Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Characterization of some enzymatic properties of recombinant α-glucosidase III from the Thai honeybee, Apis cerana indica Fabricus

Recombinant α-glucosidase III (rHBGase III) from Apis cerana indica Fabricus (rAciHBGase III) was expressed in the yeast Pichia pastoris GS115, enriched and characterized. The full length cDNA of AciHbgase III (ƒi1.8 kb) was amplified by RT-PCR, cloned into the pPICZαA expression vector and used to transform P. pastoris GS115. The maximum secreted expression level of rAciHBGase III [as an N terminal (His)6 tagged chimera] was found 144 h after induction by 1% (v/v) methanol. Enrichment of the enzyme using histrap affinity purification revealed a single active glucosidase band with a molecular mass of ~68 kDa. The optimal pH and temperature for glucosidase activity of the enriched rAciHBGase III were pH 5.0 and 37¢XC, respectively, whilst the enzyme showed a good pH stability between pH 5.0 to 7.5, but not below pH 5.0, and a poor thermotolerance with 50¢XC, respectively. The rAciHBGase showed a relatively high substrate specificity for maltose (K m of 4.5 mM) and p-nitrophenyl α-D-glucoside (Km of 4.4 mM) compared to other reported HBGase enzymes. Key words : α-Glucosidase, Apis cerana indica, expression, kinetics, recombinant enzyme.
Mark-Up Pricing and Import Competition: Have Imports Disciplined Tunisian Manufacturing Firms?

Two approaches have been taken to examine the effect of increased import competition on mark-ups in industries. In one approach, the gross price-average cost margins, defined as the ratio of sales net of expenditure on labor and intermediate inputs over sales is used as an indicator of the mark-up, and it is regressed on a set of explanatory variables including variables representing the level of import competition. In the other approach, the methodology developed by Hall (1988) is used. It involves regression of output growth rate on a share-weighted growth rate of inputs, the regression yielding the mark-up as the slope coefficient. By allowing the coefficient to vary over time, one can test whether import competition affects mark-up. This paper extends Hall’s approach to examine whether intensified international competition forces industries to price more competitively by examining six manufacturing sectors between 1972 and 1999 in Tunisia. We find significant but plausible and moderate mark-ups to be present in Tunisian manufacturing industry. The econometric evidence tends also to support the hypothesis that increased exposure to import competition serves to lower the mark-up. In other words, import competition disciplines domestic firms in imperfectly competitive industries. However, the regression results obtained here suggest that the direct effect of competition law on industry mark-up is not significant.
China's Strategies in Economic Diplomacy: A Survey of Updated Lessons for Africa, the West and China

The Washington consensus, the hitherto dominant scheme is being encroached by the Beijing model. Many African nations are increasingly embracing this Beijing approach because the dominant Western model has failed to deliver on a number of fronts. This is increasingly evident because China’s economic diplomacy has been politely and strategically coined to achieve just that. A case study is used here to articulate the currents of the survey. The paper puts some structure on China’s economic diplomatic strategies and discusses lessons for Africa, China and the West. It contributes to existing literature by critically engaging on why it is necessary for the West to adjust the conception and definition of the Washington Consensus as a complement to the Beijing model. In order to remain relevant in the 21st century and beyond, the Washington consensus can incorporate the Moyo (2013) conjecture which postulates that, while the Beijing model is optimal in the short-run, the Washington Consensus remains the optimal long-term development model because it is more inclusive.
Financial and trade integration in the EU countries

Because of the creation and enlargement of the Eurozone, the importance of monetary integration is increasing and is the subject of a number of theoretical and empirical studies. The adoption of a common currency has to be accompanied by financial market integration. The aim of the paper is to assess the relationship between financial and trade integration in the EU member countries (divided into three subsamples: EU27, EU10, and EU17) over the period 1993–2012 (and two subperiods 1993–2007 and 2008–2012). We use quantity-based measures of financial integration derived from the countries’ international investment positions with a view to the foreign trade and the method of correlation analysis (including the moving correlation method). We conclude that the progress in financial integration was smaller in the EU10 countries compared to the EU16 countries, i.e. the pace of financial integration was higher in the EU16 countries than in the EU10 countries. The process of trade integration in all EU countries was not as fast as the process of financial integration. We also conclude that there is a linear association between financial and trade integration in the pre-crisis period (1993–2007), especially in the EU10 countries (compared to the EU16 countries). However, this relationship was seriously weakened by the financial crisis. Financial and trade integration are interconnected processes and should not be assessed separately. However, world trade (and thus financial integration) can be undermined by limiting trade finance as a result of tightening financial regulation and supervision after a decade of loose regulation and supervision (e.g. by the implementation of the Basel III capital framework).
Assessment of the Impact of Abattoir Effluent on the Water Quality of River Kaduna, Nigeria

The discharge of untreated high-strength wastewater into water bodies results in water quality deterioration of the receiving waters. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of abattoir wastewater discharge on the water quality of river Kaduna, Nigeria. Water samples were collected from river Kaduna at three points: 100m upstream of the abattoir discharge point, at the discharge point, and 100m downstream of the discharge point for a 6-month period (July- September in the rainy season and October-December in the dry season). Physico-chemical analyses were conducted on the collected samples in the laboratory using standard methods. The pH was within a fixed band of 6-8. The downstream 5-day biochemical oxygen demand of the receiving river water increased significantly to 75% in July and up to 192% in December. Suspended solids, chemical oxygen demand, ammonia-nitrogen, total nitrogen and total phosphorus followed a similar trend. Dissolved solids, dissolved oxygen, nitrate-N, iron, zinc and cadmium also increased appreciably. The downstream levels of these parameters were higher than their corresponding upstream values, indicating that the discharge of the abattoir wastewater into the river has negatively impacted the river water. The dilution of the waste in the river water was not enough to reduce them to acceptable levels. This research demonstrates that abattoir wastewater impacts the river water negatively. The findings can be useful in identifying water quality problem areas and planning of engineering interventions as well as basis for legislation.
Biliary Complications of Hepatic Hydatid Cyst Surgery and Prevention Methods

Cystic echinococcosis is still one of the main reasons for liver surgery especially in endemic areas. The most common complication of liver hydatid cyst is cystobiliary com‐ munication (CBC). Preoperative or intraoperative diagnosis of CBC is essential for the treatment, since it leads to postoperative bile leakage and fistula formation eventually without intervention. Predictive factors such as cyst size, history of jaundice, and degen‐ erated cysts are described for preoperative evaluation. Further preoperative study can be performed for diagnosis in their presence. At the intraoperative phase, every effort should be performed for diagnosis. There are several methods for the investigation of CBC. When a CBC is found, it is also essential to evaluate the biliary system as well. By this way, postoperative complication rates can be lowered. Biliary leakage and fistula formation are the most common postoperative complication of liver hydatid surgery and they are the main reasons of morbidity and mortality. Their rates can be lowered by knowing how to interfere for the treatment. As a result, every effort should be made to detect and prevent these complications during the evaluation and management of cystic echinococcosis.
Effect of Social-Cultural Factors on Real Estate Investment: A Survey of Kisumu City

This study seeks to assess the effect of social-cultural factors on real estate investment. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The target population of the study included 1200 landlords of commercial real estates in Kisumu city. The study applied a stratified and random sampling technique to select a sample size of 300 individuals owning rental houses within Kisumu City. Collection of data for the study will be done mainly through questionnaire which will be given to 300 respondents. Data collected from the above stated sample will be analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively. Qualitative data will rely mainly on narrations. Quantitative analysis will involve a summary description of the findings that rely on numerical. Both descriptive and inferential statistical analysis was applied. The data was analyzed using the multiple regression models. The findings of the study was to establish how the real estate investments could be improved in order to meet the increasing demand for commercial space and residential houses in Kisumu City. Results revealed that socio-cultural factors influence the real estate investiment.
In Situ Hybridization of Pulp Fibers Using Mg-Al Layered Double Hydroxides

Inorganic Mg2+ and Al3+ containing layered double hydroxide (LDH) particles were synthesised in situ from aqueous solution onto chemical pulp fibers of pine (Pinus sylvestris). High super saturated (hss) solution with sodium carbonate produced LDH particles with an average diameter of 100–200 nm. Nano-size (70 nm) LDH particles were found from fibers external surface and, to a lesser degree, from the S2 cell wall after synthesis via low super saturated (lss) route. The synthesis via slow urea hydrolysis (Uhyd) yielded micron and clay sized LDH (2–5 μm) and enabled efficient fiber densification via mineralization of S2 fiber wall layer as indicated by TEM and compliance analysis. The Uhyd method decreased fiber compliance up to 50%. Reduction in the polymerisation degree of cellulose was observed with capillary viscometry. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that the hybridization with LDH reduced the exothermic heat, indicating, that this material can be incorporated in flame retardant applications. Fiber charge was assessed by Fibers 2015, 3 104 adsorption expermients with methylene blue (MB) and metanil yellow (MY). Synthesis via lss route retained most of the fibres original charge and provided the highest capacity (10 μmol/g) for anionic MY, indicating cationic character of hybrid fibers. Our results suggested that mineralized fibers can be potentially used in advanced applications such as biocomposites and adsorbent materials.
Application of the GreenLab Model to Simulate and Optimize Wood Production and Tree Stability: A Theoretical Study

The GreenLab model was used to study the interaction between source-sink dynamics at the whole tree level, wood production and distribution within the stem, and tree mechanical stability through simulation and optimization. In this first promising numerical attempt, two GreenLab parameters were considered in order to maximize wood production: the sink strength for cambial growth and a coefficient that determines the way the biomass assigned to cambial growth is allocated to each metamer, through optimization and simulation respectively. The optimization procedure that has been used is based on a heuristic optimization algorithm called Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO). In the first part of the paper, wood production was maximized without considering the effect of wood distribution on tree mechanical stability. Contrary to common idea that increasing sink strength for cambial growth leads to increasing wood production, an optimal value can be found. The optimization results implied that all optimal source and sink balance should be considered to optimize wood production. In a further step, the mechanical stability of trees submitted to their self weight was taken into account based on simplified mechanical assumptions. Simulation results revealed that the allocation of wood at the stem base strongly influenced its global deformation. Such basic mechanical criterion can be an indicator of wood quality if we consider further the active biomechanical processes involved in tree gravitropic responses, e.g. formation of reaction wood.
First results of artificial stimulation of the ionospheric Alfvén resonator at 78°N

On 2 December 2005 a modulated X‐mode ionospheric modification experiment was carried out using the Space Plasma Exploration by Active Radar (SPEAR) high power facility on Svalbard (78.15°N, 16.05°E), with the intention of artificially stimulating the Ionospheric Alfvén Resonator (IAR). A modulation frequency of 3 Hz was superimposed on a 20 minute on/off cycle. Local ionograms showed an E region ionosphere of sufficient plasma density for the SPEAR beam to strongly interact with the low‐altitude ionospheric plasma. The Barentsburg pulsation magnetometer monitored the resulting wave activity in the 0.5–5 Hz frequency range. Clear enhancements of the spectral power at 3 Hz were observed in the D component data, when SPEAR was transmitting and there was little natural Pc1 wave activity. During part of the interval, when high power substorm‐associated Pc1 waves occurred, the polarisation of the artificially‐stimulated wave rotated from the D to the H component.
Biosorptive removal of cobalt (II) ions from aqueous solution by Amaranthus hydridus L. stalk wastes

The objective of this study was to investigate the possibility of using Amaranthus hybridus L . stalk as an alternative to high cost commercial adsorbent materials for the removal of Co (II) from aqueous solution. The experiment was carried out by batch method at 33°C. The influence of pH, contact time and initial metal ion concentration were evaluated. It was observed that pH had marked effect on the Co (II) uptake. The optimum contact time between the adsorbent and the adsorbate was found to be 90 min. Maximum adsorption was obtained at pH 5. Freundlich models were used to correlate equilibrium data on sorption of Co (II) ion at 33°C and pH 5, and different coefficients were calculated. The data generated, fitted well with Freundlich adsorption model. The biomass was successfully used for removal of cobalt (II) ion from synthetic aqueous solution and the technique appears industrially applicable and viable. Key words : Biosorption, cobalt, aqueous solution, Amaranthus hydrides .
EVALUATING TRADEOFFS BETWEEN ENVIRONMENTAL FLOW PROTECTIONS AND AGRICULTURAL WATER SECURITY

River basin managers responsible for water allocation decisions are increasingly required to evaluate tradeoffs between environmental flow protections and human water security. However, the basin‐scale effects of environmental flow regulations on water users are not well understood, in part because analyses are complicated by the spatial and temporal variation in water availability, human demands, and ecosystem needs. Here, we examine alternative regional environmental flow policies and their effects on a distributed network of water users in a small (182 km2) river basin in coastal California. We use a hydrologic model to simulate water diversion operations under three policy scenarios and quantify potential impacts to bypass flows for adult migrating salmon and agricultural water storage. The results indicate that there are inherent tradeoffs between environmental flows and agricultural water security, with the most restrictive environmental policy associated with the greatest impacts to water users. Surprisingly, the moderate environmental flow policy had larger impacts to bypass flows than the unregulated management scenario, suggesting that ecological benefits of the moderate policy are small relative to the adverse effects on agricultural water users. Conflicts between environmental and human water needs were greatest in upper catchments (<2.5 km2), where flow protections caused the greatest reduction in water storage. Although natural supplies were adequate for meeting water needs in most years regardless of policy restrictions, potential for conflict between environmental flow protections and water security was evident in dry years. Therefore, strategies are particularly needed for drought‐year water management to ensure adequate environmental flows while reducing human water allocations in an equitable manner. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Forecasting Inflation Rate of Zambia Using Holt’s Exponential Smoothing

In this paper, the Holt’s exponential smoothing and Auto-Regressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) models were used to forecast inflation rate of Zambia using the monthly consumer price index (CPI) data from May 2010 to May 2014. Results show that the ARIMA ((12), 1, 0) is an adequate model which best fits the CPI time series data and is therefore suitable for forecasting CPI and subsequently the inflation rate. However, the choice of the Holt’s exponential smoothing is as good as an ARIMA model considering the smaller deviations in the mean absolute percentage error and mean square error. Moreover, the Holt’s exponential smoothing model is less complicated since you do not require specialised software to implement it as is the case for ARIMA models. The forecasted inflation rate for April and May, 2015 is 7.0 and 6.6 respectively.
Investigating the effectiveness on educational attainment and behaviour of Commando Joe’s: a school-based, military-ethos intervention

Objective: Objectives: A military-ethos intervention can enhance engagement in learning and educational attainment. However, such programmes have typically been delivered in a residential setting. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a twelve-month, military-ethos physical activity intervention on educational attainment, attendance and behaviour. Methods: Seven primary (five intervention) and five secondary schools (four intervention) were recruited and 228 primary school (152 intervention; 9.8±0.4 yrs) and 167 secondary school pupils (97 intervention; 13.8±0.4 yrs) participated. Attainment, attendance and behaviour ratings were collected at baseline, 3-, 6- and 12-months and analysed using multilevel modelling. Results: Significant intervention effects were found at 3 months for Maths, 3 and 6 months in English, 6 months for attendance and across time for both positive social and problem behaviours. Effects were independent of sex and school level. Conclusions: Findings support the utility of the Commando Joe’s intervention as a whole-school strategy to enhance educational and behavioural outcomes. Arch Exerc Health Dis 5 (1-2): 377-385, 2015
The Effect of Digital Games on Behavior: Analysis of the General Learning Model

Digital games now occupy more space in people’s lives. Since the popularization of personal computers, game consoles and portable devices more people spend more time exposed to a greater variety of games. Researchers in various fi elds have been studying the consequences of this phenomenon. Digital games are commonly associated with a range of antisocial behaviors such as aggression and murder. This paper’s objective is to discuss evidence about the infl uence of games on human behavior, cognition, affect and arousal, based on the General Learning Model, focusing on available data related to aggression and prosociality. Several criticisms of the extant research are discussed: the poor quality of the measures used, the games used in research and the explanatory power of this model. Finally, a research agenda to improve work is this fi eld is proposed.
To Evaluate the Efficiency of Char and Biochar for Waste Water Treatment

Appropriate waste administration is a basic key to ecological sustainability. Solid waste management and waste water treatment is a worldwide issue due to increment in both urbanization and industrialization. Water is one of significant common assets and is basic for maintainability of life. Toxic industrial effluents released into sewage systems and drains without treatment that deteriorating the water quality for drinking and irrigation. Char and Biochar produced from pyrolysis are stable carbon rich compounds which have various beneficial applications like soil conditioning, remediation, carbon sequestration and water treatment. To study efficiency of char and biochar for wastewater treatment, composite sample was collected from the Main Outfall Drain, Lahore. Ten treatments consisting of different quantities of biochar (T1=200 g, T2=400 g, T3=600 g, T4=800 g and T5=1000 g) and of char (T1=200 g, T2=400 g, T3=600 g, T4=800 g and T5=1000 g) were taken. Sample wastewater was analyzed (pre and post) for different heavy metals after being filtered through biochar and char filters. Significant decrease in concentration of heavy metals was observed. In biochar value of Cr decreased from (0.32 ppm to 0.02 ppm), Fe (0.15 ppm to 0.01 ppm), Zn (0.11 ppm to 0.03 ppm), Ni (0.09 ppm to 0.03 ppm), Pb (0.17 ppm to not detected) and Mn (0.10 ppm to 0.04 ppm). In char treated water also decrease in heavy metals was observed and significant results were observed in T10 (Cr=0.22, Pb=0.43, Fe=0.14, Zn=0.11, Ni=0.1 and Mn=0.12). It could be concluded from results that efficiency of biochar in treating wastewater is much better as compared to char as the reduction in heavy metals values is significant in case of aforementioned. Hence, biochar could be used as a sorbent for wastewater remediation.
Human capital on the move: Education as a determinant of internal migration in selected INDEPTH surveillance populations in Africa.

BACKGROUND Education, as a key indicator of human capital, is considered one of the major determinants of internal migration, with previous studies suggesting that human capital accumulates in urban areas at the expense of rural areas. However, there is fragmentary evidence concerning the educational correlates of internal migration in sub-Saharan Africa. OBJECTIVES The study questions whether more precise measures of migration in Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) populations support the hypothesis that migrants are self-selected on human capital and more educated people are more likely to leave rural areas or enter urban areas within a geographical region. METHODS Using unique longitudinal data representing approximately 900,000 people living in eight sub-Saharan African HDSS sites that are members of the INDEPTH Network, the paper uses Event History Analysis techniques to examine the relationship between formal educational attainment and in-and out-migration, over the period 2009 to 2011. RESULTS Between 7% and 27% of these local populations are moving in or out of the HDSS area over this period. Education is positively associated with both in-and out-migration in the Kenyan HDSS areas; however, the education effect has no clear pattern in the HDSS sites in Burkina Faso, Mozambique, and South Africa. CONCLUSIONS Empirical results presented in this paper confirm a strong age profile of migration consistent with human capital expectation, yet the results point to variability in the association of education and the propensity to migrate. In particular, the hypothesis of a shift of human capital from rural to urban areas is not universally valid.