119 research outputs found
Executive compensation, corporate governance and corporate performance: A simultaneous equation approach
No full textThis paper investigates the association between executive compensation and performance. It uniquely utilises a comprehensive set of corporate governance mechanisms within a three-stage least squares (3SLS) simultaneous equation framework. Results based on estimating a conventional single equation model indicate that the executive pay and performance sensitivity is relatively weak, whereas those based on estimating a 3SLS model generally suggest improved executive pay and performance sensitivity. Our findings highlight the need for future research to control for possible simultaneous interdependencies when estimating the executive pay and performance link. The findings are generally robust across a raft of econometric models that control for different types of endogeneities, executive pay and performance proxies.<br/
CodeSimilarity: an approach for clustering introductory programming assignments
No full textThis Thesis was approved for publication on 2020-07-24 at 16:51.DSpace SAF Submission Ingestion Package generated from Vireo submission #15752 on 2020-10-02 at 15:34:13Made available in DSpace on 2020-10-07T22:44:48Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2
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Previous issue date: 2020-07-24Enrollment in introductory programming (CS1) courses continues to surge and hundreds of CS1 students can produce thousands of submissions for a single problem, all requiring timely feedback and accurate grading. While not exclusive to CS1 courses, instructors of such courses are challenged to provide feedback at scale (e.g., to hundreds of students). Because these students have a diverse range of skills and backgrounds, it is essential to differentiate common strategies and shortcomings of student submissions to a given problem. There is a strong need for clustering submissions by the similarity of their strategies for enabling instructors to provide customized feedback to students.
To fill this need, in this thesis, we present the CodeSimilarity approach, which first automatically generates test data for correct student submissions and then uses semantic program features (i.e., path conditions) to cluster correct student submissions by their strategies. We define the strategy employed by a student submission as the way that the problem space is partitioned into sub-spaces and how the problem is uniquely addressed within each sub-space. In particular, CodeSimilarity leverages automated test generation based on symbolic execution to determine the path conditions for a given submission; comparing each submission’s path conditions allows to establish behavioral equivalence relationships with respect to the strategies employed by these submissions. We evaluate CodeSimilarity on four datasets to assess the effectiveness of our approach. The evaluation results show that by using semantic program features (i.e., path conditions), CodeSimilarity can effectively cluster submissions that employ the same strategy.Submission published under a 24 month embargo labeled 'U of I Access', the embargo will last until 2022-08-01The student, Jonathan Osei-Owusu, accepted the attached license on 2020-07-24 at 14:43.The student, Jonathan Osei-Owusu, submitted this Thesis for approval on 2020-07-24 at 16:47.Embargo set by: Seth Robbins for item 116271
Lift date: 2022-10-07T22:44:53Z
Reason: Author requested U of Illinois access only (OA after 2yrs) in Vireo ETD systemOpen Restriction set for Item 116271 on 2021-03-18T14:21:32Z with date null by [email protected] Restriction set for Item 116271 on 2021-03-18T14:21:36Z with date null by [email protected]
Analysis of trichomonas vaginalis antigen by gel diffusion method, 1979
No full textThe antigens of Trichomonas vaginal is grown jn Diamond 1 s medium modified by Klass were analyzed by gel diffusion methods. Three methods were employed in the extraction of the antigens. They were Genetron extract, Borate Buffer Saline extract, and alcohol extract. The alcohol extract was made up of four fractions (TF1 , TF2, TF3, TF4). The antisera used as analytic agents were made in two rabbits obtained from the Center for Disease Control Breeding Colony. All the antigens were compared to show bands of identity, non-identity, and partial identity, and to determine the number of bands produced by each extract. Genetron extract antigen and Borate Buffer Saline extract antigen reacted strongly with the homologous antiserum made in rabbit 3 (R3), producing 4 bands each, while alcohol extract reacted minimally. Fractions TF1 and TF4 produced 3 bands each and fraction TFz and TF3 produced 2 bands each Two bands of precipitate were found to be common to all the antigens, suggesting the similarity of the antigens. In rabbit 4 (R4), 3 bands were produced by each antigen and they were all identical, confirming the similarity of the antigens. Rabbit 3 antiserum reacted more strongly than rabbit 4, even though all the rabbits were inoculated on the same dates with the same number of live Trichomonas vaginalis antigens under the same conditions
Social work and the question of social development in Africa
No full textThe author initially considers the severe development crisis of the African continent which urgently needs the attention of policy makers, planners and frontline workers. A discussion is then presented on how the methodologies of social development and social work: converging as human focused development can assist in ameliorating this situation. The author notes that social workers are trained to deal at a systems level with social problems and that social workers are capable of playing multiple roles at both community and agency levels. As such the author calls for greater recognition of the social work profession in tackling major problems of development
Trips and domestic control : implications for developing countries
No full textThis paper examines the impact of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Agreement) on domestic control. The paper explains why intellectual property became part of the global trade agenda. The author considers arguments both for and against stronger global protection for intellectual property rights. Through analysis of the World Trade Organization (WTO) cases on the TRIPS Agreement, the author argues that the TRIPS Agreement has effectively removed from WTO Member states control over their intellectual property regimes. The author focuses on the negative impact that a rigid application of the TRIPS Agreement is likely to have on developing countries
The level of compliance with the public procurement act (act 663) in Ghana
No full textThe Public Procurement Act (Act 663) 2003 was introduced in Ghana to streamline the anomalies in public procurement. The objective of the law is to promote fairness, transparency and ensure that public procurement is non-discriminatory. The implementation of the Public Procurement Act 2003 (PPA) has been quiet challenging coupled with a number of inefficiencies. The aim of this study is to observe and compare the extent to which selected public procurement entities have complied with the processes and requirements of the Law during the year 2008. The entities were chosen from the Ashanti and Brong Ahafo regions of Ghana. Structured questionnaire and face-to-face interviews were used to obtain data for this study. The overall compliance levels in the Ashanti and Brong Ahafo Regions lies at 19.58% and 17.8% respectively. This indicates low compliance levels of public entities. The study confirms that the Public Procurement Act 2003 (Act 663) is observed to proffer solutions but not without challenges. In the pursuit to improve compliance with the Act the study recommends that public entities recruit procurement personnel and organize intensive and regular procurement training for the personnel handling public procurement especially in the area of procurement processes
AXIOMATIC FORMULATION OF THE OPTIMAL TRANSACTION COST THEORY IN THE LEGAL PROCESS THROUGH COBB-DOUGLAS OPTIMIZATION
No full textSubject and purpose of work: This paper uses Cobb-Douglas optimization to formulate an optimal transaction cost algorithm within the constraint of a generalized legal framework. Materials and methods: The author has adopted a Lagrangian approach to formulate the social utility function, then, from a set of legally allowed strategies established the Karush-Kuhn-Tucker conditions for the legal game so as to find the optimal parameters within the social utility function. Finally, the optimal transaction cost algorithm was developed. Results: The Bordered Hessian Matrix from the partial differentials of the social utility function showed that there is a particular parameter within the social utility function which describes the optimal transaction cost. An adjustment of this parameter is essential in mechanism design for legal games. Conclusions: The author has shown how transaction costs influence the set of strategies played by players in a legal game, and has described the essence of a social utility function and how it can be optimized
Department of Error:Mapping geographical inequalities in childhood diarrhoeal morbidity and mortality in low-income and middle-income countries, 2000–17: analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017 (The Lancet (2020) 395(10239) (1779–1801), (S0140673620301148), (10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30114-8))
No full textReiner RC Jr, Hay SI. Mapping geographical inequalities in childhood diarrhoeal morbidity and mortality in low-income and middle-income countries, 2000–17: analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. Lancet 2020; 395: 1779–801—In this Article, the author byline has been amended to Local Burden of Disease Diarrhoea Collaborators. This correction has been made to the online version as of June 4, 2020, and the printed version is correct.</p
Political Systems and Educational Policy: A Reflection of Dance Education in Ghana
No full textDance education in Ghana has undergone rapid transformation as a result
of the dynamic political atmosphere Ghana has experienced over the period
covering pre-colonial and post-colonial eras. During the pre-colonial era,
dance was an integral part of the worldview of communities in Ghana and
its education was viewed as a critical aspect of the continued survival of the
communities. As power shifted into the hands of the colonial masters, the
promotion of indigenous performing arts, including dance, were seriously
marginalised. Efforts expended to revitalise dance education in Ghana,
during the post-colonial era, has achieved little success, particularly at the
basic and secondary levels of the educational system. This paper is a review
dance education as it existed before the advent of Europeans on the soil of
Ghana, the colonial as well as the post-colonial eras. The history is presented
within the framework of the critical education theory, which postulates power negotiation and its rippling effect on educational policies. Varied
political systems that have spun over the history of Ghana and their impact in
the promotion of dance education in Ghana are reviewed. Reflections indicate
that political power and systems have the ability to control the development
of a philosophy that guides the policies and practices of educational system in
Ghana. Possible implications are that if efforts are not expended to revitalise
dance education in Ghana then this aspect of Ghanaian culture is heading
towards extinction
State of Disaster Risk Reduction at the Local Level: A report on the Patterns of Disaster Risk Reduction Actions at Local Level
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