Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Climatic and Non-Climatic Factors on Cassava Yields in Togo: Agricultural Policy Implications

This paper examines the effects of climatic and non-climatic factors on cassava yields in Togo using an Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) modelling approach and pairwise Granger Causality tests. Secondary data on production statistics, rural population, climate variables, prices and nominal exchange rate for the period 1978–2009 are used. Results for estimated short- and long-run models indicate that cassava yield is affected by both ‘normal’ climate variables and within-season rainfall variability. An inverse relationship is found between area harvested and yield of cassava, but a significant positive and elastic effect of labour availability on yield in the long run. Increasing within-lean-season rainfall variability and high lean-season mean temperature are detrimental to cassava yields, while increasing main-season rainfall and mean-temperature enhance cassava yields. Through Granger Causality tests, a bilateral causality is found between area harvested and yield of cassava, and four unidirectional causalities from labour availability, real producer price ratio between yam and cassava, main-season rainfall and lean-season mean temperature to cassava yields. Based on the findings from this study, investment in low-cost irrigation facilities and water harvesting is recommended to enhance the practice of supplemental irrigation. Research efforts should as well be made to breed for drought, heat and flood tolerance in cassava. In addition, coupling area expansion with increasing availability of labour is advised, through the implementation of measures to minimize rural–urban migration.
Mental imagery and metaphor Imagem mental e metáfora

This paper focuses on the nature of mental imagery as a component of human cognition. Imagery has been considered as mere epiphenomena and unable to alter belief. However, recent evidence in neuroscience and psycholinguistics suggest that the mental image can be accessed and interact with higher order processes of cognition in the determination of speaker meaning. If this is true, then mental imagery can play a role during the comprehension procedure for metaphoric utterances. To understand the reasons why mental images have been discarded from linguistic theories of utterance comprehension, past philosophical ideas about the mental image are discussed. Many have questioned the existence of the image, stating that they are, in fact, constituted by propositional components. These perspectives fit within a theory of the mind that conforms to an amodal symbol system in which the relation between perceptual input and mental representation is an arbitrary one. This paper is suggesting that the mind follows a perceptual symbol system, and that the relation is an analogous one. Therefore, through an extension of relevance theory, it is possible to flesh out the meaning of metaphors by incorporating this embodied view of the mind.
ProNE: Fast and Scalable Network Representation Learning

Recent advances in network embedding has revolutionized the field of graph and network mining. However, (pre-)training embeddings for very large-scale networks is computationally challenging for most existing methods. In this work, we present ProNE---a fast, scalable, and effective model, whose single-thread version is 10--400x faster than efficient network embedding benchmarks with 20 threads, including LINE, DeepWalk, node2vec, GraRep, and HOPE. As a concrete example, the single-version ProNE requires only 29 hours to embed a network of hundreds of millions of nodes while it takes LINE weeks and DeepWalk months by using 20 threads. To achieve this, ProNE first initializes network embeddings efficiently by formulating the task as sparse matrix factorization. The second step of ProNE is to enhance the embeddings by propagating them in the spectrally modulated space. Extensive experiments on networks of various scales and types demonstrate that ProNE achieves both effectiveness and significant efficiency superiority when compared to the aforementioned baselines. In addition, ProNE's embedding enhancement step can be also generalized for improving other models at speed, e.g., offering >10% relative gains for the used baselines.
CO 2 emission thresholds for inclusive human development in Sub-Saharan Africa

We provide policy-relevant critical masses beyond which, increasing CO2 emissions negatively affects inclusive human development. This study examines how increasing CO2 emissions affects inclusive human development in 44 Sub-Saharan African countries for the period 2000-2012. The empirical evidence is based on Fixed Effects and Tobit regressions. In order to increase the policy relevance of this study, the dataset is decomposed into fundamental characteristics of inclusive development and environmental degradation based on income levels (Low income versus (vs.) Middle income); legal origins (English Common law vs. French Civil law); religious domination (Christianity vs. Islam); openness to sea (Landlocked vs. Coastal); resource-wealth (Oil-rich vs. Oil-poor) and political stability (Stable vs. Unstable). All computed thresholds are within policy range. Hence, above these thresholds, CO2 emissions negatively affect inclusive human development. JEL Classification: C52; O38; O40; O55; P37
The ownership structure effect on firm performance in South Africa

This research investigates the effect of corporate governance through ownership structures; ownership concentration, managerial ownership and government ownership on firm performance. A multiple regression analysis was employed on sample data collected over ten years from 20012010 from 80 South African companies to test the magnitude of their influence to company performance as measured by return on assets (ROA). This study found a positive and significant correlation between ownership concentration, government ownership and firm performance. Results also showed a negative relationship between insider ownership and firm performance. To this account, the research concludes that managerial ownership is a single factor that significantly weighs down company performance. In validating the significance of the performance determinance model, evidence shows that companies that maintain the recommended King Report shareholding structure have an average to above average performance. Hence, corporate governance is a critical catalyst for company performance.
Observed El Niño – La Niña Asymmetry in a Linear 1 Model 2

16 Previous studies indicate an asymmetry in the amplitude and persistence of El Niño (EN) 17 and La Niña (LN) events. We show that the observed EN–LN asymmetry can be cap18 tured with a linear model driven by “correlated additive and multiplicative (CAM) noise”, 19 without resorting to a deterministic nonlinear model. The model is derived from 1-month 20 lag statistics taken from monthly sea surface temperature (SST) datasets spanning the 21 20th century, in an extension of an empirical-dynamical technique called Linear Inverse 22 Modeling. Our results suggest that noise amplitudes tend to be stronger for EN com23 pared to LN events, which is sufficient to generate asymmetry in amplitude and also pro24 duces more persistent LN events on average. These results establish a null hypothesis 25 for EN–LN asymmetry and suggest that strong EN events may not be more predictable 26 that what can be accounted for by a multivariate linear system driven by CAM noise. 27
Labour productivity and export performance: Firm-level evidence from Indian manufacturing industries since 1991

This paper examines the productivity of firms and their ability to enter the export market, i.e., the self-selection hypothesis and the determinants of labour productivity at the firm level for India’s major exporting manufacturing industries during 1991-2009. The paper also examines whether export intensity at the firm level differs between domestic-controlled and foreign-controlled firms, and between private and public firms. Applying a 2SLS model, the authors find evidence in favour of the self-selection hypothesis. The authors also find found that domestic firms are more export-intensive than foreign firms, and that private firms are more export intensive than public firms. Regarding the determinants of labour productivity at firm level, firm size and raw material intensity are found to be two significant determinants in this regard while the ownership status of the firms has no role here.
The puzzle of high-density lipoprotein in cardiovascular prevention

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Boussinesq-like problems in discrete media May 14 , 2019

Vertical loads acting on the surface of a half-space made of discrete and elastic particles are supported by a network of force chains that changes with the specific realization of the packing. These force-chains can be transformed into equivalent stress fields, but the obtained values are usually different to those expected from the solution of the corresponding boundary value problem. In this research we explore the relationship between discrete and continuum approaches to Boussinesq-like problems in the light of classical statistical mechanics. We anticipate that the statistical distribution of extensive stress components (i.e. the product of the stress by the volume) is an exponential distribution whose parameter is given by the value obtained from a continuum approach. This has been validated through massive numerical simulation with the discrete element method. These results could be of interest in highly fragmented, faulted or heterogeneous media or on small length scales.
Erotic fantasy, spirituality and Song of Songs

Fantasy plays an essential role in sexual activities. This article investigates (erotic) fantasy from a literary text perspective according to Song of Songs in the Christian Bible. The Song, according to many commentaries, starts with a reference to sex in Canticle 1:2, ‘Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your love is better than wine’. Although the word sex is not mentioned in the Song, it is referred to and implied a number of times in the deep structure of the text. The fantasies of this most beautiful woman (beauty, a secondary motif in the Song that is complementary to the main theme of love) are part of the rhetoric of the poet (probably a woman) to convince the reader about the enjoyment and beauty of erotic love. These could most likely stimulate erotic fantasies when reading the text. Part of the poet’s rhetoric is the way in which she describes this most beautiful woman and her most attractive lover using metaphors, allusions, symbols and similes to evoke all sorts of imaginations and fantasies in the mind of the reader to complement the erotic fantasies of the reader. The investigation of the composition and ‘lived experiences’ (spiritualities) of erotic fantasies is approached from the perceptions of how the entanglement of the reader in the text augments fantasies, how the dynamic interaction between the text of Song of Songs and the reader involves the reader in the fantasies and spiritualities of the protagonists and the poet, how the lived experiences of the composed images and erotic fantasies in the text of the Song grip and involve the reader in the text and finally how the use or application of human senses in fantasies can intensify the lived experiences of fantasies. This research points out how God’s love and concern for his creatures are present as revealed in the relationship between two lovers. His love and concern are clearly visible in the enjoyment and pleasure given by God to humans in his creation which the lovers find in each other. Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: This research challenges the traditional discourse about sexuality for an enrichment of it. In the article the disciplines of theology, physiology, psychology and spirituality unite to include the entire person in sexual activities. The potential results would end up in a greater enjoyment of making love.
RESPONSE OF GRAIN SORGHUM (SORGHUM BICOLOR, L. MONECH) TO IRRIGATION, NITROGEN AND PLANT DENSITY UNDER NEW VALLEY CONDITIONS, EGYPT

he proper agronomical practices should be carefully chosen for optimizing grain sorghum productivity, particularly under limited-resources environments. Therefore, two field experiments were carried out in the Desert Research Center, Agriculture Experimental Station at El-Kharga Oasis, New Valley Governorate, during 2010 and 2011 growing seasons, to evaluate the effect of irrigation rate (5, 6 and 7 mm/fed/day); nitrogen fertilization rate (60, 80 and 100 kg N/fed) and plant density (17500, 23333 and 35000 plant/fed) on grain sorghum. Results showed that irrigation by 7 mm/fed/day was the potent treatment for increasing plant height, head length, head weight, weight of grains per head, seed index, grain yield, straw yield and biological yield compared to irrigation by 6 and 5 mm/fed/day. On the contrary, water use efficiency (WUE) and protein percentage were significantly decreased with increasing irrigation levels in both seasons. Adding 100 kg N/fed gave the maximum values of yield, yield components, water use efficiency and protein percentage compared to 80 and 60 kg N/fed in both seasons. Increasing plant density from 17500 to 35000 plant/fed caused significant increases in yield, yield attributes, water use efficiency and protein percentage, except for head weight, weight of grains per head and seed index in both seasons. Plots irrigated by 7 mm/fed and fertilized with 100 kg N/fed achieved the maximum values of grain, straw and biological yield/fed, when sorghum plants grown at high density (35000 plant/fed).
Introducing Problem Based Learning for First MBBS Anatomy Students

As medical education continues to evolve, educators are attempting to prepare students for their professional lives. Anatomy is an important basic science that if deficient in, the student may feel inadequately prepared for clinical courses thus, pinpointing the best teaching method warrants investigation. In recent years many researchers worked on Problem Based learning and found that PBL inculcates better understanding, self-directed learning and analytical skills in students. So we felt need of PBL as an innovative teaching learning method in anatomy. We introduced problem based learning (PBL) for sixty first MBBS students in 2012 batch, keeping in mind to generate interest for learning process, to make teaching learning method more interactive & student centered and to enhance knowledge by integration of basic and clinical sciences. A Paper & image based PBL module was posed to students of all groups. A Pre test was taken before the first session to assess students‟ knowledge on the topic. The first session comprised of small group discussion amongst the students in presence of a facilitator. In subsequent sessions various groups presented their discussion outcome. A post test was taken to assess knowledge achieved. An anonymous feedback was also taken after the end of session & analysed. The percentage of students agreeing to various questions was in range of 58% to 90%. Overall conclusion about PBL is, it drives students centered learning & incorporates integration and practical application of the knowledge of basic science, simultaneously helping students become lifelong learner . It helps in development of self directed learning, problem solving attitude & analytical skills.
DMA AS A METHOD OF MEASURING TOUGHNESS IN INORGANIC POLYMER MATRIX COMPOSITES

Inorganic polymer matrix composites have been fabricated to study the effects of fiber-matrix interface modification, combined with the addition of TiO2 nanoparticles or carbon nanofibers, on the toughness. The primary reinforcement fiber used in this study was Nextel 610. The MEYEB inorganic polymer matrix is of interest as processing involves an initial cure, from the liquid state, at 80°C, followed by a freestanding postcure at 250°C, resulting in material use temperatures exceeding 870°C. Both static bend testing and Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) were performed, on uni-directional fiber reinforced 3-point bend beam specimens, to evaluate the correlation between the modified interface and the nanofiller additions on the toughness. Specimens were tested, at room temperature and after sequential multi-hour thermal exposures, in air, to a temperature of 760°C. The resulting measured trends clearly show the effectiveness of the modification of the fiber-matrix interface characteristics, and to a lesser extent the addition of nanofillers, and demonstrate overall mechanical properties improvements are possible. Unfortunately, further investigations are needed to verify the effectiveness of DMA as a method of toughness evaluation.
Deep structure of the Santos Basin‐São Paulo Plateau System, SE Brazil

The structure and nature of the crust underlying the Santos Basin‐São Paulo Plateau System (SSPS), in the SE Brazilian margin, are discussed based on five wide‐angle seismic profiles acquired during the Santos Basin (SanBa) experiment in 2011. Velocity models allow us to precisely divide the SSPS in six domains from unthinned continental crust (Domain CC) to normal oceanic crust (Domain OC). A seventh domain (Domain D), a triangular shape region in the SE of the SSPS, is discussed by Klingelhoefer et al. (2014). Beneath the continental shelf, a ~100 km wide necking zone (Domain N) is imaged where the continental crust thins abruptly from ~40 km to less than 15 km. Toward the ocean, most of the SSPS (Domains A and C) shows velocity ranges, velocity gradients, and a Moho interface characteristic of the thinned continental crust. The central domain (Domain B) has, however, a very heterogeneous structure. While its southwestern part still exhibits extremely thinned (7 km) continental crust, its northeastern part depicts a 2–4 km thick upper layer (6.0–6.5 km/s) overlying an anomalous velocity layer (7.0–7.8 km/s) and no evidence of a Moho interface. This structure is interpreted as atypical oceanic crust, exhumed lower crust, or upper continental crust intruded by mafic material, overlying either altered mantle in the first two cases or intruded lower continental crust in the last case. The deep structure and v‐shaped segmentation of the SSPS confirm that an initial episode of rifting occurred there obliquely to the general opening direction of the South Atlantic Central Segment.
CFS Working Paper No . 2011 / 02 Market Response to Investor Sentiment *

This paper reconsiders the effect of investor sentiment on stock prices. Using survey-based sentiment indicators from Germany and the US we confirm previous findings of predictability at intermediate time horizons. The main contribution of our paper is that we also analyze the immediate price reaction to the publication of sentiment indicators. We find that the sign of the immediate price reaction is the same as that of the predictability at intermediate time horizons. This is consistent with sentiment being related to mispricing but is inconsistent with the alternative explanation that sentiment indicators provide information about future expected returns. JEL Classification: G12, G14
Implementing the Dynamic Role of Mood and Personality in Emotion Processing of Cognitive Agents

An ability to generate and express emotions constitutes an integral part of an artificial intelligent system be it cognitive architecture, virtual conversational agent or social robot. It is important to have an emotional component in those systems to enable the system to exhibit emotionally intelligent behaviour. This is in part achievable by integrating computational models of emotion into such cognitive systems. However, it is challenging to develop a computational model of emotion that embraces a wide range of cognitive aspects related to the process of emotion generation. As evident from the literature, mood and personality are the two aspects that are inseparable from the mechanism of emotion generation. In other words, mood and personality of an individual play a crucial role in determining the emotional state of an individual to a large extent. Thus, an emotion model that incorporates the notion of mood and personality is necessary to achieve a desirable level of emotional intelligence in cognitive systems. In this paper, we demonstrate how this integration has been achieved in our emotion model – EEGS. We also present how an artificial agent can show variation in emotion dynamics because of the influence of such factors, thus validating our theory.
Colorectal cancer screening by non-invasive metabolic biomarker fecal tumor M 2-PK

AIM: To evaluate the utility of the innovative fecal tumor M2-Pyruvate kinase (M2-PK) test in our daily clinical routine, as a marker for the pre-selection of patients who should subsequently undergo colonoscopy for the diagnosis or exclusion of colorectal cancer. METHODS: Fecal tumor M2-PK was measured in stool samples of 96 study participants (33 patients with colorectal cancer, 21 patients with rectal carcinoma and 42 controls) who all underwent total colonoscopy. RESULTS: In 39 of 42 individuals in the control group, fecal tumor M2-PK was below 4.0 kU/L (93% specifi city). Colorectal tumors were accompanied by a highly significant increase (P < 0.001) in fecal tumor M2PK levels (median: colon carcinoma, 23.1 kU/L; rectal carcinoma, 6.9 kU/L; colorectal carcinoma, 14.7 kU/L), which correlated with Duke’s staging and T-classifi cation. The overall sensitivity was 78% for colorectal cancer, increasing from 60% for stage T1 to 100% for stage T4 and from 60% for Duke’s A to 90% for Duke’s D
Numerical Model of Energy Control for Lithium-Ion Batteries Based on PV System

Renewable energy resources such as photovoltaic (PV) or wind energy are essential to endure an approaching energy crisis in the near future. However, an effective idea of control needs to be well structured in advance so that the accumulated energy generated from these resources can be managed in an appropriate way. In this paper, a numerical model that computes an optimized value of energy consumption based on weekly forecast has been performed in order to provide stable energy that is highly uninfluenced by the fluctuating weather. A smart energy control method for Home Energy Management System (HEMS) that is capable of increasing the energy consumption in sunny days while maintaining a minimum consistent value of energy in bad weather conditions is proposed. The simulated system succeeded in supplying at least 10 Ah of energy to the load in most cases during the rainy/cloudy days. Plus, the number of insufficient day, (NID) were reduced significantly to 0 day in most years from the year 2000 to 2010 when the battery capacity was further expanded from 30 to 35 Ah. Keywords-Power Control, Lithium-ion Battery, Energy Management, Photovoltaic.