Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Conflicts among Farmers and Pastoralists in Northern Nigeria Induced by Freshwater Scarcity

In recent times, freshwater scarcity in northern Nigeria has increased the prevalence of conflicts in certain parts between farmers and pastoralists because they are among those whose source of livelihood are most threatened. Competition for access to the diminishing freshwater resources often pitched both groups against each other. This paper describes situations that constitute freshwater scarcity and examines conditions under which such scarcity ignites conflicts among farmers and pastoralists in northern Nigeria. The research adopted a survey design of an ex post facto type. The sample population consisted of 150 farmers, 100 pastoralists, and 50 from government officials, NGOs and members of the public. These were selected from the three northern geo-political zones of Nigeria through purposive sampling technique. The instrument used was a structured questionnaire complemented by a semi-structured interview schedule. Reliability test of the questionnaire for internal consistency In statistics and research, internal consistency is a measure based on the correlations between different items on the same test (or the same subscale on a larger test). It measures whether several items that propose to measure the same general construct produce similar scores. recorded a Cronbach value of 0.87. Data from 232 respondents were retrieved with 77% response rate which included 102 farmers (44.7%), 52 pastoralists (22%), and 78 other members of the public (33%). Analysis was done using Multiple Regression and Pearson Product Moment Correlation. Findings showed a significant positive relationship between freshwater scarcity and conflicts among farmers and pastoralists (R 2 =0.146); and struggle for access to sources of water, and not water scarcity per se, was found to be the most potent predictor of causes of conflict (? = -.278; t= -4.838). This paper found no support for the commonly held belief that demographic variables, like age, religion, tribe, socio-economic status and level of education cause conflicts. Results showed an insignificant relationship (R 2 = 0.054) of those variables with conflict among farmers and pastoralists. The study concludes that freshwater scarcity and conflicts instigate a loss of livelihoods to farmers and contributes to diffuse and persistent violence such as ethnic clashes and regional interstate conflicts. Key Words: Freshwater Scarcity, Farmers, Pastoralists, Conflict, Northern Nigeria.
Delivering TVET at the secondary level: A practical approach

Secondary education can be regarded as the watershed of the education continuum, as it is positioned between compulsory primary education and the world of higher education, training and work. Hence, curricular content at this level should be enriched and should be culturally sensitive towards the holistic and relevant development of learners. The scope to provide a complementary mix between academics and technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in order to respond to global demands is evident, and should be pursued in order to facilitate human capital development (HCD). Challenges envisioned and experienced in implementing such formidable currricula exist, nevertheless with smart engaging approaches it is believed that these can be overcome. This paper presents a practical approach piloted in Jamaica to facilitate the delivery of TVET in an economical manner. The approach emphazized gains in sharing upgraded resources for the delivery of TVET.
Role of hydrogen sulfide in a Permian‐Triassic boundary ozone collapse

Using a three‐dimensional chemistry‐climate model of the troposphere and stratosphere, we find that hydrogen sulfide alone is unlikely to directly affect stratospheric ozone, even for hydrogen sulfide emission rates as large as 5000 Tg(S) per year. However, we also find that large quantities of hydrogen sulfide create a significant decrease in tropospheric hydroxyl radical, leading to a commensurate increase in atmospheric methane. Therefore a large methane flux (possibly from methane clathrate destabilization, Siberian traps or hydrothermal vent complexes) combined with a large hydrogen sulfide oceanic flux is much more likely to lead to an ozone collapse than methane or hydrogen sulfide alone with implications to the Permian‐Triassic boundary extinction 250 million years ago.
The New Strain of Acetic Acid Bacteria Komagataeibacter xylinus B-12068 – Producer of Bacterial Cellulose for Biomedical Applications

The strain of acetic acid bacteria Komagataeibacter xylinus B-12068, producing of bacterial cellulose (BC), was isolated and described. The effects of cultivation conditions (carbon sources, temperature, and pH) on BC production and properties were studied in surface and submerged cultures. Glucose was found to be the best substrate for BC production among the sugars tested; ethanol concentration of 3 % (w/v) enhanced the productivity of BC. The highest BC yield (up to 17.0 g/L) was obtained under surface static cultivation conditions, in the modified HS medium supplemented with ethanol, at pH 3.9, after 7 days of cultivation in the thinnest layer of the medium.
Institutions, Telecommunications and Economic Performance in Nigeria

One of the views that is fast and widespread across countries is the view that telecommunications plays a pivotal role in economic development. This has led to massive reformation of institutions in the sector. The reformation of the institutions is contingent on the theoretical underpinnings that good institutions enhance the efficiency of the telecommunications sector. This in turn, directly and through other sectors improves economic performance. This paper sets out to examine the separate effects of the reform and the reformed telecommunications on the various measures of economic performance. We estimated the Modified Engle-Granger cointegration test that allows for structural break using Nigeria’s data for the period 1984-2011. A step dummy variable is used to measure the effects of the reform on the various indicators of economic performance, while a slope dummy is used to measure the effects of the reformed telecommunications sector on economic performance. The results of this model show that the reform and the reformed telecommunications have significant effects on economic performance. Their effects on growth are found to be statistically significant both in the short-run and in the long-run. The effects, however, on unemployment and Poverty are found to be significant only in the long-run. In addition, we found the effects of the reform to be the most important. This, we recommend that the regulatory body should concentrate more effort in designing and improving good institutions that will enable the maximum benefits from telecommunications to be derived. Keywords: Institutions, Telecommunications, Economic Performance and MEG JEL Classification Codes: E02, O43, O11
Non-Communicable Diseases in Developing Countries: Causes and Health Policy/Program Assessments

Objectives: This study focuses on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and evaluates the effectiveness and efficiency of government public health policies on cardiovascular diseases and diabetes deaths per 100,000 population with age-standardized estimate of adults aged 25 and above of 30 South Asian and 46 African countries. Findings suggest that government policy implementation with focus on the reduction of deaths from NCDs is more efficient than general public health policy. Methods: The study employed theoretically well founded PRECEDE-PROCEED model to assess effectiveness of public health programs. Three causal factors of NCDs and three policy issues constituted the core of this model. The causal factors included: body mass index (BMI) 30 & over; systolic blood pressure; and total cholesterol. The policy issues included: health-related economics; health-related infrastructure; enabling, reinforcing and predisposing factors. Multiple regressions with robust method were used to assess effectiveness and concentration index for efficiency. The data for this study was taken from World Heath Statistics: 2008-2010. Results: One percentage increase in BMI 30&more raises 3.829 deaths from NCDs per 100,000 populations by country and the increase in NCDs depend on the size of population. One dollar per capita per year increase in government healthcare expenditures reduces NCDs by about 791 persons per 100,000 per year. An increase of 10% in government healthcare expenditures leads to 0.54% reduction in deaths from NCDs. The cost of this reduction in deaths from NCDs is $12.15 per capita per year. Implementation of key activities related to NCDs management reduces deaths from NCDs by 0.073 persons per 100,000 populations. An increase of 10% in NCD management expenditures leads to a 0.21% reduction in deaths or a decrease of 8.921 million deaths from NCDs. It costs $25.72 per person per year. The estimated effect of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes management plan is 113.828 less NCD deaths per 100,000 populations than in countries without a plan to fight against NCDs. For efficiency, the concentration indices reveal that the NCDs management is more cost efficient than the government general healthcare expenditures. Conclusions: In general, government policies and programs are found effective against NCDs. However, policies and programs focused on the reduction of NCDs are more efficient than general public health initiatives. A wellconstructed tax system for financing policy/program to deal with NCDs and related deaths is required.
Trade Protectionism and Intra-industry Trade: A USA - EU Comparison

The aim of this work is to find patterns for products included in the customs tariffs of the USA and the EU (composed of over 5000 products disaggregated at the 6 digit-level) which share similarities, defined by a set of international trade variables, namely the index of revealed comparative advantages (RCA), the Grubel-Lloyd index, and other indicators of international trade. There is a strand in the literature advancing a theory that links the degree of intra-industry trade with the level of protectionism. In order to test this theory we use cluster analysis as a method of data analysis and the Grubel-Lloyd index as a classification variable between groups. For each of the analyzed regions we obtain four different groups. Thereafter each of these four clusters are further characterized with the help of the other international trade indicators and the tariffs. Finally, we establish a comparison between the two regions by examining possible differences and similarities. The results show a significant difference in the tariffs applied between the USA and the EU, with the USA presenting a lower level of protectionism. Additionally, the results for the USA show a positive relationship between the degree of intra-industry trade and a lower level of protectionism, while for the EU the results are not conclusive.
Effect of heat and thermosonication on kinetics of peroxidase inactivation and vitamin C degradation in seedless guava (Psidium guajava L.)

This study aims to evaluate the effect of heat and the simultaneous application of heat (80-95°C) and ultrasonic waves (thermosonication) on the inactivation kinetic of peroxidase and vitamin C degradation in seedless guava. Ultrasonic wave’s amplitudes except 25 and 100% had significant (P<0.05) effect on peroxidase inactivation rate. The thermal and thermosonication inactivation of peroxidase was described well by first-order kinetics (R2>0.98). In the heat blanching process, the peroxidase inactivation rate constant increased from 1.1×10-2 to 4.6×10-2 s-1. However, the inactivation rate of peroxidase was increased by 1.5–3 times in the temperature range 80–95oC, with the 50 and 75% ultrasonic wave amplitudes, respectively. Decreases in vitamin C contents due to blanching treatments were found. Blanching processes at high temperature and short time resulted in higher vitamin C retention. It was found that thermosonication treatment inactivates seedless guava peroxidase at less severe blanching conditions and consequently retains vitamin C content at higher levels. The present findings will help to design the blanching conditions in order to reduce the severity of conventional thermal treatments and, therefore, improving the quality of the thermally treated product.
Insects associated with sesame (Sesamun indicum L.) and the impact of insect pollinators on crop production.

A survey of insects associated with sesame, Sesamun indicum L. (Pedaliaceae) was conducted at the Agriculture Research Farm of The Faculty of Agriculture, University of Suez Canal during the growing seasons 2010 and 2011. All different insect species found on the experimental site were collected for identification. Sampling was done once a week and three times a day. Three methods were used to collect insects from the sesame plants (a sweep net, pitfall traps, digital camera and eye observation). A total of 31 insect species were collected and properly identified during the survey. Insects recorded on the plants were divided into four groups, true pollinators (Hymenoptera), other pollinators (Diptera, Coleoptera and Lepidoptera), pests (Orthoptera, Odonata, Hemiptera and Homoptera) and natural enemies (Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, Neuroptera and Dictyoptera). For studying the impact of insect pollination on sesame production, the experiment was divided in two: opened and non-opened pollination of sesame. 50 plants from nonopened pollination were covered with a perforated paper bag to allow the air to pass through and to prevent insects from approaching the plants. Quantitative and qualitative parameters were measured as follows: pod weight, number of seeds in each pod, weight of 1000 seeds, germination (%), seedlings vigour and oil content (%). Results clearly demonstrate that the opened pollination improved the crop production.
Peridinium quinquecorne var. trispiniferum var. nov. (Dinophyceae) from a brackish environment

Peridinium quinquecorne is a marine dinoflagellate that bears four characteristic thick spines on the hypotheca. Some specimens, which characteristics of shape, number and arrangement of plates matched those of this species, were found in phytoplankton samples collected at the Sontecomapan coastal lagoon, Mexico, in 1999, 2001, 2003 and 2007. However, the organisms collected bore three spines on the hypotheca instead of four, as described for P. quinquecorne. The number of spines and their position on antapical plates were features consistently observed over at least a nine years period. From October 2002 to October 2003, we followed the dynamics of the phytoplankton community at the lagoon and this organism was found only in February and June, when salinity values were lower than 21‰ and temperatures higher than 24.5 °C. In February 2003, this organism reached high cell densities and became the dominant species in the phytoplankton community. Based on observations on the morphology of this dinoflagellate under the light and electron microscopes and its constant possession of only three spines, we propose the new variety name Peridinium quinquecorne var. trispiniferum for this taxon which caused a bloom in this tropical brackish system.
Economic Forecasting in a Changing World

This article explains the basis for a theory of economic forecasting developed over the past decade by the authors. The research has resulted in numerous articles in academic journals, two monographs, Forecasting Economic Time Series, 1998, Cambridge University Press, and Forecasting Nonstationary Economic Time Series, 1999, MIT Press, and three edited volumes, Understanding Economic Forecasts, 2001, MIT Press, A Companion to Economic Forecasting, 2002, Blackwells, and the Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics, 2005. The aim here is to provide an accessible, non-technical, account of the main ideas. The interested reader is referred to the monographs for derivations, simulation evidence, and further empirical illustrations, which in turn reference the original articles and related material, and provide bibliographic perspective.
GSK3 inhibition reduces inflammatory responses of microglia and upregulates Il-10 production

Introduction: Neurodegeneration resulting from pathogen invasion or tissue damage has been associated with activation of microglia, and exacerbated by the release of neurotoxic mediators such as pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines and reactive oxygen species. Activation of microglia stimulated by lipopolysaccharide is mediated in part by GSK-3 signaling molecule. Induced IL-10 expression via GSK-3 inhibition is noteworthy since IL-10 has been remarkably shown to suppress inflammation. Objectives: We aimed to inactivate microglia through inhibition of GSK-3 signaling and to determine its effects on the production of pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators. Methods: LPS-stimulated BV-2 cells were treated with a GSK-3 inhibitor (LiCl, NP12, SB216763 or CHIR99021). Inhibition of GSK-3 was determined by the phosphorylation status of GSK-3β. The effects of GSK-3 inhibition on microglial inflammatory response were investigated by examining various mediators and CD200R marker. Production of nitric oxide (NO), glutamate and pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines were measured using flow cytometry, Griess assay, glutamate assay and Cytometric Bead Array (CBA) respectively. Results: GSK-3β signaling in LPS-stimulated microglia was blocked by GSK-3 inhibitor through increased phosphorylation at Serine 9 residue. GSK-3 inhibitors had also led to reducing in microglia activity via increased expression of CD200R. Inhibition of GSK-3 also diminished inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO), glutamate, pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6) and chemokine, MCP-1. Reduction of pro-inflammatory mediators by GSK-3 inhibitor was coincided with increased IL-10 production. Conclusions: Suppression of microglia-mediated inflammatory response was facilitated by GSK-3 inhibition with associated increased in IL-10 production.
Narrative skills predict peer adjustment across elementary school years

The importance of peer adjustment in middle childhood coincides with developing social cognitive and discursive skills that include the ability to make personal narrative accounts. Authoring personal stories promotes attention to the sequence of events, the causal connections between events, the moral significance of what has happened, and the motives that drive human action: these skills may be critical for the establishment and maintenance of satisfying peer relationships during elementary school. This study extended previous research by considering whether narrative skills in written stories about peer interactions predicted peer adjustment. As part of an ongoing longitudinal study, 92 children wrote narratives about peer experiences and completed surveys on measures of peer adjustment for two school years. Cross-lagged panel models indicated that chronological and thematic coherence and reports of moral concerns in narratives in the first year of the study contributed to lower peer disliking in the subsequent academic year. Reports of motives in Year 1 narratives contributed to lower levels of loneliness and peer victimization in Year 2. Writing personal narratives that are coherent and attentive to moral concerns and motives may be especially beneficial for children who have difficulty connecting with peers. We discuss implications for classroom practices.
Landslide observation and volume estimation in central Georgia based on L-band InSAR

Abstract. The republic of Georgia is a mountainous and tectonically active area that is vulnerable to landslides. Because landslides are one of the most devastating natural hazards, their detection and monitoring is of great importance. In this study we report on a previously unknown landslide in central Georgia near the town of Sachkhere. We used a set of Advanced Land Observation Satellite (ALOS) Phased Array type L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (PALSAR) data to generate displacement maps using interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR). We detected a sliding zone of dimensions 2 km north–south by 0.6 km east–west that threatens four villages. We estimated surface displacement of up to ∼30 cm/yr over the sliding body in the satellite line-of-sight (LOS) direction, with the largest displacement occurring after a local tectonic earthquake. We mapped the morphology of the landslide mass by aerial photography and field surveying. We found a complex set of interacting processes, including surface fracturing, shear and normal faults at both the headwall and the sides of the landslide, local landslide velocity changes, earthquake-induced velocity peaks, and loss in toe support due to mining activity. Important implications that are applicable elsewhere can be drawn from this study of coupled processes. We used inverse dislocation modelling to find a possible dislocation plane resembling the landslide basal decollement, and we used that plane to calculate the volume of the landslide. The results suggest a decollement at ∼120 m depth, dipping at ∼10° sub-parallel to the surface, which is indicative of a translational-type landslide.
Transmission Specificity and Coinfection of Mastrevirus with Begomovirus

Coat protein (CP) of geminivirus is not requisite for replication of viral DNA yet it is multifunctional and have crucial role in virus transmission by insect vector, systemic infection and virion development. Although in geminivirus, systemic infection rely both on function of CP and specific host-geminivirus-vector interaction but in bipartite begomoviruses CP is dispensable for systemic infection and progression of symptoms. Nevertheless its role in spreading systemic infection cannot be neglected in monopartite viruses’ viz . mastrevirus, begomoviruses and curtoviruses, therefore any alteration in CP gene upshot in a new epidemiological adaptation hence worth to study. So the study was designed to present a better picture to view regarding coinfection within different Geminiviruses belonging to mastrevirus and begomovirus particularly due to vector inspecificity consequently resulted in revolutionary recombination events, which ultimately yield new viruses, have more drastic affects on crops. Moreover, co-evolution of both genera may open new horizons in understanding the complexity of cotton leaf curl disease and then to chalk out strategies to counter this emerging threat in Pakistan. © 2017 Friends Science Publishers
Childhood obesity and children's food values : research for social marketing.

Childhood obesity is an issue of concern throughout the world due to its effects on the individual and implications on the economic and social fabric of society. This paper seeks to add to the literature on childhood obesity by researching the issue from a social marketing perspective. The research examines relationships between personal values driving food consumption, choice motives and weight status. To this end, the value structures of fifty-four pre-adolescent children are elicited using depth laddering interviews. These cognitive structures are analysed using means-end chains and hierarchical value maps and compared across weight category. Findings are then discussed in a social marketing context to address the obesity epidemic and future research directions are identified.