Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The influence of entrepreneurial competencies on entrepreneurial career option among polytechnic students in Nigeria

Entrepreneurship is gradually becoming a parameter of measuring socio-economic developments among nations. Entrepreneurship is helping the growth of economies by creating additional jobs, wealth, and reducing the incidence of abject poverty. Developed countries ascribe their achievements to technological development, scientific break-through, improved communication and information technology, and competitive advantage gained through their entrepreneurial competencies and adventures. The objective of this paper is to examine the significance of entrepreneurial skills and their influence on entrepreneurial career option. Entrepreneurial competencies seek to create awareness among students about entrepreneurship as the appropriate career option to engage after graduation, as well as impart the needed social skills and knowledge of the use of insights and intuitions to identify and exploit opportunities to start a business. A quantitative approach was used involving a total of 505 questionnaires distributed to polytechnic students in Nigeria. A total of 425 questionnaires were completed and returned with a response rate of 84.2 percent. Data were analysed using SmartPLS 3; results indicate a significant positive influence of know-who and know-when competencies on entrepreneurial career option. The study was consistent with earlier studies on the relationship between entrepreneurial competencies and entrepreneurial career option among students. The findings of the study will be of immense benefit to the government, education regulatory agencies, higher education institutions, and the general public. Further, the study will serve as a framework for future reference and assist in formulating future policies on entrepreneurship in Nigeria. Keywords: Entrepreneurial career option, entrepreneurial competencies; polytechnics
The mitochondrial housekeeping gene 16S is inappropriate as an internal standard in comparative studies of rare mitochondrial transcripts using S1-nuclease protection assays

The analysis of rare mitochondrial transcripts derived from the L-strand of the mitochondrial genome requires a sensitive method such as the S1-nuclease protection assay. We examined whether the ribosomal mitochon­drial transcript 16S is suitable as an internal standard in a multiplex S1-nuclease protection assay for the measurement of different mitochondrial transcripts. For reliable quantification of rare mitochondrial transcripts with the RNase protection assay, a minimum of 2 μg of total RNA is necessary. Standard curves of 16S RNA produced with total RNA from human kidney, liver, brain, and a human neuroblastoma cell line (SH-SY5Y) revealed dose-response relationships that were saturated already at less than 0.5 μg of total RNA. Therefore, 16S is inappropriate as an internal standard for analyzing mitochondrial transcripts with RNase protection assays when more than 0.5 μg of total RNA have to be analyzed.
Price Responses to Seasonal Demand Changes in the Swedish Gasoline Market

The demand for gasoline in Sweden follows a seasonal cycle. The paper investigates the response in prices and profits over the cycle. In contrast to what has been found for the gasoline market in the United States, we find no support for seasonal price changes compatible with the theories for cyclical variations of intensity of competition. We also investigate whether the effects on margins of the demand fluctuations induced by tax increases are compatible with these theories and find this not to be the case. Some possible explanations for this difference between Sweden and the United States are discussed.
A convergent algorithm for a cascade network of multiplexed dual output discrete perceptrons for linearly nonseparable classification

In this paper a new discrete perceptron model is introduced. The model forms a cascade structure and it is capable of realizing an arbitrary classification task designed by a constructive learning algorithm. The main idea is to copy a discrete perceptron neuron's output to have a complementary dual output for the neuron, and then to select, by using a multiplexer, the true output, which might be 0 or 1 depending on the given input. Hence, the problem of realization of the desired output is transformed into the realization of the selector signal of the multiplexer. In the next step, the selector signal is taken as the desired output signal for the remaining part of the network. The repeated applications of the procedure render the problem into a linearly separable one and eliminate the necessity of using the selector signal in the last step of the algorithm. The proposed modification to the discrete perceptron brings universality with the expense of getting just a slight modification in hardware implementation.
OWL Formal Ontology for the Social Structure in the OperA Meta-model

The rise in various activities of organizations in society increases the demand for organizational model. Because the organizational model is used for managements and such activities will increase management demand for organizations. The organizational model (OM) defines the way in which activities such as task allocation, coordination and supervision are directed towards the achievement of organizational aims. OperA is an existing framework for organizational modeling. OperettA, which is based on the OperA approach, is a graphical environment for the analysis, management, and specification of an organizational model. There are two ways to create OperA organizational model: through editing XML documents and through OperettA. Within both ways, there are limitations and disadvantages, such as editing inconsistencies or semantic inconsistencies. In this thesis, we present the OWL OperA meta-model, which is redelivered from the OperA approach description into OWL2, and OWLperettA as a plug-in for OperettA to export the Social structure (SS) of an Organizational Model designed by OperettA into OWL2 format. The OWL OperA meta-model provides a more expressive way of defining or specifying the elements in an organizational model. OWLperettA, in combination with OperettA, presents a convenient environment to design the SS of an OM. Using reasoner and SPARQL query for checking the OWL2 ontology, we are able to overcome the limitations and disadvantages of OperA and OperettA described above for specifying and analyzing the Social structure of an organizational model.
Patterns of genetic structure and phenotypic diversity in sorghum landraces in relation to farmers' management in Burkina Faso

Sorghum [ Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is an important food crop in Burkina Faso. Farmers grow various sorghum landraces, distinguished by their morphological and phenological characteristics. This study aimed addressing how this varietal diversity is managed by farmers, and how their management shape the genetic structures of local sorghum. Diversity levels in ten local sorghum guinea varieties (25 panicles per variety) collected from different farms in three agro-ecological regions across Burkina Faso were assessed using nine agro-morphological traits and twelve SSR markers. The importance of phenotypic intra-varietal diversity in early, intermediate and late maturing varieties varied in relation to the observed trait. The genetic analysis specified that the highest diversity rates were in the late maturing varieties (3.3 for allelic richness and 0.47 for gene diversity). Factorial Discriminant Analysis on quantitative traits and cluster analysis based on SSR markers showed that early maturing varieties were discriminated from late and intermediate ones, confirming farmers’ classification of maturity groups (MG). Multivariate Q ST and F ST values revealed two subgroups of quantitative traits that underwent either stabilizing or divergent selection among MG scale. These results underline the role of farmer practices in phenotypic and genetic evolution of sorghum. This concept should be well considered in sorghum breeding programs. © 2016 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved. Keywords: Sorghum, landraces, intra-varietal diversity, F ST , Q ST
INVESTIGATION OF THE PROCESS OF DISPERSION OF NANOSTRUCTURED PAINTS OF BARRIER TYPE

The work is dedicated to the development of nano-structured paints with a barrier effect. The process of the preparation of such compositions has been studied. The influence of various technological parameters on the processing of these compositions is shown. A practical and effective method for monitoring the progress of this process is proposed. The contribution of technological parameters that allow scaling of the obtained results to experimental and industrial technological lines equipped with serial equipment for the production of paint and varnish composite materials for various purposes is estimated, namely, the dependence of the processing efficiency of carbon nanotubes in the solution medium of an epoxy oligomer on the angular velocity is established. In addition, the temperature limits for the processing of these nanotubes are established for the preparation of nano-structured paint and varnish compositions, which have a barrier effect. It has been established that for the intensification of the processing process, it is necessary to use dispersing bodies and assess the effect of their geometric parameters together with the degree of filling on the efficiency of this processing process. On the basis of this research, the mathematical expression connecting volume capacity with various technological parameters for an estimation of efficiency of process of manufacture of the nano-structured paint and varnish compositions possessing barrier effect is offered.
Measuring and Modeling Russian Newspaper Coverage

9 As a significant emitter of greenhouse gases and a country rich in fossil fuels, Russia plays a crucial role in achieving a comprehensive solution to climaterelated challenges. Yet, Russia’s official position on climate change has varied considerably since the beginning of global negotiations, with the country playing everything from policy leader to laggard. While there are a number factors that shape domestic policy positions on climate change, this study offers a comprehensive investigation of newspaper coverage on climate change in Russia. How have Russian newspapers discussed the issue since the Yeltsin era? We approach this question by compiling the largest data set of Russian newspaper coverage to date, which includes 11,131 climate-related articles from 65 papers over a roughly 35 year period. After introducing a “computer assisted” approach to measure the core themes running through climate change coverage, we statistically evaluate the nationaland newspaper-level factors associated with how coverage is framed, focusing attention on 23 high circulation papers over the period from 2000 to 2014. We find that national-level predictors—particularly economic conditions—are highly influential of whether climate change is covered and how the issue is framed, while paper-level factors such as the presence of energy interest and ownership structure also have notable effects. Overall, this study offers a rich data set and an array of methods to better understand the drivers of climate communication in Russia.
Master your mood online: A preventive chat group intervention for adolescents

Abstract The objective of this paper is to describe the opportunities and the challenges of conducting an online prevention intervention for adolescents with depressive complaints. A pilot study was conducted between 2005 and 2006 on the intervention Grip op je dip online [Master your mood online], an online group course conducted in a closed chat room. This group course for adolescents is based on Lewinsohn’s Coping with Depression course and utilises the principles of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). The intervention was led by mental health professionals and developed by the prevention units from three mental health care organisations in the Netherlands, in close participation with the Trimbos Institute (the Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction). Results show that with this type of intervention it is possible to reach the target group and that after participating, the adolescents show a reduction of their depressive complaints as measured with the Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Monitoring figures are presented, and our view of the future for Grip op je dip online is considered in closing.
Essays in corporate finance

This project includes three essays in Corporate Finance. The rst part of the thesis investigates the relationship between Financial Development and Economic Growth for a set of 77 countries over the period 1960-1995. Borrowing the methodology suggested by Beck, Levine and Loayza (2000), I study the previous relationship using a cross-country regression model and a panel technique. My results suggest that Private Credit, de ned as credits by nancial intermediaries to the private sector divided by GDP, has a positive impact over Economic Growth. My ndings also point out that Economic Growth is positively a¤ected by openness to trade and average years of schooling. The relationship between Financial Development and Economic Growth is independent of the degree of nancial development as well as the initial level of income of a given country. Di¤erently from other papers, I can study whether the nance-growth nexus is persistent over time: using a similar dataset for an extended period, 1960-2010, I show that the impact of Private Credit over Growth is signi cative also in the most recent past. The second part of the thesis explores the stock-prices comovements for a set of 7 countries over the period 2000-2014. The study explores how the volatilities and correlations in one country, mainly Italy, are a¤ected by the volatilities and correlations in another country. Di¤erently from other papers, I focus on a larger set of countries and on a sample period that allows to distinguish between the Pre Great Recession period and the Post Great Recession period. The analysis is conducted by considering several GARCH models, for the volatility comovements, and MGARCH models, for the correlation comovements. The best GARCH model in my setting is the EGARCH model which provides information on the impact of positive innovations on volatility. Among the MGARCH models, I focus on the CCC model and the DCC model. My results point out that the strenght of the relationship among countries is ampli ed after a crisis event, which is consistent with most of the "contagion" literature. The last part of the thesis analyzes the relationship between long-term debt and average investment during the 2007 crisis. Very few papers have analyzed the real e¤ects of debt maturity. To analyze the impact of the debt structure on rmsperformance I use a matching approach methodology (Abadie-Imbens estimator) which allows to distinguish between a treatment group and a control group: the rst one refers to the group of rms whose long-term debt is maturing at the time of the crisis, while, on the other hand, the control group refers to those rms that are out of the treatment but have similar rm characteristics like cash ow, size, Q, cash holdings and long-term leverage. My results show that rms with debt maturing during the period of the crisis experience a much more pronounced fall in investment. Results are tested using a Parallel Trend Test which allows to better de ne whether the results are driven by the maturity argument or not.
Economic consequences of the first-time IFRS introduction in Europe

ABSTRACT Advocates of mandatory IFRS adoption claim that IFRS increases financial statement comparability and enhances the quality of financial disclosure, which in turn leads to more liquid markets. Using first-time disclosure (IFRS restatements), this study tests empirically this assertion by examining whether IFRS adoption by representative European countries results in more liquid markets. We propose that IFRS introduction can directly affect market liquidity by improving comparability. Our findings suggest that, at the industry level, larger restatements in net income increase uncertainty among investors, and by extension stock illiquidity. For industries with fewer restating peers, lack of information comparability additionally suppresses investment activities with larger liquidity costs.
Imaging the spinning gas and dust in the disc around the supergiant A[e] star HD 62623

Context. To progress in the understanding of evolution of massive stars one needs to constrain the mass-loss and determine the phenomenon responsible for the ejection of matter an its reorganization in the circumstellar environment Aims. In order to test various mass-ejection processes, we probed the geometry and kinematics of the dust and gas surrounding the A[e] supergiant HD 62623. Methods. We used the combined high spectral and spatial resolution offered by the VLTI/AMBER instrument. Thanks to a new multiwavelength optical/IR interferometry imaging technique, we reconstructed the first velocity-resolved images with a milliarcsecond resolution in the infrared domain. Results. We managed to disentangle the dust and gas emission in the HD 62623 circumstellar disc. We measured the dusty disc inner rim, i.e. 6 mas, constrained the inclination angle and the position angle of the major-axis of the disc. We also measured the inner gaseous disc extension (2 mas) and probed its velocity field thanks to AMBER high spectral resolution. We find that the expansion velocity is negligible, and that Keplerian rotation is a favoured velocity field. Such a velocity field is unexpected if fast rotation of the central star alone is the main mechanism of matter ejection. Conclusions. As the star itself seems to rotate below its breakup-up velocity, rotation cannot explain the formation of the dense equatorial disc. Moreover, as the expansion velocity is negligible, radiatively driven wind is also not a suitable explanation to explain the disc formation. Consequently, the most probable hypothesis is that the accumulation of matter in the equatorial plane is due to the presence of the spectroscopic low mass companion.
Evidence to the contrary: extreme weekly returns are underreactions

Evidence to the Contrary: Extreme Weekly Returns Are Underreactions. (August 2004) Eric Kyle Kelley, B.B.A., West Texas A&M University; M.S., Texas Tech University Co-Chairs of Advisory Committee: Dr. Roberto C. Gutierrez, Jr. Dr. L. Paige Fields The finding of reversals in weekly returns has been attributed to a combination of microstructure issues and overreaction to information. I provide new evidence eliminating overreaction as a source of reversal. I show that well-known weekly contrarian profits are followed by a long run of momentum profits. In fact, these profits are strong enough to produce a significant momentum effect over the full year following portfolio formation. Thus, the market does not appear to view extreme weekly returns as excessive, as implied by an overreaction story. To the contrary, this return continuation is consistent with underreaction to the news driving extreme weekly returns. This is supported by cross-sectional tests in which I find this week’s news is positively related to next week’s returns. The evidence presented here is consistent with growing evidence that underreaction to firm-specific information is a pervasive feature of price formation. Therefore, if any short-run contrarian profits can be realized, they are better viewed as compensation for providing liquidity than as a reward for arbitrage.
United States Patent ( 19 ) Cigan et al . US 005689051 A 11 Patent Number : 5 , 689 , 051 Nov . 18 , 1997 45 ) Date of Patent : 54 TRANSGENICPLANTS AND DNA COMPRSNG ANTHER

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The Role of Monetary Policy Uncertainty in the Term Structure of Interest Rates

We examine the effect of uncertainty arising from policy-shock volatility on yield-curve dynamics. In contrast to the assumption of many macro-finance models, policy-shock processes appear to be time varying and persistent. We allow for this heteroskedasticity by constructing a no-arbitrage GARCH affine term structure model, in which policy-shock volatility is defined as the conditional volatility of the error term in a Taylor rule. We find that an increase in monetary policy uncertainty raises the medium- and longer-term spreads in a model that incorporates macroeconomic dynamics.
Overcoming the odds : perceived parental self-efficacy in young mothers transitioning out of the foster care system

This qualitative study explored how young mothers developed a sense of perceived parental self-efficacy, after transitioning out of the foster care system. The bulk of literature on young mothers and youth transitioning out of the foster care system focuses on risk factors, while this study focuses on how the strengths and resilience of transitioning young mothers supports them in developing self-efficacy despite facing immense obstacles. This study interviewed 12 transitioned mothers in the San Francisco Bay Area. Using convenience sampling, study participants were primarily African American and Christian. Through examining the individual experiences of these transitioned young mothers, this study found a number of salient themes supporting mothers in developing self-efficacy. These themes included participants having faith or belief in something bigger than themselves, having belief in themselves and positive self regard, and experiencing unconditional love in their relationships with their children. OVERCOMING THE ODDS: PERCEIVED PARENTAL SELF-EFFICACY IN YOUNG MOTHERS TRANSITIONING OUT OF THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM A project based upon independent investigation, submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Social Work. Katharine Whipple Smith College School for Social Work Northampton, Massachusetts 01063