The role of relative performance in bank closure decisions

This paper studies a competitive banking industry subject to common and idiosyncratic shocks. The induced correlation across bank portfolio returns can be used by a regulator to improve inferences about bank portfolio choices. We compare two types of closure rules: (1) an 'absolute closure rule', which closes banks when their own individual asset/liability ratios fall below a given threshold, and (2) a 'relative closure rule', which closes banks when their asset/liability ratios fall below the industry average by a given amount. ; Two main results emerge from the model. First, a relative closure rule implies forbearance during 'bad times', defined as adverse realizations of the common shock. This forbearance occurs for incentive reasons, not because of irreversibilities or political economy considerations. Second, a relative closure rule is less costly to taxpayers, and the cost savings increase with the relative variance of the common shock. ; To evaluate the model, we estimate a panel-logit regression using a sample of U.S. commercial banks for the period 1992 through 1997. We find strong evidence that U.S. bank closures are based on relative performance. Individual and average asset/liability ratios are both significant predictors of bank closure, and their coefficient estimates are consistent with the theory. We conclude that relative performance is a valuable input to bank closure decisions, and that U.S. bank regulators seem to be aware of this.Bank failures

EXTENT OF INFORMATION RESOURCES UTILIZATION IN THE BIBLIOGRAPHY OF POSTGRADUATES’ TERMINAL RESEARCH OUTPUT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCES, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA

Postgraduate theses and dissertations include diversified sources of print and electronic information resources that contributed as building blocks of the research output. Students cite and list these resources for purposes of making deduction and/or induction of their felt positions; essentially, to shape the research discourses as well as to resolve societal problem(s). This study ascertains the extent of information resources utilisation among five approved postgraduate programmes (PGDIM, MIS, MLS, MARM & MIM) in the Department of Library and Information Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria using their bibliographies. The study adopted the ex post facto design of the quantitative method to collate data from the approved theses and dissertations from 2014-2018 (five years period). A total of 40,930 information resources were cited that accounted for 82.69% for print and 17.31% for e-resources in 638 theses and dissertations combined. Even though, the reference style approved is American Psychological Association, 6th edition, traces of Harvard (29.90%) and Chicago (18.70%) were recorded. It is concluded that the net worth of e-resources utilisation in bibliography of postgraduate theses and dissertations were significantly low (17.31%) compared to 82.69% recorded for print resources utilized. It is recommended that the student’s exposure to diverse information resources be deliberate to help them balance synthesised ideas and mindful of the audiences served from pool of resources that can enhance knowledge

Imperatives of Computer Base Test (CBT) on Performance of LIS Students: A Case Study

Abstract The paper espouse the fact that paper pen test (PPT) is slowly replaced by computer base test (CBT) introduced over five decades ago in most tertiary institutions. It itemized the benefits and challenges of CBT. The focus is to assess the performance of students of LIS in a Nigerian university who pioneered the project. Factoring incorporated courses, necessity for the incorporation of CBT, influence of CBT on student performance and the challenges of CBT on these students performance anchored the thrust of the paper. The study was quantitative; questionnaire was used to collect data that is guided by the objective of the study. A total of 267 students participated. The study revealed that CBT incorporation is still at pilot level and that the pencil pen test stills prevails in the study area, however, since CBT incorporation, it has put to rest the claim that drudgery was one of the reasons for its utilization. Results show that its incorporation has encouraged students to be thorough and improve their technical skills. Challenges hinges on funding of the project, training of personnel and students must be prioritized for sustainability

The role of the temporal pole in temporal lobe epilepsy: A diffusion kurtosis imaging study

This study aimed to evaluate the use of diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) to detect microstructural abnormalities within the temporal pole (TP) and its temporopolar cortex in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) patients. DKI quantitative maps were obtained from fourteen lesional TLE and ten non-lesional TLE patients, along with twenty-three healthy controls. Data collected included mean (MK); radial (RK) and axial kurtosis (AK); mean diffusivity (MD) and axonal water fraction (AWF). Automated fiber quantification (AFQ) was used to quantify DKI measurements along the inferior longitudinal (ILF) and uncinate fasciculus (Unc). ILF and Unc tract profiles were compared between groups and tested for correlation with disease duration. To characterize temporopolar cortex microstructure, DKI maps were sampled at varying depths from superficial white matter (WM) towards the pial surface. Patients were separated according to the temporal lobe ipsilateral to seizure onset and their AFQ results were used as input for statistical analyses. Significant differences were observed between lesional TLE and controls, towards the most temporopolar segment of ILF and Unc proximal to the TP within the ipsilateral temporal lobe in left TLE patients for MK, RK, AWF and MD. No significant changes were observed with DKI maps in the non-lesional TLE group. DKI measurements correlated with disease duration, mostly towards the temporopolar segments of the WM bundles. Stronger differences in MK, RK and AWF within the temporopolar cortex were observed in the lesional TLE and noticeable differences (except for MD) in non-lesional TLE groups compared to controls. This study demonstrates that DKI has potential to detect subtle microstructural alterations within the temporopolar segments of the ILF and Unc and the connected temporopolar cortex in TLE patients including non-lesional TLE subjects. This could aid our understanding of the extrahippocampal areas, more specifically the temporal pole role in seizure generation in TLE and might inform surgical planning, leading to better seizure outcomes

Self-defence against Fulani herders’ aggression: a demand for licenced firearms in Plateau state, Nigeria

Purpose – ThisstudyaimstoinvestigatetheclamourbythepeopleofPlateauState,Nigeria,formore licencestobearfirearmsforself-defencebecauseofthecontinuousfailureoftheNigerianStateto defendthemagainsttheFulaniherders’aggression.Moregunslesscrimedeterrencetheoryservedas theframeworkofanalysis,whichpositsthatbecausecriminalsarerationalbeings,theywillchoosenotto attackwhentheyknowmanypeoplehavelegitimatefirearms. Design/methodology/approach – Datawerecollectedfromfourpurposefullyselectedlocal governmentareasofthestate.Thisstudy’ssamplesizewas400.Therefore,400copiesoftheGoogle Formsquestionnairewereadministered.Inaddition,sevenkeyinformantinterviewsandninefocusgroup discussionswerealsoconducted. Findings – Thisresearchresultsshowedthefollowing:whileself-defenceandissuanceofmorelicenses weresupportedby84.8%and85.0%ofrespondents,respectively,theyalsoarguedthattheinsurgency wouldlikelyendifmorepeoplecarriedlegallyacquiredfirearms.Again,thestudyshowedapositive correlationbetweenthegovernment’sfailureinsecurityandthedemandforself-defenceexercises againsttheFulaniherdsmen’sinsurgency,thisstudyrecommendsmorelicensedfirearmsforthepeople of PlateauState. Originality/value – ThisstudyrecommendsmorelicencedfirearmsforthepeopleofPlateauStat

Relationship between Conflict Management Styles and Job Satisfaction of Private Islamic Secondary School Teachers

Study aims to investigate about conflict management style and the job satisfaction among private Islamic school teachers. The data consisted of 136 samples from private secondary school teachers at Alor Setar district in Kedah. For acquiring the conflict management style, Rahim Organizational Conflict Inventory (ROCI-II) had been used and to gain the job satisfaction datum, the Teaching Satisfaction Scale (TSS) developed by Ho and Au in 2006 was used. The findings of this research revealed that style of compromising (r = 0.299, p < .01), obliging (r = 0.244, p < .05) and integrating (r = 0.208, p < .05) have a significant relationship with job satisfaction. All these styles give positive outcomes for both parties that lead to positive school outcomes and also to maintain the good relationship with the other parties. When school administrator implemented these three styles will keeps teachers happy and satisfied without any kinds of negative impact on their relations at school. Thus, school administrator must be knowledgeable and aware about the best style of conflict at school to lead more satisfaction because teachers like to be more compromise when handling conflict. This finding suggests that the conflict management affects job satisfaction but excessive and wrong in handling it is associated with diminishing job satisfaction