Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Inflation Rate on Economic Growth in Nigeria (1986- 2014)

This paper investigates the effects of inflation on economic growth in Nigeria between 1986 and 2014; secondary data culled from CBN Statistical Bulletin (2014) were used for the study. The Augmented Dickey-Fuller technique was adopted to test the unit root property of the series while Granger causality was used to test the causation between GDP and inflation. The objectives of the study are to: describe the trend of inflation in Nigeria over the years under review: to determine the effect of inflation on economic growth and to proffer policy recommendations based on the findings of the study. The result of table 1 shows that R2 is 0.147. This implies that about 14 percent in total variation in dependent (economic growth) is being explained by explanatory variable (inflation rate). The coefficient of inflation rate is negative; this implies that a percentage increase in inflation rate will lead to 27 percent reduction in economic growth. However, the inflation rate is significant at 5 percent. The constant is statistically significant at 1% implies that GDP does not only depend on inflation but other variables may affect GDP. The F-statistics of 4.68, which is a measure of the joint significance of the explanatory variables, is found to be statistically significant at 5% as indicated by the corresponding probability value 0.0394. The Adjusted R2 0.116 (11.6%) implies that 11.6 percent total variation in GDP is explained by the regression equation. Coincidentally, the goodness of fit of the regression remained too low after adjusting for the degree of freedom. The results of unit root suggest that all the variables in the model were stationary at 1%, 5% and 10% critical values with first difference. The results of Causality suggest that GDP causes inflation and not inflation causing Growth. The results also revealed that inflation had a negative impact on economic growth. The study also showed that inflation possessed a positive impact on economic growth through encouraging productivity and output level and on evolution of total factor productivity. A good performance of an economy in terms of per capita growth may therefore be attributed to the rate of inflation in the country. A major policy implication of this result is that concerted effort should be made by policy makers to increase the level of output in Nigeria by improving productivity/supply in order to reduce the prices of goods and services (inflation) so as to boost the growth of the economy. Keywords: Inflation, economic growth and development (GDP).
Multicultural Public Relations: A Social-Interpretive Approach

A reference for public relations students, academics, and practitioners, this book brings brave new perspectives to the diverse world of communications. Throughout the text, Banks demonstrates how public relations can be used on a corporate and cultural level. With coverage on the latest in technology, demographics, and research findings, Multicultural Public Relations brings culture and communication together in one all-inclusive edition.
Employee Choice of Health Insurance

A new specification of health-insurance-plan choice is developed that uses a nonparametric functional form for the loss function used to evaluate insurance premiums and uncertain out-of-pocket expenditure. The approach is implemented on data resulting from one firm's implementation of a new health plan with three distinct health insurance options. Health expenditure differences greater than 500 percent are observed, indicating extremely strong biased selection. Plan choices are consistent with a convex loss function for small losses, which suggests that consumers underweight high-loss/low-probability outcomes relative to low-loss/high-probability ones. Copyright 1989 by MIT Press.
Mouse Strain-Dependent Differences in Susceptibility to Neisseria gonorrhoeae Infection and Induction of Innate Immune Responses

ABSTRACT Acute gonorrhea in women is characterized by a mucopurulent exudate that contains polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) with intracellular gonococci. Asymptomatic infections are also common. Information on the innate response to Neisseria gonorrhoeae in women is limited to studies with cultured cells, isolated immune cells, and analyses of cervicovaginal fluids. 17β-Estradiol-treated BALB/c mice can be experimentally infected with N. gonorrhoeae, and a vaginal PMN influx occurs in 50 to 80% of mice. Here, we compared the colonization loads and proinflammatory responses of BALB/c, C57BL/6 and C3H/HeN mice to N. gonorrhoeae. BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice were colonized at similar levels following inoculation with 106 CFU of N. gonorrhoeae. BALB/c, but not C57BL/6, mice exhibited a marked vaginal PMN influx. Tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-6, macrophage inflammatory protein 2 (MIP-2), and keratinocyte-derived chemokine were elevated in vaginal secretions from infected BALB/c mice, but not in those from C57BL/6 mice. MIP-2 levels positively correlated with a vaginal PMN influx. In contrast to BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice, C3H/HeN mice were resistant to infection, and there was no evidence of an inflammatory response. We conclude that N. gonorrhoeae causes a productive infection in BALB/c mice that is characterized by the induction of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines and the recruitment of PMNs. Infection of C57BL/6 mice, in contrast, is more similar to asymptomatic infection. C3H/HeN mice are inherently resistant to N. gonorrhoeae infection, and this resistance is not due to an overwhelming inflammatory response to infection. Host genetic factors can therefore impact susceptibility and the immune response to N. gonorrhoeae.
Information production, banking industry structure and credit allocation

Abstract We analyse credit allocation when limited-liable banks can engage in costly information production about borrowers. When perfectly diversified credit portfolios cannot be constructed, we show that credit allocation depends on bank capital and the number of banks that can operate in the same market. A concentrated banking industry, one where bank capital is held by few banks, is shown to lead to credit allocation closer to the social optimum. Moreover, in the absence of banking industry consolidation, we find that the removal of intra-state entry barriers reduces welfare and not all independent banking organizations that were viable in formerly protected markets remain so when markets are integrated.
Negotiating for Public Benefits: The Bargaining Calculus of Public-Private Development

US cities capture public benefits from private developers under several bargaining frameworks: exactions, incentive zoning and public-private developments. These frameworks exist along a continuum of policy-intervention strategies, from passive regulation to active development, from a quid pro quo to incentive to investment policy posture. Each strategy defines a public position, structure and process for negotiation and parameters for the bargaining process. Though the means differ, the common element is that each strategy calls upon private development to support the costs of the public-benefit package. During the 1980s, American cities succeeded in tapping this wellspring of private development in an unparallelled way through active public development. To secure these benefits, the policy strategy demanded that cities take on significantly greater risk to achieve their planning objectives. With a strong real estate market in their favour, both San Francisco and Los Angeles negotiated aggressive business deals to fund their public-amenities agendas. A key difference in the approaches can be explained by their respective attitudes towards risk-taking and control, attitudes which reflected differences in political culture. Whether to build the public amenities directly (San Francisco) or require their provision by developers (Los Angeles) remains a matter of judgement, its relative desirability conditional on the priorities, politics and risk tolerance of individual cities and their develop ment agencies. Experience varies and expertise matters.
Group Lending with Adverse Selection

We focus on adverse selection as a foundation of group lending. In a simple static model we show that there is no collateral effect if borrowers do not know each other. If the borrowers know each other, group lending implements efficient lending. However, it is not robust to collusive behavior, when transfers are allowed between colluding partners. Finally, we characterize the optimal collusion-proof group contract.
Eastern European Capitalism in the Making

1. Hybrid capitalism in the making 2. The corporatist legacy of state socialism 3. Bulgaria's national tripartism 4. National social dialogue in Poland 5. The politics of sectoral tripartism 6. The politics of regional tripartism 7. Conclusions: transiency and continuity.
Measuring Similarity of Educational Items Using Data on Learners' Performance

Educational systems typically contain a large pool of items (questions, problems). Using data mining techniques we can group these items into knowledge components, detect duplicated items and outliers, and identify missing items. To these ends, it is useful to analyze item similarities, which can be used as input to clustering or visualization techniques. We describe and evaluate different measures of item similarity that are based only on learners' performance data, which makes them widely applicable. We provide evaluation using both simulated data and real data from several educational systems. The results show that Pearson correlation is a suitable similarity measure and that response times are useful for improving stability of similarity measures when the scope of available data is small.
Comments on ‘Formulating the tightest bounds on causal effects in studies with unmeasured confounders’ by M. Kuroki and Z. Cai, Statistics in Medicine 2008; 27:6597–6611

Kuroki and Cai [1], henceforth KC, considered a scenario involving a binary exposure, a binary outcome, and a binary covariate. They derived bounds on the treatment effect for the unexposed, conditional on the covariate. I would like to make three comments regarding their work. Below, the equation numbers (1), (2), etc. refer to equations in [1], whereas the equation numbers (1′), (2′), etc. refer to equations in this document. 1. KC use the ‘do-operator’ to denote imposed interventions. An alternative is the counterfactual ‘index-notation’ [2]. The connection between the two notations is given by
Covered Interest Arbitrage: Unexploited Profits?

Empirical studies of covered interest arbitrage suggest that the parity condition is not always satisfied and thus implying unexploited profit opportunities. This paper provides a procedure for estimating transaction costs in the markets for foreign exchange and for securities. Allowance for these costs accounts for most of the apparent profit opportunities. It is shown that in addition to transaction costs, demand and supply elasticities in the various markets and lags in executing arbitrage can account for all of the apparent profit opportunities. It is concluded that empirical data are consistent with the interest parity theory and that covered interest arbitrage does not entail unexploited profit opportunities.
High selective SRR-based narrow band filter with 0° feed structure

The design of two band pass metamaterial filters with high selectivity based on the coupling matrix technique is presented. The design methods discussed below are applied to metamaterial split ring resonators (SRRs) of second order but of differing feed structure. The high selectivity requirement of the second proposed filter is fulfilled through the use of a 0° feed structure which furnishes the filter response with two transmission zeros. The proposed band pass filters are devised to adhere to wireless LAN application requirements with a center frequency of 2.4 GHz. Both the simulated and measured results of the proposed filters show an insertion loss below 0.7 dB within the pass band range. The final proposed filter boasts a compact size of only 3 χ 2 cm2 due to the use of SRRs.
Recent cropping frequency, expansion, and abandonment in Mato Grosso, Brazil had selective land characteristics

This letter uses satellite remote sensing to examine patterns of cropland expansion, cropland abandonment, and changing cropping frequency in Mato Grosso, Brazil from 2001 to 2011. During this period, Mato Grosso emerged as a globally important center of agricultural production. In 2001, 3.3 million hectares of mechanized agriculture were cultivated in Mato Grosso, of which 500 000 hectares had two commercial crops per growing season (double cropping). By 2011, Mato Grosso had 5.8 million hectares of mechanized agriculture, of which 2.9 million hectares were double cropped. We found these agricultural changes to be selective with respect to land attributes—significant differences (p < 0.001) existed between the land attributes of agriculture versus non-agriculture, single cropping versus double cropping, and expansion versus abandonment. Many of the land attributes (elevation, slope, maximum temperature, minimum temperature, initial soy transport costs, and soil) that were associated with an increased likelihood of expansion were associated with a decreased likelihood of abandonment (p < 0.001). While land similar to agriculture and double cropping in 2001 was much more likely to be developed for agriculture than all other land, new cropland shifted to hotter, drier, lower locations that were more isolated from agricultural infrastructure (p < 0.001). The scarcity of high quality remaining agricultural land available for agricultural expansion in Mato Grosso could be contributing to the slowdown in agricultural expansion observed there over 2006 to 2011. Land use policy analyses should control for land scarcity constraints on agricultural expansion.
Reply to AM Bernstein et al

with inflammation, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease (1). Yet, the association between red meat and chronic disease goes far beyond this. In addition to diabetes and coronary artery disease, evidence from epidemiologic studies and clinical trials has linked red meat with a host of other conditions, including, for instance, kidney injury (2), stroke (3), and heart failure (4). Red meat has also been associated with pancreatic cancer (5), colorectal cancer (6), and premature death (7). The American Heart Association and the World Cancer Research Fund/ American Institute for Cancer Research both recommend limiting intake. Recent evidence also showed that substituting alternate protein sources, such as nuts, legumes, fish, or poultry, for red meat decreased the risk of many of these chronic conditions. Importantly, substituting these alternate protein sources for red meat led to an improved biomarker profile of inflammatory and glucose metabolism (8), 2 processes that could help with muscle mass and strength in the elderly population under study. Providing lean, rather than fullfat, red meat is also not an optimal substitution because evidence suggests that the fat content is not solely responsible for red meat’s adverse effects: other constituents, such as heme iron (9) and carnitine (10), may play a role, as well as the cooking method and isocaloric displacement of healthful nutrients from other foods. By comparing red meat plus resistance training with rice and pasta plus resistance training, it is not surprising that Daly et al (1) found that participants in the former group consumed more protein and gained muscle mass and strength. It would have been of greater scientific interest and public health import to see alternate, healthy protein choices in equal amounts combined with resistance training, comparing one with the other.
Investigating effects of Delta-Sigma modulation for current measurement on FCS-MPC of IM: Hardware in the loop results

In this paper, the effects of time delays from ΔΣ-ADCs, used for current measurement, on Finite Control Set Model Predictive Control (FCS-MPC) is investigated. For this goal, two FCS-MPC controllers with 50 kHz and 100 kHz sampling rate and one step prediction horizon, were developed and implemented in real time on FPGA in order to control the electrical torque of an Induction Machine (IM). With the help of Hardware In the Loop (HIL) setups, the performance of FCS-MPC with 18 bits and 21 bits ΔΣ-ADC modulation techniques as well as without any ΔΣ-ADC is investigated. Regarding the time delays from ΔΣ-ADCs, the results show higher Total Demand Distortion (TDD) as well as higher RMS of error on electrical torque with increasing time delay i.e. higher output bit-word. On the other hand, the phase currents have less TDD with higher output bit-word.
6 Terminology , Classification , and Overview of Soil Solution Extraction Samplers Terminology and Classification In a review

A number of contaminants including agrochemicals (fertilizers, pesticides), heavy metals, trace elements, and pathogenic microbes along with pharmaceuticals and hormones used in animal production move through the soil and are responsible for degradation of groundwater quality. Therefore, it is essential to sample soil solution for better understanding of movement and environmental fate of various contaminants in soils. We review different soil solution extraction samplers. The soil solution samplers discussed here are: drainage lysimeter or soil column, pan lysimeter, resin bags or membranes, wick lysimeters, suction cup, and suction plate. We have reviewed 304 journal articles representing a wide array of scientific disciplines. A brief history of soil solution monitoring and terminology used for describing various soil solution samplers is also provided. This review classifies literature on the basis of type of soil solution extraction samplers, soil type, land use–land cover (LULC), and analytes measured. Recommendation criteria are provided for selecting appropriate soil solution extraction samplers based on spatial and temporal variation, cost, soil type, amount of disturbance caused during installation of soil solution samplers, and monitoring of leachates involving different cations, anions, carbon, pH, EC, colloids, pesticides, and microbes. Use of advanced techniques with lysimeters for monitoring soil moisture content, soil water potential and flux is also discussed in this review.
Education expenditure in China: potential strategic behavior among regional governments

In this study, we examine whether significant strategic interaction exists among Chinese provincial governments in determining the levels of their expenditures on education. The presence of such spatial interaction may be either due to spatial spillovers or due to spatial resource flows between provinces. We derive our basic regression specification based on the theoretical models in the literature. By applying a panel data generalized method of moments (GMM) method, we show that under a ‘smooth-distance-decay’ assumption in constructing the weighting scheme for the relevance of interaction between two provinces, our regression results provide evidence that supports the claim that there exists significant inter-provincial strategic interaction in public expenditure for education among the Chinese provinces.
Vinflunine: drug safety evaluation of this novel synthetic vinca alkaloid

Introduction: Vinca alkaloid agents have been widely used in several different types of malignancies. However, cancer cells, ultimately, develop resistance to these agents. Therefore, the development of new agents with improved efficacy is warranted. Recently, a new synthetic vinca alkaloid, vinflunine, was developed through the addition of two fluor molecules by superacidic chemistry. Areas covered: The authors describe the development of the new vinca alkaloid vinflunine from preclinical studies to the late-stage clinical trials, highlighting the most important clinical and safety data of vinflunine. In vitro and in vivo studies have shown a superior efficacy of vinflunine over other vinca alkaloids and with an improved safety profile. Early clinical trials have demonstrated a significant activity of vinflunine against different malignancies. Phase III trials showed that vinflunine increases survival in patients with advanced transitional cell carcinoma of the urothelium (TCCU) tract treated in the second-line and is as effective as docetaxel in second-line NSCLC. Expert opinion: Vinflunine is currently approved in Europe for the treatment of second-line TCCU and is currently being developed in other malignancies. It has been shown to have predictable and manageable adverse effects, such as neutropenia, anemia, constipation and fatigue.
Dietary short-chain fructooligosaccharides increase calbindin-D9k levels only in the large intestine in rats independent of dietary calcium deficiency or serum 1,25 dihydroxy vitamin D levels.

Dietary short-chain fructooligosaccharides (Sc-FOS) increase mucosal calbindin-D9k (CaBP) levels in the large intestine whereas levels in the small intestine are decreased in rats. In the present study, we investigated the mechanism by which Sc-FOS induce this increase in CaBP in the large intestine by measuring intestinal CaBP levels in rats fed normal and calcium-deficient diets. Dietary groups included a calcium-containing (0.5%) diet with or without Sc-FOS (100 g/kg diet) and a calcium-deficient (abt. 0.01%) diet with or without Sc-FOS (100 g/kg diet). The rats were fed these diets for 10 days following which they were killed and the intestine removed for collection of the entire mucosa which was divided into four segments, i.e., proximal and distal segments of the small intestine, the cecum and the colorectum. Mucosal CaBP and plasma calcium (Ca), 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (1,25(OH)2D3), 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25(OH)D3), parathyroid hormone (PTH) and calcitonin levels were measured. Feeding of calcium deficient diet resulted in an increase in CaBP levels in the small intestine, but did not influence levels in the large intestine. Moreover, a significant positive correlation between plasma 1,25(OH)2D3 and CaBP levels in the case of both small intestinal segments (proximal, r = 0.77012, p < 0.00007; distal, r = 0.75056, p < 0.00014) was observed, but not in the case of the large intestinal segments. Sc-FOS increased CaBP levels in the large intestine. These results suggest that the large intestinal CaBP levels do not change in response to dietary calcium conditions and are not regulated by circulating 1,25(OH)2D3 indicating that the effect of Sc-FOS on CaBP levels in the large intestine is independent of the action of 1,25(OH)2D3.
VLSI implementation of a novel sensor architecture for industrial wireless sensor networks

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) are distributed sensing ecosystems equipped with computational intelligence and radio communication capabilities. The ‘neurons’ of a typical WSN referred to as Sensor Nodes or Motes are tiny, low-cost, resource-efficient modules with embedded intelligence facilitating ultra-fast deployment, flexibility and energy-efficiency in their operations. Industrial Wireless Sensor Networks or IWSNs feature hundreds and thousands of sensors placed in and around the plant to enable remote monitoring, maintenance and troubleshooting. In this article, we present a full custom design of a sensor node for Industrial Wireless Sensor Networks with the primary focus on the architectural aspects of the implementation. The proposed sensor architecture consists of a 4-channel 12-bit Delta-Sigma ADC, a controller subsystem with SPI Master-Slave interfaces and an OFDM RF Transmitter subsystem. The architecture outlined in this article is a novel modular design characterized by an OFDM baseband processing RF subsystem facilitating reliable monitoring of plant variables which is a crucial parameter in Industrial Wireless Sensor Networks. The proposed system has been subjected to Front-end RTL simulation and synthesis using an array of EDA tools and the subsequent results have been critically examined in this article.