Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Soya bean expansion in Mozambique: Exploring the inclusiveness and viability of soya business models as an alternative to the land grab

Throughout the world, soya beans and seeds are typically cultivated in large plantations. The way plantations have been established are often discussed as what represent the ‘global land grab’. Little has been discussed, however, about how large plantations evolve as they interact with various actors at national and local levels. In Mozambique’s plateaus, the soya sector was initially inspired by the large-scale South American production and it showed characteristics of the land grab. At the same time, it has developed into new types of business models, from contract farming to sourcing, which integrate more than 10,000 smallholders in the value chain. This paper proposes to analyse the evolution of the soya sector in Mozambique, drawing on data collected from 160 households in Gurue district, in the province of Zambezia. It highlights how contract farming that is supposedly more ‘inclusive’ than the large-scale plantation had gone through a boom-and bust cycle, as smallholders have accumulated experience to exercise their agency to deal with the market, investors and fellow producers and begun to exit from the business and sell their produce to the open market. This process reveals how smallholders have exercised their agency to reject the contract and developed the soya bean production as a part of local struggles that are simultaneously influenced by multi-scale land and agricultural development projects of civil society and external donors. The paper concludes that developing the capacities of governments at different levels to grasp such evolvement, as well as of smallholders to hold governments accountable for their experience, is vital to make current soya business models socially inclusive and economically viable.
A DSRC Transceiver with Multi Mode Encoder using SOLS Technique

: An intelligent transportation system (ITS) is a technology, a platform or application that efficiently improves the quality of vehicle transportation. To promote the intelligent transportation system into our daily life, we can make use of the dedicated short range Communication (DSRC) technique in to the field of automobile industries. The FM0 and Manchester codes are used to reach the dc-balance in dedicated short range communication systems. The diversity between the FMO and Manchester codes seriously limits the area utilization and power consumption. In proposed system SOLS technique is used to overcome this limitation. In this Project, an efficient DSRC encoder and decoder is proposed with ASK modulator with minimum area utilization with the help of similarity oriented logic simplification technique.
Auditory P300 Responses Evoked by Perceptually Different Between-Category CV Stimuli

Ji Young Lee, Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 578 South Stadium Hall, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-0740, USA email: jlee71@uthsc.edu tel: +1 865 974 4494 Background & Objectives: Event-related potentials (ERPs) research has shown that the P300 reflects the categorical perception of speech sound. Using within-category or across-category stimuli, research has reported the controversial findings whether the P300 represents phonetic processing rather than acoustic processing, or acoustic processing as well. The present study explored whether the P300 response is sensitive to the perceptually different between-category consonant-vowel (CV) stimuli, and if so, whether the P300 response varies as a function of deviancy of between-category CV stimuli. Methods: The P300 was measured in an oddball paradigm from 10 normal hearing adults. Based on the results of identification test of a speech continuum, 1 withincategory CV was selected as a standard stimulus and 2 between-category CVs were selected as deviant stimuli. The 2 deviant stimuli consisted of the weak deviant (WD) and strong deviant stimuli (SD). A total of 600 stimuli were composed of 480 standard stimuli (80%), 60 WD (10%), and 60 SD (10%). Results: (1) the P300 was elicited by both WD and SD, (2) the P300 amplitude was larger in SD than WD, (3) the P300 amplitude was larger over central and parietal regions than the frontal region, and (4) the P300 latency was not different for deviancy condition and scalp distribution. Discussion & Conclusion: The results indicate that the P300 can reflect the sub-phonetic or acoustic processing of speech sound. The scalp distribution of the P300 is more dominant in the centro-parietal regions. (Korean Journal of Communication Disorders 2012;17:499-507)
Filtering rates and functional response of selected zooplankton on the bacterium Vibrio cholerae Non O1 Non O139

Vibrio cholerae strains frequently cause cholera outbreaks in tropical countries. It has been suggested that zooplankton play an important role in transmitting cholera from aquatic systems to their human hosts. It is also possible that zooplankton— which are known to have a range of diets, including bacteria, detritus, algae and other zooplankton—could also help to filter out Vibrio from the medium. Here we tested this hypothesis using 11 taxa of rotifers, cladocerans, copepods and ostracods. To determine feeding rates, 10 batches of each taxon were used; they were counted using a stereoscopic microscope and placed into individual test beakers. A control group was also established. An aliquot (10 ml) of the bacterial dilution (10 -12 ) was added to each test beaker with a bacterial concentration (2.5 x 10 6 ) that previously contained 50 ml of EPA sterile solution. Grazing time was 30 min, after which 2.5 ml formalin was added to each test tube to stop feeding. Functional response experiments were conducted with different dilutions of V. cholera, ranging from 10 -1 to 10 -12 . The cladocerans, particularly Moina macrocopa, were most efficient at reducing bacterial densities while the rotifers were the least. The data are discussed with emphasis on the role of these zooplankton in controlling V. cholerae in nature.
Sea ice local surface topography from single-pass satellite InSAR measurements: a feasibility study

Abstract. Quantitative parameters characterizing the sea ice surface topography are needed in geophysical investigations such as studies on atmosphere–ice interactions or sea ice mechanics. Recently, the use of space-borne single-pass interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) for retrieving the ice surface topography has attracted notice among geophysicists. In this paper the potential of InSAR measurements is examined for several satellite configurations and radar frequencies, considering statistics of heights and widths of ice ridges as well as possible magnitudes of ice drift. It is shown that, theoretically, surface height variations can be retrieved with relative errors ≤ 0.5 m. In practice, however, the sea ice drift and open water leads may contribute significantly to the measured interferometric phase. Another essential factor is the dependence of the achievable interferometric baseline on the satellite orbit configurations. Possibilities to assess the influence of different factors on the measurement accuracy are demonstrated: signal-to-noise ratio, presence of a snow layer, and the penetration depth into the ice. Practical examples of sea surface height retrievals from bistatic SAR images collected during the TanDEM-X Science Phase are presented.
Leaders' Motivations and Actions: Explaining Government-Dissident Conflict-Cooperation Processes

This study posits a theory to explain government and dissident sequential responses to one another and develops a statistical model to test the implied hypotheses. While competing hypotheses emerge from both formal and empirical models, the current literature lacks a single, coherent, theoretical, and empirically corroborated model of the interactive relationship between dissident and government behavior. The study seeks to fill this lacuna in the literature by developing a comprehensive theory to account for a large number of competing hypotheses within a single framework. The subsequent empirical tests enable one to find support for the various competing hypotheses under different sets of conditions. The analyses of Chile (1983—1992) and Venezuela (1987— 1992) provide evidence that the model captures well the sequential responses of Chilean and Venezuelan governments and dissidents.
Cognitive Coping and Frontal Lobe Epilepsy: A Task Switching Study

The present study examines the role of cognitive coping in task switching abilities of patients with frontal lobe epilepsy (FLE). Participants (25 patients with FLE & 25 healthy controls) performed switching task and reported the use of cognitive coping strategies. Results showed that patients with FLE had sustained attention for emotion which lead to the unbalanced switch cost between tasks. This pattern of results did not appear in controls. Relative to controls, patients with FLE reported more frequent use of maladaptive cognitive coping strategies such as self-blame, other blame, rumination, and catastrophizing and less frequent use of putting into perspective, positive refocusing, positive reappraisal, acceptance and planning. Cognitive coping strategies were associated with switch costs. Greater use of maladaptive strategies was positively correlated with weaker task switching abilities. This study for the first time highlighted the role of cognitive coping in frontal lobe epilepsy during switching conditions. Implications of results were discussed.
Perfectionism, Attachment and Anxiety and Depression

Previous research has indicated that there is an association between the discrepancy domain of perfectionism and anxiety and depression (Flett et al. 2007; Kawamura et al. 2001); with little research investigating the link’s underpinnings. Of the research that has been conducted into the origins of perfectionism, results suggest that perfectionism is rooted in childhood experience (Enns et al. 2002) and that attachment style may be influential (Rice & Mirzadeh 2000). Therefore, an independent groups design was employed to investigate whether attachment style could predict the discrepancy domain of perfectionism and whether this domain was related to anxiety and depression. 41 undergraduate students completed copies of the HAD scale (Zigmond & Snaith 1983), the Adult Attachment scale (Collins & Read 1990) and the Almost Perfect Scale (Slaney et al. 2001). Results were analysed using linear regression analysis, finding that insecure attachment styles (anxious and avoidant) significantly predicted scores in the discrepancy domain of perfectionism and that this domain had a significant relationship with anxiety and depression scores.
Parental Stress and Social Networks: Relations with Parenting and Children's Competence.

i studies, however, have examined all three areas concurrently. In the present study, which focused on the associations between parenting and children's competence in preschool, mothers and fathers in 30 families reported on stressful life events and social networks. Family interactions were assessed by home observations, observer ratings, and parent self-repotLs. Children's competence in preschool was assessed by teacher ratings. Findings indicated that losses (by death) were associated across methods with decreased warmth and increased control among parents. Correlations suggested that the developing social abilities of children 3 to 5.8 years of age may influence the composition of their mothers' social networks. Only a few aspects of parenting were consistently related to social network variables. Kin social support appeared to buffer the effects of stress; however, contrary findings emerged for support from friends, especially fathers' friends. Partial correlational analyses were consistent with the view that the effects of parental stress on child behavior are mediated by parent-child interactions, while social networks influence children directly, and strongly. References and data tables are appended. (Author/RH)
How Managed Care Affects Medicaid Utilization

We develop a synthetic difference-in-differences statistical design to apply to experimental data for adult women living in Hennepin County, Minnesota, to estimate the impact of Medicaid managed care on various modes of medical care use. Because the outcomes of interest are utilization counts with many persons using none of a particular mode of care we use count regression models that are adjusted for excessive zeros. We find no reductions in physician visits or hospital inpatient and emergency department care use, but reductions in hospital outpatient care. Simulations designed to judge the economic significance of our results suggest a program effect that is a savings of about ten percent.
Influence of oxcarbazepine and its combination with SIB-1893 on body temperature in rats

The aim of the study was to determine the eff ects of oxcarbazepine (OXC - a newer antiepileptic drug) administered alone and in combination with SIB-1893 (a selective non-competitive metabotropic glutamate subtype 5 (mGlu5) receptor antagonist) on body temperature in freely moving rats. Temperature was monitored using programmed microchips, implanted subcutaneously in Wistar rats, at several time intervals: 0, 5, 10, 20, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120 and 180 min. after intraperitoneal administration of OXC, SIB-1893, and their combination. Statistical evaluation of data with two-way ANOVA with repeated measure on time revealed that SIB-1893 at a dose of 30 mg/kg signifi cantly decreased the body temperature in rats at times ranging from 90-180 min. after drug administration. In contrast, OXC at a dose of 5 mg/kg, administered alone and in combination with SIB-1893 (30 mg/kg), did not signifi cantly alter the body temperature in freely moving rats. Based on this pre-clinical study, one can conclude that OXC administered alone and in combination with SIB-1893 have no eff ect on body temperature in rats up to 180 min. after intraperitoneal administration of the drugs.
INFLUENCE OF LOGISTICS OUTSOURCING ON PROJECT PERFORMANCE IN THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY IN KENYA

Studies reveal that there are many benefits resulting from using logistics outsourcing strategy in the oil and gas industry and in the same way, challenges are faced by both oil and gas companies and logistics service providers in executing business contracts. The most outstanding benefit is that, companies outsource their logistics activities to restructure their distribution networks and achieve competitive advantage. Solutions are pursued to create an environment for the oil and gas industry and the third party logistics services providers to achieve a common goal. Importance is pegged on outsourcing full or part of logistics activities to logistics service providers in order to attain competitive advantage. Logistics outsourcing strategy plays an important role in the business especially in minimizing operating costs and spreading risk between the parties engaged in business contracts. Therefore it is necessary for company managers to check their strategies to make sure that logistics activities are in place. This study was set to examine the relationship between logistics outsourcing and oil and gas project performance in Kenya. Literature was reviewed with emphasis on the relationship between the variables, theoretical literature and empirical literature. The unit of analysis was all managing directors of the 71 registered oil and gas players who gave the information on Oil and Gas Project performance and logistics outsourcing. Data was generated by means of questionnaires to oil and gas players on the variables. Responses were statistically analyzed using descriptive statistics, product moment correlation and regression analysis. Data was presented using charts, tables and figures. The study found that there was positive correlation coefficient between Oil and Gas projects and Transportation Outsourcing. The study found weak positive correlation between Oil and Gas projects and Inventory Management Outsourcing. Key Words: Transport, Inventory Management, Outsourcing, Project Performance
Security assessment of learning management system

Information security is becoming a mission-critical concern for organizations. With the increasing number of threats; continuous follow-up for publicly used applications is very critical to ensure a reasonable security level. Learning Management System (LMS) is becoming more popular and publicly used on the internet which makes the security of LMS very crusial. As assessment of applications is essintial part of organization risk assessment, the LMS is one of the main applications to be secured. In this work we examined the security features of an open source LMS and propose security enhancments to mitigate the threats we found. The implementation of the security enhancments were also presented.
Barcode generation for face images

В статье обсуждается задача формирования линейного штрих-кода по изображениям лиц. Представлена история задачи и возможные подходы к ее решению с ориентацией на мобильные системы. Для решения задачи предложены два метода: первый метод основан на гистограммах яркости, второй – на разностных градиентах яркости, представляющих изображения лиц в форме исходных признаков. Далее в каждом методе эти признаки усредняются на ограниченном числе интервалов, квантуются в диапазоне десятичных цифр от 0 до 9 и преобразуются в стандартный штрих-код. Предложена структура системы формирования штрих-кода и приводится описание основных блоков. Тестирование выполнено на базах «Face94», «Face Sketch FERET Database» и базе композитных лиц различных возрастов. В рамках тестов показано, что сформированный штрих-код не изменяется при изменении локальных размеров лиц, наклона в плоскости XY, изменения ракурса и зеркального поворота вокруг вертикальной оси, а также при изменениях речевой мимики лиц и возрастных изменениях лиц. Таким образом, предложенные методы предлагают новое решение для практики использования в реальных условиях – динамики изменения параметров изображений лиц. При этом оба подхода не требуют больших вычислительных затрат, а также использования специализированных пакетов программ по обработке изображений, что создает условия для формирования линейных штрих-кодов в рамках систем реального времени. Сформированный штрих-код содержит информацию о лице конкретного человека и может быть использован для индексирования, идентификации, распознавания и поиска людей.
The Control Gap: The Role of Budgets, Accounting Information and (Non-) Decisions in Hospital Settings

This paper investigates the link between budgets, accounting information and the decision-making processes at both strategic and operational levels in a large Norwegian hospital, as this hospital now is facing the New Public Management reforms which have been introduced in Norway. The study has examined the use of budget and accounting information in the management control process. The empirical data are based on interviews with key actors in the decisionmaking process at all management levels in the hospital. The study found that budgets were not perceived by clinicians as important decision tools at the clinical levels in the hospital. The professionals felt a strong moral obligation to patients. This loose coupling between budget information and clinical action identified an inconsistency in the norms and values between the clinical and the managerial world of the hospital. In this two-worlds of responsibilities the function of the clinical managers at the department levels was found to be of vital importance as mediators between top level managers and the individual clinicians in the department and specialities. Informal 'coffee-room talks' indicated that dialogues were important means of control, which could compensate for the lack of more formal and cybernetic control systems. Such frequent and informal communication may also serve a buffering function because it offers meeting points for negotiation and adjustments to initial budgets during the year. These coordination mechanisms take the mode of network based organising which can be favourable in managing organisational interdependencies.
Synchronous Hurthle Cell Carcinoma and Papillary Carcinoma in a Patient with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis: A Rare Case Report

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, the most common autoimmune thyroid disease, is due to destruction of the thyroid gland by autoantibodies. Various types of thyroid malignancies may arise in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Follicular carcinomas, papillary carcinomas, lymphomas, medullary carcinomas and hurthle cell neoplasms may develop in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. We present a rare case report of a 35-year-old female who presented with hypothyroidism of a two-year duration. A diagnosis of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis was made for which she was under treatment. Due to the recent increase in size of the thyroid, a fine needle aspiration cytology was done. A preoperative diagnosis of Hurthle cell neoplasm was made based on fine needle aspiration cytology findings. The total thyroidectomy specimen revealed Hashimoto’s thyroiditis with synchronous papillary carcinoma and Hurthle cell carcinoma, which is a very rare occurrence.
Antibacterial and Antibiofilm Activity of Daemonorops draco Resin

Daemonorops draco has been reported for its antibacterial activity and empirically used for wound healing by Anak Dalam ethnic at Jambi Province, Sumatera-Indonesia. This study was performed to evaluate antibacterial and antibiofilm activity of D. draco resin collected from Jambi. D. draco resin was extracted using n -hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol, respectively. Antibacterial activity of the extracts was evaluated using agar diffusion method against Staphylococcus aureus and Eschericia coli , whereas the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bacteriacidal concentration (MBC) was determined by microdilution method. In addition, antibiofilm activity was evaluated by violet crystal method. The result showed that extraction yield of ethyl acetate was higher than methanol and n -hexane. Ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of D. draco exhibited stronger antimicrobial activity against S . aureus compare to n -hexane extract. MIC and MBC of methanol extract and chromatographic fraction (F5.1) of ethyl acetate extract were 0.5 and 1.0 mg/mL, respectively. In addition, antibiofilm assay revealed that all extracts were inhibit initial attachment of bacteria cell in biofilm formation. This result revealed a novel information that D. draco extracts was potential as inhibitor of biofilm formation. TLC bioautography of D. draco extracts indicated that constituent with Rf of 0.71 performed antimicrobial activity against S. aureus . This finding expected to strengthen the scientific backup for utilization of D. draco by society.
The Local Bias of Individual Investors

This study investigates individual investors' bias towards nearby companies. Using data from a large U.S. discount brokerage, we find that individual investors tend to invest in companies closer to them relative to the market portfolio. Unlike Coval and Moskowitz's (1999) findings on institutional investors, however, we find that advantageous information cannot explain individual investors' local bias. Accounting numbers and information asymmetry matter less to individual investors' local bias than to that of institutional investors. Instead, we hypothesize that individuals' non-fundamentally based familiarity with local companies and ready reaction to local information are more plausible explanations. Consistent with this hypothesis, we find that individual investors are more likely to invest in remote companies that spend heavily on advertising. Evidence from investors' reactions to earnings announcements also confirms the hypothesis: local investors do not change their portfolios so as to take advantage of potentially advantageous information before earnings announcements. After earnings announcements, local investors change their portfolios more than remote investors in the direction opposite to the same earnings surprises.