Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Import-economic growth nexus in selected African countries: An application of the Toda-Yamamoto Granger non-causality test

Abstract We determine the nexus between imports and economic growth for a sample of 26 African countries for the period 1990-2015 within the neoclassical production function framework. We mainly contribute to literature by overcoming the weak theoretical modelling framework and possible model specification bias in most extant studies. Using the Toda-Yamamoto Granger non-causality test, the empirical results indicate that there is absence of causality between imports and economic growth in more than half of the countries in the sample, thus suggesting that neutrality hypothesis is predominant among the countries. We provide ample evidence that causality is absent from imports to economic growth. However, our results should be treated with caution because the absence of causality from imports to economic growth should not imply that imports do not play a role in the growth process of an economy.
Investigation of School Administrators’ Humour Styles and School Climate according to Teacher Perceptions

Abstract Introduction: This research aims to determine the humour behaviours of school administrators according to teacher perception and to reveal the relationship between humour behaviours and school climate. Methods: The research was carried out in a survey model. The data of the study were obtained from 221 primary school teachers working in Ankara and Aksaray provinces via a questionnaire created online. Regression analysis technique was used to determine the relationship between variables. Results: According to the results of the research, school administrators showed relatively more positive humour (producer-social humour and affirmative humour) behaviours. In terms of climate, it is seen that the perception of a positive school climate (supportive and intimacy based school climate) is higher than the negative ones. When the relationships between the variables were examined, it was seen that there was a definite increase in the school climate with the school administrator using humour positively. With the rise in the use of refusing or sarcastic humour, there was an adverse increase in school climate. Discussion: According to these results, it can be argued that humour behaviours of school administrators are an essential determinant in the context of creating a positive school climate in schools. Limitations: Data from the sample of the study were collected through online questionnaires. Therefore, this research has no claim of generalisability. Conclusions: Therefore, it is necessary to increase the knowledge and sensitivity of school administrators on how to use and manage humour.
Differentially methylated CpG sites associated with the high-risk group of prostate cancer

Abstract Prostate cancer (PC) is one of the most common and socially significant oncological diseases among men. Bioinformatic analysis of omics data allows identifying molecular genetic changes associated with the disease development, as well as markers of prognosis and response to therapy. Alterations in DNA methylation and histone modification profiles widely occur in malignant tumors. In this study, we analyzed changes in DNA methylation in three groups of PC patients based on data from The Cancer Genome Atlas project (TCGA, https://portal.gdc.cancer.gov): (1) high- and intermediate-risk of the tumor progression, (2) favorable and unfavorable prognoses within the high-risk group, and (3) TMPRSS2-ERG-positive (tumors with TMPRSS2-ERG fusion transcript) and TMPRSS2-ERG-free cases within the high-risk group. We found eight CpG sites (cg07548607, cg13533340, cg16643088, cg18467168, cg23324953, cg23753247, cg25773620, and cg27148952) hypermethylated in the high-risk group compared with the intermediate-risk group of PC. Seven differentially methylated CpG sites (cg00063748, cg06834698, cg18607127, cg25273707, cg01704198, cg02067712, and cg02157224) were associated with unfavorable prognosis within the high-risk group. Six CpG sites (cg01138171, cg14060519, cg19570244, cg24492886, cg25605277, and cg26228280) were hypomethylated in TMPRSS2-ERG-positive PC compared to TMPRSS2-ERG-negative tumors within the high-risk group. The CpG sites were localized, predominantly, in regulatory genome regions belonging to promoters of the following genes: ARHGEF4, C6orf141, C8orf86, CLASP2, CSRNP1, GDA, GSX1, IQSEC1, MYOF, OR10A3, PLCD1, PLEC1, PRDM16, PTAFR, RP11-844P9.2, SCYL3, VPS13D, WT1, and ZSWIM2. For these genes, analysis of differential expression and its correlation with CpG site methylation (β-value level) was also performed. In addition, STK33 and PLCD1 had similar changes in colorectal cancer. As for the CSRNP1, the ARHGEF4, and the WT1 genes, misregulated expression levels were mentioned in lung, liver, pancreatic and androgen-independent prostate cancer. The potential impact of changed methylation on the mRNA level was determined for the CSRNP1, STK33, PLCD1, ARHGEF4, WT1, SCYL3, and VPS13D genes. The above CpG sites could be considered as potential prognostic markers of the high-risk group of PC.
Role of phase partitioning in coordinating DNA damage response: focus on the Apurinic Apyrimidinic Endonuclease 1 interactome

Abstract Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) is a way to concentrate biochemical reactions while excluding noninteracting components. Disordered domains of proteins, as well as interaction with RNA, favor condensation but are not mandatory for modulating this process. Recent insights about phase-separation mechanisms pointed to new fascinating models that could explain how cells could cope with DNA damage responses, conferring both spatial and temporal fine regulation. APE1 is a multifunctional protein belonging to the Base Excision Repair (BER) pathway, bearing additional ‘non-canonical’ DNA-repair functions associated with processes like RNA metabolism. Recently, it has been highlighted that several DNA repair enzymes, such as 53BP1 and APE1, are endowed with RNA binding abilities. In this work, after reviewing the recent literature supporting a role of LLPS in DDR, we analyze, as a proof of principle, the interactome of APE1 using a bioinformatics approach to look for clues of LLPS in BER. Some of the APE1 interactors are associated with cellular processes in which LLPS has been either proved or proposed and are involved in different pathogenic events. This work might represent a paradigmatical pipeline for evaluating the relevance of LLPS in DDR.
Russian Food Import Ban – Impacts on Rural and Regional Development in Finland

Abstract This paper investigates the economic effects of the food import ban that Russia imposed vis-à-vis the European Union in 2014 on the development of two structurally different rural regions in Finland. A detailed, rural-urban dataset was compiled for use with a recursive dynamic computable general equilibrium model. In the medium run, the overall economic effects of the trade ban were negative for both regions, and the value added of agriculture and food industries fell notably. When the rigidities of capital availability were relaxed, regional GDP and employment increased in South Ostrobothnia as, for instance, metal industry and construction accelerated economic growth. In North Karelia, where agriculture and food industry account for a minor share of economy, other industries could not compensate the losses the ban caused. Accordingly, the impacts were dependent on the economic structure of the region.
Lockdown during COVID-19 pandemic: impact on road traffic noise and on the perception of sound environment in France

Abstract Acoucité¹, centre of expertise in environmental acoustics and observatory of the sound environment, has investigated the changes in sound environment and its perception during the French lockdown period. The approach adopted is multidimensional, since it combines long-term acoustic measurements, large area noise mapping, as well as the study of sound perception self-reported by population sample through an on-line structured questionnaire. Data from 21 continuous sound monitoring stations² were analysed for the entire lockdown period in five conurbations in the south of France and compared to typical values in the “normal” situation (before lockdown) in order to quantify the reduction in terms of sound levels. Reductions from 4 dB to 6 dB (Lden) were observed for monitoring stations with highly dominant road noise. These results were used to obtain new Strategic Noise Maps for road noise (corresponding to the lockdown situation) for the conurbations of Lyon and Grenoble. The impact of such reductions in terms of noise exposure of their inhabitants was thus assessed. An estimation of the impact on health effects in comparison with the “normal” situation (Strategic Noise Maps “Round 3 CE-DE-2002”) was also carried out. This estimation considers a scenario where the above level reductions (4 to 6 dB) would take place in the long-term. An on-line perception questionnaire was available during the lockdown period with the aim of gathering information on the way that the changes in sound environment were perceived by people all over France and ended up with more than 3000 respondents. This paper reports the main findings of the study in terms of acoustics and sound perception.
Comparative Effects of Different Organic and Inorganic Fertilisers on Soil Fertility, Plant Growth, Soil Microbial Community, and Storage Ability of Lettuce

Abstract The current study was conducted to assess whether organic fertilisation could replace mineral fertilisation in lettuce production without adverse effects on yield, quality, and postharvest behaviour. The effect of either mineral or organic fertiliser on soil fertility or the microbial community was also studied. Control plots were fertilised with recommended rates of mineral fertiliser (150: 45: 65 kg/ha NPK) and the other treatments were 15 t/ha compost, 10 t/ha rabbit manure, and 10 t/ha chicken manure. Our results indicated that all sources of organic fertiliser significantly increased total nitrogen, organic carbon, total fungi, and bacteria contents of soils compared with mineral fertiliser. Rabbit and chicken manure fertilisers resulted in a significant increase in yield. Compared with conventional fertiliser and other organic treatments, plots receiving rabbit manure showed a lower weight loss and microbial load on fresh lettuce head. Moreover, rabbit manure significantly reduced polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase activity. Hence, these results suggest that rabbit manure fertiliser could be an alternative to conventional production without significant reduction in yield and with low enzymatic browning and better storability.
Geospatial assessment of land use and land cover dynamics in the mid-zone of Ghana

Abstract Land use and land cover (LULC) terrain in Ghana has undergone profound changes over the past years emanating mainly from anthropogenic activities, which have impacted countrywide and sub-regional environment. This study is a comprehensive analysis via integrated approach of geospatial procedures such as Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) of past, present and future LULC from satellite imagery covering Ghana’s Ashanti regional capital (Kumasi) and surrounding districts. Multi-temporal satellite imagery data sets of four different years, 1990 (Landsat TM), 2000 (Landsat ETM+), 2010 (Alos and Disaster Monitoring Constellation-DMC) and 2020 (SENTINEL), spanning over a 30-year period were mapped. Five major LULC categories – Closed Forest, Open Forest, Agriculture, Built-up and Water – were delineated premised on the prevailing geographical settings, field study and remote sensing data. Markov Cellular Automata modelling was applied to predict the probable LULC change consequence for the next 20 years (2040). The study revealed that both Open Forest and Agriculture class categories decreased 51.98 to 38.82 and 27.48 to 20.11, respectively. Meanwhile, Built-up class increased from 4.8% to 24.8% (over 500% increment from 1990 to 2020). Rapid urbanization caused the depletion of forest cover and conversion of farmlands into human settlements. The 2040 forecast map showed an upward increment in the Built-up area up to 35.2% at the expense of other LULC class categories. This trend from the past to the forecasted future would demand that judicious LULC resolutions have to be made to keep Ghana’s forest cover, provide arable land for farming activities and alleviate the effects of climate change.
MW irradiation and ionic liquids as green tools in hydrolyses and alcoholyses

Abstract The optimized HCl-catalyzed hydrolysis of alkyl diphenylphosphinates is described. The reaction times and pseudo-first-order rate constants suggested the iPr > Me > Et ∼ Pr ∼ Bu order of reactivity in respect of the alkyl group of the phosphinates. The MW-assisted p-toluenesulfonic acid (PTSA)-catalyzed variation means a better alternative possibility due to the shorter reaction times, and the alkaline hydrolysis is another option. The transesterification of alkyl diphenylphosphinates took place only in the presence of suitable ionic liquids, such as butyl-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphorate ([bmim][PF6]) and butyl-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([bmim][BF4]). The application of ethyl-methylimidazolium hydrosulfate ([emim][HSO4]) and butyl-methylimidazolium chloride ([bmim][Cl]) was not too efficient, as the formation of the ester was accompanied by the fission of the O–C bond resulting in the formation of Ph2P(O)OH. This surprising transformation may be utilized in the phosphinate → phosphinic acid conversion.
A new quartz for 𝛾-transfer calibration of radiation sources

Abstract Quartz grains extracted from aeolian sand (LexCal2014) are tested for suitability as transfer material for radiation source calibration. After thermal pre-treatment, this quartz exhibits luminescence and dose-response properties which appear appropriate for transfer calibration purposes with little dependence of recovered β-dose on preheat temperature in the single aliquot (SAR) procedure and satisfying performance in β-dose recovery (0.98−1.00 given/measured β-dose for various experiments). Additional support is obtained by SARA and interpolation procedures, where OSL-data from γ-dosed LexCal2014 is interpolated on data obtained for zeroed LexCal2014 quartz, which is β-irradiated by the source to be calibrated. Initial results on fine-grain material agree with the coarse grain results presented. The γ-dose of 3.00 ± 0.07 Gy is administered in a scatter-free geometry at the IAEA/WHO Secondary Standard Dosimetry Laboratory (SSDL) of the Helmholtz Zentrum München, with absorbed dose calculations obtained by Monte Carlo simulations.
Modeling in Water Resources Management in East Nile Delta: Review

Abstract It is acknowledged that providing a safe water supply for all countries is one of the major challenges of the twenty-first century. Egypt is one of the greatest countries affected in Africa and Middle East. The Nile is facing a major water shortage due to the limited water resources and the the demand is growing as a result high population growth and development in industrial and agricultural sectors. This paper has been motivated by the fact that there is no up-to-date literature review of the optimal operation of Water Resources. The analysis of the reviewed literature is structured along five broad branches: (1) Mathematical Optimization Modelling Studies, (2) Numerical Simulation Modelling Studies, (3) Geographical Information Systems “GIS” based Studies, (4) Ecological Studies, (5) Water Reuse Studies. This review is limited to surface water but groundwater has been inexplicitly included. The paper concludes the best way to identify knowledge to cover the gap between water supply and demands and to guide future researches on water resources planning and management.
Evaluation of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity in some edible flowers

Abstract Recently, edible flowers (EF) have aroused increased interest because of their aesthetic properties as well as potential health benefits related to the occurrence of some bioactive compounds. Therefore, the aim of this work was to evaluate the total phenolics, anthocyanins, flavonoids, and antioxidant activity (AOA) (following DPPH and ABTS methods) in eleven EF. The samples were subjected to three successive extraction steps using methanol, and these extracts were then analysed for the aforementioned properties using spectrophotometric methods. The obtained extracts were used for the quantification of phenolic composition and AOA. The results indicated that, among the flowers analysed in this study, red rose, pink rose, and red carnation possessed the highest total phenolic contents (27.53, 23.30, and 18.17 mg g−1 gallic acid equivalents, respectively), total anthocyanins (3.07, 1.97, and 4.47 mg g−1 catechin equivalents [CE], respectively), and AOA (12.07, 15.77, and 12.93 mg g−1 TE, respectively, as given by the DPPH method or 8.23, 9.27 and 8.00 mg g−1 TE, respectively, as given by the ABTS method). The flowers with highest flavonoids contents were red carnation, Mexican marigold, and pink rose (17.50, 16.90, and 16.57 mg g−1 CE, respectively). Cluster analysis grouped the analysed flowers into two groups, those richest in phenolics with AOA and those not so rich. Finally, some important correlations were observed between the total phenolics and the AOA. In conclusion, these flowers could represent a potential source of natural compounds with antioxidant capacity.
Corporate Social Responsibility as a Source of Employees’ Job Satisfaction in the Hospitality Industry

Abstract The hospitality industry has been continuously struggling with high employee turnover and a significant “within” and “out of industry” labour mobility, regardless of the phase of the business cycle, time or geographical region. Additionally, as in any other service industry, employees’ performance is frequently the only way how to differentiate among otherwise almost identical outputs and the only way how to build and attain customers’ satisfaction, trust, and loyalty. Thus, employees’ motivation plays a significant role in stipulating hospitality industry employees’ work performance, where job satisfaction (JS) often plays a mediating role between employee’s needs and his or her ultimate work behaviour, such as work performance, organizational commitment or voluntary retention. Unfortunately, scholarly literature gives little room to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) functioning as a motivation factor in relation to employees. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to fill in this gap and to examine the link between CSR and JS of hospitality industry employees using regression analysis. Drawing upon Carroll’s four-dimensional concept of CSR, the results of this paper indicate a significant positive causal relationship between the ethical, economic, and legal dimensions of CSR and JS; however, a significant positive causal relationship between philanthropic CSR dimension and JS was not confirmed.
Application of the Methods for Comprehensive Reliability Analysis of District Heating Systems

Abstract The general idea of the methodology for the comprehensive reliability analysis of district heating systems (DHS), developed earlier by the author of this paper, is a joint considering and modelling of each technological processes, including fuel supply to heat sources (HS), generation of heat energy by these HS and its distribution on district heating network (HN). For solving this problem different methods and models are applied: statistical testing method, Markov random processes, methods of the theory of hydraulic circuits, basic laws of district heating and heat transfer processes, etc. In this paper the main attention is paid to the results of the practical application of methods and models of a comprehensive reliability analysis of DHS using the example of calculations performed for the actual DHS scheme of the Shelekhov city (Irkutsk region, Russia). Different stages of the case study are considered, including preparation of initial data, simulation modelling of fuel supply to HS, modelling of the Markov random process describing operate of DHS, calculation of post-failure modes in HN, evaluation of nodal reliability indices (RI), decomposition analysis of reliability. Based on the analysis of calculation results some preliminary directions are formulated to the increase of reliability for studied DHS. These data are the basis for a comprehensive reliability synthesis (optimization) of DHS, the solution of which is the subject of special perspective stage in development of the research.
He has committed a drinkable offence: the discourse of alcohol consumption among rural youth in Nigeria

Abstract This article explores how identity and masculinity are framed and negotiated through interactional discourses which are related to alcohol consumption and drinking culture by rural youth in Southern Cross River State, South-Eastern Nigeria. In this culture, young men employ enregisterment of slang, metaphors and subjective narratives to symbolically construct their ideologies of alcohol. The study adopts the community of practice conceptual framework which sets the parameters for social and linguistic practices where language is (re)produced and (re)conceptualised through different forms of participation and engagement. With ethnographic observations, interviews, focus groups and qualitative analysis, I aim to reveal some of the dimensions of identity and masculinity that are enacted in the discourse of alcohol consumption. These include: knowledge of slang and metaphors associated with alcohol and its consumption, projecting an image of a light or heavy alcohol consumer, utilising alcohol as a necessity in resolving conflicts and relating alcohol consumption as a source of strength, toughness and other masculine attributes. I conclude that alcohol drinking culture forms part of the creative agency and social imaginaries of rural youth in defining their authentic social selves and local lifestyles.
Burnout in the Military

Abstract In this paper we will analyze and measure how one of the most common phenomena that causes dysfunctions in organizations – burnout – is present among students. In order to achieve this goal, we will study how the three dimensions of burnout, namely: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and reduction of professional achievement are manifested in the chosen sample.