Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The impact of climate change on economic growth based on time series evidence, 1969-2016

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Climate change is one of the existential threats of modern times, which deserves urgent attention by policymakers. The objective of this paper is to comprehend the impact of climate change on the Gambian economy both in the short and long-run. METHODS: This paper analyses time series data from 1969 to 2016. The study incorporated rainfall and temperature as proxies of climate change into the Cobb-Douglas production function. The Augmented Dickey-Fuller and the Phillips-Perron stationarity test for unit root found that the growth rate of rainfall is not statistically significant with the Mackinnon approximate p-value for z (t) =0.2306. The first lag is significant at 5% and 10% but has a negative coefficient in the first differential up to the fourth lag. In contrast, the growth rate of temperature is statistically significant with a p-value of 0.0196. FINDING: The findings revealed that human capital growth is not significantly related to economic growth in The Gambia. In the long-run, the growth rates of climate change variables are all statistically significant and associated with a negative impact on economic growth. For the short-run, the lag difference of rainfall against its own lag is statistically significant and has a positive impact on economic growth. The lag difference in the growth rate of the Gross Domestic Product is not statistically significantly related to the growth rate of rainfall. CONCLUSION: The Gambia is vulnerable to climate change shocks, consequently climate change will negatively impact economic growth resulting in high unemployment, low productivity, and high poverty rate.
Allergic Rhinitis: Association with Air Pollution and Weather Changes, and Comparison with That of Allergic Conjunctivitis in Taiwan

Allergic conjunctivitis (AC) and rhinitis (AR) are common allergic diseases that may be environmentally related. We used a systematic sampling cohort database, which was applied in an AC study previously, to examine the association of AR with air pollution and weather changes. A case-crossover design coupled with conditional logistic analysis was implemented in the analysis; we identified 140,365 eligible AR subjects, and matched their diagnoses with environmental monitoring data. Unlike AC, the descriptive statistics indicated that AR occurred the most in adults under 50 years old by age (44.7%), and in winter by season (28.7%) (p < 0.001); similar to AC, AR occurred more in women than to men. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) was found to be positively associated with AR (p < 0.001), whereas relative humidity and temperature were negatively related (p < 0.001). We found that the risk of AR increased with descending NO2 levels relative to AC (OR = 0.984, p = 0.003) after adjustment for covariates. It is suggested that AR could be triggered or exacerbated by lower levels of NO2 than is AC. We recommend that AR patients pay extra attention to air pollution and mitigate their allergic problem accordingly.
Plant extract reduces tobacco smoke harmful effects on alveolar macrophage immune responses

Tobacco smoke is a major factor responsible for lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Although the best solution to reduce the incidence of these diseases is to quit smoking, there are still a large number of smokers. Thus, given the immunoregulatory properties of plant extracts, their capacity to reduce tobacco smoke harmful effects on alveolar macrophage (AM) functions was investigated. AM were treated with tobacco smoke extract and parenchymata tissue extract (PTE), or mesophyll cell extract (MCE) of Spinacia oleacea. The effects of tobacco smoke extract from PTE and MCE-treated cigarette filters were also investigated. AM production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-10 (IL-10) and macrophage chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and AM cytotoxicity were measured. Tobacco smoke extract significantly inhibited TNF, IL-10, and MCP-1 release, and AM cytotoxicity. The addition of PTE and MCE to tobacco smoke extract abrogated the inhibition of AM mediator release. However, only MCE restored AM cytotoxicity. Interestingly, tobacco smoke extract of PTE and MCE-treated cigarette filters showed reduced effects on AM functions. Tobacco smoke extract from MCE-treated (0.25%) cigarette filters did not inhibit TNF, IL-10, and MCP-1 release in contrast to tobacco smoke extract from buffer-treated cigarette filters. AM cytotoxic activity was not inhibited by the treatment with tobacco smoke extract from MCE-treated cigarette filters. Our data suggest that the presence of plant extract in cigarette filters reduces the inhibitory effects of cigarette smoke on AM functions. Thus, MCE-treated cigarette filters may help reducing lung diseases associated with smoking.
Thermo-economic analysis and multi-objective optimization of a solar dish Stirling engine

ABSTRACT Stirling engines operate in a variety of temperatures and the electric power production via dish Stirling systems could be considered as an appropriate alternative for high-temperature solar concentrator energy harvesting systems. To this end, by performing various studies and analyses on the engine, Stirling cycle, and heat exchangers while utilizing the solar energy as the input thermal energy of the Stirling engine, parameters with the highest effect on the output power and engine stability are detected and considered as optimization variables. In this case, output power, thermal efficiency, and economic evaluation are taken to be the three suitable objective functions for multi-objective optimization. Moreover, two optimization algorithms of MOPSO and SPEA/2 are introduced and applied for the first time for analyzing a dish Stirling engine. Finally, the optimization variable values before and after optimization, as well as the yielded improvement in the output power and thermal efficiency are presented, using LINAMP and TOPSIS techniques for optimum point selection. The optimization results show that the optimum conditions for three objective functions in case of three-objective optimization acquired by LINAMP and TOPSIS methods are 38.96, 0.2391, 0.3127 and 38.71, 0.2433, 0.3152 of P-η-F, respectively, acquired from optimization by SPEA/2 algorithm. However, single-objective optimization of each of the three objective functions optimized separately yields the values of (42.27, 27.51, and 0.3379) and (42.12, 27.62, and 0.3361) for MOPSO and SPEA/2 algorithms, respectively.
Restoration of Cymodocea nodosa seagrass meadows: efficiency and ecological implications

Seagrass meadows play a key role in the provisioning of ecosystem goods and services. These systems are extremely vulnerable to multiple anthropogenic impacts. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop new techniques to efficiently restore degraded seagrass meadows. Here we tested the efficacy and efficiency of a new technique of seagrass transplant (Cymodocea nodosa) using biodegradable containers. We investigated the effects of this transplant technique in the Adriatic Sea comparing the transplanted seagrass meadows with adjacent donor seagrass meadows and bare sediments used as control. We assessed the recovery rates and the ecological implications of this transplant on key ecosystems functions, including the biomass and detritus provision to local biological communities, and the effects on the biodiversity of the associated benthic fauna. Our results show that this restoration technique was successful, enabling the seagrass survival (approximately 30%) even in high‐energy conditions occurring in winter. The sediments hosting the transplanted seagrasses showed an increase of trophic availability and of rates of organic matter cycling. Despite this, 1 year after the transplant, the abundance and biodiversity of meiofaunal assemblages in the restored seagrasses were still lower than in donor seagrass meadows. These results indicate that the restoration process of seagrass meadows can take a long time, and that a multilevel approach (including the analysis of biodiversity and of the sedimentary processes and biogeochemical cycles) is needed to assess the success of restoration actions in these habitats.
A History of Aggregate Demand and Supply Shocks for the United Kingdom, 1900 to 2016

While economic theory has been applied to numerous topics in economic history, there are very few attempts to interpret major macroeconomic shocks from the perspective of standard Keynesian theory. This paper presents a history of aggregate demand and supply shocks spanning 1900 - 2016 for the United Kingdom, whose signs are identified using economic theory. We utilise sign restrictions derived from an AD-AS framework consistent with the workhorse New Keynesian model, and demonstrate how they can be used to identify the signs of structural shocks. The existence of 33 large shocks is inferred from estimated vector autoregressions, comprising 21 demand shocks and 12 supply shocks. We find that aggregate supply shocks were important in the late 1920s and early 1970s, which we attribute to changes in the bargaining power of labour. We also identify positive aggregate demand shocks in the mid-1970s, which we attribute to fiscal policy and suggest that these shocks will have exacerbated the inflationary effects of the 1973 oil price crisis, while mitigating its unemployment effects.
Moose Browsing Tends Spruce Plantations More Efficiently Than a Single Mechanical Release

Forest vegetation management can improve planted seedling survival and growth and is thus widely used in plantation silviculture. In some jurisdictions, mechanical release using brushsaws has replaced the traditional use of chemical herbicides for forest vegetation management purposes. However, its associated costs and the increasing difficulty of finding qualified labor represent a challenge. The browsing of competition by large herbivores may represent an alternative to mechanical release when planted seedlings are resistant to browsing. Here, we compare the efficacy of moose browsing relative to mechanical release in controlling competing vegetation and in promoting white spruce growth in plantations. In a high moose density region, we used an experimental design consisting of four pairs of moose exclosures and unfenced plots; fifty percent of both the access-restricted and unrestricted study areas received a mechanical release treatment. Moose browsing was more efficient than mechanical release in diminishing the sapling density and basal area of competing species. Mechanical release only reduced the sapling density of taller competitors (height > 201 cm), whereas browsing reduced the sapling densities of competitors across a greater size range (height > 130 cm). These effects of moose browsing on competition translated into a greater positive effect of moose browsing on the basal area of planted spruces. We attribute the higher effectiveness of moose browsing relative to mechanical release to its chronic nature. Moose browsed continuously throughout the year and for multiple years, whereas mechanical release was applied only one time between the second and fourth years after planting. Our results suggest that pairing wildlife management and silviculture decisions could be in the best interest of both the hunting and forestry industries in regions where plantations are frequent and use browse-resistant crop trees. Favouring browsers in controlling the density of competing species could increase the hunting experience and income, while providing an effective, cost-free, and socially acceptable forest vegetation management service.
A Review on Electroencephalogram Based Brain Computer Interface for Elderly Disabled

Lack of communication causes problems for patients with neurodegenerative diseases, so the need for alternative methods is required to convey their thoughts with caretakers, friends, and family members. Brain–computer interface (BCI) is a device to control external devices by using mental thoughts without any other muscle movements to improve the communication quality for the disabled individual without any other help. The techniques of measuring electrical signal around the scalp during some activities by using electrodes are called electroencephalogram (EEG). By combining these two technologies together to form a brain–computer interaction, this helps the paralyzed individual to communicate with others to share the thoughts. In this paper, we deal with the history of EEG, electrode placements with measurements, and signal ranges, and also further discussed some of the prominent studies completed in designing BCI using EEG. This helps the new researchers to know the EEG measurement and position completely and paved the new way to create EEG-based interface research.
Formulation, Optimization and Evaluation of Multiple Emulsion of Atorvastatin

International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Review and Research International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Review and Research Available online at www.globalresearchonline. net ©Copyright protected. Unauthorised republication, reproduction, distribution, dissemination and copying of this document in whole or in part is strictly prohibited. Available online at www.globalresearchonline. net 17 Sivapriya.S*, Daisy P.A, Praveen Raj R, Betty Carla Department of Pharmaceutics, St. Joseph’S College of Pharmacy, Cherthala, India. *Corresponding author’s E-mail: sivapriyasujith92@gmail.com
EFL learners’ phonemic awareness: A correlation between English phoneme identification skill toward word processing

This research aims to find out the correlation between English phoneme identification skills and word processing. It applies the quantitative approach with correlation design. The participants are 100 of 3rdsemester students in English Language Education Program. The correlational result reveals that it has correlation with . 382 degrees in phoneme identification skill toward blending skill with the significance level . 000, and . 359 degrees in phoneme identification skill toward segmentation skill with the significance level . 000. Then, the correlation result of English phoneme identification skill toward word processing is . 462 degree with its significance . 000. By the result, awareness to identify phoneme by initial, medial, and final sound correlates to the blending and segmenting skills which influence the comprehension of word. The more the students are able to identify phoneme based on its sound, the more the students will be able to blend and segment phoneme. Lastly, the ability to identify English phonemes is proven to be a skill that supports EFL learners on their productive and receptive skills. Then being able to identify its phonemes will assist on recognizing and processing English words appropriately so that English language teaching can be associated with the use of phoneme-based instruction on its teaching process.
The Correlation between Reduced Glass Transition Temperature and Glass Forming Ability of Undercooled Polymeric Glasses

The thermodynamic behaviour of glass forming undercooled melt have been studied by analysing the temperature dependence of the Gibbs free energy difference (G) for six poly meric glass forming materials (O-terphenyl, Tri-α-naphthyl benzene, Glycerol, Ethanol, 2-methylpentane and Phenyl salicylate (salol)) between the undercooled melt and the corresponding equilibriu m solid phases. The expression obtained by expanding free energies of the undercooled liquid and solid phases of the materials in the form of Taylor's series expansion. The procedure for the estimat ion of the ideal glass transition temperature has been reviewed together its importance in the glass forming ability of materials. The glass forming ability of undercooled materials is also explained in terms of ratio o f reduced glass transition temperature and ideal glass transition temperature. It has also reported that Glycerol has the largest melt ing interval with the poorest glass forming ab ility among these six poly mers. It has also been found that the best polymeric glass forming materials are at near eutectic composition. There is a strong correlation between glass forming ability of these polymeric materials. The thermodynamic behaviour of glass forming poly meric melts has been studied employ ing the expressions based on Taylor's series expansion and it is found that the expression for G, obtained are capable to explain temperature dependence of the thermodynamic quantities (G, H and S ) o f g lass forming poly meric melts quite satisfactorily. It is quite interesting to see the response of expression obtained on the basis of Taylor's series expansion in exp laining the temperature dependence of the thermodynamic quantity G for glass forming organic liquids. The present study is for the Gibbs free energy difference (G) between liquid and solid phases for glass forming organic melts by calculating G for six d ifferent samp les of organic glasses; o-terphenyl (o-ter), tri--napthyle benzene (tri--NB), phenyl salicylate (salo l), glycero l, ethanol and 2-methylpentane (2-mp) in the temperature range Tm to Tg in the frame of expression based on Taylor's series expansion. The expression for the entropy difference  S based on Taylor's series expansion has been further emp loyed to find
Mood Detection for Improving Lifestyle of Older Adults in Ambient Assisted Living Contexts

Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) has the ambitious goal of improving the lifestyle or quality of life of elderly or vulnerable people through the use of technology. In this research, area considerable efforts have been made for the design and development of automatic solutions for the recognition of mood trough patterns of facial expressions, even using low cost and commercial vision sensors. However, there are still some open issues to be faced like the age or any situation of disability of the observed subject, the pose of the face and the environment illumination conditions. A lot of progress has been made in this topic with the emergence of deep learning methods. In the proposed work, the performance of two recent deep convolutional neural networks models are evaluated on the CIFE and FER-2013 datasets that include also facial expressions of older adults performed in uncontrolled conditions. A thorough session of experiments focused on the concept of “Transfer Learning” was carried out. The results obtained demonstrated that both deep architectures reach levels of accuracy higher than 67.8% grouping expressions of older adults into 3 categories: positive, negative and neutral. The latter classification may be sufficient for a mood detection module that could be the input of a future e-coaching platform to be integrated in the AAL context. KeywordsMood Detection; Ambient Assisted Living; Older Adults; Disability; Lifestyle Improvements.
Application of Trojan Horse Method to radioactive ion beams induced reactions

In the last decades, many indirect methods have been developed to measure the cross section of nuclear reactions at the low energies interesting in many astrophysical scenarios. The Trojan Horse Method uses a three body reaction, involving by a strong clusterized nucleus, to infer information about a two body reaction of interest, selecting the events that proceed through the quasi-free reaction mechanism. To reconstruct the reaction kinematic and to identify the useful reaction mechanism, the energy and angle of at least two of the three outgoing particles must be carefully measured. Moreover, enough statistics is required, as the quasi-free events usually represent just a small fraction of the acquired statistic. These requirements hardly match with the typical characteristics of radioactive ion beams: low intensity, large divergence and possible presence of contaminants. For this reason, only recently the Trojan Horse Method has been applied to study reactions induced by radioactive beams. This application gives also the opportunity to measure cross section of neutron induced reactions on radioactive isotopes, even if they have a short lifetime. In the following some results obtained in the study of the reactions 18F(p,α)15O and 18F(n,α)15N will be presented.
The Superconducting Separation Dipoles MBRD for the High Luminosity Upgrade of LHC: From Short Model to Prototype

A new recombination dipole D2 for the luminosity upgrade of the Large Hadron Collider at CERN (LHC) is under development since 2016 at INFN in a collaboration framework with CERN. These twin aperture magnets will be installed on both sides of LHC main multipurpose experiments, ATLAS and CMS, interaction points. The target integral magnetic field in an aperture of 105 mm is 35 T m, obtained with a magnetic field of 4.5 T and a magnetic length of 7.78 m. The coils in both apertures are asymmetric for canceling the unwanted multipoles caused by the magnetic field cross-talk. The asymmetric design and the demanding requirements on the field quality made preferable an independent collaring, which allows for a more accurate assembly: the mechanical stability is ensured by a novel approach of coil integration in an Al-alloy mechanical structure. After a design phase, the construction of a short model has been planned followed by the construction of a full-length prototype. This contribution is focused on the aspects of the short model assembly and the implications on the prototype design in terms of mechanical tolerances, manufacturing processes, and materials involved in the construction.
Influence of Climate on Carbon Sequestration in Conifers Growing under Contrasting Hydro-Climatic Conditions

Research Highlights: Analyzing the contrasting ecological gradients makes it easier to understand the influence of climate on carbon accumulation. Background and Objectives: The increasing climatic variability has implications for vegetation, impacting on its ecological functions, among which carbon accumulation stands out. In the present study, we used climate-dendrochronology relationships to evaluate carbon accumulation in two conifer species that grow in contrasting humidity sites: Pinus strobiformis Engelm (mesic sites) and Pinus leiophylla var. chihuahuana (Engelm.) Shaw (arid sites). Materials and Methods: Using a dendrochronological approach, we estimated the correlation of biomass and carbon accumulation of each species with some climatic variables (temperature, precipitation, and a drought index) and generated a linear mixed model. Results: The response in carbon accumulation between species with respect to climate was significantly different. P. strobiformis showed a positive correlation with the climatic variables analyzed, while in P. leiophylla the correlation was negative, except with precipitation. Conclusions: These results show that forests in both mesic and arid sites are prone to climate changes, although their responses are different, impacting the productivity and carbon cycles of forest ecosystems.
Gold(III) Recovery From HCl Solutions using Amberlite XAD-7 Impregnated with an Ionic Liquid (Cyphos IL-101)

An ionic liquid (IL) (Cyphos IL-101) was immobilized on Amberlite XAD-7 using the dry impregnation method. Raw resin and extractant impregnated resins (EIR) were tested for Au(III) recovery from HCl solutions. Impregnating the resin increased sorption capacity. Au(III) was extracted by an ion exchange mechanism involving the binding of its chloro-complex to IL phosphonium cation. Sorption isotherms were very favorable with capacities up to 160 mg Au g−1 EIR in 0.01 M HCl solution. Intraparticle diffusion controlled uptake kinetics. Au(III) was efficiently desorbed using thiourea (in HCl solutions). The EIR could be recycled maintaining high efficiencies for sorption and desorption for at least five cycles.