Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Understanding the Relationships between Environmental and Social Risk Factors and Financial Performance of Global Infrastructure Projects

This study analyses the link between environmental and social risk (ESR) factors and the risk-return profile of infrastructure bonds. We provide support for the hypothesis that credit standing of infrastructure bonds is associated with ESR factors. Considering these factors along with bond and issuer specific information we discovered that several environmental and social risk covariates are strongly related to 1) expected risk-return profile of infrastructure bonds; and 2) the balance of risk around the expectation. Thus along with traditional drivers of bond risks (e.g. time to maturity, base interest rate, etc.) we find that also CO2 emission and percentage of independent directors emerge as important predictors. This study benefits from thoroughly developed, justified and validated non-parametric regression model used to derive key insights into the research question. This work makes a methodological contribution by applying non-parametric modelling techniques to study the financial risk of infrastructure projects. Moreover, it provides bond investors as well as policy makers with the guidance on where to focus their attention.
Factors Influencing Behavioral Intention to the Use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) among Students of Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro. Ogun state. Nigeria

The significance of Information and Communication (ICT) in Polytechnic education cannot be over-emphasized. The introduction of ICTs has tremendously assisted the libraries in their routine duties such as charging and discharging library materials, checking in and checking out users, library registration, recall of library materials indexing, cataloguing and classification The aim of the study is to examine the factors that influence the behavioral intention to use ICT among Polytechnic students in Nigeria. The study adopted the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) constructs. Extant Literature on the UTAUT and ICT influence the behavioral intention to use ICT among students were discussed. Extant literature indicates that we are now in the new generation in which young people accept digital technologies based on some reason.s Quantitative approach was employed through the use of survey method. 500 copies of a questionnaire were administered on the students of the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro out of which three hundred and forty five were returned (345) which indicated a return rate of sixty nine percent (69%). The findings of the study indicate that social influence and performance expectancy were the major constructs of the theory that influence the behavioral intention to use ICT. Based on the findings of the study the following recommendations were made: the Polytechnic should create more awareness about ICT usage among students, recognize and reward good ICT users among the students, create more ICT facilities and infrastructure for the students and advertise the ICTs in the libraries to all students
Nodal-line densities of chaotic quantum billiard modes satisfying mixed boundary conditions

Statistics of nodal lines for eigenmodes u in the stadium are computed, and compared with previously derived formulae for monochromatic boundary-adapted Gaussian random waves in the plane. These modes and random waves satisfy the Helmholtz equation, and mixed boundary conditions in which a linear combination of u and its normal derivative must vanish. For the density of nodal lines, and the excess density of nodal lines arising from the boundary, the Gaussian model accurately describes the statistics of the billiard eigenfunctions.
Hybrid Multiple Attribute Two-Sided Matching Decision Making Based on Grey Relational Fractional Programming Method

: In this paper, for a multiple attributes two-sided decision making problems, takes into account different formats of evaluation information of matching objects and proposes a method for dealing with such two-sided matching decision making problems. A methodology for determining the comprehensive weights of attributes of matching objects under the hybrid attribute environment based on some method for determining the subject and objective attribute weights is presented. Based on the grey relational degree and the technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) principle, optimal degrees of membership for matching objects by fractional programming is proposed and is defined matching satisfactory degree by it, and gets the best matching for the matching objects by solving a binary integer programming problem. The illustrative examples show the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method.
A Penalty Scheme for Monotone Systems with Interconnected Obstacles: Convergence and Error Estimates

We present a novel penalty approach for a class of quasi-variational inequalities (QVIs) involving monotone systems and interconnected obstacles. We show that for any given positive switching cost, the solutions of the penalized equations converge monotonically to those of the QVIs. We estimate the penalization errors and are able to deduce that the optimal switching regions are constructed exactly. We further demonstrate that as the switching cost tends to zero, the QVI degenerates into an equation of HJB type, which is approximated by the penalized equation at the same order (up to a log factor) as that for positive switching cost. Numerical experiments on optimal switching problems are presented to illustrate the theoretical results and to demonstrate the effectiveness of the method.
THE WELFARE STATE AND ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE

The Welfare State has come under attack from economists, particularly in Western Europe, who argue that it is responsible for poor economic performance, and that public spending should be reduced. The present paper seeks to clarify the nature of the charges leveled against the Welfare State and the mechanisms by which it may adversely affect economic performance. The first section considers the aggregate empirical evidence. Not only is the evidence mixed, but also such an argument is difficult to establish. The second section of the paper describes a number of the problems with aggregate cross-country evidence. In particular, the interpretation depends on the underlying theoretical framework. The third and fourth sections of the paper examine a selection of the theoretical mechanisms, distinguishing between those that affect the level of output, taking a model of the labor market, and those that influence the rate of growth, drawing on recent developments in growth theory. An important role is played by the institutional structure of benefits, which can significantly change their impact on economic behavior.
Kinetic and thermodynamic investigations of strontium ions retention by natural kaolinite and clinoptilolite minerals

Summary The current study was devoted to the determination of various thermodynamic and kinetic parameters resulting from the fixation of Sr2+ by natural samples of kaolinite and clinoptilolite minerals. The sorption process followed pseudo second order kinetics, with faster sorption on kaolinite compared to clinoptilolite, where the uptake is affected by intraparticle diffusion. Freundlich and Dubinin–Radushkevich isotherm models described the data more adequately than Langmuir model, and clinoptilolite showed a higher strontium sorption capacity than kaolinite. Thermodynamically, the activation energy of Sr2+ sorption by kaolinite and clinoptilolite were respectively, −8.5 and −18.4 kJ/mol. The sorption process on both minerals was spontaneous and endothermic at all the studied concentrations, with ΔH° being 11.3 and 9.8 kJ/mol, for sorption on kaolinite and clinoptilolite, respectively. The findings of this study were compared with those of an earlier study on the uptake of Cs+ by the same minerals.
Deconstructing ‘Troops for Influence’: A First Attempt at Revealing the Anatomy of the Acclaimed ‘Troops for Influence’- Assumption

Having notoriously escaped the operation table to be cut open for a full intestine check-up, the anatomy of the acclaimed ‘troops for influence’- assumption finally faces a full body search. Although appearing to be somewhat of a tacitly accepted ‘truth’ both in the academic and political world, there is confusion as to how we might actually understand the assumption of ‘troops for influence’ and what it entails, as no one seems to have a clear image of how to address it. So how can we understand the assumption of ‘troops for influence’? The aim of the thesis is to develop preliminary conceptual building-blocks and a tentative analytical model as a basis for the future development of a ‘troops for influence’-theory. Through a building-block procedure, the assumption will be deconstructed and possible ways to understand and define its various components: ‘troops’ and ‘influence’ sought. Thereinafter, attention will be brought to understanding why one could expect the assumption to be valid in the first place, as well as how such a relationship might unfold in practice. As such, this thesis will constitute a pure theoretical contribution to the subject in question, illustrating the assumption by Norway’s experience in Operation EUNAVFOR Atalanta.
Epidermoid cysts localized on extremities Ekstremite yerleşimli epidermoid kistler

• Correspondence: Ozan Beytemür, MD. Bağcılar Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi Ortopedi ve Travmatoloji Anabilim Dalı, 34200 Bağcılar, İstanbul, Turkey. Tel: +90 530 820 09 92 e-mail: beytemur@yahoo.com Epidermoid cysts are also called inclusion cysts, epidermal inclusion cysts, epithelial cysts, keratin cysts, implantation cysts or traumatic or post-traumatic epidermoid inclusion cysts. All these cysts include an epidermal layer with keratin. Epidermoid cysts are benign lesions which include a cystic space with keratin and formations of three germinal layers and connected with the upper skin. [1] They are detected in the soft tissue in general and located subcutaneously (Figure 1); however, they may present intratendinous, subungual or intraosseous localizations. [2] These cysts appear through invagination of keratinized squamous epithelium into deeper tissues because of trauma or ÖZ
Higgs Physics and Electroweak Symmetry Breaking

(a)Center for High Energy Physics, University of Oregon, USA; (b)Centre for High Energy Physics, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India; (c)Laboratoire de l’Accélérateur Linéaire, IN2P3/CNRS et Université Paris-Sud, France; (d)Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, UK; (e)Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, USA; ( f )DESY, Hamburg, Germany; (g)CERN, Geneva, Switzerland; (h)Tohoku University, Japan
Optimal investment-consumption and life insurance selection problem under inflation. A BSDE approach

Abstract We discuss an optimal investment, consumption and insurance problem of a wage earner under inflation. Assume a wage earner investing in a real money account and three asset prices, namely: a real zero-coupon bond, the inflation-linked real money account and a risky share described by jump-diffusion processes. Using the theory of quadratic-exponential backward stochastic differential equation (BSDE) with jumps approach, we derive the optimal strategy for the two typical utilities (exponential and power) and the value function is characterized as a solution of BSDE with jumps. Finally, we derive the explicit solutions for the optimal investment in both cases of exponential and power utility functions for a diffusion case.
Genetic Interaction Between NRAS and BRAF Mutations and PTEN / MMAC 1 Inactivation in Melanoma

Extant evidence implicates growth factor signaling in the pathogenesis of many tumor types, including cutaneous melanoma. Recently, reciprocal activating mutations of NRAS and BRAF were found in benign melanocytic nevi and cutaneous melanomas. We had previously reported a similar epistatic relationship between activating NRAS mutations and inactivating PTEN/MMAC1 alterations. We thus hypothesized that BRAF and PTEN/MMAC1 mutations may cooperate to promote melanoma tumorigenesis. Overall, 40 of 47 (85%) melanoma cell lines and 11 of 16 (69%) uncultured melanoma metastases had mutations in NRAS, BRAF, or PTEN/MMAC1. NRAS was exclusively mutated in nine of 47 (19%) cell lines and two of 16 (13%) metastases, whereas BRAF was solely mutated in 28 of 47 (60%) cell lines and nine of 16 (56%) metastases. In the 12 of 15 melanoma cell lines (80%) and two of two melanoma metastases with PTEN alterations, BRAF was also mutated. These findings suggest the existence of possible cooperation between BRAF activation and PTEN loss in melanoma development.
Celebrity Capital of Actresses of Color: A Mixed Methods Study

Is colorism in Hollywood a problem? A pilot study was conducted on two actresses, dark-skinned actress Lupita Nyong’o who won Best Supporting Actress Oscar in 2014 for her portrayal of a slave Patsey in the 2013 movie “12 Years a Slave,” 2013, and light-skinned actress Halle Berry who won Best Actress Oscar in 2002 for her portrayal of a widow Leticia Musgrove in the 2001 movie “Monster’s Ball. ” Data obtained from the mixed-methods design employed in the study found a significant difference in how often an actress’ complexion was used in a news story and how they were described using the language of racial capital. Contrary to expectations set by understanding of the concept of colorism, darker-skinned Nyong’o’s racial capital was stated in the news less prominently than the racial capital of lighter-skinned Berry. Actresses’ celebrity capital and ways of conversion of capital is visualized in Venn diagrams.
The simple loop conjecture for 3-manifolds modeled on Sol

The simple loop conjecture for 3-manifolds states that every 2-sided immersion of a closed surface into a 3-manifold is either injective on fundamental groups or admits a compression. This can be viewed as a generalization of the Loop Theorem to immersed surfaces. We prove the conjecture in the case that the target 3-manifold admits a geometric structure modeled on Sol.
Hepatotoxicity of Paraquat Dichloride and Ameliorative Effect of Nutritional Supplements

This study determined the potential hepatotoxicity of Paraquat dichloride (PQ) and ameliorative effect of selected nutritional supplements. Male Wistar albino rats were intraperitoneally administered sub-lethal concentration of Paraquat dichloride (1.5 mg/kg body weight) at alternate days and concomitantly treated daily with nutritional supplements (glutathione, vitamin C and garlic) for three weeks. Hepatotoxic and protective effect of PQ and nutritional supplements were respectively determined by assay of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities, and determination of bilirubin, total protein, and albumin concentrations. Oxidative stress and antioxidant status were determined by total antioxidant capacity, malondialdehyde, and glutathione concentrations. The result obtained showed that PQ administration induced elevations of AST, ALT and ALP activities, increase in serum bilirubin, and significant decrease albumin, indicating hepatic dysfunction. Significant increase in lipid peroxidation productmalondialdehyde (MDA), and decrease in glutathione concentration and total antioxidant capacity confirms the potential of PQ to induce oxidative hepatic damage. However, the results showed that oral administration of vitamin C and garlic were effective in the protection against paraquat induced toxicity. The mode of toxic action of PQ and the effect of vitamin C, garlic and glutathione in preventing or reducing these toxic effects were discussed in details. It is concluded that vitamin C and garlic might be an important antioxidant in the treatment of PQ induced toxicity.
DETECTION OF THE VELOCITY SHEAR EFFECT ON THE SPATIAL DISTRIBUTIONS OF THE GALACTIC SATELLITES IN ISOLATED SYSTEMS

We report a detection of the effect of the large-scale velocity shear on the spatial distributions of the galactic satellites around the isolated hosts. Identifying the isolated galactic systems, each of which consists of a single host galaxy and its satellites, from the Seventh Data Release of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and reconstructing linearly the velocity shear field in the local universe, we measure the alignments between the relative positions of the satellites from their isolated hosts and the principal axes of the local velocity shear tensors projected onto the plane of sky. We find a clear signal that the galactic satellites in isolated systems are located preferentially along the directions of the minor principal axes of the large-scale velocity shear field. Those galactic satellites that are spirals, are brighter, are located at distances larger than the projected virial radii of the hosts, and belong to the spiral hosts yield stronger alignment signals, which implies that the alignment strength depends on the formation and accretion epochs of the galactic satellites. It is also shown that the alignment strength is quite insensitive to the cosmic web environment, as well as the size and luminosity of the isolated hosts. Although this result is consistent with the numerical finding of Libeskind et al. based on an N-body experiment, owing to the very low significance of the observed signals, it remains inconclusive whether or not the velocity shear effect on the satellite distribution is truly universal.
Do Locals Know Better? A Comparison of the Performance of Local and Foreign Institutional Investors

We compare the performance of local versus foreign institutional investors using a comprehensive data set of equity holdings in 32 countries during the 2000–2010 period. We find that foreign institutions perform as well as local institutions on average, but only domestic institutions show a trading pattern consistent with an information advantage. Our results suggest a smart-money effect of local institutions in countries subject to higher information asymmetry, non-English speaking countries, countries with less efficient stock markets, with poor investor protection, or high levels of corruption. The local advantage is more pronounced in periods of market turmoil and in illiquid stocks.
Site-Controlled Quantum Emitters in Dilute Nitrides and their Integration in Photonic Crystal Cavities

We review an innovative approach for the fabrication of site-controlled quantum emitters (i.e., single-photon emitting quantum dots) based on the spatially selective incorporation and/or removal of hydrogen in dilute nitride semiconductors (e.g., GaAsN). In such systems, the formation of stable N-H complexes removes the effects that nitrogen has on the alloy properties, thus enabling the in-plane engineering of the band bap energy of the system. Both a lithographic approach and/or a near-field optical illumination—coupled to the ultra-sharp diffusion profile of H in dilute nitrides—allow us to control the hydrogen implantation and/or removal on a nanometer scale. This, eventually, makes it possible to fabricate site-controlled quantum dots that are able to emit single photons on demand. The strategy for a deterministic spatial and spectral coupling of such quantum emitters with photonic crystal cavities is also presented.
Political Science Theories of Crime and Delinquency

This literature review provides a brief overview of four theories of crime and delinquency and highlights the connection between each theory and political science. The theories reviewed include deterrence theory, conflict theory, labeling theory, and radical theory. Although rooted in sociology, these theories are considered in this review because they met the following criteria: (1) The theory was considered significant by scholars in several disciplines, including political science, (2) the assumptions in the theory included analysis of political and/or governmental institutions, and (3) some of the major tenets of the theory focused on political and governmental processes.
Genetic variability study in Bread Wheat (Triticum Aestivum L.) under Temperate Conditions

Wheat is one of the most important crop among the prime cereals at the global level. In the present investigation, twenty-four bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes were evaluated to estimate the extent of genetic diversity. Analysis of variance revealed that genotypes possess significant genetic variability among all traits at p < 00.1. It was also observed that HPW 447 had recorded the highest value of 35.16 (q/ha) whereas, HPW446 exhibited the lowest value (23.78 q/ha) for the yield. A significant positive correlation was observed among yield and biological yield traits. On contrary, yield and days to maturity revealed a negative correlation. Days to heading revealed a significant positive correlation with plant height (0.40) and a negative correlation with biological yield (-0.45), respectively. Diversity analysis classified the evaluated wheat genotypes into four (4) distinct groups based on an index of similarity and dissimilarity of attributing traits. Group I and II have one genotype each viz., HS637 and HPW447, respectively whereas in third group 6 genotypes including HPW441, HPW444, HPW446, VL2030, HS634, and VL2025 are clustered together. The fourth group had two sub-groups. The first sub-group had five (5) genotypes and the second sub-group had eight (8) genotypes. The first three principal components based on the Euclidean similarity matrix explained 45.13, 17.85 and 14.71 percent of the total variation, respectively. It is concluded that these wheat genotypes (HS631, HPW 442, HPW 447, VL 2027 and VL2028) possess significant genetic variability and requisite potential for use in breeding as candidate wheat genotypes under temperate conditions. It is further suggested that by multivariate methods diverse parents can be identified with a scope in generating transgressive segregants for prospective breeding strategies in the improvement of the wheat crop.
Incentives - Effectiveness and Efficiency

That people respond to incentives is a common belief. This became even stronger during the course of the financial crisis in 2008/09 as incentive schemes of banks are broadly considered as main reason for the crisis. This paper covers the question if and how incentives work evaluated by their impact on company performance, i.e. on market capitalization and profit before tax. Based on a unique data set for German executive directors of DAX companies (30 largest listed companies in Germany), it can be proved that neither short nor long term incentives plans necessarily support the company success. It rather depends on the efficiency of each plan, i.e. on its design. Special attention has to be paid on target setting. Short term focused objectives of STI plans often miss their targets, whereas long term oriented objectives of LTIs significantly support the company success. Targets of incentive schemes have to consider specific employee and company characteristics and should be accompanied by a proper performance management. To foster the incentivation and to solve the prisoner’s dilemma between employers and employees by a quasi-endless game, additional measures may be helpful, such as share ownership guidelines.