Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Workers’ Remittances and Economic Growth in the Philippines

This paper considers the present issues surrounding the role of workers remittances and its contribution/effect on economic growth and development. In particular, this paper focuses on how such remittances have been able to spur development and growth. As a case study, the paper focuses on the Philippines, one of the countries in the world with a long history of sending workers abroad. In 2005, the Philippines received approximately US$11Bn of remittances, almost 10% of its GDP. It ranks as the 3rd largest recipient of remittances in the world after India and Mexico. Along this line, the paper looks into the following areas: (a) remittance and overall growth, (b) linkages between remittances and microfinance, (c) tracing the contribution of remittances to countryside development, and (d) relationship between worker remittances and structural reform policies. We are also concerned at how these remittances have impacted the poor in general. This is important as the expected benefits have generally been unfelt at the level of the poor. We hypothesize that workers’ remittance have not been properly utilized into productive and investment uses in the Philippines. There are strong anecdotal evidences that show that most of these resources are being used to fund conspicuous consumption. Hence, we would like to find ways where these resources can be harnessed into funding development needs of the country.
The Effectiveness of Melodic Intonation Therapy on English Speaking Adults with Expressive Aphasia

Melodic Intonation Therapy (MIT) has been a resource for working with adults with aphasia since 1973 when Albert, Helm and Sparks created this music-based intervention. MIT involves intoning short utterances while simultaneously using the left hand to tap the rhythm of syllables. This research project investigates the effectiveness of MIT intervention for an aphasic population. This was experimental research using a pre-test - post-test between subjects single design including two males presenting with aphasia (n=2). They participated in a controlled intervention during a 12 week period of cognitive therapy. The first six weeks of the intervention program consisted of language and cognition intervention only (LCI) while the second six weeks consisted of LCI with MIT (LCIM). Results revealed the post test for LCIM was the single factor that was moving towards significance as was indicated in the p of 0.07. MIT was somewhat effective in making a significant impact on more basic cognitive language skills, such as repetition, naming and word finding, when compared to higher functioning skills, such as spontaneous speech and auditory verbal comprehension. This was evident in patterns observed in growth of scores of formal and informal measures for the two participants in this research.
Foliar Adaptations in Aster hispidus var. insularis (Asteraceae)

A comparative study of leaf morphology of Aster hispidus and its coastal variety, A. hispidus var. insularis revealed that the latter has larger and thicker leaves than the former. The anatomical analysis indicated that the cell number of the leaf was lower but the cell size was larger in A. hispidus var. insularis. The reduction of cell number in the leaves of A. hispidus var. insularis was compensated by an increase in cell volume while the expansion of cells could be considered an adaptive strategy to coastal environments that allowed saving of water in the plant body. Salinity and drought seemed to have played a crucial role in the ecotypic differentiation.
Forest Dependency and Its Implication for Protected Areas Management: A case Study From Kasane Forest Reserve, Botswana

Conservation of biodiversity in protected areas will be more challenging if local communities are heavily dependent on them for various products and subsistence needs. This study estimated forest dependency and identified factors influencing dependency for households living around Kasane Forest Reserve (KFR). Data collected from 237 households were analyzed using logistic regression model. Logistic regression suggests that forest dependency is positively and significantly associated with family size. However asset rich households were less dependent on forest resources. Thus, policy makers need to consider the needs and economic options with the above components as an alternative strategy for forest protection so as to create a win-win relationship between conservation and local rural development options. Apart from the biological threats of the forest such as fire and elephant damage, large areas of the forest (about 3060 hectares) have already been de-gazette for residential purposes of the Kasane town and the expansion of the Kasane airport in 2002.A sustainable management plan should use the forest to pay its own management costs and allow surrounding communities to benefit; hence, they can see the forest reserve as worthy of the protection.
Drought trends over part of Central Europe between 1961 and 2014

An increase in drought frequency, duration and severity is expected for the Central European region as a direct consequence of climate change. This will have profound effects on a number of key sectors (e.g. agriculture, forestry, energy production and tourism) and also affect water resources, biodiversity and the landscape as a whole. However, global circulation models significantly differ in their projections for Central Europe with respect to the magnitude and timing of these changes. Therefore, analysis of changes in drought characteristics during the last 54 yr in relation to prevailing climate trends might significantly enhance our understanding of present and future drought risks. This study is based on a set of drought indices, including the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), the Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI), the Palmer Zindex (Z-index) and the Standardized Precipitation-Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI), in their most advanced formulations. The time series of the drought indices were calculated for 411 climatological stations across Austria (excluding the Alps), the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Up to 45% of the evaluated stations (depending on the index) became significantly drier during the 1961-2014 period except for areas in the west and north of the studied region. In addition to identifying the regions with the most pronounced drying trends, a drying trend consistency across the station network of 3 independent national weather services was shown. The main driver behind this development was an increase in the evaporative demand of the atmosphere, driven by higher temperatures and global radiation with limited changes in precipitation totals. The observed drying trends were most pronounced during the April-September period and in lower elevations. Conversely, the majority of stations above 1000 m exhibited a significant wetting trend for both the summer and winter (October-March) half-years.
Extreme-mass-ratio bursts from the Galactic Centre

An extreme-mass-ratio burst (EMRB) is a gravitational wave signal emitted when a compact object passes through periapsis on a highly eccentric orbit about a much more massive body, in our case a stellar mass object about the 4.31 \times 10^6 M_sol massive black hole (MBH) in the Galactic Centre. We investigate how EMRBs could constrain the parameters of the Galaxy's MBH. EMRBs should be detectable if the periapsis is r_p < 65 r_g for a \mu = 10 M_sol orbiting object, where r_g = GM/c^2 is the gravitational radius. The signal-to-noise ratio \rho scales like log(\rho) = -2.7 log(r_p/r_g) + log(\mu/M_sol) + 4.9. For periapses smaller than ~ 10 r_g, EMRBs can be informative, providing good constraints on both the MBH's mass and spin.
Firm productivity and foreign direct investment: a non-monotonic relationship

The theoretical prediction of Head and Ries (‘Heterogeneity and the FDI versus export decision of Japanese manufacturers', 2003, Journal of the Japanese and International Economies, 17: 448-67) is that if the foreign plant is not used to serve the home market, the exporters can be more productive than the foreign direct investors only if the host-country wage is lower than the home-country wage. With unionized labor markets, we show that there always exist situations where the exporters are more productive than the foreign investors even if the host-country wage is higher than the home-country wage. Given the cost of FDI, a higher trade cost and higher bargaining powers of the labor unions make this result more likely.
Parton distributions in the LHC era

Analyses of LHC (and other! ) experiments require robust and statistically accurate determinations of the structure of the proton, encoded in the parton distribution functions (PDFs). The standard description of hadronic processes relies on factorization theorems, which allow a separation of process-dependent short-distance physics from the universal long-distance structure of the proton. Traditionally the PDFs are obtained from fits to experimental data. However, understanding the long-distance properties of hadrons is a nonperturbative problem, and lattice QCD can play a role in providing useful results from first principles. In this talk we compare the different approaches used to determine PDFs, and try to assess the impact of existing, and future, lattice calculations.
Passive Integrated Transponders (PIT) on a small migratory passerine bird: absence of deleterious short and long-term effects

Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tags have been widely used for ornithological research. However, only few studies have reported their impacts on individuals. We assessed the efficacy of subcutaneous PIT tag implantation in the mantel area of adult Pied Flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca). In addition, we investigated the short-term effects of the tags on body mass changes during the breeding period, and potential long-term effects by examining local return rate and apparent survival over winter. We focused on the impacts of carrying PIT tags. We compared individuals with subcutaneously implanted PIT tags and individuals that had PIT tags implanted but lost their tags within days of implantation. Overall retention of subcutaneously implanted PIT tags was ~77% in both breeding males and females. The tag retention was influenced by implanter experience. Body mass changes of PIT tag implanted individuals during the breeding period did not differ from those individuals that lost the tag soon after implantation. The apparent survival of PIT tag implanted males and females did not differ from individuals without tags in previous years. Our results suggest that the retention of PIT tags on breeding adults may not adversely affect their body condition prior to migration and their apparent survival.
THE INTERNATIONALIZATION OF A BRAZILIAN SOFTWARE SECURITY COMPANY IN LIGHT OF NETWORK THEORIES AND EFFECTUATION

: This study explored from the perspective of networks and effectuation theories, how a security software Brazilian company goes international, identifying their motivations and what the competitive advantages that came from this process. The chosen methodology was qualitative, with the use of single case study. The results obtained allow to note that much of the path taken in the international market did not follow the initially planned by managers and that, after the internationalization, the company began to be perceived by domestic customers as more efficient and as having more advanced technological content. In fact, the search for international competitiveness led the company to maintain high technological standards, superior even to those of international competitors. The study aims to contribute to the understanding of the Brazilian software industry internationalization process by identifying the points that have turned this company in a unique case in the segment.
– 37 – PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND MOBILITY OF PRESCHOOL CHILDREN LIVING IN URBAN SETTINGS IN THE OPINION OF THEIR PARENTS

Aim of the study. The aim of this study was to assess the level of physical activity in a group of preschool children, including the preferred leisure activities, the scale of participation in physical activities, and the level of motor skills. An important research objective was to evaluate the relationship between mobility and chosen aspects of lifestyle and motor skills of children based on their parents’ subjective assessments. Material and methods. A questionnaire survey was conducted with 227 parents of preschool children, including 112 girls and 115 boys, from several districts of Kraków. Statistical comparison of the selected aspects of physical activity, depending on gender and level of children’s mobility, was carried out by means of the chi-squared test for independence with the Statistica 8.0. PL software package. The confidence level was set at 95% (P < .05). Results. The study revealed that boys were characterized by a higher level of mobility, more frequent participation in extracurricular forms of physical activity, and a higher level of selected motor skills in regard to skiing, cycling, and playing football. According to their parents, girls were better at other forms of physical activities, including skipping rope, ice skating, and roller skating. Moreover, significant correlations were observed between higher mobility and preferences for movement activities and games, participation in extracurricular forms of physical activity and a smaller amount of passive leisure time in summer that was spent watching television, and between lower mobility and more frequent participation in corrective gymnastics. Furthermore, statistically significant relationships were also found between the degree of mobility and the level of certain motor skills, especially in regard to swimming, cycling, running, skiing and playing football. Conclusion. The study demonstrated that the levels of physical activity and of certain motor skills differed depending on gender and level of preschool children’s mobility as declared by their parents.
Protein Profiling of Gonads of Males and Sex Reversed Males in Nemacheilus angorae

In the present study a proteomics approach has been taken to analyze differential protein expression between mature male and sex reversed male of Nemacheilus angorae gonads. In regard to the fruitful studies of sex reversal in mammalian species and the fact that some major sex determination molecules are conserved among vertebrates, Nemacheilus angorae (Angorae loach) seems to be a good model system in studying molecules involved in sex differentiation. N. angorae is a teleports fish exhibiting a spontaneous sex reversal (male to female) pattern. The gonads of adult individuals were dissected and used for histological investigation and protein analysis. Proteins were next analyzed using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and the distinguished spots have been compared in two experimental samples. Among them, 23 differentially expressed proteins spots were identified by MALDI- TOF/TOF analysis. Two spots in sex reversed testis with high score showed significant similarity to Vasa (assembling of the pole plasm and the pronuclear region of the oocyte) and Proline 4-hydroxylase proteins. Vasa are involved in germ cell development both in invertebrates and vertebrates. This data could be considered as starting base for subsequent studies to identify proteins involved in sex reversal and differentiation at different stages of gonadal maturation in fish.
Using acoustic data from pelagic fishing vessels to monitor fish stocks

Pelagic trawlers make intensive use of echosounders and therefore could potentially be used as acoustic data collection platforms. The present project has investigated the possibility of collecting acoustic data during normal fishing trips and the potential of this data to estimate fish stock biomass. Within this project, two real-scale data collection trials were realised, one in spring 2012 during the blue whiting fishing season, and one in summer 2012 during the North Sea herring and sprat fishing season.
Factors behind Resisting Mobile-Banking Adoption: The Case of Tunisian Consumers

The aim of this study is to examine Tunisian consumers’ resistance to adopting mobile-banking. This paper empirically studies the impact of barriers to M-banking adoption in an emerging country. To this end, a conceptual TAM-based model integrating functional and psychological barriers was developed. The results show first that perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use positively determine intention to adopt, second that value and tradition barriers have a significant negative effect on perceived usefulness of M-banking and third the use barrier has a negative impact on perceived ease of use of M-banking services. They also indicate that risk and image barriers have no influence respectively on perceived usefulness and ease of use. This study provides a better understanding of the phenomenon of resistance to the adoption of mobile banking and recommends bank executives ways they can use to affect consumers attitude in view of reducing their resistance to the use of mobile banking services. It also has implications in terms of strategies to be implemented to attract new customers and overcome resistance to mobile banking.
Inductive/Deductive Learning by Considering the Role of Gender--A Case Study of Iranian French-Learners.

This article defines the objective of discovering the first preferred styles of Iranian learners of French as a Foreign Language (FFL) as regards inductive or deductive learning; and secondly, the difference between gender-based learning tendencies. Considering these points as target variables, the questionnaire developed by Felder and Silverman in 1988 was applied to form the learning styles and consequently to associate them with inductive and deductive approaches. The results led the team to set the idea which is based on the choice of induction or deduction in language learning and the gender variable that follows different directions. Consequently, in terms of the inductive approach, we find ourselves facing a rather male solicitation. A proportion of the use of this approach is also associated with women whose motivation is seen rather noticeably. Moreover, the significance is relative rather than significant in all the relationships studied in this research: males and inductive (1)/deductive learning (2); females and inductive (3)/deductive learning (4); inductive (5)/deductive (6) among Iranians.
MHD nature of night‐time MSTIDs excited by the solar terminator

We have obtained first experimental evidence in favour of the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) nature of night‐time medium‐scale travelling ionospheric disturbances (MSTIDs). We used total electron content (TEC) measurement data from the dense GPS networks in California and in Japan for 2008–2009. It was found that the spectral MSTID characteristics are determined by the solar terminator (ST) dynamics. In summer, MSTIDs are detected 1.5–3 hours before the evening ST at 100 km above the point of observations, but at the moment of the evening ST passage through the magnetoconjugate point. At the equinox MSTIDs are registered at once after ST appearance. In winter, MSTIDs are observed 1.5–3 hours after the evening ST occurrence at the point of observations, but at the moment of the evening ST passage in the magnetoconjugate point. The MSTID occurring synchronously with the ST passage through the magnetoconjugate area suggest that the ST‐excited MSTIDs are of MHD nature.
Planning and Development of an ICT-skills Map in Guidance

The main purpose of this article focuses on identifying specific Information and Communication Technologies skills, particularly those related to web pages and e-mail, useful in the implementation of Guidance functions and tasks. To this end, it was designed a competence map overlaid on those of a technological and coach and also produces a matrix that considered seven areas of focus grouped by International Association Educational and Vocational Guidance: evaluation, educational guidance, career development, counselling, information management, research and evaluation and placement. It also took into account three types of approaches to the counsellor regarding the use of ICT in guidance, as a resource, medium and development of guidance materials and two of these tools (websites and e-mail). The effective integration of Information and Communication Technologies and effective use of them, by guidance professional is based on their competences in them. This resource, open and flexible, requires a continuous updating in order to be useful in the implementation of guidance tasks, in self-assessment of competence by professionals; diagnosis of deficits in the design, planning and development training and guidance actions. It is also an instrument of great relevance and usefulness to guidance practitioners to explore the training needs and their occupational profile and to motivate their professional development.
ORIENTATION OF Microplitis croceipes ( HYMENOPTERA : BRACONIDAE ) TO GREEN LEAF VOLATILES : DOSE-RESPONSE CURVES D

Female Microplitis craceipes wasps were tested in a wind tunnel for their ability to orient to various concentrations of eight different green leaf volatile (GLV) substances [hexanal, (£)-2-hexenal. (£)-2-hexen-I-ol. (Z)-3hexen-I-ol. (£)-2-hexenyl acetate, (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate, (Z)-3-hexenyl propionate, and (Z)-3-hexenyl butyrate]. Overall. the esters elicited the greatest percentage of successful orientation flights. the alcohols elicited an intennediate response, and the aldehydes elicited a low response. The semilog doseresponse curves were generally hill-shaped with high responses at medium release rates and low responses at high or low release rates. For the aldehydes. positive responses occurred at all GLV release rates between 0.01 and 100 nl/min. For some alcohols and esters. positive responses occurred at release rates as low as I pi/min and as high as I ILl/min. These data show that M. craceipes wasps are strongly attracted to GLVs and are capable of orienting to GLV concentrations that would occur in nature when a caterpillar feeds on a green leaf. Hence. in nature. GLVs may be important clues. enabling M. croceipes to locate their hosts. Key Words-Green leaf volatile. semiochemical. synomone. volatile attractant. Microplitis craceipes. Hymenoptera. Braconidae. Heliothis zea. Lepidoptera. NoclUidae. biological control. tritrophic. host location. parasitoid behavior.
Social networks and rural non-farm enterprise development and implication for poverty reduction among rural households in Zimbabwe

Poverty remains a greatest challenge for the rural households of the sub Saharan Africa and a number of interventions are proposed to alleviate poverty. Rural non-farm enterprises are seen as a possible partner to farm enterprises to reduce poverty as there are robust production linkages between the two. On the other hand social networks have been seen to play an important role in the development of small-scale rural non-farm enterprises. This paper explores the social networks and small-scale rural non-farm enterprises development nexus implications to poverty reduction and then suggests possible policy implications. Key words: Social capital, social networks, non-farm enterprises, poverty reduction.