Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Determinants of bank efficiency: evidence from the Latin American banking industry

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyze a variety of factors that can explain the differences in commercial bank efficiency among 17 countries in Latin America (LatAm). Design/methodology/approachIn a first stage, data envelopment analysis (DEA) and conditional efficiency analysis techniques are used to assess the relative efficiency level of 409 banks for the 2014-2016 period. The conditional efficiency approach considers environmental variables (that are beyond the manager’s control), which could influence the shape and the level of the boundary of the attainable set. In the second stage, the resulting conditional efficiency scores are correlated with internal variables (those that are under the manager’s control), which might affect the distribution of the inefficiencies. For this purpose, an econometric approach developed by Simar and Wilson (2007) is used.FindingsFirst stage scores reveal the heterogeneity of average efficiency within the region. Regarding the factors that may explain the differences in performance in the LatAm banking sector, the results allow us to state that certain internal variables such as bank size, the ratio of loans to total assets and the ratio of non-performing loans show the expected relationship to efficiency, in line with much of the previous literature.Originality/valueThis is the first time that conditional efficiency and Simar and Wilson (2007) approaches have been applied at the same time to analyse the LatAm banking industry.
Examining Information Contents and Ad Appeals in Japanese Over-the-Counter Drug Advertising

A quantitative content analysis of Japanese OTC drug TV commercials broadcasted during prime time was conducted to provide an overview of pharmaceutical advertising in Japan. In the sample of 204 ads, nutritional supplement drinks were the most frequently advertised drug category. Ad appeals including effective, safe, and quick-acting were popular. Additionally, these ads predominantly used a product merit approach, and celebrity endorsers, particularly actors/actresses and “talents" (such as TV personnel and comedians), were frequently featured.
Attitude towards desire for implant treatment among outpatients of a Teaching Dental Hospital, Khammam

Background: The main goal of research in modern dentistry is to restore the patient to normal function, aesthetics and speech. Research in dentistry resulted in many rehabilitation procedures. Despite of new available restorative options it is observed that there are substantial barriers between need and demand and demand and utilization. This is possibly due to lack of information and awareness and poor financial status. Aim: The purpose of this survey is to evaluate awareness, interest and obstructions towards implant treatment among outpatients of the teaching Dental hospital, Khammam. Materials and method: A self-explanatory closed type of questionnaire which evaluates patient's awareness, interest and barriers to obtain an implant treatment was given to a sample of 300 outpatients of teaching Dental Hospital. Results: Out of 310 participants, 300 responded to the questionnaire with a response rate of 96.77%. Among them 232 (77.33%) subjects were males and 68 (22.67%) were females. 98.6% of sample feels replacement of lost tooth is necessary of which 275 (91.67%) says it is for performing masticatory functions and 23 (7.67%) says for aesthetics. Misconceptions about implant treatment are about 93 (31%). In the sample 169 (56.33%) feels it is an expensive though willing cannot afford. Long duration of treatment plan and fear about surgery among 117 (39%) and 123 (41%) respectively are barriers to success of implant procedure. Conclusion: The results of the survey reveal lower awareness towards implant treatment and socioeconomic status of the population making difficult to reach a common man.
Investigation of some Givetian rugose corals from the Mont d’Haurs Formation in southern Belgium

Cystiphylloides marennense n. sp. , C. minimum (Wedekind, 1922), Atelophyllum emsti (Wedekind, 1922), Thamnophyllum godefroidi n. sp. , Spinophyllum longiseptatum (Lütte, 1984) and Iowaphyllum sp. have been mainly collected on the south side of the Dinant Synclinorium, close to the boundary between the Lower and the Middle Givetian. Indeed, this material comes mostly from the lower part of the Mont d’Haurs Formation which is characterized by a high biodiversity. The genus Atelophyllum Wedekind, 1925 has been preferred to Mesophyllum Schlüter, 1889 and Lekanophyllum Wedekind, 1924 as the holotype of its type species Atelophyllum emsti has been figured in both transverse and longitudinal sections. A colony of Iowaphyllum is observed for the first time in the Givetian of Belgium. As a whole, the fauna of the Mont d’Haurs Formation is widely distributed in various areas of the Old World Realm (Europe, Asia and Australia). However, it shows strong affinities with the neighbouring countries of Belgium and especially with the Givetian rugose corals of the Eifel Hills, the Bergisches Land and the Sauerland in Germany.
An analysis of the complexities of advance care planning implementation : insights gained from a review of the literature

Background: Advance care planning (ACP) is a process for patients and families to engage in discussions around future wishes for health care. It offers a means to increase dialogue about end of life care and has the potential to improve patient outcomes. Despite the benefits demonstrated in literature, there are still many challenges to ACP implementation. This thesis investigated why ACP is so difficult to implement by reflecting on the following stakeholders: patients and families of older adults and individuals living with chronic illnesses, health care providers, and health care organizations. Particular examples are drawn from the context in British Columbia, Canada. Methods: A purposeful search strategy modifying the rapid evidence assessment approach was used to synthesize the literature. Research studies, summary reports, and policy documents were used to build a balanced picture of perspectives for policy makers. Bryant‟s (2009) Policy Change Model and critical theoretical perspectives shaped this analysis and highlighted the complexities and ideologies behind public, professional, and organizational sentiment. Findings: The analysis of literature on patient and provider perspectives shows the biomedical dominance in health care culture and the disinclination to discuss end of life issues. A shift is needed where recognition and prioritization of ACP implementation is supported by leaders in health organizations. Organization-wide multi-component ACP efforts combined with goals of care documentation have been shown to be most successful in improving patient outcomes, but organizational commitment to development of processes and policies is necessary. There is opportunity for nursing leadership and research to move ACP efforts forward in organizations.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Degeneration

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive and fatal disorder caused by degeneration of motor neurons in the cerebral cortex, brainstem and spinal cord. Several clinical reports indicated sympathetic and parasympathetic dysfunction in ALS patients. In addition, we have recently reported elevated heart rate and blood pressure in transgenic (TG) mice carrying the SOD1 mutant form of the human SOD1 transgene (SOD1-G93A) even prior to the appearance of motor symptoms. In order to further elucidate the mechanisms underlying autonomic impairment in ALS we performed an immunohistochemical study of the intermediolateral nucleus (IML) column neurons (T2 – L2), superior cervical ganglia (SCG) and adrenal glands (AG) in TG and littermate wild-type (WT) mice at the age of 75 – 80 days. IML column neurons sections were stained with antibodies against choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), SOD1, ubiquitin and SMI31. SCG and AG sections were stained with antibodies against ChAT and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). ChAT is predominantly located at preganglionic nerve terminals that innervate the AG, while TH is located in sympathetic neurons. Results showed that ChAT, SOD1 and ubiquitin expressions in IML column were signifi cantly lower in the SOD1-G93A group compared to WT ( p 0.0001, p 0.0042 and p 0.0001, respectively). SMI31 measurements did not reveal any statistical differences between the two groups ( p 0.6187). TH expression in AG revealed a 24% decrease in the SOD1-G93A group compared to WT ( p 0.0001), while ChAT expression in the SCG was reduced by 28% ( p 0.0001). No signifi cant differences were found for TH in SCG or for ChAT in AG. In conclusion, these results are consistent with preganglionic sympathetic denervation as a potential contributor to the abnormal sympathetic regulation in ALS.
DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC WORKING PAPERS SERIES

This study investigates the impact of the business cycle on the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) for the Eswatini Kingdom over the period 1970 – 2014. To this end, we employ the nonlinear autoregressive distributive lag (NARDL) model to capture the long-run and short-run cointegration effects between economic activity and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions over different phases of the business cycle. Our findings reveal that economic activity only degrades the environment during upswing of the economic cycle whilst this relationship is insignificant during downswing of the cycle. We specifically compute a value of $3.57 worth of output been gained at the cost of a metric unit of emissions during economic expansionary phases. Altogether, these results insinuate much needed government intervention in the market for emissions via environmental tax reforms (ETR) which should be designed with countercyclical bias towards upswing the business cycle.
NEST TREE SELECTION AND VULNERABILITY TO PREDATION AMONG HOODED CROWS CORVUS CORONE CORNIX

DEMENT’EV, G. P. 1951. The Peregrine Falcon in the U.S.S.R. In G. P. Dement’ev & N. A. Gladkov (eds), The birds of the Soviet Union, Soviet Science Moscow: 80-100. (Translated 1966, U.S. Dept. Comm., Springfield, Virginia TT 6411027). HICKEY, J. J. & ANDERSON, D. W. 1968. Chlorinated hydrocarbons and eggshell changes in raptorial and fish-eating birds. Science, N.Y. 162: 271-273. HICKEY, J. J. & ANDERSON, D. W. 1969. The Peregrine Falcon: Life history and population literature. In J. J. Hickey (ed.), Peregrine Falcon populations: their biology and decline: 3-42. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press. ODSJO, T. & LINDBERG, P. 1977. Reduction of eggshell thickness of Peregrine in Sweden. In P. Lindberg (ed.), Pilgrimsfalk: 59-60. Grimso Wildlife Research Station. PEAKALL, D. B. 1974. DDE: Its presence in Peregrine eggs in 1948. Science, N.Y. 183: 673-674. PEAKALL, D. B. 1975. Physiological effects of chlorinated hydrocarbons in avian species. In R. Haque and V. H. Freed (eds), Environmental dynamics of pesticides: 343-360. New York: Plenum Press.
The Characterization Of Mathematics Students’ Metacognition Process In Solving Mathematical Problems

It is an article as the result of a study to analysis happening of mathematical students’ metacognition changes in solving and describing the characteristic of mathematical problem. The metacognition is based on the changes of awareness, evaluation, and regulation as the components of it. To make known of them, the writer has determined the indicators of each of the components which are spelled out into descriptors in order the process of metacognition changes can be seen. The process of the study involved 23 Students of Mathematics Department who finished Differential Calculus lesson as the subjects of the study. The subjects of the study were given mathematical problems about the application of function derivation to make known of the maximum area of a field. The data of the study was obtained consists of mathematical problem worksheet, record, metacognition questionnaire, and interview transcript. Then, the data was analysed by using Glaser’s and Strauss’ constant comparative models. Based on the analyzing, it can be inferred that the characterization of mathematical students’ metacognition changes in solving mathematical problems can be classified by three categories: (1) metacognition changing process with complete-order indicator, (2) metacognition changing process with complete-disorder indicator, and (3) metacognition changing process with incomplete indicator. During the happening of the process of metacognition changes, the subject of the study, carried out the activities which are suitable to awareness, evaluation, and regulation indicators determined.
Effects of Flow Hydraulics, Pipe Structure and Submerged Jet on Leak Behaviour

The aim of this paper is numerical and experimental study of the effects of flow hydraulics, pipe structure (particularly elastic behaviour) and submerged jet on leak behaviour. In this regard, experimental tests were performed on a high-pressure circulation set up. Experiments were performed on an old steel pipe and a High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) pipe discharged to the atmosphere in a wide range of pressures up to 50 m. To analyze the leak behaviour, the effect of the surrounding environment and the pressure on leak area, the experimental setup was modeled by ANSYS software. Then, the numerical model was validated using experimental results and used to analyze and generalize leakage results in other situations. The results indicated that: 1) Standard k-e turbulence model showed a better performance and relatively better results in modelling leakage in comparison with the other turbulence models, 2) Combining the Finite Volume and Finite Element methods for taking into account the impact of pressure allowed simultaneous examination of the pipe hydraulics and the structure of the leak area to obtain more reasonable results from hydraulic analysis of the flow and pipe structure, 3) Pressure fluctuations in the submerged jet affect the leakage discharge so that it is reduced compared to discharging to the atmosphere, 4) it was observed that the leakage exponent is close to the theoretical value of 0.5, considering the effect of pressure head on leak area behaviour. Furthermore, there is a linear relationship between pressure head and leak area for elastic pipes.
Exploring the relationship between health beliefs and medication adherence in individuals with asthma

Aim: To better understand medication-taking behaviour in asthma, the present study aimed to investigate how beliefs about medicines, illness perceptions and locus of control beliefs are related to each other and with medication adherence. Method: Cross-sectional data was collected from a convenience sample of 113 adults with asthma recruited from community pharmacies and through advertisement on the National Asthma Organisation website. Participants completed a survey of validated questionnaires (Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire, Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire, Multi-Health Locus of Control Scale and Medication Adherence Report Scale) to elicit health beliefs and medication adherence. Results: Medication adherence was associated with few concerns about asthma medicines (r=-0.26, p=0.01), good understanding of asthma (r=0.26, p=0.009) and a strong belief in the doctor to control their asthma (r=0.44, p=<0.001). Illness perceptions and locus of control beliefs were also related to beliefs about medicines. Discussion: This study suggests that beliefs about medicines, illness perceptions and locus of control beliefs play an important role in adherence decisions in asthma.Our next step is to further investigate the relationship between these beliefs and how they impact adherence.
Proxy structural vector autoregressions, informational sufficiency and the role of monetary policy

We show that the contemporaneous and longer horizon impulse responses estimated using small-scale Proxy structural vector autoregressions (SVARs) can be severely biased in the presence of information insufficiency. Instead, we recommend the use of a Proxy Factor Augmented VAR (FAVAR) model that remains robust in the presence of this problem. In an empirical exercise, we demonstrate that this issue has important consequences for the estimated impact of monetary policy shocks in the US. We find that the impulse responses of real activity and prices estimated using a Proxy FAVAR are substantially larger and more persistent than those suggested by a small-scale Proxy SVAR.
Image Segmentation Using Discrete Cosine Texture Feature

In this paper we propose a computational efficient approach for image segmentation based on texture analysis, a 2D discrete cosine transform (DCT) is utilized to extract texture features in each image block. We first split the input image into MxN blocks, calculate the distances between neighbor blocks by a set of largest energy signatures from DCT for each block. Then we merge blocks with smallest distances to form larger regions. The process will repeat until we got desired number of regions. Experimental results show that our proposed method outperforms the existing image segmentation method, especially on efficiency aspect. Keywords— image segmentation, texture analysis, split and merge, 2D discrete cosine transform.
Medical Students’ Perceptions of Pathology and a Proposed Curricular Integration with Histology: A Future Vision of Curricular Change

Students’ perceptions and feedback have a significant impact on academic progress. The aim of this study was to determine the perceptions of medical students regarding the cumulative effects of the first year general histology course and t he sophomore pathology introductory course, in addition to their perceptions regarding the curricular integration of histology and pathology . In this cross-sectional study, a questionnaire was given to second-year and third-year medical students in the middle of second semeste r. The questionnaire comprised several items on students’ attitudes toward anatomic pathology, their feedback on the first year genera l histology and the sophomore pathology courses, and their perceptions regarding the integration of histology and pathology courses. A five -point Likert scale was used. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) v 20 software. Two hundreds a nd fourteen of the 236 questionnaires distributed were analyzed (response rate = 90.7 %). More than 51 % of the respondents report e that they couldn’t identify the normal tissue counterpart of most practical pathology cases. Only 31.3 % thought their practical his tology knowledge was beneficial for them in practical pathology. More than 87 % agreed or strongly agreed that pathology cases need to b copresented with normal tissue examples. A significant proportion of the respondents (60.7 %) were with merging histology and pat hology in integrated courses. Pathology was of career choices for only 15.4 % of the participants. The curricular integration of histo l gy and pathology in the first year needs to be tested, and much effort is needed to increase students’ affinity for anatomic pathology .
Ontological Core of the Social Concept of Global Constitutionalism: a Socio-Philosophical Analysis of Content and Evolution

This article explores the development of the conceptual foundations of the social concept of global constitutionalism. It is proved that the evolution of ontological principles in global constitutionalism is due to a system of processes: 1) the convergence of neoliberalism and neoconservatism, due to the gradual washing out of the philosophical core in them, its replacement by political technologies that justify the practice of satisfying the interest of political classes and population groups; 2) the formation on a planetary scale of a single global governing class headed by a single system of elites; 3) the formation of a single financial and economic basis for further globalization of socio-political and state-legal development in national states; 4) the formation of a single general goal of the global governing class, which has a purely practical (rational) nature, subject to the logic of preserving power and property in the hands of global governing elites — the preservation and development of the world capitalist system. Thus, global constitutionalism acts as a social concept that justifies the globalization of the socio-political, state-legal, financial and economic structure of national states and societies, filling it with content. It substantiates the position that the social concept of global constitutionalism in the ontological, epistemological, methodological and axiological terms has incorporated the most rational concepts and constructs not only from neoliberal and neoconservative, but also from national socialist (Nazi) and fascist social concepts. Examines the impact on the evolution of the ontological principles of social concept of global constitutionalism content of the ontological principles and other social concepts. It substantiates the position that the ontological perception of the world picture in the framework of the social concept of global constitutionalism as a whole is built on the basis of neoliberalism and neoconservatism that prevailed in the Western world, being the most rational systemic updating of their principles. The goal of research: to investigate the genesis of the ontological principles in global constitutionalism. Subject of research: theoretical content and stages of development of ontological principles in global constitutionalism in relation to its social essence.
Perceptions of STEM-based outreach activities in secondary education

We investigated and compared the learning environment perceptions of students, teachers and guides who participated in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)-based outreach activities in secondary education. In outreach activities, schools and teachers work together with companies and other external institutions in learning activities in order to motivate students for the STEM domain. In this study, we identified characteristics of outreach activities that explain variance in perceptions of students. Data were gathered from 729 high-school students as well as 35 teachers and guides in 12 activities both in the US and the Netherlands. A questionnaire was used to asses outreach activities based on subscales from validated questionnaires such as the What Is Happening In this Classroom, Constructivist Learning Environments Survey, Classroom Environment Scale and the Learning Climate Questionnaire. Teachers’ perceptions were more positive than students’ perceptions for most scales, while guides perceived the outreach learning environment in almost the same way as students. Student perceptions were very positive for outreach activities. Outreach activity characteristics such as teaching method and emphasis were found to be the most important factors in explaining variance in students’ perceptions between activities. Long-term problem-based activities and the perspective of new views of science and scientists were perceived as providing the most positive learning environments. Additionally, outreach learning environments can create opportunities to increase students’ motivation in STEM.