Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Determinants of inflation in Namibia: A co-integration approach

The paper aims to examine the determinants of inflation in Namibia for the period 1993–2013. It was necessitated by the recent increase in consumer prices as world economies remain volatile. Moreover, theoretical and empirical predictions are not without ambiguities on the determinants of inflation in any given economy. The paper employed a co-integration technique to assess the determinants of inflation in Namibia. Empirical results suggest that inflation was mainly driven by imports and government spending for the period under review. Policy implications emanating from the study suggest that the country is vulnerable to external price changes from the markets whence its imports come from, especially those from South Africa. Also, the significance of government expenditure postulates that the Namibian government should reconsider its excessive spending (budget deficit) on the economy.
Dual Coding of object relations: An alternative framework for understanding perceptual processing in autism?

ABSTRACT Glyn Humphreys presented a model of attentional selection that was based on within- and between-object relations. In this paper we argue that the model may offer a more principled, flexible, and tractable approach to understanding perceptual differences in autism than current leading accounts (i.e., theories of Weak Central Coherence and Enhanced Perceptual Functioning). We briefly review these accounts before making a case for the necessity of an alternative conceptualization. We then review the underlying principles of the Dual Coding account, and explore whether it can be applied to findings in autism research. Since the model focuses on attentional mechanisms, rather than perceptual processing, we argue that it may provide a more valid foundation for understanding the relationship between local and global perception in existing autism research findings, which tend to be reported in the absence of fundamental differences in visual perception. It is also firmly rooted in empirical evidence from typical and atypical populations, allowing scientists to make predictions about visual behaviour that can be applied across groups, and in a manner that is fully consistent with existing knowledge about perception. Irrespective of how convincing the reader may find this argument, we believe that it befits Glyn Humphreys’ scientific heritage to show how his work might still provide a clear and elegant solution to a controversial issue.
Response of vegetation coverage to climate change in Mongolian Plateau during recent 10 years

Vegetation in the arid/semi arid area is highly sensitive to climate change.The Mongolian Plateau climate is mainly controlled by the east Asia monsoon system.Hence both Inner Mongolia and the state of Mongolia(Hereafter;Mongolia) experience a similar arid/semi arid climate but have different anthropological influences via their separate social and economic development histories.In this study,we analyzed in-situ observations from 67 meteorological stations(50stations in Inner Mongolia and 17 in Mongolia) and NDVI(Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) product from SPOT(Satellite pour 1' observation de la Terre in French) using Mann-Kendall(MK) tests and Maximum Value Composition(MVC). Our results showed that;(1) Temperature is general higher in the south than the north,while precipitation ranges from low in the west to high in the east.There is a significant warming trend over the whole Mongolian Plateau region from1961 to 2009,while no obvious trends were found for precipitation;(2) Vegetation coverage in Inner Mongolia was generally greater than that in Mongolia.The time series of vegetation coverage change in these two regions can be divided into two periods.The regional averaged NDVI decreased from 1998 to 2001,fluctuated greatly and then increased continuously from 2009 to 2012.The main degraded areas are located in the Xilingol league,central Inner Mongolia,while they are mostly located in the central and western Mongolia;(3) Positive correlations were found between NDVI and precipitation in desert,steppe vegetation and forest areas in Mongolia,while negative relationships were found for temperature.In Inner Mongolia,NDVI are also positively correlated with precipitation in desert and steppe vegetation areas and also positively correlated with temperature in forests.Recently several major national ecological projects were implemented in Inner Mongolia by national central and local governments,including "The Return Cropland to Forest",the "Return Grazing Land to Grassland"(Grain for Green),and the Three North Protection Forest Plantation Project.These projects improved the local environment by stopping grazing/cropping and planting trees.We believe that these policy actions contribute to the vegetation recovery in Inner Mongolia exhibited here in the NDVI.We attribute the different trends and dynamics of vegetation change in Inner Mongolia and Mongolia to human activities since the climate is similar in these two areas.However,the mechanism driving the changes requires further study particularly investigation of the socioeconomic drivers of local land use changes.If formal/informal communication between Inner Mongolia and Mongolia are encouraged in scientific research,cultural exchange and policy making of environmental protection at different levels,it will provide more opportunity for preservation and enhancement of the nomadic culture.
Structure and temporal dynamic of tropical turf-forming macroalgal assemblages of the western coast of Mexico

The study of the structure and dynamics of assemblages of benthic organisms has gained interest in recent decades because it can account for the influence of anthropogenic activities in the coastal zone and be incorporated into management and conservation plans. The region of Zihuatanejo, Mexico, has had an accelerated and unplanned urban development, negatively affecting coastal communities. However, studies on the structure and dynamics of algal assemblages, as well as some of the predominant physical factors in this region are scarce. The objective of this research was to carry out a preliminary study on the structure of macroalgal assemblages and their spatio-temporal variation in a depositional environment. The work was realized from June 2006 to December 2008 collecting randomly macroalgal samples and placing sediment traps on the bottom to characterize the deposition environment. The subtidal algal assemblages of the studied localities were predominantly turfs. The Detendred Correspondence Analysis showed that each locality had a particular species composition. The highest biomass was 37.82 ± 12.90 g dw m -2 and the lowest of 0-7.86 g dw m -2 . The highest total sedimentation rate was 1818.10 ± 82.11 g dw m -2 day -1 and the lowest was 58.82 ± 8.75 g dw m -2 day -1 . Significant differences were found in calcareous and articulated biomass, as well as in fine, coarse and total sedimentation rates among localities. The results obtained provide a basis for further research on the effects of sedimentation on the subtidal macroalgae assemblages of the study region.
Deep Sea Microbes Probed by Incoherent Neutron Scattering Under High Hydrostatic Pressure

Abstract The majority of the biosphere is a high pressure environment. Around 70% of the marine biosphere lies at depths below 1000 m, i.e. at pressures of 100 bars or higher. To survive in these environments, deep-biosphere organisms have adapted to life at high pressure. In vitro studies showed that the activity of certain proteins originating from deep-sea organisms is less affected by high pressure than that of enzymes from surface organisms . However, the genetic and structural bases for this increased pressure resistance are still unknown. Elastic incoherent neutron scattering studies, which provide access to information about molecular dynamics, constitute a very promising approach to decipher the structural adaptation in proteins living under high pressure. This approach has been used in the past to investigate the adaptation of biological systems to temperature and salinity and proved to be essential and complementary to structural studies. Here first investigations of high pressure effects on cell dynamics are presented using Thermococcales as models.
Could Early Warning Systems Have Helped To Predict the Sub-Prime Crisis?

One of the features of the sub-prime crisis, that began in August 2007, was its unexpected nature. It came as a surprise not only to most financial market participants but also in some degree to the policy community. In this context, we seek to assess whether early warning systems based on the logit and binomial tree approaches on the UK and US economies could have helped to warn about the crisis. We also consider a ‘check list approach’ of indicators based on history. Although not all of the complementary approaches are successful, we contend that our work suggests that a broadening of approaches to macroprudential analysis is appropriate.
Digestible lysine levels in diets supplemented with ractopamine

In order evaluate digestible lysine levels in diets supplemented with 20 ppm of ractopamine on the performance and carcass traits, 64 barrows with high genetic potential at finishing phase were allotted in a completely randomized block design with four digestible lysine levels (0.80, 0.90, 1.00, and 1.10%), eight replicates and two pigs per experimental unit. Initial body weight and pigs' kinship were used as criteria in the blocks formation. Diets were mainly composed of corn and soybean meal supplemented with minerals, vitamins and amino acids to meet pigs' nutritional requirements at the finishing phase, except for digestible lysine. No effect of digestible lysine levels was observed in animal performance. The digestible lysine intake increased linearly by increasing the levels of digestible lysine in the diets. Carcass traits were not influenced by the dietary levels of digestible lysine. The level of 0.80% of digestible lysine in diets supplemented with 20 ppm ractopamine meets the nutritional requirements of castrated male pigs during the finishing phase.
What lies beneath: exploring the deeper purposes of feedback on student writing through considering disciplinary knowledge and knowers

Abstract Feedback plays an integral role in students’ learning and development, as it is often the only personal communication that students have with tutors or lecturers about their own work. Yet, in spite of its integral role in student learning, there is disagreement between how students and tutors or lecturers perceive the pedagogic purpose of feedback. Central to this disagreement is the role that feedback has to play in ensuring that students produce the ‘right’ kinds of knowledge, and become the ‘right’ kinds of knowers within their disciplines. This paper argues that, in order to find common ground between students and tutors or lecturers on what feedback is for, and how to both give and use it effectively, we need to conceptualise disciplinary knowledge and knowers anew. We offer, as a useful starting point, the Specialisation dimension of Legitimation Code Theory as both practical theory and methodological tool for exploring knowledge and knowers in English Studies and Law as two illustrative cases. The paper concludes that this analysis offers lecturers and tutors a fresh understanding of the disciplinary knowledge and knower structures they work within and, relatedly, a clearer view of the work their feedback needs to do within these.
Effects of parsley supplementation on the seminal quality, blood lipid profile and oxidant status of young and old male rabbits

The high unsaturation levels of spermatozoal membrane make it very susceptible to oxidative damage and this problem increases with advancing age. In this study, the aim is to investigate whether parsley seed (PS) has a protective effect on semen quality, serum lipid profile and antioxidative status of old and young bucks. Male rabbits (n= 36) (18 young 9-12 mo old and 18 old 36-42 mo old) were each assigned to 3 dietary treatments (a control and 2 levels of PS: 0.3 and 0.6 kg/100 kg diet) to evaluate the ability of parsley to enhance bucks’ reproductive status. Most of the studied traits were adversely affected by age of rabbit bucks. On the other hand, the inclusion of PS significantly boosted ejaculate volume and improved mass motility concentration and total sperm output. Seminal plasma and blood serum total antioxidant capacity increased, while serum lipid peroxidase decreased with parsley treatments. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of parsley seed alleviates most semen quality parameters and counteracts oxidative stress, especially with the advance of age (seminal plasma and blood serum of total antioxidant capacity and malondialdehyde.
Economic Evaluation and Risk Analysis of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in Cotton Production in Sindh Pakistan

Cotton is the important cash crop of Pakistan and a major source of foreign earnings. However cotton crop is facing many problems, such as disease and pest attacks. One way to reduce losses caused by disease and pest attack is the use integrated pest management (IPM) practices. Keeping in view the importance of this technique, the present study analyzed the adoption of IPM along with estimation of risk involved in the adoption process. To estimate the cotton yield, two types of production functions (one for adopter and other for non-adopters) were estimated using the regression analysis. Then estimate of regression models was used further in risk analysis. The results of non-adopters of IPM showed that cost of urea bags, cost of nitro-phosphate bags, cost of herbicide and rainfall were -0.038, 0.00475, 0.301 and 0.164 respectively and all of these significant at 10 percent level. For non-adopters of IPM the coefficient values of seed expenditure, temperature, humidity and spray cost were 0.0035, 0.026,-. 0.00093 and 0.00027 respectively. The results of IPM adopters showed that coefficient of temperature, seed expenditure, spray cost, urea cost and rainfall equal to 0.0305,0.100,0.0029,-. 000213 and 0.894 respectively and significant at ten percent level. Coefficient values of cost of nitro-phosphate bags, herbicide cost, humidity were 0.00035, 0.100. -0.000671 and -0.000445 respectively. Keywords: Cotton, IPM, herbicide, evaluation, risk, Coefficient, Hyderabad.
Assessing the MA Course "Translation Workshop" at Islamic Azad University: Theory and Practice in Translation

The present study aimed at dealing with MA translation workshop context and translation theories in practice. Moreover, it investigated MA translation students' expectations in the matter. To do so, the MA translation students of Islamic Azad University accepted in 2011-2012 academic year were selected as the population of the study. Then, as a convenience sampling, the participants were selected from Islamic Azad University of Khorasgan and Islamic Azad University of Shahreza. In order to gather the required data, a 5-point Likert-scale structured questionnaire containing 44 items based on four domains was developed. The 63 participants’ answers were analyzed and the findings of the study revealed that the reality of workshop context is far from students' expectations and their future needs. It seems that MA translation students did not get enough satisfaction from translation practices in workshop context at Islamic Azad University. Furthermore, MA translation workshop does not appear to have achieved its purposes in either theoretical or practical aspects of the program in translation education.
An Observational Study on the Role of Infection as a Maternal Risk Factor for Preterm Labour

Background: Preterm delivery is one of the most challenging obstetric complication encountered in day to day practice Preterm delivery is the single greatest cause of perinatal mortality and morbidity worldwide Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the role of infections as a maternal risk factor for preterm labour. Study Design: It was a case control study in which 230 women who underwent preterm delivery were taken as cases and 230 women as control matching in age who underwent normal term delivery in our obstetric population. The study duration was 1 year from November 2012 to November 2013 Results: A total of 460 patients were studied. Women with history of maternal infections were significantly more in the case group (23.5%) than in the control group (9.6%). Women with vaginal infections were significantly more in the case group(9.1%) than the control group (1.3%). Discharge PV was observed more in the case group (26.5%) than the control group (10.4%) and the difference was significant also Mothers who had history of STD were significantly more in the case group (10%) than in the control group (2.2%) Women with UTI is significantly more in the case group(31.7%) than the control group(15.7%. Women with periodontal problems were significantly more in the case group (5.2%) than the control group (1.3%). Conclusion: Maternal infection both systemic & local significantly contributed to produce the situation of pre-term labour.
Effects of purslane ( Portulaca oleracea L.) powder on growth performance, blood indices, and antioxidant status in broiler chickens with triiodothyronine-induced ascites

Abstract. This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation of purslane powder (PP) on performance, blood indices, and antioxidant status in broilers with triiodothyronine (T3)-induced ascites. In total, 240 one-day-old male broiler chicks (Ross 308) were randomly assigned to four treatments, with four replicates per treatment and 15 birds per replicate. The experimental diets included (i) a control diet, (ii) a control diet plus 1.5 mg kg−1 of T3 (T3 diet), (iii) a T3 diet with the addition of 1.5 g kg−1 of PP, and (iv) a T3 diet with the addition of 3 g kg−1 of PP. Feed intake and body weight were measured at 10, 24, 39, and 49 days of experiment. Blood and liver samples were collected from two birds in each replicate at 24 and 49 days of experiment. The T3-treated birds had higher (P
The Role of Export Diversification on Economic Growth in South Africa

The paper examined “the role of export diversification on economic growth in South Africa”. The study used annual time series secondary data for the period covering 1980 to 2010 and employed a Vector Error Correction Model to determine the effects of export diversification and possible factors that affect it on economic growth. Possible factors that affect export diversification considered as independent variables in this study include gross capital formation, human capital, real effective exchange rate and trade openness. Results of the study reveal that export diversification and trade openness are positively related to economic growth while real effective exchange rate, capital formation and human capital have negative long run relationships with economic growth. The study recommends the continual implementation of trade liberalisation by the South African government. The South African government is also encouraged promote the production of a diversified export basket through subsidisation and promotion of innovation and production of new products. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014. v5n9p705
Skinner and Feyerabend on the Method and the Role of Science in a Free Society

B. F. Skinner’s work encompasses epistemological concerns, including discussions about methodology and truth criteria, along with political and social ones, concerning the relationship between science and society. From a speech, in some aspects, coincident with a kind of positivism, Skinner came to criticize purely formalist tendencies about scienti ﬁ c method, and from the defense of the management of society by experts, he came to a criticism of the centralization of power and to the proposal of a form of organization based on face to face control. Dealing with similar topics, Paul Feyerabend deconstructed the idea of a universal scienti ﬁ c method, denounced an oppressive potential of science, and claimed for scienti ﬁ c knowledge to have no inherent preference over other forms of knowledge to access to institutions of power. Considering the importance of both authors for the debates in the context of history and philosophy of science, this study aims to present and discuss aspects of Skinner’s radical behaviorism and Feyerabend’s epistemological anarchism that deal with common themes. We conclude that, although salient differences, both perspectives contain some convergent and virtually complementary propositions, whose dialogue could be useful to their pursuit of a free society.
Ambient Air Pollution-Related Mortality in Dairy Cattle Corroborates Human Findings

Background: Although epidemiologic studies in animals may provide additional insights, the short-term effects of air pollution on mortality have never been studied in animal populations. We investigated the association between ambient air pollution and the risk of mortality in dairy cows and we assessed potential effect modification by season. Methods: We collected ozone (O 3 ), particulate matter (PM 10 ), and nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) concentrations at municipality level for 87,108 dairy cow deaths in Belgium from 2006 to 2009. We combined a case-crossover design with time-varying distributed lag non-linear models. Results: We found acute and delayed effects of air pollution on dairy cattle mortality during the warm season. The increase in mortality for a 10 µg/m 3 increase in 2-day (lag 0‒1) O 3 was 1.2% (95% confidence interval: 0.3% to 2.1%), and the corresponding estimates for a 10 µg/m 3 increase in same-day (lag 0) PM 10 and NO 2 were 1.6% (0.0% to 3.1%) and 9.2% (6.3% to 12.2%), respectively. Compared to the acute effects, the cumulative 26-day (lag 0‒25) estimates were considerably larger for O 3 (3.0%; 0.2% to 6.0%) and PM 10 (3.2%; -0.6% to 7.2%), but not for NO 2 (1.4%; -4.9% to 8.2%). In the cold season, we only observed increased mortality risks associated with same-day (lag 0) exposure to NO 2 (1.4%; -0.1% to 3.1%) and with 26-day (lag 0–25) exposure to O 3 (4.6%; 2.2% to 7.0%). Conclusions: Our study adds to the epidemiologic findings in humans and reinforces the evidence on the plausibility of causal effects. Furthermore, our results indicate that air pollution effects go beyond short-term mortality displacement. Our study replicates epidemiological findings for humans, but in a more controlled and stable context, as socio-demographic confounding and exposure misclassification are limited in dairy cattle. This reinforces the evidence on the plausibility of causal effects in humans, and suggests that there are common pathophysiological patterns. In addition, our findings provide further evidence that acute exposures have long lasting effects.