Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Board characteristics, audit committee attributes and firm performance: empirical evidence from emerging economy

PurposeThis study is designed and directed to analyze the effect of board characteristics and audit committee attributes on the firm performance of publicly listed commercial banks of Bangladesh.Design/methodology/approachThirty publicly listed commercial banks of Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) have been taken as sample for this study. Data have been collected from annual reports between 2011 and 2017 of the assessed banks. Pooled OLS model has been used for running regression model of this study.FindingsBoard independence has a negative and significant relationship with ROA and Tobin's Q. However, Board Independence has a positive and significant relationship with Stock Return. On the other hand, Board Diversity has a negative and significant relationship with ROA and ROE, which implies inefficiency of diversified board members in the context of Bangladesh. Family duality has a positive and significant relationship with ROA and a negative and significant relationship with Stock return. Board Meeting has a positive and significant relationship with ROA. Audit Committee Size has a negative and significant relationship with Tobins' Q. Independence of audit committee chairman has a negative and significant relationship with Tobin's Q and Stock Returns. Presence of non-executive directors and number of audit meetings have no significant relationship with any of the predicted variables.Research limitations/implicationsAmong all variables of the board characteristics, role of independent directors and participation of female directors have conflicting results in this study. This has raised a question about the fair appointment independent directors and their objective view on the board. Female directors' role is not convincing in the context of Bangladesh as most of the commercial banks are family-owned. Policymakers can tighten and supervise the appointment of independent directors to ensure good governance in the banking sector. Moreover, role of audit committee and independence of audit committee chairman have generated conflicting results in terms of market-based performance measure.Originality/valueBanking sector of Bangladesh experiences huge corruption in the form of excessive NPLs and poor management quality which results in low profit for the firm. This study has explored the problems of management quality and flaws of audit committee which is hampering overall growth of banking industry. Improvement of independent directors' appointment and audit committee formation and reporting will certainly help banking industry of Bangladesh to improve overall performance.
The New Science of Strong Materials: or Why You Don't Fall through the Floor

is published by Princeton University Press and copyrighted, © 2006, by Princeton University Press. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form by any electronic or mechanical means (including photocopying, recording, or information storage and retrieval) without permission in writing from the publisher, except for reading and browsing via the World Wide Web. Users are not permitted to mount this file on any network servers.
What predicts the health-related quality of life of adolescents with cerebral palsy in Bangladesh?

Background: The health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of adolescents with CP in low and middle-income countries is often poor, as is the case in Bangladesh. This exploratory study examined what factors predict the proxy-reported HRQoL of adolescents with CP in rural Bangladesh, a typical low- and middle-income country (LMIC). Methods: Adolescents with CP (10 to 18y) were identified using the Bangladesh Cerebral Palsy Register. HRQoL was assessed using the Cerebral Palsy Quality of Life-Teens proxy-report questionnaire (CPQoL-Teens), adolescent mental health using the Strengths and Difficulty Questionnaire (SDQ) and caregiver mental health using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Theoretical and statistical interests (i.e. bivariate analysis, p<0.05) identified potential predictors which were entered into hierarchical multiple linear regression (HMLR) models in order of clinical significance; HMLR related adolescent clinical characteristics, adolescent and caregiver mental health and proxies of socioeconomic status to CPQoL-Teens dimensions. Results: 154 adolescents with CP (mean age 15y 1mo, SD 1y 8mo, female 31.2%) participated in this study. Twenty-four factors were identified to explore for relationship to adolescent proxy-reported HRQoL. Fifteen of the factors correlated to one or more CPQoL-Teens dimension; strongest correlation was between ‘feelings about functioning’ and motor impairment (r=0.545). Nine were predictive of CPQoL-Teens dimensions; adolescent sex, school attendance, severity of motor impairment, hearing and speech impairment, mother’s education, primary caregiver depression and stress, and having a sanitary latrine at home resulting in score changes of between 0.79 (95% CI 0.24 to 1.35) to 35.1 (95% CI 6.03 to 64.22). Conclusions: Many of the factors predicting the proxy-reported HRQoL of adolescents with CP are amenable to intervention, and have the potential to improve adolescent wellbeing. Several determinants are priorities of the sustainable development goals (SDGs); these findings should inform resource prioritization to improve the wellbeing of adolescents with CP in Bangladesh and other LMICs.
Thermal and small-signal characterisation of AlGaAs/InGaAs pHEMTs in 3D multilayer CPW MMIC

Rapid advancement in wireless communications over the years has been the driving force for many novel technologies providing compact and low cost solutions. Recent development of multilayer coplanar waveguide (CPW) MMIC technology promises realization of 3D MMIC in which large area-occupying passive components are translated from horizontal into vertical configuration resulting compact structure. The other main advantages of this technology are elimination of via-holes and wafer-thinning giving alternative performance solution, if not better, from the traditional MMIC. In this thesis, thermal and small-signal characteristics of prefabricated AlGaAs/InGaAs pseudomorphic high electron mobility transistors (pHEMTs) on semi-insulating (S.I.) GaAs substrate incorporated in the 3D MMIC technology have been analysed and modelled for the first time. A comprehensive small-signal parameter extraction procedure has been successfully developed which automatically determines the device small-signal parameters directly from the measured S-parameters.The developed procedure is unique since it provides a great deal of data on measured devices over a wide bias, temperature and frequency range for future incorporation of different active devices for the 3D MMIC technology and provides a first hand knowledge of how the multilayer structure will affect the performance of pre-fabricated pHEMTs. The extracted small-signal models of both pre- and post- multilayer processed pHEMTs have been compared and validated to the RF S-parameters measurements. The main focus was drawn upon the temperature dependent model parameters and how the underlying physics of the transistors behave in response to the change of temperature. These novel insights are especially valuable for devices designed specifically for high power applications like power amplifiers where tremendous heat could be generated. The data can also be interpreted as a way to optimise the multilayer structure, for example, alternative material with different properties can be implemented. The governing physics affecting device performance are also modelled and discussed empirically in details through extracted device parameters. These investigations would assist in the development of reliable, efficient and low cost production of future compact 3D multilayer CPW MMICs.
Architecting protocols to enable mobile applications in diverse wireless networks

The goal of this thesis is to architect robust protocols that overcome disruptions and enable applications in diverse mobile networks. Mobile users operate in diverse environments, starting from mostly connected cellular networks to mostly disconnected delay tolerant networks (DTNs). Each of these networks are prone to frequent disruptions due to mobility, coverage holes, poor channel conditions, and other factors. Designing protocols to tolerate such disruptions is challenging because of the extreme uncertainty in mobile wireless environments. In this thesis, I focus on four networks that span the diverse connectivity spectrum and answer the following questions for each network: (1) What are the disruption characteristics in the network and what are the opportunities that can be exploited in the network? ; and (2) What protocol design best exploits the opportunities to overcome disruptions and enable the specific application? In this thesis, the key insight used to tolerate disruptions is opportunistic resource usage. Opportunistic mechanisms use resources as they become available and are therefore naturally resilient to uncertainty. Specifically, I present four protocols that overcome disruptions and enable applications in diverse networks: (1) RAPID, which uses opportunistic replication to enable bulk transfer in mostly disconnected networks; (2) Thedu, which uses opportunistic prefetching to enable web search in intermittently connected networks; (3) ViFi, which uses opportunistic forwarding to enable Voice over IP (VoIP) in mostly connected mesh networks; and (4) Wiffler, which uses opportunistic augmentation to improve application performance in mostly connected cellular networks. The naive use of opportunism can waste resources and hurt performance. I show how, in most cases, utility-driven protocols can be used to implement opportunism in resource-constrained wireless environments. Finally, I present a detailed evaluation of the protocols using implementation and deployment experiments on two large scale vehicular testbeds. Deployment on a real testbed shows that the protocols are practical and can be implemented in realistic usage environments. The evaluations show that the protocols significantly improve performance of applications compared to the state-of-the-art, in their respective environments.
IMPACT OF STATE HIGHWAY INVESTMENT ON EMPLOYMENT ALONG MAJOR HIGHWAY CORRIDORS

Prioritization and selection of highway projects may be based, in part, on the expected impact of a proposed investment on the regional economy. Previous studies have shown that the magnitude and significance of the impact of highway investment on a regional economy may be affected by the nature of the economy and the spatial distribution of socioeconomic activity. The question of how highway proximity influences the impact of highway investment on the economic activity of 87 Minnesota counties was examined. The analysis is based on highway construction expenditures and county employment data in conjunction with vector autoregression structural plots and causality tests. The results suggest that, in response to highway expenditures above the trend, counties containing major highway corridors experience a small, statistically significant, increase of their total and manufacturing employment. In contrast, counties not containing major highways experience a small, statistically significant reduction of their total employment.
Frequency Selective Cold-Electron Bolometer Arrays

This work presents the integration of the Cold-Electron Bolometer (CEB) in Frequency Selective Surface (FSS) based arrays targeting balloon-borne telescope missions with high incident power requirements (typically tens of pW). FSS are planar frequency sensitive structures typically consisting of repeating pattern of a simple motif like square, circle, etc. This creates an array structure that is impedance matched to incident electromagnetic radiation. We investigated the integration of CEB detectors in these arrays and their response to incident millimeter/submillimeter radiation. The inherent frequency sensitive characteristics of the FSS allow these kinds of arrays to be designed for a wide range of frequency bands with coupling efficiencies approaching unity. A prototype 23 pixel CEB array at 345 GHz was developed for the OLIMPO telescope for performing photometric and spectroscopic observations of the Sunyaev– Zel'dovich effect from clusters of galaxies. Measurements from test pixel indicate a responsivity up to 2x10^8 V/W at low background powers. Spectral measurements indicate a bandwidth of about 20 GHz. Using room temperature commercial amplifiers, the Noise Equivalent Power (NEP) was estimated as 2x10^-16 W\sqrt{Hz} ,which is larger than the theoretically modelled value by a factor of 4-5. Prototype pixels which could possibly be used for the 145 GHz and 95 GHz channels on the SWIPE instrument in the LSPE balloon-borne telescope have also been developed and characterised. The spectral response of the 95 GHz pixels closely matches RF simulations with a bandwidth of about 8 GHz. An efficiency greater than 70% is estimated from analysis of measured data with responsivity approaching 1x10^{8} V/W at a background power of 60 pW.
Imitation to Innovation: The Dynamics of Korea's Technological Learning

Linsu Kim examines the pivotal role that technology development has played in South Korea's dramatic transformation over the last three decades from an economy based on subsistence agriculture to a highly-industrialized global competitor. Kim identifies a pattern in which Korean firms acquire foreign technologies, assimilate and improve these technologies, and, eventually, invest in their own research and development. In the introductory chapters, Kim establishes a theoretical context for analyzing the dynamics of innovation, defining technology as a collection of physical processes to transform inputs into outputs, as well as the knowledge and skills required to carry out these transformations. In the first part, he explores the roles of public policy and the sociocultural environment in setting the stage for Korea's technological evolution. In part two, he draws on extensive case studies from large companies in a variety of manufacturing industries, to illustrate patterns of technological development in the private sector. In the final part, Kim considers the implications of Korea's experience as a potential role model for other catching-up countries. This work is part of the "Management of Innovation and Change Series".
Interactive Multimedia Based Mathematics Problem Solving to Develop Students’ Reasoning

The progress of information and communication technology demands lecturer of mathematics to make innovative learning based on IT while focusing the main goal in learning mathematics, i.e to create students who are skilled in solving problems and have good mathematical reasoning. Therefore, an interactive mathematical development based on problem solving is required. The model is developed using ADDIE (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, Evaluation). The data is analyzed using both Quantitative (as the main data) and qualitative (as supporting data). The results showed that interactive mathematical multimedia significantly improved the students' mathematical reasoning in terms of analyzing data, proposing allegations, verifying, drawing conclusions, and examining the validity of arguments. Students' responsiveness and motivation to learn mathematics is also positive because multimedia has interactive video display and complete material, while students feel that the learning process is not limited by space and time.
High-fat dietary consumption promotes disease progression in a surgical joint destabilisation murine model of osteoarthritis: role of systemic eicosanoids and circulating monocytes

Background In this study we investigated the contribution of high-fat diet-induced metabolic overload to osteoarthritis (OA) progression originally caused by mild mechanical trauma to the mouse knee joint. We hypothesized that metabolic stress would induce a proinflammatory environment by altering systemic lipid levels and immune cell populations. Methods Twelve-week-old male C57BL/6J mice (n=20) were given a low-fat diet (LFD, 10%kcal from fat) or high-fat diet (HFD, 45%kcal from fat) for 18 weeks. OA was initiated by transecting the medial meniscotibial ligament of the right knee joint at t=10 weeks. OA severity and changes in M1/M2 polarization of synovial macrophage populations were determined in serial coronal FFPE-mounted sections. Eicosanoid levels and monocyte populations were evaluated before and after ligament transection. Results Diet-induced metabolic stress assessed by body weight, systemic cholesterol levels, and insulin resistance index was significantly higher in HFD mice. This group also showed increased cartilage damage, synovitis, and osteophyte formation compared with LFD controls. High-fat feeding elevated systemic arachidonic acid levels, which mainly resulted in increased levels of its cytochrome P450-catalysed diol metabolites 5,6-dihydroxyeicosatrienoic acid (DHET) and 8,9-DHET. High-fat feeding also triggered an increase in pro-inflammatory intermediate CD43++Ly6Cint monocytes after ligament resection. Ligament resection in addition to high-fat feeding induced increased expression of the activation marker CD11c selectively on non-classical CD43++Ly6Clow monocytes. No significant changes in synovial macrophage polarization were observed. Conclusions Metabolic stress resulted in a proinflammatory environment and aggravated injury-induced OA progression. Our results suggest that a CYP450-focused eicosanoid metabolism and activated circulating monocytes may be drivers of this metabolic stress-induced OA progression, contributing to the mechanistic understanding and potentially serving as future diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for metabolic OA.
Polymorphism of miRNA and its Impact on IVF Failure

In vitro fertilization (IVF) failure is not only the cause of despair among couples and individuals undergoing the treatment, it´s also been contributing to the impediment of assistive reproductive technologies (ART) development, miRNAs have been linked to significant events in the reproduction course and the identification of miRNA polymorphisms may provide a good lead for the potential of diagnosis and treatment of unidentified IVF failure causes, the aim of the present study was to explore the association between the miRNA polymorphism ( mir-125a T>Crs12975333) and IVF failure. Our case-control study consisted of 100 Kurdish women in total, 50 belong to the case group that underwent IVF failure and the other 50 belong to the control group who have had at least two successful pregnancies and no history of pregnancy loss, we used tetra amplification refractory mutation system to identify the polymorphisms within the groups, the TT genotype was found more frequently in IVF failure patients when compared to the healthy women (OR: 5.268, CI: 1.07-25.7, P =0.025) and T allele was more present in the case group (OR:1.9, CI:1.06-3.41, P =0.028). The difference in genotype and allele frequencies of mir-125a of the two groups may indicate that it has an effect on the target mRNAs and alter the implantation of embryo during IVF cycles.
Technical Capability, Instructional Strategies and Learners’ Engagement in Online Learning Instruction: Basis for Framework Development

Schools are faced with the challenge of developing and implementing an online framework model especially in Radiology technology program. Online courses offer an excellent way for students to broaden their educational opportunities and stay competitive in the everdemanding realm of education. Learning engagement in technology mediated learning and its effect on learning effectiveness and satisfaction, and their experimental data showed that the effects of technology-mediated learning were mediated by learning engagement, learning engagement had a positive effect on learning effectiveness whether in face-to-face learning or technology-mediated learning. Moreover, effective design of instructional materials elicits appropriate cognitive processes in the learner and mediates more successful learning outcomes ensuring an engaging and worthwhile online learning is necessary to achieve the same result of achieving quality learning, therefore it is important to address these topics on faculty technical capability, standard instructional strategies and learner’s engagement strategies to the development of dynamic and an effective online framework model for Radiology technology program. This study aimed to assess the teachers’ level of technical capability, instructional strategies utilization and level of learners’ engagement strategies that set as the basis to enhance the online framework model for radiology technology program. Descriptive correlational research design was employed. The study revealed that Radiologic Technology Professors in terms of technical capabilities, instructional strategies and learner’s engagement had a very confident concept in online learning. In essence, the results yield the delivery of education with the use of technology introduces a platform that gives a more accessible learning system.
Measuring and modelling of cross-shore sediment transport and profile evolution on natural beaches

Cross-shore sediment transport is the dominant process causing beach profile evolution. The ability to model cross-shore sediment transport allows prediction of the future beach state be made. Due to a balance between opposing mechanisms, cross-shore sediment transport is difficult to predict. One route to make these predictions is with the development of measurement based parameterisation. This study builds on previous parameterisations that have related cross-shore velocity moment (predictors of suspended sediment transport according to the energetics approach to sediment transport) to normalised depth (a proxy of cross-shore position), to present a new shape function parameterisation. The present parameterisation has been developed from field measurements of depth-integrated cross-shore suspended sediment ransport measured during a month long field campaign at Sennen Cove, Cornwall, UK. This parameterisation is an improvement of the previous shape function parameterisation in three key areas; i) removes the dependency on the energetics approach, and so includes all transport mechanisms, ii) incident energy (parameterised as breakpoint depth hb) is considered, and so allows this shape function to be used under a wide range of energy conditions, iii) the swash zone processes are considered in detail. The new shape function parameterisation is the sum of four component shape functions that represent mean and oscillatory transport in the surfand shoaling zone and onand offshore transport in the swash-zone. As each component shape function responds individually to energy level, the net-transport shape function responds to varying conditions. Under high-energy conditions the shape function predicts onshore transport in the shoaling zone, offshore transport in the surf zone and onshore transport in the inner swash zone, while under low energy the shape function predicts all onshore transport with a peak outside the breakpoint and in the inner surf-zone. The shape function is implemented in a simple heuristic profile evolution model that allows the examination of beach behaviour of under varying conditions to be examined over long (decadal) time-scales. Preliminary results show that the shape function model is able to replicate onshore and offshore bar migration, bar development and bar degeneration over timescale not previously modelled. Future work will use this model to investigate the response to subtleties in driving conditions, such as the varying effect of seasonality compared to random storms.