Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Competitive Advantage on the Relationship between Strategic Leadership and Performance of International Non-Governmental Organizations in Kenya

In developing countries, International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGOs) have taken active and complementary roles in sustainable human development. Despite the role of INGOs in development, the issues of sustainability, availability of funds, and supportive leadership have remained a major challenge in developing countries. The concept of competitive advantage has been recognized as a central building block in strategic management and an important precedent to organizational performance. Competitive advantage is a deliberate effort by the organization to align its internal conditions and capabilities with changes in the external environment. This study sought to establish the mediating effect of competitive advantage on the relationship between strategic leadership and performance of international non-governmental organizations in Kenya The study was anchored on strategic leadership theory, upper echelons theory and resource-based view theories. For methodology, descriptive cross-sectional survey design covering 277 respondents was adopted. Semi structured questionnaires were used to collect data. The study findings indicated that data collection tool/questionnaire was reliable as Cronbach alpha was greater than 0.7 for all variables. The results indicated a significant mediating effect of competitive advantage on the relationship between strategic leadership and performance of international non-governmental organizations in Kenya. This means that the influence of strategic leadership on performance is indirect through competitive advantage. The study concluded that both competitive advantage and strategic leadership concurrently influence organizational performance positively. It is recommended that international non-governmental organization must be able to identify their competitive advantage. Keywords: Strategic Leadership, Competitive Advantage, Performance, International Non-Governmental Organizations & Kenya.
Parent-child communication about emotions during SIBS: a joint intervention for siblings and parents of children with chronic disorders

Abstract Quality of parent-child communication is associated with adjustment in siblings of children with chronic disorders. SIBS is an intervention aiming to increase parental listening, exploring, and validating behaviors while talking with siblings about their experiences. We examined parent-sibling communication during SIBS by describing: 1) Sibling-selected dialogue topics; 2) Parental responses to siblings’ emotional expressions, and 3) Associations between responses and demographics and parental psychological distress. Forty dialogues (M duration = 23 minutes) between siblings (10–16 years; Mage = 12.2 years; 52.5% boys) and one parent (62.5% mothers) were coded with the Verona Coding System for Emotional Sequences. Parents mostly provided space for further disclosure of siblings’ experiences (M = 66.9%). In average, 41.9% of parental responses were exploring, 16.4% were listening, and 8.5% were validating. Few associations between parental responses and background variables were found. Parental validation should be given more focus in further development and implementation of the SIBS intervention.
Sustainable economic development: The relation between economic growth and quality of life in V4 and Austria

DOI: 10.14254/2071789X.2021/14-3/18 ABSTRACT. The future belongs to sustainability. It is becoming more important to achieve sustainable economic development. Therefore, in addition to the countries ́ economic performance, the continuous improvement of the quality of life should also be essential. The set topic is crucial, even necessary to achieve the ambitious goals of today's society in terms of sustainable economic development. The need for solution highlights the possible changes in the social aspect of economic development. Following this challenge, the objective of the paper is to evaluate the development of 26 quality of life indicators from selected 6 categories in the V4 countries and Austria as a research benchmark country between 2010-2019 and to identify the impact of the level of GDP on these indicators. The descriptive statistics and linear regression analysis are used. Most life quality indicators reveal that the level of the V4 countries is better than the EU 27 average or the same. In conclusion, 61.5% of variables in all countries related to research hypothesis was confirmed, which means that the GDP growth had a positive effect on the improvement of the quality of life within these variables. However, comparing to Austria as a highly developed country, a significant sustainable development gap can be still observed in V4.
Synergistic Anti-Leishmanial Activities of Morphine and Imiquimod on Leishmania infantum (MCAN/ES/98/LIM-877)

Background: This study was performed to evaluate in vitro and in vivo Leishmanicidal potential of morphine (Mph), imiquimod (IQ), and their combination. Methods: Leishmania infantum promastigote and amastigote assays were performed at the presence of 0.015–150μM Mph, 0.04–416μM IQ, and their combination. The inhibition effects of these drugs on promastigotes were evaluated after 24, 48, and 72h. The cytotoxic effects of the drugs were evaluated by MTT as well as flow cytometry after 72h. We explored the therapeutic effects of Mph and IQ in BALB/c mice at the end of the treatment using parasite load determination and cytokine assay. One group of mice received Mph for three weeks before infection. Results: The results of promastigote and amastigote assays showed the cytotoxic effects of the drugs at low concentrations. The cytotoxic effects were higher on promastigotes than amastigotes (p< 0.05). There was a negative correlation between drug concentration and amastigote/promastigote viability. Imiquimod alone or combined with Mph showed remarkable cytotoxic effects at all concentrations (p< 0.05). Flow cytometry results revealed apoptosis in the parasite following exposure to the drug combinations. Accordingly, the reduction of parasite loads in the spleen and liver was observed (p< 0.05) with simultaneous increases in IFN-γ and IL-4. We believe that the in vivo leishmanicidal effect was mediated by Mph through IL-4 and by IQ through both IL-4 and IFN-γ. Conclusion: Results pointed out the promising effects of Mph and IQ at low concentrations, especially when combined.
A review of current practice in constructability improvement: case studies on construction projects in Indonesia

The concept of constructability emerged in the late 1970s, evolved from studies into how improvement can be achieved to increase cost efficiency and quality in the construction industry. It is an approach that links the design and construction processes. The studies in the USA, UK and, later, in Australia have demonstrated that improved constructability has lead to significant savings in both cost and time required for completing construction projects. However, in implementing constructability improvement, it is important to consider the uniqueness of the construction industry in a specific country. To improve constructability in Indonesian construction projects, two main questions need to be answered: how is construction integrated into planning and design in existing practice and how can constructability be improved. Case studies indicate that the contractual relationships between the project team members determine the options for early involvement of construction personnel, and that the current constructability practices have had some positive impacts on project performance. In addition to a reduction in constructability problems, current constructability practices have enabled significant economic savings.
A Case Study on Metal Contamination in Water and Sediment Near a Coal Thermal Power Plant on the Eastern Coast of Bangladesh

This study has evaluated the potential ecological risk and human health risk for the contamination of nine elements (Cu, Cr, Mn, Zn, As, Pb, Co, Fe, and Sr) in water and sediment samples in two seasons, i.e., before and after rainy season, by calculating several pollution indices such as pollution load index (PLI), potential ecological risk (PER), and target hazard quotient (THQ). Samples were analyzed for elemental concentration using energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) spectrometry. This study found that waters in the Kutubdia channel are safe and standard for aquatic organisms. In addition, the study area’s elemental concentration in water and sediments is still safe but moderately enriched with Zn and Cu. The elemental concentration in water was observed to be high in the pre-monsoon season and vice versa in the sediment study. The result also reveals no potential ecological risk (PER < 4) in the study site. However, the health risk index showed a noncarcinogenic risk (THQ > 1) for children and adults regarding the inhalation process where manganese was dominant. Apart from this, the pollution source was also identified by multivariate statistical analysis, including cluster analysis (CA) and principal component analysis (PCA)–and a natural pollution source prevalent was found.
Three-port hybrid power dividers terminated in complex frequency-dependent impedances

A new CAD algorithm for design of two- and four-section three-port hybrid power dividers terminated with complex frequency dependent impedances is described. The dividers under consideration are composed of lumped element resistors and noncommensurate transmission line sections whose characteristic impedances take extreme, practically realizable, values. These values are assumed freely at the beginning of a design process. The validity of the presented design algorithm has been confirmed by numerical modeling and experimentation.
Comparative Analysis of Nanosilver Particles Synthesized by Different Approaches and Their Antimicrobial Efficacy

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were extensively used in different fields worldwide. There is a continued increase in their productions to fulfill various uses. Biological and chemical AgNP syntheses were the most popular mechanisms in this field. Agrowastes are rich in proteins, phenolics, and flavonoids that could act as bioreductant agents in AgNP biological synthesis. The present study was aimed at synthesizing AgNPs via chemical and biological methods using trisodium citrate, pomegranate fruit peel, and coffee ground waste extracts. Moreover, silver nanoparticles were monitored by UV-vis spectroscopy and characterized using zeta potential, size distribution mean, scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), and Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Four pathogenic bacterial strains (Enterobacter aerogenes, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and MRSA) were used to assess the antimicrobial effect of the synthesized AgNPs (2, 4, and 8 mg/ml). Results report the successful formation of silver nanoparticles chemically (AgNPs_Chem) and biologically by using pomegranate peel extract (AgNPs_PPE) and coffee ground waste extract (AgNPs_CE) due to the change of color to dark brown that is confirmed by UV-vis sharp absorption spectra at specific wavelengths. Characterization using SEM and XRD revealed their crystalline shape with a mean size of AgNPs _ Chem = 62.75 , AgNPs _ CE = 273.7 nm , and AgNPs _ PPE = 591.9 nm . AgNPs_Chem show higher negativity of zeta potential (−46.7 mV) than AgNPs_CE (−12.6 mV), followed by AgNPs_PPE (−7.98 mV), which had the least stability. All the synthesized AgNPs show antimicrobial potential on all selected strains. However, 8 mg/ml shows the most effective concentration and has more efficiency on K. pneumoniae than others. Overall, the results highlight that the use of agrowastes could be an ecofriendly way to synthesize AgNPs biologically that have the same antimicrobial effect as the chemically synthesized AgNPs.
Application of adaptive neuro fuzzy inference system in demand forecasting for power engineering company

To enhance the commercial competitive advantage in a constantly fluctuating business environment, an organisation has to make the right decisions in time depending on demand information. Therefore, estimating the demand quantity for the next period most likely appears to be crucial. Forecasting becomes a crucial process for manufacturing companies to effectively guiding several activities, and research has devoted particular attention to this issue. The objective of the paper is to propose a new forecasting mechanism which is modelled by adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) techniques to manage the fuzzy demand with incomplete information. ANFIS is utilised to harness the power of the fuzzy logic and artificial neural networks (ANN) through utilising the mathematical properties of ANNs in tuning rule-based fuzzy systems that approximate the way human’s process information. To accredit the proposed model, it is implemented to forecast the demand of distribution transformer of a power engineering c.
Total Exploitation Orientation in Capability Development: The Cross-case of Google, Ericsson, Microsoft and Nokia

The aim of the research is to cover the important aspects of corporate capability portfolio development â€“ its co-evolution and configuration with an alliance portfolio. Capability portfolio management has received less attention than it deserves, and the co-evolution of capability and alliance portfolios is not looked at together. Here a closer look is taken from the perspective of exploration and exploitation capability portfolios in the context of large global ICT companies as cases in the multiple case study. As a result some prior findings are confirmed, but some contradictions are also found. This research reveals that capability development is a more externally oriented exploitive phenomenon than the extant literature presents. Alliance configuration parameters: tie strength and diversity behaviour is similar in scale to exploration-exploitation and internal-external.
Dynamics of SHB-induced mode instabilities in uniform DFB semiconductor lasers

Time-domain simulations show strong 1 GHz pulsations and mode hopping of a uniform-DFB semiconductor laser operated at high output powers. These pulsations are due to asymmetric longitudinal spatial hole burning (SHB) of the carrier density by a high-frequency mode, leading to a pulse in a low-frequency mode. The pulse relaxes the carrier density to a symmetrical profile, which prefers the original mode.
Determining the Effect of Varying Magmatic Volatile Content on Lunar Magma Ascent Dynamics

The Moon is not volcanically active at present, therefore, we rely on data from lunar samples, remote sensing, and numerical modeling to understand past lunar volcanism. The role of different volatile species in propelling lunar magma ascent and eruption remains unclear. We adapt a terrestrial magma ascent model for lunar magma ascent, considering different compositions of picritic magmas and various abundances of H2, H2O, and CO (measured and estimated) for these magmas. We also conduct a sensitivity analysis to investigate the relationship between selected input parameters (pre‐eruptive pressure, temperature, conduit radius, and volatile content) and given outputs (exit gas volume fraction, velocity, pressure, and mass eruption rate). We find that, for the model simulations containing H2O and CO, CO was more significant than H2O in driving lunar magma ascent, for the range of volatile contents considered here. For the simulations containing H2 and CO, H2 had a similar or slightly greater control than CO on magma ascent dynamics. Our results showed that initial H2 and CO content has a strong control on exit velocity and pressure, two factors that strongly influence the formation of an eruption plume, pyroclast ejection, and overall deposit morphology. Our results highlight the importance of (a) quantifying and determining the origin of CO, and (b) understanding the abundance of different H‐species present within the lunar mantle. Quantifying the role of volatiles in driving lunar volcanism provides an important link between the interior volatile content of the Moon and the formation of volcanic deposits on the lunar surface.
Analysis of Microstrip-Like Transmission Lines by Nonuniform Discretization of Integral Equations

The nonuniform discretization of the integral equation on the tangential electromagnetic (EM) field on the boundary surface is proposed as a numerically efficient method to analyze the microstrip-like transmission lines. The calculated results of the propagation constant of the microstrip line based on this method are compared with other published analytical results. Various types of planar striplines are treated by the same formulas. The dominant and higher order modes of shielded microstrip line are discussed and compared with the longitudinal-section electric (LSE) and linear synchronous motor (LSM) modes of a two-medium waveguide.
Does FDI enhance provincial productivity? A panel data analysis in Vietnam

Abstract In the present study, we examine foreign direct investment (FDI)-induced productivity spillovers across 60 Vietnamese provinces from 2000 to 2016. Using a generalized method of moments technique, we find that foreign presence has a positive direct effect on total factor productivity (TFP). Furthermore, we discern a positive association between industrial linkages and productivity spillovers. All these findings remain robust to alternative model specifications. After accounting for the roles of human capital in the FDI–TFP nexus, we find absorptive capacity, as measured by human capital, to be a key factor influencing the nature of the foreign presence–productivity spillover nexus in the host province. Specifically, we observe that better human capital enables provinces to better internalize productivity spillovers from foreign presence. This result lends support to the view that human capital must surpass a critical threshold before the host can realize any productivity spillovers engendered by foreign presence.
Understanding educational leadership during times of crises: a scoping review

PurposeThis paper presents a review of empirical research on educational leadership during times of crises in K–12 schools. This review aimed to map the recent literature and identify key characteristics of educational leadership during crises to understand how this type of leadership is different from current understandings.Design/methodology/approachA scoping review of empirical research from 2010 to 2020 on how school leaders have managed and responded to crises in K-12 was completed. The empirical research was analysed and synthesised by using the preview, question, read and summarise (PQRS) system.FindingsThe findings draw attention to the fact that the notion of crisis leadership has been a neglected aspect of educational leadership research. Additionally, the review reveals six emerging characteristics which depict how school leadership has been enacted during different types of crisis across a range of contexts and crisis phases.Originality/valueThe findings add to current practical understandings of educational leadership by illustrating the complexity and multi-layered nature of leading during times of crisis. Furthermore, these findings contribute to the field by identifying how leading during a crisis is different from current understandings. Lastly, they highlight the need to develop theories and models that account for how leadership is used to deal with the unpredictable nature of crises that schools across the globe face today and into the future.
Cold‐water species deepen to escape warm water temperatures

Aim: Whether marine species can respond to ocean warming by changing their depth remains controversial. Some evidence suggests that species can deepen to cope with warming climates, whereas other studies have found ecologically constrained depth distributions. Our study focuses on generalizing the depth response of species to warming and elucidating whether some species display a larger change in depth than others. This might help us to understand the future distribution of marine species and communities. Location: The Mediterranean Sea. Time period: 1985– 2017. Major taxa studied: Fish, malacostracans and cephalopods. Methods: We compiled depth records of species from bottom-trawl surveys encompassing 236 marine species across the steep climatic gradient of the Mediterranean Sea. These data represent the largest assessment, to date, of the potential of species to modify their depth distribution in response to spatially varying climate. Using environmental variables (e.g., sea surface temperature, bottom temperature and salinity), we elucidate the change in depth of species across different climatic gradients. We then test whether species traits (e.g., thermal preference, depth affinity and taxonomic relationship) explain the variation in depth response. Results: We reveal a significant deepening
On the efficiency of semi‐active smart structures: self‐regulating MR dampers control system for tall buildings

Many severe dynamical loadings such as earthquakes and strong winds may subject to structural systems during their lifetime and lead to changes in structural characteristics. Hence, employing an adaptive control strategy that can deal with these alterations compound with design of the structural elements would undoubtedly be the most effective alternative design for the old‐fashioned design methods, which are relatively inefficient in response to these unforeseen conditions. In the current study, benefits of employing the modern control systems for design of tall buildings in comparison with the uncontrolled traditionally designed structures are thoroughly investigated. To contract the vibrational responses due to seismic excitations, the innovative direct‐modulating semi‐active controller is designed for magneto‐rheological dampers, which are installed in an 11‐storey sample building converting it to a smart structure. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
High Concentration Organic Wastewater with High Phosphorus Treatment by Facultative MBR

Phosphorus is one of the main factors causing water eutrophication, and the traditional phosphorus removal process causes phosphorus-rich sludge pollution. The facultative MBR process uses phosphate-reducing bacteria to convert phosphate into directly recyclable gaseous phosphine to solve this malpractice and make sewage become a new phosphorus resource. In order to investigate the phosphorus removal efficiency and the mechanism under facultative conditions, run the facultative MBR reactor for 30 days. The COD value, phosphate concentration, and phosphine yield were measured, and the changes of sludge metabolic pathway abundance and community composition in different periods were detected. According to the measurement, the maximum phosphorus removal efficiency is 43.11% and the maximum yield of phosphine is 320 μg/m3 (measured by the volume of sewage). Combined with thermodynamic analysis, the microbial mechanism of the reactor was proposed, and the possible transformation pathway of phosphorus was analyzed. At last, changes the phosphorus removal process from the ‘removal type’ to the ‘recycling type’.