Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Deposit Money Banks’ Lending Activities on the Growth of Real Sector of Nigeria’s Economy: A Disaggregated Approach 1986 – 2019

To the best of our knowledge, we presented an analysis of how the growth of Nigeria’s real sector has been affected by lending activities of deposit money banks. We examined how agricultural, industrial, and building & construction sectors of the real economy have grown owing to the fund they received from the deposit money banks moderated by the cost of fund/interest rate amidst information from 1986 to 2019. Model estimation adhered strictly to the Autoregressive Distributive Lag (ARDL) model/bound test for a long and short-run relationship. How agricultural, industrial, and building & construction sectors of the real economy have been affected by deposit money banks’ lending activities were evaluated following the approach of the granger causality test. From the result of the analysis, we concluded that deposit money banks’ lending activities have not significantly affected the growth of the real sector of the Nigerian economy. The equity investment scheme of small and medium enterprises requires that all deposit money banks operating in the Original Research Article Mazeli et al.; AJEBA, 20(1): 29-41, 2020; Article no.AJEBA. 62419 30 country to keep 10 percent of their net income in an attempt to encourage the growth of small and medium enterprises. Although the Bankers’ Committee willingly came up with the initiative in 1999, we urge the Bankers’ Committee to review upward to let say 15 – 20 percent. This will in no small measure cause an upsurge in the output agricultural, industrial, and building & construction sectors of the real economy which are dominated by small and medium enterprises.
Effects of a group experiential therapy program on the psychological health of military veterans: a preliminary investigation

ABSTRACT This study examined the clinical effects of a brief group experiential therapy treatment centered on psychodrama in a sample of military veterans. The sample (N = 72) comprised male (n = 54) and female (n = 18) United States military veterans (M age = 44.19, SD age = 12.51) who completed the six-day treatment. Self-reported military-related posttraumatic stress (M-PTSD), anxiety, depression, and quality of life were assessed at baseline (T0), end of treatment (T1), three-month follow-up (T2), and six-month follow-up (T3). Prior combat exposure was also measured at T0, and acceptability and user satisfaction ratings were reported at T1. Within-subjects changes on all outcomes from T0 to T1, T2, and T3 were medium to large in effect size. After controlling for relevant demographic characteristics, prior combat exposure, and baseline multimorbidity, the results revealed significant improvements in clinical symptoms and quality of life from T0 to T1, T2, and T3. A majority of the participants who met criteria for M-PTSD, anxiety, or depression caseness at T0 attained recovery status at T1, T2, and T3. Acceptability and satisfaction ratings were high. The findings offer preliminary evidence supporting the efficacy of the group experiential treatment in sustaining reduced psychological symptoms and improving the quality of life of military veterans.
KS-FQA: Keyframe selection based on face quality assessment for efficient face recognition in video

Video is considered as one of the most useful and important forms of multimedia data, that is usually used in several applications. Despite its importance, video indexing and retrieval becomes a challenging task. In order to reduce the amount of data and keep only relevant frames, keyframe extraction becomes necessary in a content-based video retrieval (CBVR) system. In this paper, a keyframe extraction method is proposed based on the face image quality for video surveillance systems. Data is reduced by rejecting frames without faces. Then, face images are clustered by identity. After that, a set of candidate frames is selected to be proceeded. The face quality assessment is based on four metrics including pose estimation, sharpness, brightness and resolution, and the frame with the best face quality is considered as a keyframe. Experimental tests were carried on several datasets in order to prove the efﬁciency of authors’ method compared with state-of-the-art approaches.
Enabling Technologies and the Role of Private Firms: A Machine Learning Matching Analysis

Investments in enabling technologies—including the fifth-generation technology standard for broadband cellular networks (5G), artificial intelligence (AI), and light detection and ranging (LIDAR) technology—are important strategic decisions for firms. This paper asks how inventions that private firms developed with (versus without) public-sector partners differ in their enabling technology trajectory. Using a novel method of machine learning matching, we compare patented technologies generated from more than 30,000 public–private relationships with comparable technologies invented by private firms alone during a 21-year period. To measure the enabling potential of a technology, we introduce a new enabling technology index. The findings show that private-firm relationships with the public sector—in particular cooperative agreements and grants with mission agencies (National Aeronautics and Space Administration and Department of Defense)—are likely starting points for enabling technology trajectories. We thus put a spotlight on organizational arrangements that combine the breadth of exploration (agreements, grants) with deep exploitation in a particular domain (mission agency). A key contribution is a better understanding of the types of private-firm efforts that are associated with enabling technologies. We also challenge the common assumption that enabling technologies have their origins only in public-sector projects and show how private firms are involved. Our significant contribution is to show how private firms can change evolution of ecosystems through technology development.
How the Unique Industry-Specific Measures of Service Quality and Brand Image Can Develop Customer Loyalty in Automotive After-Sales Service

The relationship between service quality and customer loyalty has been the focus of service organizations for decades when pursuing competitiveness and profitability. Albeit being the focus of research for years, the customer’s perception of the measures of service quality according to specific industry dimensions and contexts is still a major argument. As such, this study aimed to investigate service quality in the context of automotive after-sales service, specifical ly that provided by Malaysian national carmakers’ service providers. This study also evaluated the role of the national carmakers’ brand image and how it impacts the level of customer loyalty. This study found that national carmakers should focus on customer service and technical quality in order to achieve a higher quality of service, as well as strengthen their image to ensure customers return for the subsequent service and secure new vehicle sales. This study’s primary data was obtained from questionnair es involving 321 respondents. Statistical analysis using the SPSS software was performed on the data. Empirical findings have provided insights for carmakers, especially after-sales service, on the importance of service quality, especially the element of customer service, technical quality and a strong image that captures customers’ loyalty .
Isolation and Identification of Microsporum canis in Companion Animals from Selected Local Government Areas in Abia State

The aim of the study is to isolate and identify Microsporum canis from companion animals (dogs and cats) in three local government areas of Abia State. A total of one hundred and fifty skin scrapings from infected dogs (100) and cats (50) were screened. Saboruad destroxe agar was used for the culture and Needle mount technique was adopted. Lactophenol Cotton Blue (LCB) was used for staining. Demographic indices like; age, sex, and breed of the animals were considered. This organism at macroscopy appears as white, light yellow, cottony to powdery colonies. At microscopic view, the spores of M. canis appear as large and spindle shaped with thick wall. The dogs has a predominant isolation rate of 36.0%. The female dogs and cats presented the highest frequency of occurrence at 58.2% and 63.6% respectively. Dogs of 9months old and above had more M. canis isolation rate at 70.0%, while cats between 5 and 8months of age had the highest isolation rate at 33.3%. Dogs and cats at 1 to 4 months of age had the least M. canis isolation rate at 7.5% and Original Research Article Okechukwu and Betsy; JAMB, 20(11): 9-16, 2020; Article no.JAMB. 63165 10 14.5% respectively. The indigenous breeds of dogs had the highest isolation rate of M. canis at 53.8% while the Caucasian breed was the least at 7.7%. Statistical analysis shows that (p=.05) there is significance in isolation rate of M. canis in dogs and cats.
Pretreatment with Lactobacillus fermentum XY18 Relieves Gastric Injury Induced by HCl/Ethanol in Mice via Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Mechanisms

Aim Lactobacillus fermentum XY18 (LF-XY18) is a bacterial strain with satisfactory antioxidant properties in vitro that we previously isolated from Xinjiang yogurt. This article will explore the preventive effect of LF-XY18 on acute gastric injury and provide the basis for the innovative development and application of lactic acid bacteria (LAB). Methods Kunming mice underwent gastric injury induced by hydrochloric acid and ethanol. LF-XY18 isolated from yogurt in Xinyuan County in the Yili region of Xinjiang was subsequently administered intragastrically to mice for 2 weeks to explore the mechanism of LF-XY18 in preventing gastric injury via its antioxidant effects. Results There was decreased gastric juice volume, gastric injury area, and formation of gastric mucosal lesions in the LF-XY18 mice as compared to those in the control mice, while LF-XY18 prevented the decrease in the gastric juice pH value in mice. Compared with the gastric injury model group mice, LF-XY18 reduced the serum levels of motilin, substance P, interleukin-6, interleukin-12, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interferon-γ but increased the serum levels of somatostatin and vasoactive intestinal peptide. The activities of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione, and nitric oxide were increased in the gastric tissue of the LF-XY18 mice compared with the control mice, but malondialdehyde activity was decreased in the LF-XY18 mice. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis illustrated that in the gastric tissue of LF-XY18 mice, the messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of occludin, epidermal growth factor (EGF), EGF receptor, vascular EGF, inhibitor kappa-B-α, neuronal nitric oxide synthase, endothelial nitric oxide synthase, cuprozinc superoxide dismutase, manganese superoxide dismutase, and catalase was stronger than that in the control mice, but the mRNA expression of activated B cells (NF-κB), inducible nitric oxide synthase, and cyclooxygenase-2 was weaker than in the control mice. Conclusion These results indicate that LF-XY18 has a potential role in the prevention of gastric injury through antioxidant effects, and a high concentration (1.0 × 109 CFU/kg b.w.) of LF-XY18 has a stronger anti-gastric injury effect than a low concentration (1.0 × 108 CFU/kg b.w.).
Paranoid personality and frontline employee’s proactive work behaviours: a moderated mediation model of empathetic leadership and perceived psychological safety

PurposeThis study expands on research related to the dark side of personality traits by examining how individual dark personality affects proactive work behaviours. Specifically, the authors consider paranoia as a dark personality trait and propose that it negatively relates to perceived psychological safety and indirectly affects frontline employees' (FLEs) willingness to report customer complaints as well as their extra-role customer service. The authors also posit that empathetic leadership is a focal, contextual factor that mitigates the impact of paranoia on perceived psychological safety and, consequently, the willingness to report customer complaints and engage in extra-role customer service behaviour.Design/methodology/approachThe model was tested on a sample of 252 FLEs using process macro (Hayes, 2017) and AMOS. Data were collected from FLEs working in different hospitality organisations using a time-lagged design; supervisor-rated employee extra-role customer service was also measured.FindingsThe authors found that FLEs with a paranoid personality trait had a lesser sense of psychological safety at work, which reduced their willingness to engage in proactive work behaviours. However, this negative effect was mitigated by the presence of an empathetic leader.Originality/valueThe results are important because research has yet to determine which actions managers should take to counter the negative effects of dark personalities in the workplace.
Coping with variability in agricultural production ‐implications for soil testing and fertiliser management

Abstract Decisions about fertiliser applications are fraught with uncertainty. Uncertainty about the outcome of an application of fertiliser is caused by unknown or uncontrolled variation about the condition of the soil to which it is applied, its fate, and the demand from the crop. Uncertainty can be eased by providing information which reduces ignorance about the likely outcomes of applying fertiliser, thereby increasing the decision‐maker's chances of success. Such information could include analyses of soil and plant tissue, prior information about crop performance, and predictions of climate and prices. This information could be used to improve the rate, location and timing of applications. Precision agriculture technology greatly enhances our ability to acquire and manage more of this information. However, information costs money, which must be traded‐off against the greater likelihood of success. This trade‐off is very difficult to evaluate, and in practice depends on a range of factors, including the availability of data, current understanding of its meaning and the preferences of the decision‐maker. Research in the Western Australia (WA) wheatbelt, suggests that conventional soil testing is of limited value in explaining variability of crop response in the field. Possible reasons for this include the inadequate representation of major sources of variation ‐ in particular water availability, weeds or disease; inaccurate representation of nutrient uptake mechanisms; and errors of calibration over large agro‐ecological regions and wide ranges in soil types or properties. We suggest that this situation may be improved somewhat by more sensitive methods which can reflect small but significant variations in soil chemistry and nutrient availability, and more localised test calibration. However, such improvements may do little to ease the problem of confounding sources of variation. Using field‐scale examples, this paper examines the scale of variability with which the decision‐maker must cope, and some options that are available to handle it.
Isolation and molecular characteristics of extended spectrum beta-lactamase-producing uropathogenic Escherichia coli isolated from hospital attendees in Ebonyi State, Abakaliki

This present study was designed to determine the occurrence frequency of blaCTX-M and blaTEM genes in extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing uropathogenic Escherichia coli, and their antibiotic resistance patterns among hospital attendees in Abakaliki, Nigeria. Out of the 73 uropathogenic E.coli isolates analyzed, 52 were identified to be ESBL producers using double disk synergy technique. The frequency of beta-lactamse (bla) genes (CTX-M and TEM) among E. coli was molecularly determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Out of 52 (71.2%) ESBL-producing uropathogenic E. coli, 17 (32.7%) were positive for blaTEM, 35 (67.3%) were positive for blaCTX-M while 8 (15.3%) harboured both blaTEM and blaCTX-M genes. CTX-M gene was the most prevalent gene. Isolates evaluated in our study were resistant to cefotaxime (83.6%), ceftazidime (79.5%), amoxycillin (72.6%), cefpodoxime (68.5%), aztreonam (61.6%), ceftriaxone (57.5%), and cefepime (37%). This study demonstrated the occurrence frequency of CTX-M and TEM genes in uropathogenic E. coli strains in Abakaliki. Even though molecular techniques are more reliable in the detection of ESBL production, routine clinical screening for ESBL-producing uropathogens using phenotypic method should be introduced and encouraged in clinical settings as they are less expensive. This will go a long way in checkmating drug resistance. Key words: Escherichia coli, uropathogens, extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL), resistance genes, antibiotics.
SIMPLE PARTITIONING OF ANIONS AND DISSOLVED ORGANIC CARBON IN A FOREST SOIL

We analyzed the adsorption characteristics of B horizon soil of a Spodosol (Fragiorthod) as part of a series of studies to evaluate the importance of adsorption processes to nutrient cycling at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, New Hampshire. The results of equilibration experiments using naturally occurring concentrations of sulfate, nitrate, floride, orthophosphate, chloride, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) were best described using a simple partitioning model rather than either the Langmuir or Freundlich equations. The amount of anion or DOC removed from or released to the solution by the soil was a linear function of the initial amount added to the soil-water system. This relationship, which we term the initial mass (IM) isotherm, was applicable to all solutes evaluated. We interpreted these results as a simple partitioning in which two sources contribute anion or DOC to the system: the soil and solution. The substance of interest is partitioned between soil and solution phases according to a partition coefficient. We calculated soil water distribution coefficients and estimated the reactive soil pools for each anion and DOC, using parameters of the IM isotherm. The IM approach can facilitate a direct comparison of solute-soil interactions for different solutes and soil types.
The moderating role of openness to experience: Influence of nostalgia on purchase intention

Diterima 10 September 2020 Disetujui 15 Oktober 2020 Diterbitkan 2 Desember 2020 Artikel ini mengusulkan dan menguji suatu model interaksional purchase intention dimana keterbukaan pada pengalaman menjadi konstruk utama antara nostalgia dan purchase intention. Berdasarkan teori identitas sosial dan model lima besar kepribadian, nostalgia dan keterbukaan pada pengalaman diusulkan sebagai variabel kontekstual dan individual yang saling memengaruhi dalam proses ini. Keterbukaan pada pengalaman berinteraksi dengan nostalgia mengarahkan pada perilaku niat membeli. Secara keseluruhan model memerlukan proses moderasi dimana keterbukaan pada pengalaman menjadi variabel krusial untuk mentransformasi sumber daya kontekstual menjadi keluaran perilaku niat membeli. Hipotesis diuji menggunakan structural equation modelling, pada 273 responden. Kami mendiskusikan implikasi teoritikal dan praktikal dari temuan ini. Kata Kunci: Nostalgia, keterbukaan pada pengalaman, niat membeli, teori identitas sosial.
Explanatory Factors of the Capital Structure

This paper presents an empirical study of the capital structure of Portuguese companies where the main objective is to find key explanatory factors for indebtedness decisions. The relations between indebtedness and its determinants are tested in the light of the Trade-Off Theory and the Pecking-Order Theory. The motivation of this work was to contribute to the scientific research on the influential determinants of the capital structure and to deepen the knowledge of the Portuguese market. The quantitative methodology is used, through an econometric model for panel data using accounting information of 55 Portuguese companies between 2014 and 2016. Statistical tests such as the F test, the Lagrange Multiplier Breusch-Pagan test and the Hausman test were used to identify the most appropriate method of estimation, which resulted in a panel data model with random effects for individuals. The findings of this study suggest that indebtedness have a positive relation with tangibility and the size of the company, which supports the Trade-Off Theory. However, the positive relationship with the non-debt tax benefits suggests the importance of taxes, contrary to Trade-Off Theory. The negative relationship with cash flows, coupled with the positive relationships between size and growth opportunities, suggest the use of funding only when internal funds become insufficient, supporting the Pecking-Order Theory. The general results support that both theories partially explain the financing decisions of Portuguese companies. Doi: 10.28991/esj-2020-01249 Full Text: PDF
Assessment of Anticoccidial Efficacy of Novel Triazine Compound and Sulfaclozine against Experimentally Induced Caecal Coccidiosis in Broiler Chickens

This study was performed to investigate the theraputic efficacy of toltrazuril, sulfaclozine sodium and their combination in broiler chicken for the treatment of experimentally induced caecal coccidiosis. For this purpose, seventy-five day-old chicks were randomly divided into five equal groups (15 each). G1, kept as control negative; G2, infected non treated (control positive); G3, infected treated with toltrazuril (1 mL/L); G4, infected treated with sodium sulfaclozine (2 mL/L); G5, infected treated with toltrazuril (1 mL/L) + sulfaclozine Na (2 g/L). All groups except negative control group were inoculated orally with 5 × 104 sporulated oocysts of Eimeria tenella (field isolate) on the day 15th of age. According to the present results, G2 showed a significant increase in oocyst count, AST, ALT, ALP, uric acid, and creatinine, with significant decrease in body weight gain, hematological parameters, total protein, and albumin. Treatment decreased the harmful effect of infection but some significant differences were shown between infected and treated groups and non infected and non treated group in assessment criteria. Furthermore, the histopathological findings were also discussed. In conclusion, the current study showed that the application of both tested drugs gave significant and satisfactory improvement in the assessment criteria as well as they are effective in control of coccidiosis caused by Eimeria tenella.
Social Media for Learning: Advancing Theoretical Frameworks to Understand Complex Learning Environments

Students in higher education are driving the informal use of social media to support their cognitive and socio-emotional learning experiences during their undergraduate studies, with a growing literature base supporting the use of such technologies. This paper highlights a need to take a longitudinal approach to explore how students’ use of social media tools may change over time and promotes the use of social learning theories as a useful lens through which to explain this complex and situated learning of a given community of practice. It argues that to enhance social media pedagogies the research community needs to explore more explicitly ways that innovative pedagogy can inform theory development within the field, and equally how a greater maturity in understanding those theories can enhance our pedagogical practices. The potential for cultural historical activity theory (CHAT) as a framework for researching the multi-dimensional, or dialectical, interactions that may occur in the social media space is examined. CHAT is promoted as a useful theory for introducing a greater focus on the role of the social media tool itself in mediating learning. The paper concludes by proposing that that whilst existing social learning theories provide useful starting points for making sense of how social media can support learning, there may also be a need for the advancement of such theoretical frameworks to ensure that we develop theory capable of exploring the complexity of learning that could take place in social media spaces.