Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Monetary Policy and Inflation Control in Nigeria

This paper examines the effectiveness monetary policy as an anti-inflationary measure in Nigeria. in order to explore the relationship between inflation and monetary impulses, the cointegration and error correction methods approach were employed on quarterly time series data spanning from 1980Q1 to 2012Q4. The unit roots test shows that all the variables are differenced stationary. The cointegration test indicates a long-run relationship between inflation and the vector of regressors employed. The estimated result reveals that for the period covered, interest rate, exchange rate, money supply and oil-price are the major causes of inflation in Nigeria. It was also observed that although in the short-run increased in income encourages inflation, proper utilization of the growth would reduce inflation. The Money supply variable shows a significant positive impact on inflation both in short and long runs. This means that Nigerian inflationary situation is driven by monetary impulses. As such, anti-inflationary monetary policy measures, backed-up by some necessary fiscal policies are incumbent for structural and economic stabilization. Keywords: Monetary policy, Inflation and Cointegration
In search of sustainable competitive advantage in the wood products industry: Evidence from China and Finland

Given the dramatic changes such as globalization, increasing energy costs, technology development and climate change that are occurring in the global business environment, the wood products industry faces the challenges of rising production costs, rapid technology transfer and increasing corporate environmentalism. Consequently, the traditional sources of competitive advantage based on economies of scale are no longer sufficient in today’s highly competitive and dynamic market. Implementing a purely conventional low-cost strategy has thus become a less viable option for companies to sustain their competitiveness. Wood products companies must develop sustainable value-creation strategies in order to generate firm-level value added and create sustainable competitive advantage (SCA). Although understanding the sources of SCA has become an active area of research in the strategic management literature, research in this area that is specific to the wood products sector is in its nascent stages. This study contributes to the evolution of research on competitive advantage in the wood products industry by approaching it from the dynamic capability perspective (DCP) and natural resource-based view (NRBV) of the firm. Both quantitative and qualitative data and research methods were used to facilitate comparative analysis at multiple levels of decision-making. This dissertation examines the sources of SCA and the corresponding changes in competitive strategies in the wood products industry in two contexts: China and Finland. The results indicate a growing trend in transitions from production to market and to stakeholder orientation, from a cost leadership to a differentiation strategy, and from low value-added to high value-added products in both countries. Along with these transitions, the sources of SCA have changed from focusing solely on tangible resources to integrating intangible resources. This study provides useful references for strategic planning and analysis for producers in both emerging and established wood products markets, and also helps enrich our knowledge of using the DCP and NRBV of the firm as foundation theories to conduct strategic business research. As a preliminary step in understanding business dynamics and future development trends of the wood products industry, this dissertation opens up interesting avenues for future research. Both the type of strategic analysis and the research design used in this study could be applied to analyzing the wood products industry in other emerging or established markets.
Perturbative spectrum of a Yukawa-Higgs model with Ginsparg-Wilson fermions

A Yukawa-Higgs model with Ginsparg-Wilson (GW) fermions, proposed recently by Bhattacharya, Martin and Poppitz as a possible lattice formulation of chiral gauge theories, is studied. A simple argument shows that the gauge boson always acquires mass by the St\"uckelberg (or, in a broad sense, Higgs) mechanism, regardless of strength of interactions. The gauge symmetry is spontaneously broken. When the gauge coupling constant is small, the physical spectrum of the model consists of massless fermions, massive fermions and \emph{massive} vector bosons.
A Study on Subject Matter Expertise

 A Study on Subject Matter Expertise Inbal Tadeski, Omer Barkol, Ruth Bergman HP Laboratories HPL-2012-239 expertise retrieval; graph mining; collaboration systems We suggest a method to automatically evaluate employees' subject matter expertise in knowledge management systems. The approach stems from several conclusions that arose in extensive research of subject matter experts and their expertise. We find that self-reported expertise is biased and constantly changing. We, furthermore, observe that automatic methods to infer expertise perform about as well as self-reported profiles. The crux of the proposed method is to combine automatic inference expertise with the benefit of the expert's opinion, and to do so periodically so the profile remains accurate and fresh. External Posting Date: December 6, 2012 [Fulltext] Approved for External Publication Internal Posting Date: December 6, 2012 [Fulltext] Copyright 2012 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. A Study on Subject Matter Expertise Inbal Tadeski, Omer Barkol, Ruth Bergman HP Labs Israel
Roles of bacterial community composition in biofilms as a mediator for larval settlement of three marine invertebrates

This study investigated (1) the effects of salinity and temperature on the bacterial community composition of developing biofilms, and (2) the responses of marine invertebrate larvae (the polychaete Hydroides elegans and the barnacles Balanus amphitrite and B. trigonus) to these biofilms during settlement (i.e. attachment to a surface and metamorphosis into juveniles). Biofilms developed in a 3 × 3 array of salinity and temperature treatments resulted in different bacterial community compositions (revealed by DGGE and T-RFLP), bacterial densities and total biomasses. Larval settlement of B. amphitrite and B. trigonus was induced by biofilms developed at high temperatures (23 and 30°C), but was unaffected (B. amphitrite) or inhibited (B. trigonus) by those developed at a low temperature (16°C). The settlement response of these barnacles did not correlate with the biomass or the bacterial density of the biofilms, but did coincide with the marked differences in bacterial community composition between the biofilms developed at different temperatures. In contrast, larval settlement of H. elegans differed slightly among biofilms developed in different salinities, but not among those developed at different temperatures. This settlement response was moderately correlated with bacterial density but had no apparent relationship with bacterial community composition of the biofilms. Our results implied that the community composition and cell density of bacteria in biofilms, which can vary with local environmental conditions, may allow larvae of the 2 barnacles and H. elegans, respectively, to distinguish between habitats with different environmental conditions.
Cities, Tasks, and Skills

This research applies a task-based approach to measure and interpret changes in the employment structure of the 168 largest US cities in the period 1990-2009. As a result of technological change some tasks can be placed at distance, while others require proximity. We construct a measure of task connectivity to investigate which tasks are more likely to require proximity relative to others. Our results suggest that cities with higher shares of connected tasks experienced higher employment growth. This result is robust to a variety of other explanations including industry composition, routinisation, and the complementarity between skills and cities.
DIAGONALS AND EIGENVALUES OF SUMS OF HERMITIAN MATRICES: EXTREME CASES

There are well known inequalities for Hermitian matrices A and B that relate the diagonal entries of A+B to the eigenvalues of A and B. These inequalities are easily extended to more general inequalities in the case where the matrices A and B are perturbed through congruences of the form UAU∗ + V BV ∗ , where U and V are arbitrary unitary matrices, or to sums of more than two matrices. The extremal cases where these inequalities and some generalizations become equalities are examined here.
India's Fertilizer Industry: Productivity and Energy Efficiency

Historical estimates of productivity growth in India's fertilizer sector vary from indicating an improvement to a decline in the sector's productivity. The variance may be traced to the time period of study, source of data for analysis, and type of indices and econometric specifications used for reporting productivity growth. Our analysis shows that in the twenty year period, 1973 to 1993, productivity in the fertilizer sector increased by 2.3% per annum. An econometric analysis reveals that technical progress in India's fertilizer sector has been biased towards the use of energy, while it has been capital and labor saving. The increase in productivity took place during the era of total control when a retention price system and distribution control was in effect. With liberalization of the fertilizer sector and reduction of subsidies productivity declined substantially since the early 1990s. Industrial policies and fiscal incentives still play a major role in the Indian fertilizer sect or. As substantial energy savings and carbon reduction potential exists, energy policies can help overcome barriers to the adoption of these measures in giving proper incentives and correcting distorted prices.
Electroanalysis of Dopamine Using Polydopamine Functionalized Reduced Graphene Oxide-Gold Nanocomposite

A novel polydopamine functionalized reduced graphene oxide/gold (PDA-RGO/Au) nanocomposite modified electrode was fabricated, and applied for electrochemically determine dopamine. UV-vis spectroscopy and FTIR characterizations confirm the successful reduction of graphene oxide (GO) to RGO during the dopamine self-polymerization process. Then, Au nanoparticles with average size of 120 nm were electrodeposited onto the PDA-RGO film modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was performed. The electrocatalytic activity of the PDA-RGO/Au modified GCE was evaluated by oxidation of dopamine using cyclic voltammetry and linear sweep voltammograms. The results showed that the obtained anodic peak currents were linearly proportional to concentration in the range of 0.01 mM to 1 mM with a detection limit of 6.237 μM (S/N = 3.0). In addition, the effect of co-existing species such as ascorbic acid, uric acid and glucose on the determination of dopamine was investigated. Therefore, the PDA-RGO/Au modified dopamine sensor with excellent sensitivity and selectivity could provide an idea matrix for clinic applications.
Protective Effect of Modified Glucomannans against Changes in Antioxidant Systems of Quail Egg and Embryo due to Aurofusarin Consumption

The aim of this study was to evaluate effects of modified glucomannan (Mycosorb) on the antioxidant profile of egg yolk and tissues of newly hatched quail after aurofusarin inclusion in the maternal diet. Fifty-four 45 day-old Japanese quail were divided into three groups and were fed a corn-soya diet balanced in all nutrients ad libitum. The diet of the experimental quail was supplemented with aurofusarin at the level of 26.4 mg/kg feed in the form of Fusarium graminearum culture enriched with aurofusarin or with aurofusarin plus Mycosorb at 1 g/kg feed. Eggs obtained after 8 weeks of feeding were analysed and incubated in standard conditions of 37.5°C/55% RH. Samples of quail tissues were collected from newly hatched quail. The main carotenoids, retinol, retinyl esters and malondialdehyde were analysed by HPLC-based methods. Inclusion of aurofusarin in the maternal diet was associated with decreased carotenoid and vitamin A concentrations in egg yolk and liver of newly-hatched quail. Furthermore, lipid peroxidation in quail tissues was enhanced. Inclusion of modified glucomannan (Mycosorb) in the toxin-contaminated diet provided a significant protective effect against changes in antioxidant composition in the egg yolk and liver. It is suggested that a combination of mycotoxin adsorbents and natural antioxidants could be the next step in counteracting mycotoxins in animal feed.
How many Upper Triassic bone-bearing levels are there in Upper Silesia (southern Poland)? A critical overview of stratigraphy and facies

At least three widely separated bone-bearing intervals in the Upper Triassic succession of Upper Silesia, ranging in age from the Carnian to Rhaetian (i.e., in the interval of 25 Ma), are presented in papers by the Warsaw research group, led mainly by Jerzy Dzik and/or Grzegorz Niedźwiedzki. The stratigraphic arguments are reviewed for the vertebrate localities studied so far, in particular for the well-known middle Keuper sites at Krasiejow and Lipie Śląskie, to show that the previously proposed age assignments are still inadequately documented and questionable. This unreliability is exemplified by the evolving stratigraphic correlation of the fragmentary Silesian sections (8–18 m thick) with informal subsurface units from central-western Poland and with the German standard succession, ultimately not corroborated by comparison with the composite reference succession of the Upper Silesian Keuper, including new profiles (ca. 260 m thick) from the Woźniki K1 and Patoka 1 wells. Based on a multidisciplinary stratigraphic study covering consistent litho-, bio-, climato- and chemostratigraphic premises, focused on the regional reference section, two bone-bed levels only are recognized in the Patoka Marly Mudstone-Sandstone Member (= Steinmergelkeuper) of the Grabowa Formation, not very different in age (Classopollis meyeriana Palynozone; probably IVb Subzone): (1) the localized Krasiejow bone breccia level (early Norian in age) in the Opole region, and (2) the far more widely distributed Lisowice bone-bearing level (middle Norian) in a vast alluvial plain (braided to anastomosing river system) during the Eo-Cimmerian tectonic-pluvial episode. As a consequence of the principal uncertainties and controversies in Upper Triassic terrestrial stratigraphy, this is still a somewhat preliminary inference. Typical skeletal concentra- tions of a combined hydraulic/sedimentologic type, related to fluvial processes, are common in the Upper Silesian Fossil-Lagerstatten, although factors governing preservation are probably important, as well.
The Improved Genetic Algorithm Used to Optimize Gabor Filters for Vehicle Detection

In this paper we focus on using the improved Genetic Algorithm (IGA) to optimize Gabor filters for vehicle detection. The Gabor filters parameters are encoded in a chromosome and optimized using genetic operators. Considering the deficiency of the traditional crossover operator at global searching, the partheno-crossover operator, which is a new crossover operator, is proposed and used to improve GA. The objective is to build the specifically set of filters which are capable of responding stronger to vehicles than to nonvehicles. Compared with using general GA, the Gabor filter optimized by using the IGA allows better correct rate of vehicle detection.
Image Processing Technique for the Gesture Controlled Robot

Now these days gesture controlled robots operates with humans next to them. Whereas, this project deals with combination of robots through gesture controlled phenomenon but distance away from the user. This can be dealed through image processing technique.The command signals are developed from these gestures using image processing. These signals are then passed to the robot to operate it in the specified direction. This project presents a novel algorithm to recognize a set of static hand gestures for the HumanComputer Interaction (HCI) and controlling a robotic car wirelessly after successful recognition using X-Bee module. Through this method, the user can control or navigate the robot by using gestures of his/her palm. The command signals are generated from these gestures using image processing. These signals are then passed to the robot to navigate it in the specified directions. In short we have implemented a system through which the user can give commands to a wireless robot using gestures. The application for gesture recognition has been created on MATLAB environment with operating system as windows 7. The system has been tested and verified under both incandescent and fluorescent lighting conditions. The experimental results are very encouraging as the system produces real-time responses and highly accurate recognition towards various gestures. Keywords: Gesture controlled technique; image processing technique; navigate in specific direction; operates with humans.
Understanding the Relationship Between Perceived Quality Cues and Quality Attributes in the Purchase of Meat in Malaysia

This study utilizes the Total Food Quality Model to gain a better understanding of how Malaysian consumers make their decision to purchase fresh/chilled meat. We examine the association between quality cues and desired values (quality attributes) with regard to food that is guaranteed Halal, safe to eat, healthy and nutritious, has a good taste, represents good value for money, and is produced in a way that protects the environment and worker welfare. The findings reveal that different quality cues assume different levels of importance when pursuing different desired values.
Probabilistic Maximum Set Cover with Path Constraints for Informative Path Planning

We pose a new formulation for informative path planning problems as a generalisation of the well-known maximum set cover problem. This new formulation adds path constraints and travel costs, as well as a probabilistic observation model, to the maximum set cover problem. Our motivation is informative path planning applications where the observation model can be naturally encoded as overlapping subsets of a set of discrete elements. These elements may include features, landmarks, regions, targets or more abstract quantities, that the robot aims to observe while moving through the environment with a given travel budget. This formulation allows directly modelling the dependencies of observations from different viewpoints. We show this problem is NP-hard and propose a branch and bound tree search algorithm. Simulated experiments empirically evaluate the bounding heuristics, several tree expansion policies and convergence rate towards optimal. The tree pruning allows finding optimal or bounded-approximate solutions in a reasonable amount of time, and therefore indicates our work is suitable for practical applications.
SEABIRDS AND CLIMATE IN THE CALIFORNIA CURRENT—A SYNTHESIS OF CHANGE

We investigated changes in ocean climate and ecosys tems by reviewing select case histories for seabirds in the California Current ecosystem (CCE) and the transition zone between the CCE and the Gulf of Alaska using data from the early 1970s to the present. We used in formation spanning the entire CCE, from the south (California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigation [CalCOFI]) to the north (Ocean Station Papa/Line P surveys) and colonies sites, to make this assessment. Seabird timing of breeding, productivity, and abundance at sea have changed in ways consistent with predictions under an ocean-warming scenario, but we cannot dismiss the hypothesis that low-frequency variability explains some of these patterns. In contrast, recent reproductive fail ures of auklets and other species cannot be explained by El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) or low-frequency variability. Declining trends in the productivity of murre and auklet “trophic chains,” including the relative abun dance of mesozooplankton (krill) and forage fish (juve nile Sebastes ) cannot be explained by low- or high(ENSO-scale) frequency climate variability. Changes in relative abundance at sea in the CalCOFI and Line P study areas, however, could be related to change points related to regime shifts in the North Pacific Ocean. Contrasting trends in life history (timing), demographic (productivity), and population (density) patterns by species highlight the need to consider spatial ecology and habi tat quality (food web attributes) in order to develop a deeper understanding of how climate change ‐ecosystem change is affecting seabirds in the CCE and adjacent North Pacific regions.
Corner Crack Effect on the Seismic Behavior of Steel Plate Shear Wall System

Although, experimental studies have reported fracture at the corner of Steel Plate Shear Walls (SPSW), no study has been performed to investigate the crack effect, yet. Therefore, in this paper, the effect of crack at the corner of SPSWs on the seismic behavior of the system was investigated. Two probable cracks, that have been studies at the corner of SPSWs utilizing extended Finite Element method based on cohesive crack approach, are initial horizontal crack and initial vertical crack. Numerical results indicated that small initial crack does not have considerable effect on the seismic behavior of SPSW. In addition, the horizontal crack is more effective than vertical crack. Since SPSWs with long initial horizontal crack are ruptured suddenly, so they could not be utilized as a lateral resisting in seismic zone. Nevertheless, no ruptures occur in SPSWs with vertical cracks. Therefore, SPSWs with horizontal crack must be repaired, but no repairing is needed in SPSWs with initial vertical cracks.
Changing paradigms in teaching English pronunciation: A historical overview

The role of pronunciation has varied widely in different methods and approaches of language teaching. In Grammar Translation Method (GTM) and the cognitive learning it received virtually no role. In Audio Lingual Method (ALM), on the other hand, it had a pivotal role. In communication-oriented approaches and within the broad context of EFL/ESL teaching in which successful communication is emphasized, it has been argued that pronunciation pedagogy deserves neither fate. This paper provides a historical overview of pronunciation teaching from GTM to communicative language teaching (CLT) highlighting the fact that until CLT, pronunciation pedagogy witnessed some drastic fluctuations; nevertheless, from then on, most of the researchers and practitioners in the field have come to the conclusion that the most reasonable and logical goal for pronunciation pedagogy should be intelligibility and functional communicability rather than nativeness.
Harms, I. H. and Heath, M. R. and Bryant, A. D. and Backhaus, J. O. and Hainbucher, D. A., EU-TASC (Funder) (2000) Modelling the Northeast Atlantic circulation : implications for the spring invasion of shelf regions by Calanus finmarchicus. ICES

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