Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nonlinear adjustment of real exchange rate towards purchasing power parity from G7: An exponential FISTAR modelling

Article history: Received September 28, 2014 Accepted 28 December 2014 Available online January 12 2015 The aim of this paper is to study the dynamics of the real exchange rate deviations of G7 countries by capturing nonlinearity and long memory features. In this context, we used fractionally integrated STAR (FISTAR) models proposed by Van Dijk et al. (2002) [Van Dijk, D. , Franses, P.H. , Paap, R. , (2002), A nonlinear long-memory model with an application to US unemployment, Journal of Econometrics, 110, 135-165. ] for a case with an exponential transition function. Indeed, this study can take into account procedures characterized by several dynamic regimes and persistence phenomena. Empirically, the elements of both fractional long memory and threshold non-linearity are present for the real exchange rates of the G-7 countries against the US, notably in the EU countries. Growing Science Ltd. All rights reserved. 5 © 201
Effects of Aqueous and Ethanolic Extracts of Roasted and Ground Coffee Beans of Coffea canephora robusta on Glycemia and Release and Storage of Hepatic Glucose in Normoglycemic and Diabetic Rats

The drink from the roasted and ground coffee beans of Coffea, which has been blamed, with alcohol, tobacco and drugs have been recognized for over a decade as a drink with positive effects on health. Among its benefits is an inverse association between low coffee consumption and high prevalence of type 2 diabetes. This study aims at evaluating the antidiabetic effects of an aqueous extract of roasted and ground beans of Coffea canephora robusta associated with a sulphonylurea (Glibenclamide) on glycaemia and on the release and storage of hepatic glucose among rats made diabetic by alloxan. Simultaneous oral administration of 20 mg/kg bw of aqueous extract of roasted and ground coffee beans of coffea canephora robusta + 10 mg/kg bw of glibenclamide after 28 days of treatment results in a highly significant decrease in blood glucose in diabetics rats, potentiating the effect of glibenclamide. Compared to aqueous and residual aqueous extracts, the ethanolic extract of roasted and ground beans of Coffea canephora robusta has a better inhibition of the release of hepatic glucose in the normoglycemic rats. After 90 days of treatment, the combination of coffee + glibenclamide favour more the storage of hepatic glucose compared with to diabetic rats treated only with glibenclamide. It appears that the aqueous extract of roasted and ground beans of Coffea canephora robusta would have antidiabetic properties and would act by supporting on the one hand the inhibition of the glycogenolysis and on the other hand the storage of hepatic glucose (glycogenogenesis). These results are quite in favour of the preventive effects from beverage resulting from roasted and ground Coffea in the appearance of type 2 diabetes.
Regression of metabolic syndrome depending on type of bariatric surgery

Introduction: The metabolic syndrome (MS) is the combination of the most hazardous risk factors for development of arteriosclerosis and type II diabetes mellitus. Central obesity is a particularly well recognized factor in aetiology of MS. It is estimated that about 20% of the population in Poland is affected by MS. Material and methods: Two hundred and twenty-two patients were treated for obesity in our department between January 2003 and December 2005. 201 of them met the inclusion criteria (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m 2 ). Postoperative questionnaires were sent to all patients within 12 months after the surgical procedure and 152 (75.62%) responses were received. Metabolic syndrome meeting the criteria of IDF 2005 was diagnosed in 53.3% of cases (n = 81). The main goal of the study was to evaluate the impact of different types of bariatric surgery on metabolic syndrome (regression of MS). Results: The MS regressed in 70.4% (n = 57, p = 0.008). The comparison of the results in the group with BMI ≥ 40 < 50 kg/m 2 and with BMI ≥ 50 kg/m 2 showed better results in the group with lower BMI [82% (p = 0.0223), 51.6% (p = 0.0043) respectively]. In both groups the best results were observed after gastric bypass (GB), followed by adjustable silicone gastric banding (ASGB) and vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG). Conclusions: Regression of metabolic syndrome was observed after all types of operations, but gastric bypass was the most effective procedure, especially for super-obese patients. This should be taken into consideration when planning surgical treatment.
Productive knowledge of English collocations in adult Polish learners: the role of short-term memory

The relationship between vocabulary knowledge and the ability to repeat small amounts of verbal information has been the focus of intense research. Significant positive correlations have been reported between scores representing vocabulary knowledge and scores representing the ability to repeat nonwords or lists of nonwords. In cross-lagged correlational studies, phonological short-term memory (PSTM) has been shown causally to affect subsequent vocabulary knowledge in L1 acquisition as well as in L2 learning at lower but not higher proficiency levels. At higher proficiency levels, performance on vocabulary tasks has been shown to be facilitated by the growth of the mental lexicon (and growing knowledge of phonological regularities), and to exhibit a reduced impact of PSTM capacity. With respect to L2 collocations, prior to the current study the impact of PSTM on L2 collocational knowledge had not been explored in instructed L2 learning. On the one hand, it is plausible to speculate that the link between PSTM and L2 collocations diminishes with increasing L2 proficiency; on the other, it is also possible that at post-elementary levels of proficiency, with increasing automaticity of lexical knowledge, PSTM may be redeployed for the learning of more complex structures. The current study detected a significant relationship between PSTM and subsequent collocation knowledge at both elementary (A2) and pre-intermediate (B1) proficiency levels in adult L2 learning.
Two Dimensional Coaxial Circular Elements in FEM to Study Calcium Diffusion in Neuron Cells

Calcium is the second messenger which plays an important role in communication process in neuron cells. The region in neuron cells where the flow of electric current cannot take place in the main region of activity for chemical signaling. The chemical signaling process is achieved by the diffusion of calcium. In view of above a mathematical model of calcium diffusion in neuron cell has been developed for a two dimensional steady state. The important parameters like rate of diffusion, buffers, potential activity and influx has been incorporated in the model. Appropriate boundary conditions have been framed. The finite element method has been applied to obtain the solution and the concentration profiles.
Local Transmission of Trade Shocks

This paper studies theoretically and empirically the geographic transmission of trade shocks over the territory of a country. Increases in labor demand in a location raise local wages and draw workers away from employment in neighboring locations: those locations experience a reduction in labor supply and an increase in prevailing wages even if not initially affected, or not engaged in the production of tradeable goods; adjustment in their wages affect in turn other closeby locations. In addition, increases in prevailing wages in a location affect all the industries producing there: other locations active in the same industries gain then market shares and experience an increase in labor demand even when they are far apart. I develop a model capable of incorporating realistic geographic features and isolate theoretically the different components of this diffusion. The model is general enough to also allow the study of transmission of localized immigration and productivity shocks. I estimate its main components with data on US commuting patterns and sectoral employment. I illustrate the impact of reductions in trade frictions in a sector on locations active and inactive in it, and the consequences of productivity growth on nominal wages of workers vs. real wages of residents. The model delivers insights on the consequences of ignoring commuting flows in analyses of local labor markets. ∗I would like to thank Costas Arkolakis, Luigi Balletta, Federico Bandi, Mark Bils, Lorenzo Caliendo, Thomas Chaney, Alan Deardorff, Steven Durlauf, Ron Jones, Sam Kortum, John McLaren, Angelo Mele, Dan Lu, Esteban Rossi-Hansberg, Pete Schott, Bob Staiger, and seminar participants at 2013 Midwest International Trade Meetings, 2013 EIIT, University of Rochester, and USITC, for very helpful discussions. Kadee Russ provided very detailed comments on the first draft of this paper. Early funding from the National Science Foundation, Doctoral Dissertation Research Grant #0962616 (2010), is gratefully acknowledged. All errors remain my own.
Determinants of Technology Transfer through CDM: the Case of China

Technology transfer (TT) is not mandatory for Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects, yet proponents of CDM argue that TT in CDM can bring new technologies to developing countries and thus not only reduce emissions but also foster development. We review the quantitative literature on determinants of TT in CDM and estimate determinants for CDM projects in China. China is by far the largest host country of CDM projects and it is therefore crucial to understand the factors that drive TT there. We focus on heterogeneity within a single country and results can thus be linked to specific policies of the country for better interpretation. Our probit estimations confirm results of international cross-country studies, indicating that larger projects and more advanced technologies are more likely to involve TT. In addition, we find evidence that agglomeration effects are more pronounced on the province level rather than larger regions. We also find a positive effect of FDI on TT and a complementary role of academic R&D engagement to TT.
Influence of Supplemental Enzymes, Yeast Culture and Effective Micro-organism Culture on Gut Micro-flora and Nutrient Digestion at Different Parts of the Rabbit Digestive Tract

An experiment of 10 weeks duration was carried out to study the influence of supplemental effective microorganism (EM) culture, yeast culture and enzymes on nutrient digestibility and gut microflora in rabbit gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Twenty four eight to nine weeks old, New Zealand White rabbits were allotted to four dietary treatments; a basal (control) feed, basal feed supplemented with either EM (1%), yeast culture or enzymes (400 ppm). Nutrient flow in digesta and their digestibility at ileum, caecum, colon and in the total tract as well as gut microflora distribution were studied. Feed dry matter was diluted from 92% to about 14% up to the ileum and about 95% of this water was reabsorbed by the colonic rectal segment followed by caecum (25%). EM and yeast improved protein digestibility at a lower rate than enzymes. Ileal, caecal, colonic and total tract digestibility of crude protein with enzymes were higher by 10.8, 9.4, 11.3 and 10.7%, respectively, as compared to the control. Yeast and enzymes increased crude fiber digestibility at ileum, caecum, colon and in the total tract by 8.5, 9.6, 9.0 and 8.3%, respectively, while EM improved them at a lower rate. Irrespective of treatments, total tract digestibility of crude protein (0.698-0.773) and fiber (0.169-0.183) were greater (p<0.05) than the ileal digestibility. Even though a post-caecal protein digestibility was observed, fiber digestion seemed to be completed in the caecum especially with yeast and enzymes. High precaecal digestibility of crude fiber (97%) and protein (95%) were observed even without additives probably due to caecotrophy. EM and yeast culture promoted the growth of lactic acid bacteria especially in the caecum but they did not influence gut yeast and mould. Present findings reveal that even though rabbits digest nutrients efficiently through hind gut fermentation, they can be further enhanced by EM, yeast and enzymes. Of the three additives tested, enzymes found to be the best. (Asian-Aust. J. Anim. Sci. 2004. Vol 17, No. 6 : 830-835)
CO2 Clathrate Hydrate Structure: A Monte Carlo Approach

Monte Carlo simulations have been carried out for the structure of CO2 hydrate in the NPT ensemble using SPC intermolecular potential model of water. A mixture of water and CO2 placed arbitrarily in a cubic cell has been used as a model system to simulate the CO2 clathrate hydrate at a temperature 260 (K) and pressure 4 (MPa). The comparison of the radial distribution functions between MC and MD are also presented. The present work is also directed to the study of structure with TIP4P potential model of water.
Redesigning an innovation section of the Balanced Scorecard model: An African perspective

The Balanced Scorecard model was designed for Western countries that operate within a capitalist system. Africa differs from such Western countries with regard to dimensions such as infrastructure, markets and customers, sources of capital, government intervention, literacy levels and socio-cultural frameworks. Africa is more humanist and socialist in nature than Western societies. The purpose of this study was therefore to redesign the innovation perspective of the Balanced Scorecard model to suggest a new management approach for organisations based in Africa. In this study, exploratory factor analysis and correlation analysis using SPSS Version 16.0 were employed to identify four correlated principal components that could constitute an African innovation perspective of the Balanced Scorecard model, namely: (1) Africanisation values for general issues surrounding African socio-cultural frameworks, (2) learning values realised when employees gain indigenous culture and knowledge, (3) customer values focused on Africanising customer care and satisfaction, and (4) innovation values, clarifying values gained from skilled and motivated employees. All four components add value to improve productivity and corporate performance.
Eight new birds for Laos

On arrival at Nong (= lake) Thaleuth (Vientiane municipality; 18°06′N 102°05′E; 175 m) on 20 January 2009 at 16h00, within ten minutes I noticed two evident Aythya ducks c.250 m offshore. The only previous Lao record of the genus was one of Baer’s Pochard (below); former listing of Tufted Duck A. fuliginosa for the country (e.g. King et al. 1975) presumably reflects its ambiguously given range as ‘nord de l’Indochine’ [=northern Indochina] in Delacour and Jabouille 1940: 99). With no reason to expect the two birds to come closer before darkness, I persuaded a villager to take me out in a wooden pirogue. This allowed excellent views of them for most of 16h50– 17h20 in the soft late afternoon light down to 30 m (mostly at 50–80 m). The two birds were seen again on 26 January (poorly) and on 4 February, when I boated out and watched them for about an hour, including with a 15x telescope (from the stability of a small island) for 40 minutes as they loafed at 60 m range in good light. One was an obvious drake Ferruginous Pochard, with its warm brown plumage, including a rich burnished mahogany-toned head, neck and chest, somewhat paler flanks (at least in some lights), somewhat darker upperparts, and large pure white vent. Separating the vent and flanks was a bold-margined vertical dark line, almost black. Dividing the neck from the chest was a similarly dark line, horizontal and not clear-cut, best seen when the bird stretched its neck. The eye was almost white, perhaps ever so slightly toned pale green. The darkgrey bill had a diffuse black/ish tip, broadest about the nail, and a slight pale wash behind this tip. A bold white bar across the remiges was bright right onto the outer feathers, and a large white belly-patch had a straight, sharp division from the rich brown chest. These latter features were seen in flight and when it occasionally reared up from the water to flap its wings. The identity of the second bird, superficially similar to a scruffy male Tufted Duck but lacking any hint of a tuft, remains unresolved. Throughout observation, the birds were in or near large patches of sparse emergent rushes (rising about 15–35 cm above water) and small, scattered, patches of waterlilies (less than 5% cover of that part of the lake), and were relaxed enough to feed when I was only 30 m away—risky behaviour for a bird of this size in Laos. The dark lines afore the vent and around the lower neck are not indicated in Robson (2005a), so initially caused some concern over the bird’s ancestry, but are in fact typical (Vinicombe 2000). Ageing the bird is inadvisable, because even first-winter birds may look immaculate in plumage this late in winter
Spin Structures on Affine Kac-Moody Symmetric Spaces

We construct certain Fr\'echet principal $K$-bundles over affine Kac-Moody symmetric spaces by means of the natural projection $G\stackrel{}{\rightarrow}G/K$ where $G$ is a (possibly twisted) geometric affine Kac-Moody group with a ``compact'' form $K$. Then we present two methods by means of which one can find certain spin structures on affine Kac-Moody symmetric spaces of compact type. We also briefly sketch defining a Dirac-like operator on these spaces.
Histological and Ultrastructural Analysis of Spermatogenesis in Gelastocoris flavus flavus (Heteroptera: Nepomorpha)

Studies on the ultrastructural aspects of spermatogenesis and, specifically, the structure of sperm in aquatic Heteroptera are scarce. Therefore, the objective of this study was to analyse of the histology and ultrastructure of spermatogenesis. Semi-fine sections of the testicles of adult male Gelastocoris flavus flavus were stained with toluidine blue or impregnated with silver ions, and ultra-fine sections were analysed by transmission electron microscopy. The ultrastructural features observed during spermatogenesis of the species showed the presence of several small mitochondria uniformly distributed in the cytoplasm of cells in prophase I. These mitochondria then came together to form fewer, larger structures, which converged and formed the mitochondrial complex. Later, this mitochondrial complex was divided into two structures, termed mitochondrial derivatives, which were arranged bilaterally to the axoneme. The axoneme showed a flagellar pattern of 9+9+2. A vesicle was observed that originated in the early stages of spermiogenesis and was composed of many argyrophilic granules that united to form a single structure. This vesicle contained some highly stained structures in its interior. Thus, this paper describes histological and ultrastructural characteristics during spermatogenesis, contributing to the reproductive knowledge of these aquatic Heteroptera
Relationship between Renal Failure and Hypertension among Patients in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Background: chronic kidney disease (CKD) is common in Saudi although there are few data on the prevalence of this disorder. Therefore, we initiated a multicenter screening study to identify the prevalence and staging of CKD in 712 patients with known hypertension in four hospitals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Method: we measured estimated glomerular filtration rate by the six-variable modification of diet in renal disease equation and proteinuria by the protein/creatinine ratio. All the subjects studied were Saudis. Results: of the 712 patients studied, the median age was 59 years (range 19-90 years) and 560 (78.7%) of the patients were female. The mean duration of hypertension was 4 years (range 0.1-50). The overall prevalence of CKD was 46.9% (95% CI: 43.2–50.7%); 19.1% had CKD stages 1-2 and 27.8% had CKD stages 3-5. There was no difference in age between patients with or without CKD (p = 0.12). The overall prevalence of proteinuria was 28.9% (95% CI: 25.6-32.4%); 14.7% of subjects had preexisting diabetes mellitus and their prevalence of CKD (55%; 95% CI: 42.4-62.2) did not differ from those without diabetes (46%; 95% CI: 41.9-50.0, p = 0.133). Conclusion: CKD is common in hypertensive patients in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia with a prevalence of 46.9%. This provided justification for the inclusion of this group in CKD screening programs in Saudi.
Particle size distribution and outflow rate from the rumen of cows fed rations with different protein sources

Three non-lactating cows of about 470 kg BW were fed rations of meadow hay and concentrate (79:21) containing fish meal (ration F) or rapeseed oilmeal (ration R). Total rumen content was evacuated manually before feeding (0 h) and 4 and 8 h after feeding. The interval between two successive evacuations was 7 days. Rate of passage of solid particles from the rumen was measured using Cr mordanted hay, liquid fraction outflow using Co-EDTA as indicators. Particle size distribution in the digesta was determined by wet-sieving using screen mesh sizes 5.0; 1.0 and 0.25 mm. The total amounts of rumen digesta, dry matter and crude protein measured at different times after feeding did not depend on the source of protein in the ration. The potential digestibility of crude fibre, ADF, NDF and A D L was higher (P < 0.05) on the ration with fish meal, particularly 8 and 12 h after feeding. The proportion of the different sizes of particles in D M of total digesta was uniform over time after feeding. The proportion of particles smaller than 1 mm was only a little higher in the rumen of cows fed ration F (P < 0.05). Crude protein content was higher (P < 0.05) in particles larger than 5 mm and of lignin in particles smaller than 1 mm when feeding the fish meal-containing ration. The proportion of particles in the rumen D M smaller than 1 mm was 64% at 4 and 8 h and increased to about 70% at 12 h after feeding both rations. The critical particle size was found to be 0.52 mm, rumen outflow rate of the solid fraction was 6.6% and liquid fraction 15.5%/h ; these parameters were not affected by the protein source in the diet.
Shaking water out of soil

Moderate to large earthquakes can increase the amount of water flowing in streams. Previous interpretations and models assume that the extra water originates in the saturated zone. Here we show that earthquakes may also release water from the unsaturated zone when the seismic energy is sufficient to overcome the threshold of soil water retention. Soil water may then be released into aquifers, increasing streamflow. After the M8.8 Maule, Chile, earthquake, the discharge in some headwater catchments of the Chilean coastal range increased, and the amount of extra water in the discharge was similar to the total amount of water available for release from the unsaturated zone. Assuming rapid recharge of this water to the water table, a groundwater flow model that accounts for evapotranspiration and water released from soils can reproduce the increase in discharge as well as the enhanced diurnal discharge variations observed after the earthquake. Thus the unsaturated zone may play a previously unappreciated, and potentially significant, role in shallow hydrological responses to earthquakes.