Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Convergence in Bolivia: A spatial dynamic panel approach [Convergencia en Bolivia: Un enfoque espacial con datos de panel dinámicos]

Este articulo analiza el fenomeno de convergencia del Producto Interno Bruto (PIB) regional desde una perspectiva espacial para Bolivia durante el periodo 1988-2011. Los resultados permiten obtener dos conclusiones. Primero, se puede observar el fenomeno de convergencia al estado estacionario en los departamentos de Bolivia con una velocidad de entre 4% y 7%. Segundo, los resultados presentan evidencia estadistica de que no existe dependencia espacial entre los departamentos de Bolivia, es decir, la velocidad de convergencia de un departamento no parece verse afectada por el PIB de los departamentos vecinos. Adicionalmente nuestros resultados se muestran robustos a distintas especificaciones.
EFFECT OF FERTIGATION SCHEDULING AND COST ECONOMICS IN THREE CULTIVARS OF GUAVA (PSIDIUM GUAJAVA L.) UNDER ULTRA HIGH DENSITY PLANTING IN CHHATTISGARH

Field experiment was carried out during the year 2014-15 in winter season at research field of Precision Farming Development Centre (PFDC) of Department of Horticulture, Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur (C.G.) to study the effect of drip irrigation and fertigation scheduling on performance of three cultivar of guava (Psidium guajava L.) in ultra high density planting. The experiment was conducted with three varieties (Lalit, Allahabad Safeda and L-49) along with three levels of fertigation scheduling (60% RDF, 80% RDF and 100% RDF). The benefit-cost (B: C) ratio was evaluated. Benefit-cost analysis was carried out to determine the economic feasibility of using drip irrigation. The cost of drip irrigation system includes depreciation, prevailing bank interest rate, repair and maintenance of the system. The interest rate and repair and maintenance cost of the system were 12 and 1% per annum of the fixed cost respectively. The useful life of drip system was considered to be 10 years. The cost of cultivation includes expenses incurred in field preparation, cost of seedlings, fertilizer, weeding, crop protection measures, irrigation water and harvesting with labour charges. The B: C ratio was found maximum (2.78) in Lalit cultivar with (80% RDF).
A Computable General Equilibrium Analysis of Trade Policies in the 1930 s in Australia

This paper provides a new solution to an old problem. A computable general equilibrium model of the Australian economy in the 1930s is used to analyse the effects of protection to manufacturing and the impact of a tax on wool exports at macroeconomic and sectoral levels. The results lend support to the original formulation by Marion Crawford SamueIson (1940) and the subsequent interpretation by Paul Samuelson (1981) that the policy of protection would result in a higher national income and welfare for the inter-war Australian economy. This is the effect of improved terms of trade via optimum tariff and the wage earners seemed to have benefited from that trade policy. The findings however reject the Anderson and Garnaut (1987) hypothesis that a tax on wool exports would have been a better substitute for a uniform tariff on all imports.
International High-Performance Built Environment Conference – A Sustainable Built Environment Conference 2016 Series ( SBE 16 ) , iHBE 2016 Green features , symbolic values and rental premium : systematic review and meta-analysis

Typical determinants of office building rental prices include location, height, age, and other tangible features of a building – and this is no exception to green buildings. Although evidence shown that green office buildings command rental premium than comparable non-green office buildings, literature could not fully explain causes of the higher rental prices. In addressing this gap, the aim of this research is to identify possible rental price attributes of green office buildings. More specifically, this study attempts to (1) analyse collective influence of various rental price attributes of green buildings, (2) review methods applied to probe the rental price attributes. The study was conducted by systematic review and meta-analysis on related literature. The result shows that literature identified rental attributes of green buildings using regression analysis, and these attributes are mostly indifferent to those of non-green buildings. Limited attention was given to attributes that are specific to green buildings. More specifically, green office building’ symbolic aspect was not considered when analysing its rental premium. The result will be utilised in subsequent stage of the research project to probe the significance of its impacts. © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. Peer-review under responsibility of the organizing committee iHBE 2016.
Improved PCA-based techniques for face and finger-vein recognition systems

Biometrics refers to metrics related to human characteristics and biometric technologies use physical or behavioural characteristics of people to identify and recognize an individual. With the ever increasing growth in cybercrimes, biometric technologies have become increasingly important in this digital information age. The focus of this thesis is on the design and application of new techniques for image-based biometrics recognition systems using faces and finger veins. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) is a way of identifying patterns in data, and expressing the data in such a way as to highlight their similarities and differences. The PCA technique plays an important role in feature extraction and dimensionality reduction. In this thesis, we propose a variety of extensions of PCA technique using kernel and entropy based extensions. We have proposed new algorithms involving one and dimensional PCA extensions using kernel and entropy methods. Then we have applied these algorithms to face and finger vein recognition systems and show that these extensions can yield better results in terms of accuracy and performance. With face images, we have analysed Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Kernel Principal Component Analysis (KPCA) and Kernel Entropy Component Analysis (KECA) to determine the optimal frontal face size. To improve the accuracy and performance of face recognition systems, we have proposed a new method, Two-Dimensional Kernel Entropy Component Analysis (K2DECA), which is able to extract nonlinear components based on entropy estimates. In K2DECA, the kernel 2DPCA axes onto which the data are projected contribute to the entropy estimate. With face recognition
1 INTERPRETATION OF NEAR-INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY ( NIRS ) SIGNALS 2 IN SKELETAL MUSCLE 3 4

1 INTERPRETATION OF NEAR-INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY (NIRS) SIGNALS 2 IN SKELETAL MUSCLE 3 4 Adeola A. Sanni 1*, Kevin K. McCully 2 5 Department of Kinesiology, University of Georgia, 330 River Road, Athens Ga 30602, 6 USA; 7 1* aas56767@uga.edu 8 2 mccully@uga.edu 9 Received: date; Accepted: date; Published: date 10 11 Abstract: NIRS uses the relative absorption of light at 850nm and 760nm, to determine 12 skeletal muscle oxygen saturation. Previous studies have used the ratio of both signals to 13 report muscle oxygen saturation. Purpose: To evaluate the different approaches used to 14 represent muscle oxygen saturation, and to evaluate the pulsations of the O2heme and Heme 15 signal. Method: Twelve participants, ages 20-29years were tested on the forearm flexor 16 muscles using continuous wave NIRS at rest. Measurements were taken during 2-3mins rest, 17 during physiological calibration (5-minuts Ischemia) and during reperfusion. Results: 18 There was a significant difference in pulse size between O2heme and Heme signal at the three 19 locations (p < 0.05). Resting oxygen saturation was 58.8+9.2%, 69.6+3.9%, and 89.2+6.9% 20 when calibrated using O2heme, TSI, and Heme, respectively. Conclusion: The difference 21 in magnitude of O2heme and Heme pulse with each heartbeat might suggest different 22 anatomical locations of these signals, which propose calibrating with just one of the signals 23 instead of the ratio of both. Calculations of physiological calibration must account for 24 increased blood volume in the tissue, because of the changes in blood volume which appear 25 to be primarily from the O2heme signal. Resting oxygen levels calibrated with Heme agrees 26 with theoretical oxygen saturation. 27 28
Anticancer activity of globularifolin against human adenoid cystic carcinoma cells is due to ROS-mediated apoptotic cell death and modulation of the JAK/STAT signalling pathway.

PURPOSE Adenoid cystic carcinoma is a rare and under-researched disease. There is hardly any chemotherapy available for it, hence the urgent need to develop novel and efficient chemotherapy. Therefore, we examined the anticancer effects of globularifolin, an acylated iridoid glucoside, against salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (SACC-83) cell line and normal human salivary gland (HSG) cell line. METHODS Cell counting and colony formation assays were used to determine cell viability. Acridin orange (AO)/ethidium bromide (EB) staining and comet assay were used for the detection of apoptosis. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) determination and cell cycle analysis were performed by flow cytometry. Transwell assay was used to monitor cell migration and Western blot analysis was used to determine protein expression. RESULTS Globularifolin inhibited the growth of SACC-83 cell line and exhibited an IC50 of 10 µM. Nonetheless, the cytotoxic effects of globularifolin were comparatively negligible against normal HGS cells with an IC50 of 80 µM. The investigation of the mechanism of action revealed that the anticancer effects of globularifolin against the SACC-83 cells was due to the induction of apoptotic cell death as indicated by AO/EB staining. Globularifolin treatment also resulted in enhancement of the Bax, Caspase 3 and 9 expression and decline of the Bcl-2 expression. Globularifolin also blocked the SACC-83 cells at the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle. Moreover, cell invasion assay revealed that globularifolin inhibited the migration of the SACC-83 cells concentration-dependently, which was also coupled with the downregulation of metalloproteinase (MMP) 2 and 9. JAK/STAT is an important pathway involved in the proliferation and tumorigenesis of cancer cells and this research found that globularifolin could inhibit this pathway. CONCLUSION We conclude that globularifolin may prove essential in the development of systemic therapy for adenoid cystic carcinoma.
Are the determinants of young SME profitability different? Empirical evidence using dynamic estimators

Using two step method, namely probit regressions and dynamic estimators, and on the basis of two sub-samples of Portuguese SMEs: 1) 495 young SMEs; and 2) 1350 old SMEs, this study seeks to verify if age is a important factor of the relationships between determinants and profitability. Age, size, liquidity and long-term debt are of greater relative importance for the increased profitability, while risk is of greater relative importance for diminished profitability of young SMEs, compared to the case of old SMEs. R&D expenditure is of greater relative importance for increased profitability in old SMEs. Additionally, old SMEs have more persistent profitability than do young SMEs.
Understanding Purchasing Behaviour Towards Environmentally Sustainable Products Using Theory of Planned Behaviour: An StructuralEquation Modeling Approach

The purpose of this paper is to study the purchasing behavior of consumers for environmentally sustainable products using the Theory of Planned Behavior framework. It examines the determinants of purchasing intention for environmentally sustainable products which further leads to purchasing behavior. The data collected was analyzed with the help of Structural Equation Modeling. Subjective norms, Control on availability, Perceived consumer effectiveness and Attitude were found to have significant impact on purchase intention. Purchasing intention also affect purchasing behavior significantly. The study contributes in understanding the relative importance of determinants affecting the purchase intention for environmentally sustainable products.
Physicochemical Properties of Zivzik and Gorumlu Pomegranates

One of the largest pomegranate plantation areas in the World is Anatolia where is also considered as to be the native lands of pomegranate cultivation. Even though presence of many pomegranate accessions in the region only Hicaz variety has world-wide reputation and is generally used for production of pomegranate juice concentrate. The objective of this study is illuminating the physicochemical properties of special pomegranate types grown in the Eastern and Southeastern regions of Anatolia. Four different pomegranate varieties namely Zivzik, Ali Ağay, Hacı Hesin, Radişu were assayed for their phenolic, anthocyanin, ascorbic acid contents and antioxidant activities. The anthocyanin compositions of pomegranates were identified by using HPLC system equipped with photodiode array detector. Results indicated that these pomegranate varieties have comparable natural compound and ascorbic acid contents, and they have higher antioxidant activity than the other pomegrante varieties and fruit types. The HPLC-PDA analysis revealed that there are at least three individual anthocyanins such as Cyanidin 3,5 –diglucoside, Pelargonidin 3,5 –diglucoside, Cyanidin 3 –glucoside in assayed pomegranates.
Fishes of the Lemon Bay estuary and a comparison of fish community structure to nearby estuaries along Florida ’ s Gulf coast

Lemon Bay is a narrow, shallow estuary in southwest Florida. Although its fish fauna has been studied intermittently since the 1880s, no detailed inventory has been available. We sampled fish and selected macroinvertebrates in the bay and lower portions of its tributaries from June 2009 through April 2010 using seines and trawls. One hundred three fish and six invertebrate taxa were collected. Pinfish Lagodon rhomboides, spot Leiostomus xanthurus, bay anchovy Anchoa mitchilli, mojarras Eucinostomus spp. , silver perch Bairdiella chrysoura, and scaled sardine Harengula jaguana were among the most abundant species. To place our information into a broader ecological context, we compared the Lemon Bay fish assemblages with those of nearby estuaries. Multivariate analyses revealed that fish assemblages of Lemon and Sarasota bays differed from those of lower Charlotte Harbor and lower Tampa Bay at similarities of 68–75%, depending on collection gear. These differences were attributed to greater abundances of small-bodied fishes in Lemon and Sarasota bays than in the other much larger estuaries. Factors such as water circulation patterns, length of shoreline relative to area of open water, and proximity of Gulf passes to juvenile habitat may differ sufficiently between the small and large estuaries to affect fish assemblages.
Distribution and Habitat Preference of Crocodile ( Crocodilus Niloticus ) in Kainji Lake National Park , Nigeria

The study identified the distribution pattern and estimated relative abundance of Nile crocodile in Kainji Lake National Park. It utilized both primary and secondary data sources. Primary data on crocodile availability were collected along major rivers and tributaries in the park. The daytime Surveys were made between 10.00 hour and 14.00 hour while night surveys were carried out between 18.00 hour 20.00 hour. All crocodile sighted were recorded and their locations when sighted were registered with the aid of Geographic positioning system (GPS). Secondary data were obtained from experienced park rangers, villagers, pastoralists and relevant literature in the study area. It was revealed that most of the crocodile were sighed individually (88.2%). Twenty (20) crocodile were sighted in this study, including 12 adults and eight young ones. All crocodile sighted were recorded only in the Oli river. Majority of the crocodile were sighted late hours of the morning (10.00am-12.00 noon). All the Nile crocodile sighted were residing in the area with evidence of breeding. It was further revealed that Nile crocodile were mostly found in sandy soil area (52.9%) followed by rocky areas (35.3%) that usually provide open spaces for basking. Nile crocodile prefer valley area (88.2%) to the hill (11.8%). Most (76.5%) crocodiles were found in an undisturbed environment with limited human activities. The number of crocodile sighted and high level of indirect observation established crocodiles are still striving in the study area, though the population and overall distribution throughout the park was in decline due to human interference in some sections of the park. Regular inventory of this iconic reptile is critical to sustain and possibly improve it current population.
Title Antagonistic Effect of Endophytic Streptomyces sp . Isolated from Root of Centella umbellata Schubert et Van Wyk on Pathogenic Fungi Causing Leaf Diseases in Cabbage All

The endophytic bacterium was isolated from root of Centella umbellata Schubert et van Wyk and studied the antagonistic effect on pathogenic microorganisms that causing the leaf diseases of cabbage. This experiment was carried out at the Microbiology Laboratory of the Botany Department, University of Mandalay during the period of July-December 2015. The isolation of endophytic bacteria was carried out by using Starch Casein Agar (SCA) medium and International Streptomycetes Project-2 (ISP-2) medium. The identification of isolated bacteria was confirmed as Streptomyces species by the studies of morphological character and biochemical tests. Pathogenic fungi were isolated from the infected leaf of cabbage. The resulting strains were designated as KTW 01 (Alternaria sp.), KTW 02 (Helminthosporium sp.), KTW 03 (Colletotrichum sp.) and KTW 04 (Aspergillus sp.). The assay for antagonism was performed on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) medium by dual culture method. The pathogenic fungi Alternaria sp. and Helminthosporium sp.showed malformation of fungal hypha and deformation of spores. Although the isolated Streptomyces bacteria showed the positive effect on pathogenic fungi of leaf disease in cabbage, the Streptomyces showed the most antagonistic inhibition on Helminthosporium sp.
QUERCETIN AND βSITOSTEROL ISOLATED FROM THE METHANOL LEAVES EXTRACT OF CISSUS POLYANTHA Glig and Brandt (VITACEAE)

Cissus polyantha Glig and Brandt (Vitaceae) is traditionally used in the tropics for the treatment of conjunctivitis and inflammatory conditions. The methanol leaves extract of the plant was subjected to phytochemical investigations using silica gel column chromatography, and gel filtration using Sephadex LH-20. The ethyl acetate soluble fraction led to the isolation of a flavonoid (Quercetin) while a steroid (β­sitosterol) was isolated from the n-Hexane soluble fraction . The structures of the compounds were elucidated with the help of 1and 2D NMR. This is the first report of isolation of these compounds from the plant and they may be responsible for the previously observed anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects.
Trade and spatial agglomeration : how spatially concentrated are inflows in the importing country ?

In a world of heterogeneous space (asymmetric regions), some areas like border regions benefit from geographical advantage when trading with foreign markets. To date, the literature has concentrated mainly on analysing the internal effects of openness to trade, by measuring to what extent the liberalisation process triggers the internal agglomeration of firms and jobs close to the border regions. By contrast, little attention has been devoted to the destination side of the issue: the agglomeration of the flows in the importing country. In this paper we explore the presence of different spatial pattern in the concentration of the inflows in the importing regions when the exports come from the border regions or from any other region in the exporting country. By doing so, we wonder if the spatial pattern of border regions are mainly explained by this geographical advantages (accessibility). The empirical analysis uses a novel dataset on interregional flows between the Spanish regions and the regions (Nuts 2) of other 8 main European countries. To the best of our knowledge is the first time this analysis has been developed, mainly due to the lack of information regarding inter-regional inter-national bilateral flows in Europe. JEL Codes: F14, F15
Predicting the survival of diabetes using neural network

Data mining techniques at the present time are used in predicting diseases of health care industries. Neural Network is one among the prevailing method in data mining techniques of an intelligent field for predicting diseases in health care industries. This paper presents a study on the prediction of the survival of diabetes diseases using different learning algorithms from the supervised learning algorithms of neural network. Three learning algorithms are considered in this study: (i) The levenberg-marquardt learning algorithm (ii) The Bayesian regulation learning algorithm and (iii) The scaled conjugate gradient learning algorithm. The network is trained using the Pima Indian Diabetes Dataset with the help of MATLAB R2014(a) software. The performance of each algorithm is further discussed through regression analysis. The prediction accuracy of the best algorithm is further computed to validate the accurate predictionData mining techniques at the present time are used in predicting diseases of health care industries. Neural Network is one among the prevailing method in data mining techniques of an intelligent field for predicting diseases in health care industries. This paper presents a study on the prediction of the survival of diabetes diseases using different learning algorithms from the supervised learning algorithms of neural network. Three learning algorithms are considered in this study: (i) The levenberg-marquardt learning algorithm (ii) The Bayesian regulation learning algorithm and (iii) The scaled conjugate gradient learning algorithm. The network is trained using the Pima Indian Diabetes Dataset with the help of MATLAB R2014(a) software. The performance of each algorithm is further discussed through regression analysis. The prediction accuracy of the best algorithm is further computed to validate the accurate prediction
The Ar-Rahnu Efficiency and Its Determinants Selamah

Ar-Rahnu plays an important role in providing funds for micro and small enterprises. However, these enterprises could not be reached if ar-hanu is not efficient. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to measure the efficiency of ar-rahnu and identify the factors affecting the efficiency. This study uses Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) method to estimate ar-rahnu efficiency and Tobit model to determine the efficiency of Islamic Pawnshop (ar-rahnu). We use three different types of DEA model which are technical efficiency (TE), pure technical efficiency (PTE) and scale efficiency (SE) Model. The efficiency of ar-rahnu is measured from the secondary data for 2006 across several ar-rahnu operators including Bank Rakyat, Permodalan Kelantan Berhad (PKB), Muasasah Gadaian Islam Terengganu (MGIT) and Cooperatives under Yayasan Pembangunan Ekonomi Islam Malaysia (YaPEIM). Based on the efficiency score, we find that the highest average efficiency score among categories of arahnu used is Bank Rakyat. Furthermore, most of the ar-rahnu branches operate in increasing return to scale which imply that most of them can improve their performance by increasing their inputs. While, variables that affect ar-rahnu efficiency found from this empirical study are size, financial self-sufficiency, subsidy and group of business positively affect ar-rahnu efficiency.