Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comment on Finn Tarp: Aid and economic growth: An alternative interpretation of the evidence

The present paper by Finn Tarp is, in his own words, mainly a review of issues that have been in focus in the foreign aid literature, including articles penned by himself and collaborators. The paper is long and rich, and I will restrict my comments to the section (four) on the aidgrowth nexus where he discusses estimation problems and findings in recent contributions. The characteristics of the more advanced studies based on cross-country regression analysis and panel data are that: • Other variables than aid that may affect growth are controlled in the regressions along the lines of recent empirical growth studies. • Interdependence between the growth regressors (multicolinearity) is controlled. • Simultaneity, i.e. the possibility that recipient country growth affects the allocation of aid (reverse causality), is controlled. • The possibility that aid has different effects in different recipient country environments is considered (e.g. through the use of fixedeffect estimations or dummy variables). • Robustness tests are carried out, i.e. checks of whether results are sensitive to small changes in the estimation specification, variable definitions, proxy variables used, countries included, time period covered, etc.
MAC-solutions of the nonexistent solutions of mathematical physics

The method of additional conditions or MAC is applied to the boundary value problems of mathematical physics, where the classical solution does not exist or a nonphysical generalized solution is obtained. The Dirichlet problem for a circular elastic membrane is considered as the simplest example of the problem with nonexistent solution. The constant boundary conditions are given in the center of the membrane and on the finite radius. The scheme of Dugdale-Barrenblat in Griffth's linear elastic crack problem is used to obtain the MAC-solution. The additional pressure on membrane is applied near the center, the conditions of smoothness are used, the line-integral, which follows from the second Green's identity is considered and it is taken as a measure of the introduced correction of the initial Dirichlet problem for Laplace equation. The applied conditions create an unique solution, which at least corresponds to the physical situation and easily can be proofed experimentally. The similar situations are brieffy considered, where MAC approach seems to be useful: circular elastic plate, symmetric vibrations of a membrane, Kirsch problem, Lame problem.
AN ECONOMETRICS ANALYSIS OF THE DETERMINANTS OF INFLATION IN NAMIBIA A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NAMIBIA BY MALLY LIKUKELA

This paper employ various econometric techniques to analyze the determinants of inflation in Namibia, focusing particularly on the relationships that exist between the Namibian price, as the dependant variable, and the real Gross Domestics Product, Broad money supply, interest rate, and South African Price index as well as the United States price index, being the explanatory variables and probable determinants of inflation rate in Namibia. Inflation equations that were estimated used quarterly data from 1993 to 2003 for Namibia, South Africa and United States, and it was found that in the short run, domestic prices are influenced by the level of economic growth and foreign prices, in particular South Africa. This conclusion is broadly in line with results from Goamab (1996) and Odada etal (2000).
The Psychology of Avatars: Real Life Effects of Virtual Communication

Avatars have become the major forms of media access to virtual environments. The characteristics and perception of avatars are related to the sense of presence in virtual environments. Understanding the communication and social action between users and avatars, referred to as “avatarmediated communication” (amc), as well as its potential effects, is therefore a key issue for presence research. This panel brings together distinct, yet complementary research on the creation and perception of avatars in virtual environments and video games. The first paper addresses the importance of measuring the users' avatar-perception for presence research. The second paper introduces an architecture for the inducement of facial gestures of avatars. The study presented in the third paper addresses how virtual representations influence the users' self-concept in video games. The fourth paper investigates the influence of task structure and life satisfaction on the process of avatar creation in video games.
Determination of the Composition and Functional Activity of the Conjugates of Colloidal Gold and Antibodies

This article describes a method for estimating the composition of conjugates of gold nanoparticles with antibodies and its binding capacity for the antigen. The conjugates are separated in first order from the unbound antibodies by centrifugation after synthesis, and then the concentration of unbound antibodies in the supernatant is analysed by an enzyme immunoassay (ELISA). Conclusions regarding the composition of these conjugates are made on the basis of the difference between the concentrations of the added and the unbound antibodies. This approach protects against the influence of nanoparticles on the label, and the high precision of the immunosorbent assay can reliably detect even small changes in the concentration of antibodies caused by the immobilisation. The amount of antigen binding to the obtained conjugate is registered, and thus the stored reactivity of immobilised antibodies is assessed in the same system. The developed method was applied to characterise colloidal gold conjugates with antispecies antibodies (sheep antibodies to human immunoglobulin). It is shown that in the course of the interaction between the immobilized sheep antibodies and free human immunoglobulins, not more that 12% of the binding sites of the sheep antibodies are able to bind the human immunoglobulins.
Human resource management with Islamic management principles: A dialectic for a reverse diffusion in management

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the nature and contents of Islamic management practices and their consequent implications for human resource management (HRM) in Arab countries. In addition, it aims to examine the implications for multinational companies (MNCs) operating in Islamic countries and the impact of globalisation before proceeding to an analysis of managerial problems in Arab countries and the need for understanding Islamic management principles by Arab (national) and international managers.Design/methodology/approach – The paper takes the form of a qualitative approach based on an extensive review of relevant literature and the employment of examples from selected Arab countries.Findings – The study reveals that a gap exists between the theory of Islamic management and the practice of management in Arab countries. Management in Arab countries is informed and heavily influenced by non‐Islamic traditional and national cultural values and norms of different countries and by Wester.
Improving Finnish Multi-Source National Forest Inventory by 3D aerial imaging

Optical 2D remote sensing techniques such as aerial photographing and satellite imaging have been used in forest inventory for a long time. During the last 15 years, airborne laser scanning (ALS) has been adopted in many countries for the estimation of forest attributes at stand and sub-stand levels. Compared to optical remote sensing data sources, ALS data are particularly well-suited for the estimation of forest attributes related to the physical dimensions of trees due to its 3D information. Similar to ALS, it is possible to derive a 3D forest canopy model based on aerial imagery using digital aerial photogrammetry. In this study, we compared the accuracy and spatial characteristics of 2D satellite and aerial imagery as well as 3D ALS and photogrammetric remote sensing data in the estimation of forest inventory variables using k-NN imputation and 2469 National Forest Inventory (NFI) sample plots in a study area covering approximately 5800 km2. Both 2D data were very close to each other in terms of accuracy, as were both the 3D materials. On the other hand, the difference between the 2D and 3D materials was very clear. The 3D data produce a map where the hotspots of volume, for instance, are much clearer than with 2D remote sensing imagery. The spatial correlation in the map produced with 2D data shows a lower shortrange correlation, but the correlations approach the same level after 200 meters. The difference may be of importance, for instance, when analyzing the efficiency of different sampling designs and when estimating harvesting potential.
On the Optimal Dynamic Control Strategy of Disruptive Computer Virus

Disruptive computer viruses have inflicted huge economic losses. This paper addresses the development of a cost-effective dynamic control strategy of disruptive viruses. First, the development problem is modeled as an optimal control problem. Second, a criterion for the existence of an optimal control is given. Third, the optimality system is derived. Next, some examples of the optimal dynamic control strategy are presented. Finally, the performance of actual dynamic control strategies is evaluated.
Physico-chemical characteristics of the coastal water off Devi estuary, Orissa and evaluation of its seasonal changes using chemometric techniques

Devi estuary is one of the major tributaries of the Mahanadi riverine system in Orissa. Modernization and industrialization in its neighbourhood in the north in the recent past have greatly influenced many tributaries of the Mahanadi and the adjacent coastal environments. To trace the influence of this modernization activity further down south off Devi estuary and to understand the quality of the Devi estuarine water reaching the coastal region, investigations on physicochemical parameters (temperature, pH, salinity, dissolved oxygen), including dissolved nutrients (PO 4 -P, NO 3 -N, NO 2 -N, SiO 4 -Si) were carried out in the water off the mouth of the Devi estuary, during different months of the summer and winter seasons in 2006―07. The multivariate statistics and principal component analysis applied to the datasets, indicated three factors each during the summer and winter seasons influencing the water to the extent of 77 and 80 % respectively. Principal axis factoring and alpha factoring have been used to observe the mode of association of parameters and their interrelationships, for evaluating water quality during the summer and winter seasons. The results indicated the addition of phosphates and silicates to the coastal water by the Devi estuary from natural sources during both the seasons. The anthropogenic nitrogenous species, as a fallout from modernization activities in the north, are more clearly observed off the mouth of the Devi estuary during the winter season. The study indicated that the Devi estuary adds sufficiently well-oxygenated, nutrient-rich water to the coastal region.
Information Flow and Strategic Consensus in Organizations

This study investigate strategic consensus in organizations. Previous studies have examined consensus in the top management team and between the top management team and middle managers. In our study we propose the importance of considering consensus among lower level employees. We argue that intra-organizational flow of information influences the development of consensus at the middle and lower levels of the organizational hierarchy. We also argue that the hierarchical level of the information source plays a crucial role in developing consensus. We analyze these relationships with data collected from a large service organization over two time periods.
Energy Conservation using Voice Recognition

Conserving Energy is one of the most important issues in all Arab countries and the rest the world. Roads are designed to connect cities, and these roads are constructed and lightened to make the driving more safely and more easily. To reduce the energy consumption, there must be a systematic way to turn the street lights ON or OFF based on the traffic condition. The idea of the work is to design a system that has the capability to turn the lights ON only when cars passing through for some period of time. Our system is designed for the highways streets for example the road that connect any two large cities. We implemented the proposed system using Matlab, and the results show the strength of the proposed system. Keywords: recognition, energy, voice, lights, highways
Evaluation of the conserve flavin reductase gene from three Rhodococcus sp. strains isolated in Iran

Previously we isolated three native strains, Rhodococcus FRF, IPF and GAF from Tabriz and Tehran refineries soil samples in a search for flavin reductase gene (dszD). In this study, these three flavin reductase genes were isolated and identified by PCR using the nucleotide sequence of dszD gene from Rhodococcus sp. The amplified dszD DNA sequences were purified and cloned into the T-vector pTZ57R/T and then introduced to the E. coli DH5. Further sequence analysis revealed that the oxidoreductase genes of Rhodococcus FRF, IPF and GAF share high similarity to that of Rhodococcus erythropolis IGTS8. There were differences only in a few number of nucleotide. Also oxidoreductase enzymes in all strains consist of 193 amino acids that differ only in one amino acid which is located at stop condon of Rhodococcus FRF.
Molecular identification technique of Trypanosoma evansi by Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction

Trypanosoma evansi is a Hemoflagella parasite that infects cattle and is known as the agents of Surra. Several other trypanosome species infects mammals: T. equiperdum, T. b. rhodesiense, T. b. gambiense, T. vivax, T. congolense, T.theileri . Some of these species is quite difficult to be distinguished morphologically with T. evansi through conventional techniques (thin blood smear). Molecular technique by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is reported to have the ability to identify, characterize and diagnose trypanosomes accurately. However, a single PCR used is relatively expensive because it takes at least two or more pairs of primers to determine T. evansi . The purpose of this study is to develop T. evansi species identification techniques by multiplex PCR/mPCR (the three pairs of primer in one reaction) that takes the relatively fast and inexpensive. A total of 31 isolates T.evansi were obtained from Bblitvet Culture Collection (BCC) and the Department of Parasitology BBLitvet used in this study. Isolates represent isolates from endemic areas and Surra outbrake isolated from 1988-2014. DNA extraction performed on each sample, including Bang 87 isolates which has been purified as a positive control. Primers used are specific for T. evansi , the ITS-1, Ro Tat 1.2 VSG and ESAG 6/7. Before running mPCR, each primer is optimized by using a single PCR. The results showed that the three primers can be combined in a single reaction with mPCR technique and amplify each DNA fragment target perfectly, so identified 31 isolates as T. evansi . This technique can be applied in the field with a lower cost and faster time. Key Words : Trypanosoma evansi , Identification, Multiplex PCR
Nutritional Care in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: An Alternative for the Maximization of the Nutritional State

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is characterized by progressive paralysis secondary to the impairment of the motor neurons, upper motor neuron and lower motor neuron. The most common symptoms and signs are atrophy and muscle weakness, fasciculations, cramps, hypertonia and hyperreflexia. In more advanced stages, decreased respiratory muscle strength, progressive loss of body weight and changes in food intake are observed (Nelson et al., 2000). Several factors are inherent to the food intake in ALS, such as: lack of appetite, dysphagia, weakness, dyspnoea, and depression (Stanich et al., 2004; Nelson et al., 2000; Kasarskis et al., 1996; Welnetz, 1990; Slowie et al., 1983). ALS patients usually have rapid weight loss associated with reduced food intake, increased feeding time, fatigue, dehydration and depression (Wright et al., 2005). The combination of these factors may result in increased energy expenditure and therefore hypercatabolism. Different studies confirm the correlation between the reduced Body Mass Index (BMI) and the decreased survival in subjects with ALS and the decreased food intake and decrease in tricipital skinfold (TSF) (Kasarskis et al., 1996; Desport et al., 2003; Desport et al., 1999; Desport et al., 2001; Heffernan et al., 2004; Slowie et al. 1983). They also show a high percentage of weight loss, greater than 15% (Mazzini et al. 1995), and prevalence of malnutrition. Dysphagia, a common symptom with the disease progression, is a factor that makes difficult the maintenance of oral feeding, increasing the respiratory complications, with initiation of invasive ventilation, difficulty to move the patient for the outpatient care and depression (Mazzini et al., 1995). In this context, taking the nutritiontal impairment experienced by ALS subjects into account, this chapter aims to discuss the key strategies of nutritional care of patients with ALS, with a tool for maximizing the nutritional status.
Auditory Display as an Aid for Prosthetic Hand Manipulation: Preliminary Results

Upper limb amputees have to rely extensively on visual feedback in order to monitor and manipulate successfully their prosthetic device. This situation leads to high consciousness burden, which generates fatigue and frustration. Therefore, in order to enhance motor-sensory performance and awareness, sonification of the prosthetic hand's spatio-temporal and force information was implemented in a real setting. The main purpose is to explore the difficulties people face when using a prosthetic hand and how the usage of auditory information affects their performance. Preliminary results showed that the temporal performance and the grasping performance was improved, also that the mental effort was reduced, when using auditive feedback.
Etude du procédé de soudage hybride laser/MAG : Caractérisation de la géométrie et de l'hydrodynamique du bain de fusion et développement d'un modèle 3D thermique

Le soudage hybride laser/MIG-MAG presente des avantages tres interessants par rapport au soudage laser ou au soudage a l'arc MIG-MAG utilises separement. Il permet notamment une productivite plus elevee grâce a des vitesses de soudage plus grandes, une plus grande tolerance d'accostage et la possibilite d'ameliorer la metallurgie du cordon de soudage. Par contre, il necessite d'ajuster un grand nombre de parametres operatoires pour obtenir un procede optimal. Afin d'utiliser efficacement ces techniques pour la production industrielle, il est donc necessaire de comprendre precisement les phenomenes physiques complexes qui regissent ce procede de soudage. Cette comprehension est egalement necessaire pour l'elaboration de simulations numeriques adaptees a ce procede. Dans un premier temps, une etude experimentale a ete realisee sur les procedes de soudage MAG, laser et hybride laser/MAG hybride sur l'acier S355. L'influence des parametres operatoires est analysee a l'aide des observations obtenues par camera rapide ainsi que les macrographies des cordons de soudure. La deformation de la surface du bain de fusion induite par la pression d'arc, la longueur du bain de fusion, le detachement des gouttes et les vitesses en surface du bain de fusion ont ete analyses plus en detail. Dans un deuxieme temps, un modele numerique a ete developpe a l'aide du logiciel COMSOL Multiphysics® pour les procedes de soudage MAG, laser et hybride laser/MAG. Il s'agit d'un modele 3D quasistationnaire permettant de calculer le champ de temperature au sein du metal. L'originalite du modele MAG et hybride reside dans la prediction du profil de la surface du bain fondu pour determiner la geometrie 3D en prenant en compte l'apport de matiere et les effets de tension superficielle. L'influence de divers parametres tels que la puissance d'arc et la vitesse de soudage sur le rendement et le rayon de distribution de la puissance d'arc ainsi que sur la pression d'arc est analysee par le biais de validation avec plusieurs resultats experimentaux et differents cas de calculs.
Triterpenoid Saponins Synergize Insecticidal Pea Peptides: Effect on Feeding and Survival of Sitophilus oryzae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Abstract The triterpenoid saponins soyasaponin I, dehydrosoyasaponin I, echinocystic acid 3-glucoside, &bgr;-escin, glycyrrhizic acid, hederacoside C, and &agr;-hederin were tested alone and in combination with insecticidal PA1b peptide mixtures isolated from peas for their effects on the feeding and survival of a stored-product insect, the rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae (L.). There were two sources of peptides: a purified extract composed primarily of PA1b peptides and a partially purified extract (C8 extract) that contained mainly peptides and lesser amounts of soyasaponin I, dehydrosoyasaponin I, and other compounds. Dehydrosoyasaponin I, echinocystic acid 3-glucoside, &agr;-hederin, and &bgr;-escin were active (causing reduced feeding and increased mortality) when used alone. Soyasaponin I, hederacoside C, and glycyrrhizic acid were inactive when used alone. Purified peptides and C8 extract were active when used alone. The mixtures of the inactive soyasaponin 1 and the active peptides were as active as peptides alone, even when peptides composed only 10% of the mixture. Similar trends were seen with the mixtures of &bgr;-escin and PA1b. In general, the mixtures of saponins and peptides were synergistic. Possible modes of synergistic action are discussed.
Schottky nanocontacts on ZnO nanorod arrays

We report on fabrication and electrical characteristics of ZnO nanorod Schottky diode arrays. High quality ZnO nanorods were grown for the fabrication of the Schottky diodes using noncatalytic metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy and Au was evaporated on the tips of the vertically well-aligned ZnO nanorods. I–V characteristics of both bare ZnO and Au/ZnO heterostructure nanorod arrays were measured using current-sensing atomic force microscopy. Although both nanorods exhibited nonlinear and asymmetric I–V characteristic curves, Au/ZnO heterostructure nanorods demonstrated much improved electrical characteristics: the reverse-bias breakdown voltage was improved from −3 to −8 V by capping a Au layer on the nanorod tips. The origin of the enhanced electrical characteristics for the heterostructure nanorods is suggested.
Structural optimization using parallel

This paper describes the shape optimization scheme of a shaft using parallel genetic algorithm. A profile of the object is represented by the Riesenfeld spline function and then, the genetic representation of an object is defined by the control points of the spline function. The reduction of the stress concentration and the minimization of the weight of the structure are considered as the design objectives. The profile of the object satisfying the objectives is found out so that the adequate location of the control points is determined by applying the genetic operators such as the selection, the crossover and the mutation. Finally, the present scheme is applied to a simple numerical example.