Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A BOUND TEST ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECTS OF GLOBAL ECONOMIC SHOCKS ON NIGERIAN ECONOMY: The Role of Fiscal and Monetary Policies (1960-2011)

This study examines the effectiveness of both fiscal and monetary policies in mitigating external shocks on Nigerian economy. In addition, it determines which of the macroeconomic policy was more effective in mitigating the possible adverse effects of external shocks; The study uses annual data from 1960 to 2011 and data are sourced from Statistical Bulletin of CBN. Also, Mundel-Flemming theoretical framework is adopted to model the interaction between domestic and international macroeconomic policy variables. The time series properties of the variables are examined before the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) analytical technique is adopted to estimate the model. Beta coefficient is also generated to determine the effectiveness of each of the policies. The result showed that external shocks had hindered the effectiveness of domestic policy overtime. The result also shows that monetary policy is more effective than the fiscal policy but a coordination of both fiscal and monetary would give a better result.
Characterization of Nanoparticle Release from Polymer Nanocomposites Due to Fire | NIST

Engineered nanoparticles, such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and nanofibers (CNFs) are increasingly being used as fire retardants and performance additives in polymeric materials. However, because of their small size and ability to interact with biological molecules, these nanoadditives may pose significant health and environmental risks if they are released into the environment [1,2]. Although it is unlikely that encapsulated nanostructures will be released when the materials containing them are used in protected, indoor environments, this risk becomes more significant when these materials are exposed to fire (either unintended or during incineration) or other forms of intense energy (e.g., sunlight) when they are disposed of in landfills. The nanoparticulate morphologies generated in this way may be vastly different than those adopted by the pristine nanostructures due to agglomeration and interactions with other decomposition products and may pose significant new health risks [3].
Spatial and Temporal Variation in the Quality of Summer Foods for Herbivores along a Latitudinal Gradient

The spatial and temporal variation in nutritional quality of plants consumed by herbivores is considered as one of the main factors governing their feeding patterns and influencing their productivity. Plant nutrients vary in space and time both within and among plant species, at fine scales, and across large geographical scales, creating a heterogeneous environment where herbivores have to cope with variation in food quality at different spatiotemporal scales. As a response to this variation, herbivores make trade-offs between acquisition of digestible nutrients (e.g. nitrogen) and reduction of digestibility-reducing compounds (e.g. plant defence compounds like phenolics or tannins). Since little is known where the major sources of variation that herbivores face are and how these may be compared in a natural system, I analysed spatial and temporal variation in food quality (i.e. the concentration of nitrogen, fiber, total phenolics and condensed tannins) at three levels: local, regional and yearly scales. Two important plant species, downy birch (Betula pubescens) and fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium), in the summer diet of moose (Alces alces) were collected for three subsequent years along a latitudinal gradient of varying environmental conditions spanning across Sweden and assessed with near infrared reflectance spectroscopy. The degree of variation in nutritional aspects of food quality was of similar importance at all three spatiotemporal scales. In addition, there was a clear latitudinal gradient of these nutrients, where nitrogen and fiber increased towards the south in both species, and defence compounds increased towards the north in fireweed. My findings may have important implications for researchers dealing with multiple sources of variation in large scale questions, like climate change and its effects on plant-herbivore interactions.
Non-Commutative Ternary Nambu-Poisson Algebras and Ternary Hom-Nambu-Poisson Algebras

The main purpose of this paper is to study non-commutative ternary Nambu-Poisson algebras and their Homtype version. We provide construction results dealing with tensor product and direct sums of two (non- commutative) ternary (Hom-) Nambu-Poisson algebras. Moreover, we explore twisting principle of (non-commutative) ternary Nambu-Poisson algebras along with algebra morphism that lead to construct (non-commutative) ternary Hom- Nambu-Poisson algebras. Furthermore, we provide examples and a 3-dimensional classification of non-commutative ternary Nambu-Poisson algebras.
The Normative Distinctiveness of the European Union in International Development: Stepping Out of the Shadow of the World Bank?

Although the EU has shown a strong ambition to put a distinctive stamp on the international aid agenda over the past 15 years, it has also been pointed out that its policies suffer from a series of collective action problems. This article explores how both relate to one another. This article examines the EU's normative distinctiveness in contrast to the World Bank, focusing on policy norms in the field of governance, aid effectiveness and social development. We argue that collective action problems do not necessarily hamper EU distinctiveness: they are also a symptom of a strong EU desire to pressure European actors to come up with norms that pacify disagreements.
Seed treatment for management of Meloidogyne javanica in soybean

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the active ingredient abamectin, either in isolation or in combination with fungicides and insecticides formulated for the industrial seed treatment, on the population of Meloidogyne javanica, tested under greenhouse and in vitro conditions. In both tests, the combination of the following treatments was assessed: abamectin; thiamethoxam; fludioxonil + metalaxyl-M + thiabendazole. Water was used as control for the in vitro assay, whereas under greenhouse conditions, controls were inoculated and not inoculated with M. javanica. The tests were conducted in a completely randomized design with six (in vitro) and ten (greenhouse) replicates. For in vitro studies the effect on hatching, motility, and mortality of juveniles of M. javanica was evaluated. Under greenhouse conditions, the soybean ‘BRS 133’ seeds were treated, and at 15, 30, and 60 days after inoculation (DAI) with M. javanica, plant measurements were recorded. The penetration of second stage juveniles (J2) was also evaluated at 15 DAI. At 30 DAI, galls, egg masses, nematodes/g of root, and final population were evaluated. At 60 DAI, the final population of nematodes in the roots was quantified. The treatments containing abamectin were the most effective in diminishing the hatching of juveniles. All treatments had an effect on nematode motility when compared to the control, and in the treatment containing only abamectin, total juvenile mortality was observed. In greenhouse conditions, at 15 DAI, the treated soybean plants had the highest root mass and shoot length, differing statistically from the inoculated control. All treatments reduced the number of nematodes per gram of root, differing from the control. At 30 DAI, treatment efficiency was observed in reducing the final population of M. javanica, particularly the treatments using abamectin, and abamectin + thiamethoxam + fludioxonil + metalaxyl-M + thiabendazole. However, at 60 DAI, the effect of the treatments on the population of M. javanica did not persist.
THE EFFECTS OF CULTURAL DIMENSIONS ON THE INTERNAL AUDIT FUNCTION – A WORLDWIDE COMPARISON OF INTERNAL AUDIT CHARACTERISTICS

Over the last decades, the internationalization of companies has become the common way to extend business activities, explore new markets or use cost arbitrage effects. Although the motivation to internationalize depends on the specific environment and attributes of a company, the decision to extend the own business has a long-term and strategic dimension. New markets offer new opportunities but also numerous unknown threats. Furthermore, the distance between the headquarter and the foreign subsidiaries complicates the monitoring and control of the worldwide activities of a company. Bartlett and Goshal (1992) summarize this situation as follows: “The very act of “going international” multiplies a Abstract
The Lived Experiences of Instructors Co-Teaching in Higher Education.

The strength of co-teaching informs educators’ understanding of their own teaching practice and fosters a rediscovery of their passion for teaching. Instructors bring their skills and competencies to the co-teaching relationship in ways that create an instructional dynamic greater than can be achieved individually. From a mixed methods research design, instructors’ focus group interview data were examined with regard to identifying elements that influence successful co-teaching experiences, factors that impact the development and sustainability of the co-teaching relationship, and challenges that need to be addressed to avoid a breakdown in the co-teaching relationship. Drawing on the literature and the data, four recommendations for co-teaching practice are shared. Further, implications for educational development and administrative support are discussed in relation to co-teaching practice in higher education.
Economic Analysis of Broiler Production in Lagos State Poultry Estate, Nigeria

The study on the economic analysis of broiler production was carried out in Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperative’ Poultry Estates, Nigeria. A two-stage sampling technique was employed for the selection of 100 out of 193 broiler farmers. The research findings revealed a male dominance (73%) in broiler production and an average age of 45 years within the range of 40 and 49. Also, majority of the broiler farmers (90%) were fully involved in broiler production, married (80%) and literate (90%), with an average farming experience of less than 9 years (81%), average household size of 4 persons (78%) and an average flock size of about 400 birds. It was found that over 80% of the cost of production was on the variable inputs while feeds constituted the highest percentage of the variable costs. This accounted for 54.86% of variable costs and 44.8% of the total costs. The result of the findings showed that a single broiler bird nurtured to maturity had a total cost of ₦1509.8 made up of ₦274.2 as fixed cost and ₦1235.6 as variable cost. The gross revenue per bird was ₦2169.99. The Net profit of ₦660.11 per bird was estimated and this gives a net margin-to-cost ratio of 0.44 which implies that a ₦1 investment in broiler production, all things being equal, would yield 44kobo in return. This indicates that the broiler in poultry estate were profitable. The maximum likelihood estimate of the stochastic frontier production function reveals that quantity of feeds and flock size were highly significant at 5% and 1% risk level respectively. Educational level of farmers and years of experience were the factors positively influencing the technical efficiency of broiler production in the study area. The estimated technical efficiency of the broiler farmers ranged from 57% to 96% with a mean technical efficiency of 74%. Disease outbreak, inadequate finance and high cost of feed were the serious problems faced by the farmers. It was therefore recommended that broiler farmers should increase their flock size, develop the skills of record keeping and feed formulation to reduce feed cost.
Biogeographic Atlas of the Southern Ocean

The Southern Ocean waters to the west of the Antarctic Peninsula are warming faster than almost any other place on Earth. This area of most rapid environmental change was among others targeted by the Census of Antarctic Marine Life in its collection of biogeographic information. Such biogeographic information is of fundamental importance for monitoring biodiversity, discovering biodiversity hotspots, defining ecoregions and detecting the impacts of environmental changes. It is the preliminary and necessary step in designing marine protected areas in a changing ocean. At the end of five years of extensive biodiversity exploration and assessment by CAML (www.caml.aq) and the OBIS Antarctic Node (the SCAR Marine Biodiversity Information Network, www.scarmarbin.be), a new initiative, the multi-authored "CAML Biogeographic Atlas of the Southern Ocean", has been established under the aegis of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) to provide an up-to-date synthesis of Antarctic and sub-Antarctic biogeographic knowledge and to make available a new comprehensive online resource for visualisation, analysis and modelling of species distribution. It will constitute a major scientific output of CAML and SCAR-MarBIN as well as being a significant legacy of CoML and the International Polar Year to fulfill the needs of biogeographic information for science, conservation, monitoring and sustainable management of the changing Southern Ocean. It will be of direct benefit to the Antarctic Treaty and associated bodies such as the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources.
Effects of Different Dietary Levels of Mannanoligosaccharide on Growth Performance and Gut Development of Broiler Chickens

Different levels of dietary mannanoligosaccharide (Bio-MOS, Alltech Inc.) were evaluated for their efficacy on performance and gut development of broiler chickens during a 6-week experimental period. Experimental diets contained (g MOS/kg diet) a low (0.5 g during the entire period), medium (1 g during the entire period), high (2 g during the entire period), or step down (2 g in the first week; 1 g in the second and third week; 0.5 g in the last three weeks) level of MOS. Control diets included a negative and a positive control (zinc bacitracin, ZnB, 50 ppm and 30 ppm in the first and last three weeks, respectively). MOS supplementation improved the growth performance of young birds and the effects became less when the birds got older. The growth response of birds was more obvious at the high dosage level of MOS treatment than the other MOS treatments and the growth performance of birds fed on the high MOS diet was comparable to that of birds fed on the ZnB diet. Depending on the dosage level and the age of birds, MOS seemed to reduce the size of the liver and the relative length of the small intestine but did not affect the relative weight of the other visceral organs (proventriculus, gizzard, pancreas, bursa and spleen) and that of the small intestine. A numerical increase in the small intestine digestibility of nutrients was noticed in the young birds fed on the MOS diet(s), but not in the older ones. Medium and/or high MOS treatment also increased the villus height of the small intestine of birds at different ages. Similar results were observed on the ZnB treatment. However, MOS and ZnB affected caecal VFA profile in different ways. MOS increased, or tended to increase, whereas ZnB reduced individual VFA concentrations in the caeca.
Domestic and Foreign Banks’ Profitability:Differences and Their Determinants

The purpose of this study to analyze and compare the profitability of domestic (Public & Private) and foreign banks operating in the Pakistan Banking market between 2004 and 2010 on quarterly basis. Total 36 Commercial Banks of Pakistani Industry have represented our sample. To control for the effect of bank ownership on performance, we split the sample into three categories: (1) domestic banks with Government Control, (2) domestic banks with Private control, and (3) foreign banks. This study also finds that foreign banks are more profitable than all domestic banks regardless of their ownership structure by applying regression analysis. This may suggest that it is better for a multinational bank to establish a subsidiary/branch rather than acquiring an “existing player” in the host country. We also found that domestic and foreign banks have different profitability determinants, i.e. factors that are important in shaping domestic banks’ profitability are not necessary important for the foreign banks and vice versa. Empirical results show that foreign banks are less affected by the macroeconomic factors of the host country than domestic banks and they have a higher profitability margin in Pakistan.
Temperature-dependent growth and photophysiology of prokaryotic and eukaryotic oceanic picophytoplankton

It is expected that climate change will expand the open oligotrophic oceans by enhanced thermal stratification. Because temperature defines the geographic distribution of picophytoplankton in open-ocean ecosystems and regulates photophysiological responses, it is important to understand how temperature affects picophytoplankton growth and photophysiology. Two prokaryotic and 2 eukaryotic picophytoplankton strains were acclimated to 3 different temperatures, ranging from 16 to 24 degrees C. Temperature-dependent growth and photophysiology were assessed by measurements of specific growth rates, cell size, pigment composition, absorption and electron transport rates. Growth of Prochlorococcus marinus (eMED4), Prochlorococcus sp. (eMIT9313), Ostreococcus sp. (clade B) and Pelagomonas calceolata was positively related to temperature, especially in the prokaryotic strains. Changes in photophysiology included increased light harvesting, increased electron transport and reduced photoinhibition at elevated temperatures. However, the changes related to light harvesting and electron transport could not fully explain the observed difference in growth. This suggests that other processes, such as Calvin cycle activity, are likely to limit growth at sub-optimal temperatures in these picophytoplankton strains. The overall changes in photophysiology during temperature acclimation will possibly allow photosynthesis at higher irradiance intensities, but the genetically defined low temperature tolerances and photosynthetic characteristics of the different ecotypes will likely be more important in determining picophytoplankton (depth) distribution and community composition.
Title Seasonal Variation of Thermal Sweating

Although seasonal change in sweat response; the higher sweat rate, the shorter latent period for sweating, and the lower salt concentration in sweat in summer than in winter has been reported, the findings have hardly been led by accurate methods of measuring sweat rate. In order to confirm seasonal variation of sweating, sweat tests were carried out in summer and in winter for each subject. Local sweat rate was recorded before, during and after heat load by using capacitance hygrometer-sweat capture capsule method, which enabled the determination of local sweat rate highly sensitively and continuously. Sweat-onset time and local sweat volume were compared between both seasons. Sweat-onset time was 10.82•}1.21 min (chest), 11.85•}1.26 min (abdomen) in summer.It was 16.33•}1.95 min (chest), 16.42•}1.91 min (abdomen) in winter, P<0.005 (chest) and P<0.05 (abdomen) between both seasons. Local sweat volume was 121.23•}20.90 mg/capsule (chest), 48.46•}10.83 mg/capsule (abdomen) in summer. It was 36.59•}10.83 mg/capsule (chest), 19.20•}5.88 mg/capsule (abdomen) in winter, P<0.01 (chest) and P<0.05 (abdomen) between both seasons. Seasonal variation of thermal sweating was reconfirmed by the more accurate method in this study. Furthermore, no changes in threshold for sweating in oral temperature was observed. It is suggested that the mechanism of seasonal acclimatization is different from that of artificial heat acclimation.
Do Brand Personality Really Enhance Satisfaction and Loyalty Toward Brand? A Review of Theory and Empirical Research

It is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore the role of brand loyalty in today’s competitive market. Brand loyalty is one of the most-cited concepts in marketing literature, and both academic and practitioners have accepted the range of benefits derived from it. Most firms attempt to measure satisfaction and loyalty for their brand, this is because the vital view whether a product successful or failed are customer loyalty. But, they do not think about vital influences to build satisfaction and loyalty. However, a major problem with this kind of effort is that measuring satisfaction and loyalty does not tell anybody how to achieve it. One of essential strategies to accomplish satisfaction and loyalty in branding strategy is brand personality. In the history of development loyalty, brand personality has been thought of as a key factor in brand theory; it is become more significant for companies. Recently, researchers have shown an increased interest in the impact of brand personality on brand satisfaction and loyalty. Further, creating loyalty in today’s competitive market has become complicated due to standard similarity in consumer perception of product quality, increase in variety of superior brands and alternatives, low risk and high expectations of the customer's brand switching have completely changed. Based on the above issues, the present study was designed to determine the effect of brand personality as an important antecedent to brand loyalty in today's competitive market. The analysis is based on findings and theories from the consumer personality psychology and consumer behavior literature. These results provide important insights into the effects of brand personality in creating satisfaction and brand loyalty in order to have competitive advantage in today market. Keywords: Brand personality, Brand satisfaction, Brand loyalty, Competitive market.
The Impact of Privacy Concerns on Online Purchasing Behaviour: Contributions to an Integrative Model

This study aims to analyse how privacy concerns about the Internet has an impact on the consumer's intention to make online purchases. A research model was developed establishing that this impact takes place via the connection of privacy concerns with the theories of trust and risk, the theory of planned behaviour and the technology acceptance model. The empirical study was based on an online survey that allowed data collection on a sample of 900 individuals. The results confirmed the acceptance of all proposed hypotheses and the overall validation of the research model. Implications and further research suggestions are presented.
Induction and Confirmation Theory: An Approach based on a Paraconsistent Nonmonotonic Logic

This paper is an effort to realize and explore the connections that exist between nonmonotonic logic and confirmation theory. We pick up one of the most wide-spread nonmonotonic formalisms – default logic – and analyze to what extent and under what adjustments it could work as a logic of induction in the philosophical sense. By making use of this analysis, we extend default logic so as to make it able to minimally perform the task of a logic of induction, having as a result a system which we believe has interesting properties from the standpoint of theory of confirmation. It is for instance able to represent chains of inductive rules as well as to reason paraconsistently on the conclusions obtained from them. We then use this logic to represent some traditional ideas concerning confirmation theory, in particular the ones proposed by Carl Hempel in his classical paper "Studies in the Logic of Confirmation" of 1945 and the ones incorporated in the so-called abductive and hy-pothetico-deductive models.