Temporal aggregation in political budget cycles

While existing cross-country studies on political budget cycles rely on annual data, we build a panel with quarterly and monthly data from Latin American and OECD countries over the 1980-2005 period. Disaggregated data allow to center the electoral year more precisely, and show the effects are concentrated in a three-quarter window around elections. Cycles are statistically significant only in Latin America, but the pattern is similar to OECD countries: the budget surplus/GDP ratio falls in the election period and rises in the post-election period. In line with the logic of rational opportunistic manipulation, these effects cancel out.temporal aggregation, electoral window, pre- and post-electoral effects, political budget cycles, rational opportunistic cycles

Conscientious objection and reproductive health service delivery in sub-Saharan Africa

Lack of access to quality reproductive health services is the main contributor to the high maternal mortality and morbidity in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This is partly due to a shortage of qualified and experienced health care providers. However conscientious objection amongst the available few is a hitherto undocumented potential factor influencing access to health care in SSA. Provision of certain reproductive health services goes counter to some individual’s religious and moral beliefs and practices. Health providers sometimes refuse to participate in or provide such services to clients/patients on moral and/or religious grounds. While the rights to do so are protected by the principles of freedom of religion, among other documents, their refusal exposes clients/patients to the risk of reproductive health morbidity as well as mortality. Such providers are required to refer the clients/patients to other equally qualified and experienced providers who do not hold similar conscientious objection. Access to high quality and evidence-based reproductive health services by all in need is critical to attaining MDG5. In addressing factors contributing to delay in attaining MDG5 in SSA it is instructive to consider the role of conscientious objection in influencing access to quality reproductive health care services and strategies to address i

Integrated atomistic process and device simulation of decananometre MOSFETs

In this paper we present a methodology for the integrated atomistic process and device simulation of decananometre MOSFETs. The atomistic process simulations were carried out using the kinetic Monte Carlo process simulator DADOS, which is now integrated into the Synopsys 3D process and device simulation suite Taurus. The device simulations were performed using the Glasgow 3D statistical atomistic simulator, which incorporates density gradient quantum corrections. The overall methodology is illustrated in the atomistic process and device simulation of a well behaved 35 nm physical gate length MOSFET reported by Toshiba

Proposing a life cycle land use impact calculation methodology

The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) community is yet to come to a consensus on a methodology to incorporate land use in LCA. Earlier our research group presented a methodology based on the ecosystem exergy concept. The ecosystem exergy concept suggests that ecosystems develop towards more effective degradation of energy fluxes passing through the system. The concept is argued to be derivable from two axioms: the principles of (i) maximum exergy storage and the (ii) maximum exergy dissipation. In this paper we present a methodology to assess impacts of human induced land use occupation, in which we make a difference between functional and structural land use impacts. The methodology follows a dynamic multi-indicator approach looking at mid-point impacts on soil fertility, soil structure, biomass production, vegetation structure, on-site water balance and biodiversity. The impact scores are calculated as a relative difference with a reference system. We propose to calculate the impact by calculating the land quality change between the former and the actual land use relative to the quality of the potential natural vegetation. Impact scores are then aggregated, as endpoint impacts, in (i) structural land use impact (exergy storage capacity) and (ii) functional land use impact (exergy dissipation capacity). For aggregation of the relative mid-point impact scores no characterization factor is used. In order to fit this impact calculation in the LCA framework the end-point impact scores are multiplied by a LCA component, a component that enables us to report the impact per functional unit

Teaching Independent Transitioning to Young Children with Autism Using Video Self-Modeling with Video Feedback via iPads

This study investigated the efficacy of Video Self-Modeling (VSM) with video feedback using iPads to improve independent transitioning of two young children, a first grader and a preschooler, with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) across play activities and school routines. It was hypothesized that participants would transition independently through play activities and daily routines after watching their exemplary behaviors on an iPad. Teachers and teacher assistants delivered the intervention in inclusive classrooms. An A-B-A-B research design was used with the first grader whereas an A-B-A design was implemented with the preschooler. Findings show that both participants improved targeted behaviors. Independent transitioning skills were also maintained for both participants one month after the intervention was withdrawn. Social validity results show that parents of participants and their teachers favored and recommended the video self-modeling with video feedback intervention for other children with autism

A Study on Emerging Trends and Challenges in Mobile Cloud Computing

The proficiencies of mobile devices and mobile application continues to improve swiftly in relation to speed, computing power, storage and real world user friendly applications. Survey carried out by the Gartner Company (Famous global analytical consulting company) predicted more users to access the internet from the mobile devices than from the PCs by the year 2013. The outburst of the development in smart phones, applications and cloud computing concept has introduced Mobile Cloud Computing (MCC) as a dynamic technology for mobile devices. Mobile Cloud Computing (MCC) incorporates cloud computing into the mobile environment and overcome some problems in performance (e.g., battery life, storage), environment (e.g., scalability, availability) and security (reliability and privacy).Since MCC is still at primary stage of development we have to first theoretically understand the technology which would later on help us in the prediction of future research. In this paper, we introduce the background and theory of Mobile Cloud Computing (MCC), the benefits of MCC, challenges faced in MCC and finally some proposed possible future solution

INFORMED CONSENT FOR CLINICAL TRIALS: A REVIEW

Objective: To identify and highlight challenges related to informed consent processfor clinical trials in sub-Saharan Africa.Data sources: Published original research findings and reviews in the English literature,together with anecdotal information from our current professional experiences withclinical trials.Design: Review of peer-reviewed articles.Data extraction: Online searches were done and requests for reprints from correspondingauthors and institutional subscription.Data synthesis: Information categorised accordingly.Results: Informed consent for clinical trials conducted in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) isnot always “truly informed” or “truly voluntary”. Guidelines for obtaining informedconsent are often difficult to implement because of low literacy levels, socio-economicand cultural factors. The local ethics committees, whose role is critical in informedconsent, are weak, ill-equipped or non-existent in some countries. Many participantsmay have incomplete understanding of the various aspects of the clinical trials due tolanguage barriers, the way information is disclosed or terms used for informed consentdocuments. In some settings, clinical trials are the only access to health care servicesfor the local population. Further, participants may enroll with perceived notion ofcure of their conditions, for monetary or material benefits.Conclusions: There is need for national guidelines on clinical research including ethicsreview, compensation of subjects, requirements for research investigators, facilitiesand ethics committees as well as budgetary allocation. These guidelines must not onlyaddress specific and unique local circumstances but also meet minimum internationalclinical research standards. Local bioethics and research capacity should be developedand strengthened with research sponsors contributing towards this. Local research isneeded on the validity and reliability of informed consent for clinical trials and factorsinfluencing that in different socio-cultural settings in SSA

Unsuccessful Cassava Brown Streak Disease (CBSD) evaluation attempts in western Democratic Republic of Congo and implications with cassava root necrosis disease (CRND) etiology

Open Access ArticleCassava brown streak disease (CBSD) is the second most important virus disease after Cassava mosaic disease (CMD), infecting cassava (ManihotesculetaCrantz) in Africa. The disease is caused by two distinct viruses, Cassava brown streak virus [2, 3] and Ugandan Cassava brown streak virus (family, Potyviridae: genus, Ipomovirus). Transmission of CBSV from one plant to another is reported to occur through grafting CBSV-free with infected cuttings and subsequent dissemination by infected cuttings. The basic approach to control of CBSD is selecting planting material from symptomless mother plants. Graft inoculation is the most efficient and effective of the techniques for CBSD virus transmission and consequently cuttings are the most effective way of the disease spreading. In early 2000s, cassava root necrosis similar to those of CBSD were reported in western provinces of Democratic Republic of Congo (RDC) (Kinshasa and Kongo Central) and up to date PCR diagnoses did not detect any causal agent related to the observed symptoms and the disease which was still referred as ‘CBSD-like disease’. Due to lack of molecular data and the similarity of root symptoms with CBSD, the existence of a virus has always been suspected to be the cause of CBSD-like propagation. Thus, 2 field experiments were proposed in order to verify the existence of a systematic transmission of a possible CBSD related virus, knowing that CBSD viruses are transmitted efficiently by cuttings. The first trial focused on the field evaluation of CBSD – like infected and apparently uninfected planting materials, while the second trial involved the importation of tanzanian CBSD resistant genotypes for evaluation in INERA Mvuazi research center under CBSD-like infection conditions. Results of the first trial did not show a systemic transmission of any CBSD-like pathogen while CBSD-resistant parents involved in the second trial all succumbed to CBSD-like disease

The relationship between corporate social responsibility and corporate financial performance: Evidence from a developing country

We investigate the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and corporate financial performance (CFP) in a developing country context using annual report data from a sample of 131 firms over a 5 year period (2008-2012). Legitimacy theory and stakeholder theory underpin the study. We find a positive and significant relationship between CSR and CFP when using accounting measures of return on assets and equity, but an insignificant relationship when using the market based Tobin’s Q. The moderating effect of organisational governance on measures of workplace and environmental reporting is found to be important in a less developed economy