Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
African Leafy Vegetables and Household Wellbeing in Kenya: A Disaggregation by Gender

The aim of this study was to analyze the contribution of African Leafy Vegetables (ALVs) to household wellbeing by gender. The study was conducted in Kiambu District using multistage sampling technique. Primary data was collected from a sample of 166 small-scale farmers using a structured questionnaire. The findings of the study showed that ALVs is an important contributor to household income. Income, primary occupation of the farmer, distance to market, access to extension services, access to technical support, and distance to piped water source, were found to be important factors influencing production of ALVs by smallholder farmers. The factors determining gross margins of ALVs, for women, included; education, land size, distance to piped water source and technical support for ALVs farming. While the determinants of ALVs gross margins for men included; age of the household head, experience in farming, access to credit, group membership and access to technical support. On the policy front the study recommends the empowerment of the smallholder household, especially the female headed households and the youth, with productive resources such as extension services, technical support and an alternative land tenure system so as to improve their livelihoods.
Male Partner Involvement in Birth Preparedness and Utilization of Antenatal Care Services: A study in the West Mamprusi Municipality of Northern Ghana

Men as partners in patriarchal societies play a very crucial role in pregnancy and childbirth. It has also been noted that male partners play an important role in family planning in Ghana. This notwithstanding, their involvement in maternal health has not been well investigated. This study sought to establish male partners’ involvement in antenatal care utilization in West Mamprusi Municipality The study design was cross-sectional involving 351 respondents both male and female in West Mamprusi Municipality. The participants in the study were people aged 18 years and above who had at least a child born within one year prior to the study. Both questionnaire and focus group discussion guide was to gather the data. Results from the study revealed that majority of the participants had visited health facilities for antenatal care. It further showed that of those who visited for antenatal care, majority did not go with their partners. However, knowledge on birth preparedness and danger signs was good. With respect to place of delivery, majority were encouraged to deliver at health facilities. Majority of the participants averred that male partners noninvolvement in delivery is due to the fact that they perceive pregnancy and delivery as women affair. The majority of male partners supported their spouses’ maternal care services; they did not involve themselves in birth preparedness and postnatal care. This calls for proper education to encourage male partners to involve themselves in all matters relating to pregnancy and child-birth.
Audio CBTs: Measuring More through the Use of Speech and Non-Speech Sound.

Most computerized tests are simple applications that make limited use of the technology inherent in computer-delivered examinations. One potentially valuable feature of computer-administered examinations is the ability to play audio files, a function that makes it possible to incorporate sound into computer-based tests. Audio tests allow the potential improvement of measurement in familiar fields and expansion into new fields. This paper addresses some of the characteristics of the audio channel of communication, along with differences between audio and visual forms of communication and differences between speech and nonspeech forms of sound. Then, several specific types of uses for sound in computerized tests are suggested: (1) providing an alternative mode for communicating with the examinee; (2) testing listening skills in traditional areas; (3) testing listening skills in new areas; and (4) incorporating sound into the user interface. Discussion of both experimental and operational audio test is provided. The paper concludes with some cautionary statements and possible research directions. (Contains 29 references.) (Author/SLD) ******************************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ********************************************************************************
MARKET REACTION TO STOCK SPLITS Empirical Evidence from the Nairobi Stock Exchange

There are several theories that have been advanced to explain why companies split their stock. The most common ones are to achieve an optimal price range for liquidity, to achieve an optimal tick size and to signal managements’ confidence in the future stock price. This paper examined the effect of stock splits at the Nairobi Stock Exchange. This was achieved by studying nine companies that had undergone stock splits in the period 2002 to 2008. The study made use of the trading activity ratio to determine whether stock splits elicit any reaction in the Kenyan market. The study made use of daily adjusted prices for sample stock for the event window of 101 days, consisting of 50 days before and 50 days after the stock split. The event study methodology was employed in the determination of the effects of the split. Abnormal returns were calculated by use of the market model and t-tests are conducted to test the significance. The study found out that the Kenyan market reacts positively to stock splits, as shown by a general increase in volumes of shares traded around the stock split. There is also an increase in trading activity after the stock split as compared to that before the stock split. This is consistent with the signaling hypothesis, which states that managers of companies split their stock to act as a means of passing information to stock holders and potential investors. The study equally found out that on the split date and on days around the stock split, there was a positive average abnormal return that was very significant at 0.05% significance level. Results of the cumulative abnormal return indicated that there is a positive cumulative abnormal return across the different event windows.
Taxes and Firm Performance: Evidence from the OECD

The eminent contributors (including Altshuler, Creedy, Freebairn, Gravelle, Heady, Kalb, Sorensen and Zodrow) investigate the beneficial directions for medium-term tax reform in the light of global developments and lessons from the latest taxation research. In addressing this issue, they review recent advances in both the theoretical and empirical tax literature and reform evidence from individual countries. Topics covered include the impact of taxes on economic performance; international and corporate taxation; personal tax and welfare systems; environmental taxation; and country-specific tax reform experiences.
In vitro anti-HIV and immunomodulatory potentials of Azadirachta indica (Meliaceae) leaf extract

Azadirachta indica (neem) is attributed to have many ethnopharmacological properties and has been postulated to have a significant effect on CD4 counts in HIV/AIDS subjects, however, the precise anti-retroviral mechanism is not yet known. In this study, a hydroacetone extract of A. indica leaves was investigated for its anti-retroviral and immunomodulatory potentials. The effect of the neem leaf extract on acute HIV infectivity and fusion was measured by the syncytia formation assay on HIV-1-infected C8166 CD4+ cells. The inhibitory effect of the extract on reverse transcriptase (RT) polymerase activity and HIV p24 antigen expression were evaluated in the culture supernatant. The extract was also assessed for its ability to decrease the phenotypic expression of the immune activation markers CD38 and CD69. Results from a syncytium formation assay indicated that the extract blocked HIV-1 envelope-mediated membrane fusion. The extract inhibited HIV-1 replication in C8166 CD4+ cells in vitro by inhibiting the biochemical activity of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase, the result being a subsequent decrease in HIV p24 antigen concentration. In the effective dose range, no cytotoxicity was detected on uninfected target cells. Ex vivo the extract exhibited a dose dependent reduction in the levels of the immune activation marker CD38 and CD69 on phytohemagglutinin A (PHA)‐stimulated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). The observed anti-HIV activity and immunomodulatory potentials of the extract shows that neem could impart health benefits to HIV/AIDS patients possibly by acting as fusion or reverse transcriptase inhibitors and also down-regulate hyperimmune activation. Key words: Anti-HIV activity, immunomodulatory activity, Azadirachta indica.
Seed Dormancy in Mexican Teosinte

Seed dormancy in wild Zea species may affect fi tness and relate to ecological adaptation. The primary objective of this study was to characterize the variation in seed germination of the wild species of the genus Zea that currently grow in Mexico and to relate this variation to their ecological zones of adaptation. In addition, we compared methods to break dormancy and measured the germination responses of seeds to environment factors that are related to seasonal changes. Teosinte populations representing all the taxonomic and racial groups known in Mexico were collected during the period 2003 to 2008 in twelve states of Mexico. Seed dormancy was classifi ed according to the rate of its loss (depth of dormancy). Results indicated that more than 90% of populations studied had some degree of seed dormancy. Nondormant populations are distributed predominantly in semicold areas, while deep and very deep seed dormancy was found in populations distributed in hot and very hot environments in well defi ned geographic regions of the Balsas River Basin and in San Felipe Usila, Oaxaca. Mechanical seed scarifi cation was the best method to break dormancy.
Recruitment, Retention and Exit from Union Membership. An Analysis of Member Flows in Swiss Union Locals

This article enquires into the causes of union growth and decline by analysing flows in and out of membership at the level of 70 Swiss union locals over 2006–2008. Gross flows in union membership are much larger than the resulting net changes: annual membership turnover of 10 per cent is a surprisingly constant feature across unions. Net changes in membership are primarily determined by inflows: successful and languishing union locals differ in their entry rates, whereas exit rates are similar. Variance in union locals' entry rates is not usefully explained by the labour market context, but by differences in union strategy.
Silhouette coverage analysis for multi-modal video surveillance

In order to improve the accuracy in video-based object detection, the proposed multi-modal video surveillance system takes advantage of the difierent kinds of information rep- resented by visual, thermal and/or depth imaging sensors. The multi-modal object detector of the system can be split up in two consecutive parts: the registration and the coverage analysis. The multi-modal image registration is performed using a three step silhouette-mapping algorithm which detects the rotation, scale and translation between moving objects in the visual, (thermal) infrared and/or depth images. First, moving object silhouettes are extracted to separate the cal- ibration objects, i.e., the foreground, from the static background. Key components are dynamic background subtraction, foreground enhancement and automatic thresholding. Then, 1D con- tour vectors are generated from the resulting multi-modal silhouettes using silhouette boundary extraction, cartesian to polar transform and radial vector analysis. Next, to retrieve the rotation angle and the scale factor between the multi-sensor image, these contours are mapped on each other using circular cross correlation and contour scaling. Finally, the translation between the images is calculated using maximization of binary correlation. The silhouette coverage analysis also starts with moving object silhouette extraction. Then, it uses the registration information, i.e., rotation angle, scale factor and translation vector, to map the thermal, depth and visual silhouette images on each other. Finally, the coverage of the resulting multi-modal silhouette map is computed and is analyzed over time to reduce false alarms and to improve object detection. Prior experiments on real-world multi-sensor video sequences indicate that automated multi- modal video surveillance is promising. This paper shows that merging information from multi- modal video further increases the detection results.
Deformation monitoring and the maximum number of stable points method

The question of determination of displacements in control networks with two or more measuring epochs is a well-known problem with broad applications to different fields of science and engineering. The standard procedure, which is computed by means of the pseudoinverse matrix, however, makes an implicit assumption that may be not convenient for the network at hand: it distributes the noticed displacement among the majority of the network points. The present paper develops what it has been named as the maximum number of stable points hypothesis and builds from the corresponding theoretical framework an applicable computation procedure. Application to a particular example will confirm its clear advantages versus the standard procedure for deformation determination in the cases where a single large deformation may be suspected.
Using Project Financing to Develop Constructed Facilities in Italy

Project Financing (PF) is a promising mechanism to widely develop a variety of public infrastructure and service facilities by leveraging private funding of design, build, and operations. However, not all financially free-standing projects are suit able to be delivered under such forms of contract. The aim of this work is to help identify the main factors that might influence the success of PF initiatives so t hat suitable projects might be identified by public planners and private promoters. To this end, an empirical analy sis is carried out on a number of Italian awarded PF initi atives. Results suggest that large-sized projects d eveloped under favorable business conditions have higher imp lementation chances.
Conductive Atomic Force Microscopy Applied to CdTe/CdS Solar Cells

In this work we describe for the first time the use of conductive atomic force microscopy (C-AFM) in the study of CdTe/CdS solar cells, before and after the etching processes used in device fabrication. C-AFM is a new technique that provides information on the electrical properties of the sample in conjunction with topographic images with high lateral resolution. At the same time, this technique allows for the generation of I-V curves at very well-defined locations. A potential is applied between the sample and a very sharp tip, which scans the sample in contact mode. The current images showed that different CdTe grains produce different contrast. Etching the CdTe with a bromine/methanol solution enhanced the current along grains boundaries when compared to the intragrain material. Etching with a solution of nitric and phosphoric acids did not show this effect. Instead, it increased the current through the whole sample surface.
Picking Station Design Considerations for Improved Sequence Picking - A Case Study at Volvo Cars Torslanda

The automotive industry continuously becomes more competitive. New brands grow stronger and there is a constant pressure to come up with new models with an increasing frequency. In addition, safety requirements on the cars, together with customers demanding a wide range of both models and variants of the models, makes the number of components for each car model larger than ever. The many models and variants, and the fact that these are assembled on the same assembly line, put demanding requirements on the material feeding process. One way of feeding the line with material is to send items to the assembly line pre-picked according to the building sequence of the cars. This requires facilities for sequence picking and the picking operations of course have to be carried out as effectively and efficiently as possible. As the amount of models and variants increases, also the extent of the picking activities increases and area efficiency in the sequence picking facilities becomes a concern. Hence, the purpose of this thesis is to contribute to increased knowledge about how an area problem in sequence picking facilities can be addressed. The thesis suggests a number of different ways in which the area efficiency of a sequence picking station can be improved. The improvement suggestions vary in effectiveness as well as in the physical changes, and the level of investment, necessary for an implementation. In addition, an item classification system is introduced. The system is thought to be used when looking for picking stations with the greatest improvement potential or when looking for picking stations suitable for a specific design change. At last, three of the improvement suggestions are evaluated trough a virtual implementation at Volvo. The focus is on area savings but also operational differences are addressed. The operational differences are addressed through a comparison of mappings of the activities performed at the evaluated picking stations before and after the change. Major contributions of the thesis are the identification of design considerations for improved area efficiency of sequence picking stations and the item classification system developed as a support for identifying picking stations suitable for specific design changes. In addition, the thesis serves as a compilation of theory with focus on picking operations and also as a source of practical picking solutions as the picking operations at six reference companies are presented.
Women’s participation in peacebuilding and reconciliation in Iraq

learned. Helpdesk reports are not rigorous or systematic reviews; they are intended to provide an introduction to the most important evidence related to a research question. They draw on a rapid desk-based review of published literature and consultation with subject specialists. Helpdesk reports are commissioned by the UK Department for International Development and other Government departments, but the views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of DFID, the UK Government, K4D or any other contributing organisation. For further information, please contact helpdesk@k4d.info. Helpdesk Report
Collateral Children: Consequence and Illegality at the Intersection of Foster Care and Child Support

This Article is the third in a series addressing the conflict between state revenue maximization strategies and the missions of state agencies serving low-income children. The Article examines the policy of foster care cost recovery through child support enforcement. When children are removed from poor families and placed in foster care, federal law requires child welfare agencies to initiate child support obligations against the parents. Resulting payments do not benefit the children but are converted into a government funding stream to reimburse the costs of foster care. This cost recovery effort often subordinates the child welfare system’s primary goals of protecting the interests of children and simultaneously strengthening and preserving families to the bureaucratic focus on replenishing government revenue. No such federal cost recovery requirement exists when children are removed from well off families. The policy targets parents whose children were often removed due to the circumstances of poverty, and the neglect that results. Already impoverished parents are further burdened by government owed child support obligations, hampering their struggle to reunify with their children. Federally required case plans intended to aid reunification are illegally converted into debt collection tools. And as the reunification efforts falter, an unconstitutional practice emerges: terminating parental rights for a government-owed debt. This Article reveals the framework and policy implications, and uncovers the illegality, when the core missions of child welfare agencies are diverted towards a self-interested fiscal pursuit.
Output Feedback Control of Discrete Impulsive Switched Systems with State Delays and Missing Measurements

This paper is concerned with the problem of dynamic output feedback (DOF) control for a class of uncertain discrete impulsive switched systems with state delays and missing measurements. The missing measurements are modeled as a binary switch sequence specified by a conditional probability distribution. The problem addressed is to design an output feedback controller such that for all admissible uncertainties, the closed-loop system is exponentially stable in mean square sense. By using the average dwell time approach and the piecewise Lyapunov function technique, some sufficient conditions for the existence of a desired DOF controller are derived, then an explicit expression of the desired controller is given. Finally, a numerical example is given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
High Frequency Embryogenic Callus Induction and Whole Plant Regeneration in Japonica Rice Cv. Kitaake

A new and rapid protocol for production of embryogenic callus and plant regeneration has been reported in Oryza sativa cv. Kitaake. Callus cultures were established from seeds of Kitaake on MS medium supplemented with 2,4-D (3.0 mg/l), BAP (0.25 mg/l) and proline (0.6 g/l) gelled with phytagel (3.0 g/l), after 9 days of seed culturing. The embryogenic calli were regenerated on regeneration medium, i.e. MS medium supplemented with BAP (3.0 mg/l) and NAA (0.2 mg/l) and gelled with agar (8.0 g/l) in combination with phytagel (2.0 g/l) and regeneration occurred in 18 days. The regeneration percentage achieved was very high i.e 82.66% on the above medium. Rooting was achieved on half strength MS medium. The plantlets were hardened and transferred to soil in earthen pots. The regeneration protocol so developed through callus formation was highly reproducible. The plants showed normal growth and flowering under glass house conditions as well as in field conditions.
Effect of Supervisor’s Role in Training Programs and Motivation to Learn As a Predictor of Job Performance

Training research literature highlights that the ability of supervisors to play proper roles in training programs may directly increase job performance. More importantly, extant research in this field reveals that the effect of supervisor’s role in training programs on job performance is indirectly affected by motivation to learn. The nature of this relationship is less emphasized in training management literature. Therefore, this study was conducted to measure the effect of supervisor’s role in training programs and motivation to learn on job performance using 100 usable questionnaires gathered from technical employees who have worked in one city based local authority in Sarawak, Malaysia (MSCLAS). Outcomes of step-wise regression analysis showed that relationship between motivation to learn and supervisor role characteristics (i.e., support and communication) positively and significantly correlated with job performance. This result confirms that motivation to learn does act as a full mediat-ing role in the training model of the studied organization. Implications of this study to training management theory and practice, methodological and conceptual limitations, as well as future directions are discussed. Keywords: supervisor’s role in training programs, motivation to learn, job performance