Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT AND ITS EFFECT ON THE NIGERIAN ECONOMY

This research study deals with the effect of Foreign Direct Investment on the Nigerian economy over the period 1980-2009.It helped examined empirically if the following growth determining variables in the economy-Balance on current account (Balance of payment), Inflation and Exchange rate have any effect on Foreign Direct Investment. Also if Foreign Direct Investment have any effect on Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Econometric models was developed to investigate the relationships between the aforementioned variables and foreign direct investment. Based on the data analysis it was discovered that foreign direct investments have positive and significant impact on current account balance in Balance of payment. While inflation was seen not to have significant impact on foreign direct investment inflows. The exchange rate has positive effect on foreign direct investment. Therefore it is recommended that for Nigeria to attract the desired level of FDI, it must introduce sound economic policies and make the country investor friendly. There must be political stability, sound economic management and well developed infrastructure. Key words: Foreign direct investment, growth, human capital, OLS, Nigeria, infrastructure, balance of payment, inflation, exchange rate. Governments have been trying to lift the country out of the economic doldrums without achieving success as desired. Each of these governments has not focused much attention on investment especially foreign direct investment which will not only guarantee employment but will also impact positively on economic growth and development. FDI is needed to reduce the difference between the desired gross domestic investment and domestic savings. Jenkin and Thomas (2002) assert that FDI is expected to contribute to economic growth not only by providing foreign capital but also by crowding in additional domestic investment. By promoting both forward and backward linkages with the domestic economy, additional employment is indirectly created and further economic activity stimulated. According to Adegbite and Ayadi (2010) FDI helps fill the domestic revenue-generation gap in a developing economy, given that most developing countries’ governments do not seem to be able to generate sufficient revenue to meet their expenditure needs. Other benefits are in the form of externalities and the adoption of foreign technology. Externalities here can be in the form of licencing, imitation, employee training and the introduction of new processes by the foreign firms (Alfaro,Chanda,Kalemli- Ozean and Sayek 2006).
Prevalence of seroconversion of hepatitis C virus among hemodialysis patients in Menoufia Governorate, Egypt.

INTRODUCTION Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is one of the most common infections among hemodialysis (HD) patients. It continues to be exasperating problem in many HD centers, in spite of strictly following infection and quality control measures. METHODS This is a multi-center retrospective comparative study, carried out in different HD units of Menoufia Governorate, Egypt. Patients who were HCV negative on starting HD were divided into two groups; Group-1 included patients who remained negative for HCV and group-2 included patients who seroconverted to HCV positive status during dialysis. Risk factors for seroconversion were compared between the two groups. RESULTS Out of the 514 surveyed patients, 259 were negative for HCV and 255 were positive; the prevalence of HCV infection was 49.6%. A total of 303 patients who were HCV negative on starting HD were recruited in the study. Group-1 included 259 patients who remained negative for HCV and group-2 included the 44 patients who seroconverted to HCV positive status during dialysis. Patients in group-2 had significantly longer duration on dialysis compared to group-1 (71 .4 versus 33.7 months) and they had stronger family history of HCV infection (20.5% versus 6.4%). CONCLUSION There is high prevalence and high seroconversion rate of HCV in surveyed HD units. Following infection control measures and strict supervision of dialysis staff should be emphasized. More studies are needed to evaluate the possible benefits of isolation protocols of HCV patients on regular HD.
An investigation into the effects of college research shadowing on the perceptions of high school science students

The National Science Foundation and National Research Council have identified a sharp decline in positive attitudes toward science. These predispositions are becoming more commonplace in middle and high school classrooms for various reasons. The NSF has identified a decline in students pursuing post-secondary careers in science and engineering, predominantly due to the negative perceptions seen in high school science classes. This study focused on the implementation of project based learning as a method for changing students’ perspectives toward science and possibly altering their postsecondary choices towards a science career. Projects involved the shadowing of college researchers and professors in field-based environmental activities. High school students worked alongside college researchers and professors, while collecting data and preparing documentation in an inquiry based setting.
Electrophysiology-based detection of emergency braking intention in real-world driving

Objective. The fact that all human action is preceded by brain processes partially observable through neuroimaging devices such as electroencephalography (EEG) is currently being explored in a number of applications. A recent study by Haufe et al (2011 J. Neural Eng. 8 056001) demonstrates the possibility of performing fast detection of forced emergency brakings during driving based on EEG and electromyography, and discusses the use of such neurotechnology for braking assistance systems. Since the study was conducted in a driving simulator, its significance regarding real-world applicability needs to be assessed. Approach. Here, we replicate that experimental paradigm in a real car on a non-public test track. Main results. Our results resemble those of the simulator study, both qualitatively (in terms of the neurophysiological phenomena observed and utilized) and quantitatively (in terms of the predictive improvement achievable using electrophysiology in addition to behavioral measures). Moreover, our findings are robust with respect to a temporary secondary auditory task mimicking verbal input from a fellow passenger. Significance. Our study serves as a real-world verification of the feasibility of electrophysiology-based detection of emergency braking intention as proposed in Haufe et al (2011 J. Neural Eng. 8 056001).
Sympathetic Nerve Biology In Essential Hypertension

1. Although the importance of sympathetic nervous activation in the pathogenesis of essential hypertension is well documented, the exact pathophysiology of the sympathetic nervous dysfunction present remains to be delineated. There are several possible explanations for the increased spillover of noradrenaline from the kidneys and heart to plasma, a key piece of evidence supporting the neurogenic basis of essential hypertension, in addition to the obvious one of an increased rate of sympathetic nerve firing.
Project work as an antidote to career plateauing in a declining engineering organization

This is a study of the effects of becoming plateaued on the careers of professionals in a declining organization. An unusual “triple ladder” was studied, one with paths in administration and technical specialization (the two typical components of a dual ladder system), as well as project management (a general practice, technical generalist role). In contrast to earlier studies of plateauing, it was found that occupational characteristics mitigate the effects of plateauing. The plateaued technical specialists experienced the expected declines in job attitudes; however, in project management, and to a lesser extent in administration, it was the plateaued group whose career outlook was most positive. Interview data suggested that the critical factor operating here was not plateauing per se, but the extent to which learning is required and experience and acquired skills are utilized and recognized in the work role. Structural career opportunities, intrinsic job rewards, and recognition were all critical factors in mitigating the effects of the career plateau.
Gallbladder cancer: a morphological and molecular update

Gallbladder cancer (GBC) shows a marked geographical variation in its incidence, with the highest figures being seen in India and Chile and relatively low levels in many Western countries. Risk factors for its development include the presence of gallstones, infection and the presence of an anomalous pancreatobiliary ductal junction. It can arise from either a pathway involving metaplasia or dysplasia or one in which there is a pre‐existing adenoma. The former is the more common and, because it is often not associated with a macroscopically recognizable lesion, leads to the recommendation that all gallbladders need to be examined microscopically. Accurate staging of invasive cancers is essential to determine prognosis and treatment, and this requires extensive tumour sampling. A number of genetic alterations have been identified in the preinvasive and invasive stages of GBC and they support the morphological evidence of there being two pathways by which tumours develop. Some of these genetic changes are associated with particular risk factors. For example, cases with anomalous pancreatobiliary ductal junction show a higher frequency of K‐ras mutations. Some changes are associated with differences in prognosis. For example, cancers without expression of p21 but with expression for p27 have a better prognosis, whereas those that express c‐erb‐B2 have a worse one. Work has also been done on identifying clinical, imaging and other factors that indicate that patients have a higher risk of having GBC. This is particularly important in high‐incidence areas in which GBC is a significant public health problem.
Alliance Network Position, Embeddedness and Effects on the Carbon Performance of Firms in Emerging Economies

This article explores the effect of network structure on the carbon performance of firms in emerging economies at an ego network level. Building on the theoretical framework of social networks, we posit that an ego firm’s network position, structural embeddedness, and structural constraint affect carbon performance. We examine the research hypotheses using a panel data set made up of 44 Indian firms that entered into alliances under the Clean Development Mechanism over the 2005-2009 period. Our main results show that the central position of the focal firm in the network and its degree of network embeddedness exert a positive effect on its carbon performance. This article contributes to the literature on climate strategy by exploring the influence of the structural characteristics of the firm’s ego network in the carbon market on its environmental performance.
Humanitarian Aid, Fertility and Economic Growth

This paper examines the effect of humanitarian aid on fertility and economic growth. In an overlapping generations model, where health status in adulthood depends on health in childhood, adult agents allocate their time to work, leisure and childrearing activities. Humanitarian aid influences the probability of survival to adulthood, health in childhood, and the time that adults allocate to childrearing, giving rise to an ambiguous effect on both fertility and growth. An empirical investigation for the period 1973–2007 suggests that humanitarian aid has on average a zero effect on the rates of fertility and of per capita output growth.
Immigration and the Transformation of Europe: “Useful” Gastarbeiter , burdensome asylum seekers, and the second wave of welfare retrenchment: Exploring the nexus between migration and the welfare state

A new kind of historic transformation is underway in twenty-first-century Europe. Twentieth-century Europeans were no strangers to social, economic and political change, but their major challenges focused mainly on the intra-European construction of stable, prosperous, capitalist democracies. Today, by contrast, one of the major challenges is flows across borders - and particularly in-flows of non-European people. Immigration and minority integration consistently occupy the headlines. The issues which rival immigration - unemployment, crime, terrorism - are often presented by politicians as its negative secondary effects. Immigration is also intimately connected to the profound challenges of demographic change, economic growth and welfare-state reform. Both academic observers and the European public are increasingly convinced that Europe's future will largely turn on how is admits and integrates non-Europeans. This book is a comprehensive stock-taking of the contemporary situation and its policy implications.
The determinants of household and private savings in Thailand

A broad set of possible determinants of household and private savings behaviour is examined through an in-depth case study of Thailand during the period 1960 to 2004. Results suggest that an increase in economic growth, inflation and terms of trade all have a significant positive impact on household and private saving rates. In contrast, the availability of bank credit tends to reduce household and private saving rates. While an increase in both old and young dependency has a negative impact on household and private saving rates, the magnitude of the impact on the former is far greater than that on the latter. Furthermore, public saving seems to crowd out household and private saving, but less than proportionately. This reflects a possible role of fiscal policy in increasing national savings in the economy. Over and above these variables, corporate saving is another important determinant of household saving. An increase in the former brings about a significant reduction in the latter.
Overvaluation and the Choice of Alternative Earnings Management Mechanisms

ABSTRACT In this study I examine how the degree and duration of overvaluation affect management's use of alternative within-GAAP earnings management, restrictions on further exploitation of within-GAAP accruals management, and subsequent non-GAAP earnings management. Further, I examine how one type of earnings management segues into another type as overvaluation persists. I present evidence that the longer the firm is overvalued, the greater is the amount of total earnings management. I also find that managers engage in accruals management in the early stages of overvaluation before moving to real transactions management, in order to sustain their overvalued equity. Finally, I find that the longer a firm is overvalued, the more likely it is to engage in one of the most egregious forms of earnings management, non-GAAP earnings management. Collectively, the results suggest that the duration of firm overvaluation is an important determinant of managements' choice of alternative earnings management mechanisms.
The Financial Market Impact of Quantitative Easing

As part of its response to the global banking crisis and a sharp downturn in domestic economic prospects, the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) began a programme of large-scale asset purchases (commonly referred to as quantitative easing or QE) in March 2009, with the aim of injecting additional money into the economy and so increasing nominal spending growth to a rate consistent with meeting the CPI inflation target in the medium term. By February 2010, the MPC had made £200 billion of purchases, most of which had been of UK government securities (gilts). Based on analysis of the reaction of financial market prices and econometric estimates, this paper attempts to assess the impact of the Bank’s QE policy on asset prices. Our estimates of the reaction of gilt prices to the programme suggest that QE may have depressed gilt yields by about 100 basis points. On balance the evidence seems to suggest that the largest part of the impact of QE came through a portfolio rebalancing channel. The wider impact on other asset prices is more difficult to disentangle from other influences: the initial impact was muted but the overall effects were potentially much larger, though subject to considerable uncertainty.
Citizen Speak: The Democratic Imagination in American Life

When we think about what constitutes being a good citizen, routine activities like voting, letter-writing, and paying attention to the news spring to mind. But, in "Citizen Speak", Andrew J. Perrin argues that these activities play only a small part in democratic citizenship - a form of citizenship that requires creative thinking, talking, and acting. For "Citizen Speak", Perrin met with labor, church, business, union, and sports organizations and proposed to them four fictive scenarios: what if your senator is involved in a scandal, or your police department is engaged in racial profiling, or a local factory violates pollution law, or your neighborhood is going to be the site of a new airport? The conversations these scenarios inspire, Perrin shows, require imagination. And, what people can imagine doing in response to those scenarios depends on what's possible, what's important, what's right, and what's feasible. By talking with one another, an engaged citizenry draws from a repertoire of personal and institutional resources to understand and reimagine responses to situations as they arise. Building on such political discussions, "Citizen Speak" shows how a rich culture of association and democratic discourse provides the infrastructure for a healthy democracy.
Maturation of the Rabbit Alveolar Macrophage during Animal Development. I. Perinatal Influx into Alveoli and Ultrastructural Differentiation

Summary: Rabbit alveolar macrophages (AM's) were collected by tracheobronehial lavage at sequential times during animal development. The total number of cells recovered by this technique was found to increase markedly shortly before birth (Fig. 4). This apparent influx of macrophages into the alveoli continued during the first postnatal week, and, at a reduced rate, throughout the first postnatal month of life (Fig. 3). Ultrastructurally, AM's of the prenatal period resembled their monocytc precursors, and contained modest numbers of lysosomes and mitochondria, scant lamellae of ribosome-studded endoplasmic reticulum (RER), and a small Golgi apparatus (Fig. 12). A considerable amount of phagocytosed material was observed in these AM's, and consisted largely of cellular debris and two forms of surfactant-related phospholipids, termed tubular and lamellar myelin (Figs. 12–15). The quantity of these ingested phospholipids increased dramatically shortly after birth, in correlation with the known release of similar material from type II pneumocytes at this time. (Figs. 16 and 19). During the first postnatal week AM's showed a considerable increase in number of mitochondria and in the development of the RER and Golgi apparatus (Fig. 22). Increased accumulations of lipid droplets were also noted during this period. Ingested material continued to consist largely of surfactant-related phospholipids, but was less abundant at this time.By 28 days after birth, AM's were nearly morphologically mature (Fig. 25). They showed large numbers of lysosomes and mitochondria, and well developed RER and Golgi apparatuses. Ingested phospholipid material was still visualized, and the in complete degradation of this material appeared to give rise to the dense intraphagolysosomal whorls charcteristic of the mature AM.Speculation: The finding of a marked increase in lavageable Am's may serve to prepare the alveoli for early postnatal events. Possible factors which could contribute to the induction of this prenatal influx include hormonal stimulation involving estrogen and/or thyroid hormones, and chemotactic stimulation, possibly resulting from intra-alveolar surfactant.The quantity of surfactant-realated phospholipids ingested by AM's From all time periods studied suggests that scavenging of inactive and/or excess intra-alvcolar surfactant may be an important homecostatic funtion of the AM. Such a phospholipid scavenging role may be especially significant in the newborn animal when large quantities of surfactant are rapidly released into the alveoli.
Real-Time Measures of the Output Gap and Fiscal Policy Stance

This paper studies real-time measures of the output gap and fiscal policy stance estimates for EU countries. We construct a comprehensive real-time data set on fiscal forecasts and study whether there are systematic differences between the European Commission and IMF estimates of the output gap and structural budget balance. We argue that differences in the EC and the IMF estimates should provide a lower bound for the potential heterogeneity that is likely to emerge when national governments begin to release their estimates of the output gap and structural budget balance as required by the new fiscal rules in the EU. We find evidence that while the two institutions are likely to agree on cyclical conditions and fiscal policy measures in EU countries after the fact, there are statistically significant differences in their real-time estimates of the output gap and structural budget balance.
Looking for Learning in After-School Spaces

The structured after-school space has long demonstrated educational benefits (Gerber, Cavallo, & Marek, 2001; Tamir, 1990). After-school settings typically provide homework support, helping youth build self-confidence (Beck, 1999). They are safe places for socializing and forming relationships with caring adults (Payton et al., 2008). While there is sufficient evidence that youth may learn science through non-school science programs (Cantrell, Pekcan, Itani, & Velasquez-Bryant, 2006; NRC, 2009; Sadler, Coyle, & Schwartz, 2000), there is a lack of research on determining what academics youth might learn in engineering design-based afterschool settings. When the after-school curriculum encompasses engineering design, the challenge is great due to the difficulty in assessing intangibles such as design and deep conceptual knowledge. Additionally, ideal learning outcome measures differ between formal school settings and informal, after-school ones, as traditional academic measures do not capture the range of ways youth demonstrate learning in informal settings (NRC, 2009). In this study we designed an after-school experience in a studio setting, using research-validated engineering design-based curriculum (Schnittka, 2009; Schnittka, Bell, & Richards, 2010; Schnittka & Bell, 2011; Schnittka, Brandt, Jones, & Evans, 2012) and gave the youth different opportunities and methods to demonstrate what they learned through the process. In this study we examined three after-school settings for 8 weeks focusing on storyboarding, chatting on a social network site, videotaped conversations with volunteer facilitators, presentations the youth made at the end of the program, and structured interviews with researchers to look for evidence of learning in afterschool spaces.