12 months, respectively, in 54% of cases after 2 years and in 50% of cases after 3 years, it was fair in about 35% of cases. The results of 20 repeated radiosynovectomies were comparable. The frequency of joint effusions and of necessary intraarticular corticosteroid injections was significantly reduced even in patients showing a "poor" result of synoviorthesis. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Phytotoxicity assay for seed production using Brassica rapa L.

Although pesticide drift can affect crop yield adversely, current plant testing protocols emphasize only the potential impacts on vegetative plant growth. The present study was conducted to determine whether a plant species with a short life cycle, such as Brassica rapa L. Wisconsin Fast Plants®, can be used to indicate potential effects on seed production of herbicides applied at relatively low levels (e.g., low field application rates [FAR]). The effects of ≤0.1 × FAR of aminopyralid, cloransulam, glyphosate, primisulfuron, or sulfometuron applied 14 d after emergence (DAE), were evaluated for B. rapa grown in mineral soil in pots under greenhouse conditions. Effects were expressed as the effective concentration of the herbicide producing a 25% reduction in a response (EC25) based on nonlinear regression. Brassica rapa seed dry weight was reduced by sulfometuron at an EC25 of 0.00014 × a field application rate (FAR) of 53 g active ingredient (a.i.) ha−1, primisulfuron at 0.008 (experiment 1) or 0.0050 (experiment 2) × FAR of 40 g a.i. ha−1, cloransulam at 0.022 × FAR of 18 g a.i. ha−1, glyphosate at 0.0399 × FAR of 834 g a.i. ha−1, and by aminopyralid at 0.005 × FAR of 123 g a.i. ha−1, but only for 1 of 2 experiments. Reduced seed production occurred at less than the FAR that reduced shoot dry weight with sulfometuron and primisulfuron, whereas neither aminopyralid, cloransulam, nor glyphosate affected shoot dry weight. A short life cycle form of B. rapa could be used to indicate reduced seed production with plants grown only 1 week longer (∼35 DAE) than as the current vegetative vigor test for nontarget herbicide effects on plants. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2010;6:725–734. © 2010 SETAC
Emotional Involvement Matters: An Analysis of Parenting Patterns and Academic Outcomes of High School Students in 1980, 1990, and 2002

This dissertation addresses the relationship between parental practices and educational and developmental outcomes of high school students in 1980, 1990 and 2002 to explore these three questions: (1) if social capital at home is the key characteristic of parental involvement in education; and (2) if the historical shifts between 1980 and 2002 affected the way in which parents are involved in their children's education. The datasets used for this study were: High School and Beyond (HBS), National Education Longitudinal Study (NELS), and Educational Longitudinal Study (ELS). Early theory and research focused mainly on the transformation and activation of cultural capital through parental involvement in education. It was found that students from middle- and higher-income families have the advantage of receiving higher levels of parental involvement than their peers from low-income families. However, recent research reports that students from high-income families experience severe levels of emotional distress and behavioral problems even if they do well at school. A large body of psychological research also indicates that the parental marital status and the quality of time with parents can influence children's behavioral and emotional outcomes. Consequently, the historical shifts between 1980 and 2002 in mothers' occupational status, gender roles, and family composition can indicate how parenting practices and good relationships between parents and children influence educational and developmental outcomes of high school students. Previous studies ignored three other important dimensions of parenting practices: emotional involvement, autonomy support, and structure. This study examined this relationship using parenting dimensions to determine how cultural capital and social capital within the family interact to indicate educational outcome, high school graduation or Grade Point Average (GPA), positive attitudes toward school, and behavioral problems of lower-class and upper-middle-class students. The results showed that parental emotional involvement is the significant indicator of increased levels of positive attitudes toward school, which was the key characteristic that was associated with high GPAs and high school completion. This finding was consistent across the three different time periods. It suggests the importance of well-established relationships between parents and children, that is, strong social capital between the two agents, which indicate a good consistency with Coleman's (1989) social capital theory. These relationships at home can be at risk when students have mothers with professional careers who work for long hours and live in households with marital disruptions or a single parent, all of which tend to decrease the quality and quantity of time spent together.
Migration and mobility in a rapidly changing small town in northeastern Ethiopia

This paper presents empirical material collected in the zonal capital town of kemise (population around 34,000) and three surrounding rural areas (peasant associations) in northeastern ethiopia. The study area is located in the oromiya zone of the large amhara region. The paper attempts to show how rural areas and the town of kemise are economically interdependent and demonstrates the role of migration and mobility in influencing and shaping the rural and urban economies. The town fulfils, inter alia, important administrative, marketing, service and retailing functions. The most successful rural households appear to be those that use non-farm and off-farm opportunities and assets (for example, trade opportunities and/or urban employment) to diversify income sources and thereby avoid the uncertainties of relying solely on crop production for household security. As a backdrop to the whole discussion, the issue of widespread rural landlessness in the study area is investigated.
Theme: Local Government: The New Politics of Local Spending: Central–Local Financial Relations under Scottish Devolution

This article focuses on the Scottish Executive’s strategy and practice over local authority current expenditure since devolution. Since the introduction of the community charge in 1989, central government has provided more than 80% of local authority public expenditure in Scotland. The Scottish Executive has been able to control spending through its grant mechanisms, while still permitting local diversity. Scottish councils have delivered reasonable increases in council tax levels since devolution. This approach is consistent with the statutory basis of local government—much of which is permissive and facilitates local discretion.
Effects of load and gradient on energy cost of running.

This study quantified the interaction of electromyography (EMG) obtained from the vastus lateralis and metabolic energy cost of running (C(r); mL·[mass+load](-1)·meter(-1)), an index of running economy, during submaximal treadmill running. Experiments were conducted with and without load on the back on a motor-driven treadmill on the downhill, level and uphill slopes. The obtained EMG was full-wave rectified and integrated (iEMG). The iEMG was divided into eccentric (ECC) and concentric (CON) phases with a foot sensor and a knee-joint goniometer. The ratio of ECC to CON (ECC/CON ratio) was regarded as the muscle elastic capacity during running on each slope. The C(r) was determined as the ratio of the 2-min steady-state VO(2) to the running speed. We found a significant decrease in the C(r) when carrying the load at all slopes. The ECC/CON ratio was significantly higher in the load condition at the downhill and level slopes, but not at the uphill slope. A significant gradient difference was observed in the C(r) (downuphill). Thus, an alteration of Cr by the gradient and load was almost consistent with that of the ECC/CON ratio. The ECC/CON ratio, but not the rotative torque (T) functioning around the center of body mass, significantly correlated with C(r) (r=-0.41, p<0.05). These results indicated that the ECC/CON ratio, rather than T, contributed to one of the energy-saving mechanisms during running with load.
The price of being an outsider: Labour market flexibility and immigrants’ employment paths in Germany

This article attempts to answer the question to what extent recent reforms aimed at flexibilizing the German labour market affected immigrants and how this explains the (in)stability of their employment paths. Based on the 1996–1999 and 2001–2004 German micro-census panels, we focus not only on transitions from employment to unemployment and vice versa, but also on the type of employment, either open-ended or fixed-term. Dynamic random effects models explore the effects of the employment status in the preceding year on the employment status in the subsequent one for various groups of immigrants. Results confirm the more precarious nature of immigrant employment with a more frequent mobility in and out of unemployment, a more pronounced incidence of fixed-term employment and a higher instability of open-ended jobs.
What the Stock Market Decline Means for the Financial Security and Retirement Choices of the Near-Retirement Population

This paper investigates the effect of the current recession on the near-retirement age population. Data from the Health and Retirement Study suggest that those approaching retirement age (early boomers ages 53 to 58 in 2006) have only 15.2 percent of their wealth in stocks, held directly or in defined contribution plans or IRAs. Their vulnerability to a stock market decline is limited by the high value of their Social Security wealth, which represents over a quarter of the total household wealth of the early boomers. In addition, their defined contribution plans remain immature, so their defined benefit plans represent sixty five percent of their pension wealth. Simulations with a structural retirement model suggest the stock market decline will lead the early boomers to postpone their retirement by only 1.5 months on average. Health and Retirement Study data also show that those approaching retirement are not likely to be greatly or immediately affected by the decline in housing prices. We end with a discussion of important difficulties facing those who would use labor market policies to increase the employment of older workers.
Effects of corporate governance on capital structure: empirical evidence from Pakistan

Purpose – The aim of this empirical study is to investigate whether corporate governance attributes such as board size, outside directors, ownership concentration, managerial ownership, director remuneration, and CEO duality affect capital structure choices of Pakistani firms.Design/methodology/approach – Multiple regression analysis is used to estimate the relationship between corporate governance measures and capital structure of non‐financial firms listed on the Karachi Stock Exchange, Pakistan, during 2004‐2008.Findings – The results suggest that board size, outside directors, and ownership concentration are positively related to the total debt ratio and the long‐term debt ratio, whereas director remuneration is negatively related. Managerial ownership is negatively related to the long‐term debt ratio. CEO duality is found to be highly insignificant in all regressions. Control variables such as profitability and liquidity are negatively related to the total debt ratio and the long‐term debt ratio, whe.
A Discrete Analysis of Demography and Electronic bankingusage in Nigeria

This research seeks to determine which demographic sub-group has the greatest tendency to use electronic banking since different sub-groups reflect differences in mix and types of banking services used. It was based on a discrete analysis using both Binary Logistic Regression (BLR) and Multinomial Logistic Regression (MLR). Seven demographic variables: gender, age, income, marital status, ethnicity, occupation and education were used. The results of the study show that males and graduates are more inclined to use e-banking. It also shows that traders and respondents in technical/administrative occupation are less inclined while students/apprentices and clerical workers are more inclined to use e-banking. In terms of the consumers’ ethnic background in electronic banking, the study found out that the Igbo and Yoruba ethnic groups have higher and positive probability of using e-banking while the Hausa/Fulani show less probability. With respect to marital status, this study shows that singles have the highest probability to use e-banking. Married/divorced people also show positive disposition to use e-banking. The implication of this study is that market segmentation is a key element of product management.
Facilitating Teacher Candidates' Reflective Development Through the Use of Portfolios, Teacher Work Sample, and Guided Reflections

This paper describes curricular developments within the teacher education program of the Department of Elementary, Early, and Special Education at Southeast Missouri State University and how we constructed a program that combines Certification Portfolios, the Teacher Work Sample, and Guided Field Reflections as a means of developing the reflective skills of teacher candidates. This model facilitates the development of teacher candidates who reflect both on their teaching and how their teaching promotes P-12 student learning.
In vitro teratogenic potential of two antifungal triazoles: Triadimefon and triadimenol

SummaryThe teratogenic potential of two antifungal triazoles (Triadimefon and Triadimenol) has been investigated in vitro by the rat postimplantation whole embryo culture method. Rat embryos 9.5 d old were cultured for 48 h in rat serum with Triadimefon (12.5–250 μM) or Triadimenol (6.25–125 μM) and then examined. Some embryos exposed to Triadimenol (6.25–125 μM) were cultured for 12 extra hours in control serum to improve their developmental degree and then immunostain cranial nerves and ganglia. The exposure to the highest doses of triazoles only moderately reduced some morphometrical developmental parameters. By contrast, 25–250 μM Triadimefon and 25–125 μM Triadimenol induced specific concentration-related teratogenic effects at the level of first and second branchial arches. After immunostaining, embryos exposed to 12.5–125 μM Triadimenol showed specific cranial nerve and ganglia abnormalities. The possible implication of neural crest cell alterations on triazole-related abnormalities is discussed.
Unveiling the ECB's Monetary Policy Behaviour Under Different Inflation Regimes

type="main" xml:id="ecca12132-abs-0001"> This paper provides clear-cut evidence that the ECB follows an asymmetric monetary policy rule concerned more with inflation rather than sustaining economic growth. The driving force of interest rate cuts is the fall of the inflation rate below its target level. The paper evaluates the implications of the above policy on real activity by simulating a small New Keynesian model. This clearly indicates that the reaction of the ECB to negative output deviations and/or to financial stress conditions in the low inflation regime fails to reduce the adverse effects of negative demand and financial sector shocks on economic activity.
A review of 18p deletions

Since 18p‐ was first described in 1963, much progress has been made in our understanding of this classic deletion condition. We have been able to establish a fairly complete picture of the phenotype when the deletion breakpoint occurs at the centromere, and we are working to establish the phenotypic effects when each gene on 18p is hemizygous. Our aim is to provide genotype‐specific anticipatory guidance and recommendations to families with an 18p‐ diagnosis. In addition, establishing the molecular underpinnings of the condition will potentially suggest targets for molecular treatments. Thus, the next step is to establish the precise effects of specific gene deletions. As we look forward to deepening our understanding of 18p‐, our focus will continue to be on the establishment of robust genotype–phenotype correlations and the penetrance of these phenotypes. We will continue to follow our 18p‐ cohort closely as they age to determine the presence or absence of some of these diagnoses, including spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA), facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), and dystonia. We will also continue to refine the critical regions for other phenotypes as we enroll additional (hopefully informative) participants into the research study and as the mechanisms of the genes in these regions are elucidated. Mouse models will also be developed to further our understanding of the effects of hemizygosity as well as to serve as models for treatment development. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Improved Reproductive Efficiency in Gilts by Intrauterine Infusion of Killed Boar Semen before Breeding

Two separate trials were conducted to determine the effects of uterine priming prior to first breeding and quantify any changes in the reproductive efficiency of gilts. In trial I twelve (12) gilts were randomly assigned to 3 treatments:T1:infusion of distilled water (control), T2: single infusion of killed semen (KS1), and T3: double infusion of killed semen (KS2). Each treatment had 4 breeding gilts which were bred by natural insemination (NI). In trial II, another set of 12 breeding gilts were randomly allotted to the same treatments and were subsequently bred by artificial insemination (AI). Infusions, through the use of AI catheters, were done during the 2 nd estrous cycle for T1 and T2, whereas infusions for T3 were made during the 1 st and 2 nd cycles. Regular breeding was subsequently made during the 3 rd estrous cycle. All gilts that returned to cycle were rebred within the 30-day period. In trial I (natural breeding), total piglets born was higher (p<0.05) in T2 (12.75 piglets) and T3 (11.75 piglets) than in the control (10.5 piglets). T3 obtained the highest (p<0.05) litter size (10.25 piglets) and heaviest litter weight (74.12 kg) at 28 days weaning, followed by T2 (9.80 piglets and 65.0 kg, respectively). The control yielded the lowest (p<0.05) litter size (7.50) and the lightest litter weight (47.00 kg) at weaning. For Trial II gilts (artificially inseminated), T3 gave higher (p<0.05) litter size born alive (10.88 piglets), total piglets born (11.72 piglets) and live litter weight at birth (15.30 kg) than those of T2 and the control. These results indicate that prebreeding intrauterine infusion of killed boar semen, either single or double, improved the reproductive performance of gilts. (Asian-Aust. J. Anim. Sci. 2006. Vol 19, No. 6 : 789-792)