Thermomagnetic analysis of meterorites. 4: Ureilites

Samples of all available ureilites have been analyzed thermomagnetically. For three of the six (Dyalpur, Goalpara and Havero) evidence was found for only low-nickel metallic-iron as the magnetic component and the (saturation magnetization vs, temperature) curves were reversible. In the Novo Urei ureilite, magnetite in addition to low-nickel metallic-iron was indicated and again the Js-T curve was reversible. For the two badly weathered ureilites, Dingo Pup Donga and North Haig, indication was also found that both initial magnetite and low-nickel metallic-iron were present. However, the Js-T curves were somewhat irreversible and the final saturation magnetization was 20% and 50% greater than initially for North Haig and Dingo Pup Donga, respectively. This behavior is interpreted to be the result of magnetite production from a secondary iron oxide during the experiment

The forgotten link: genesis of the Dongba Pictograph

Paul Middleton, Dean of the School of The Arts, The University of Northampton presented a research paper: 'The Forgotten Link: genesis of Donga Pictograph', following the study trips to Lijiang, China 2011-2012

Empirical Analysis of Agricultural Productivity: Growth in Benin and Mainly Factors which Influence Growth

This study examined changes in agricultural productivity at Benin in the context of diverse institutional arrangements using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA).A time series data which consists of information on agricultural production and means of production were obtained from World Research Institute database, INSAE and rainfall data from AMMA database. The information was for a 43-year period (1961-2003); DEA method was used to measure Malquist index of total factor productivity to evaluate technical change efficiency and technological efficiency change across the country’s 12 provinces. A decomposition of TFP measures revealed whether the performance of factors productivity is due to technological change or technical efficiency change over the reference period. The study further examined the effect of land quality, agriculture labor, and selected governance indicators such as government effectiveness and openness on productivity growth. All the variables included in the model are significant effect on the TPF and the country agriculture growth. They equally performed well in terms of expected relationship with TFP except land quality index which unexpectedly had an inverse relationship with TFP.Data Envelopment Analysis, Efficiency, Productivity, Benin, Agribusiness, N57, C01, C23,

Impaired Insulin Profiles Following a Single Night of Sleep Restriction: The Impact of Acute Sprint Interval Exercise

Experimental sleep restriction (SR) has demonstrated reduced insulin sensitivity in healthy individuals. Exercise is well-known to be beneficial for metabolic health. A single bout of exercise has the capacity to increase insulin sensitivity for up to 2 days. Therefore, the current study aimed to determine if sprint interval exercise could attenuate the impairment in insulin sensitivity after one night of SR in healthy males. Nineteen males were recruited for this randomized crossover study which consisted of four conditions—control, SR, control plus exercise, and sleep restriction plus exercise. Time in bed was 8 hr (2300–0700) in the control conditions and 4 hr (0300–0700) in the SR conditions. Conditions were separated by a 1-week entraining period. Participants slept at home, and compliance was assessed using wrist actigraphy. Following the night of experimental sleep, participants either conducted sprint interval exercise or rested for the equivalent duration. An oral glucose tolerance test was then conducted. Blood samples were obtained at regular intervals for measurement of glucose and insulin. Insulin concentrations were higher in SR than control (p = .022). Late-phase insulin area under the curve was significantly lower in sleep restriction plus exercise than SR (862 ± 589 and 1,267 ± 558; p = .004). Glucose area under the curve was not different between conditions (p = .207). These findings suggest that exercise improves the late postprandial response following a single night of SR

Focus expressions in Yom

This paper deals with the means for expressing the pragmatic category of focus in Yom, which is an Oti-Volta language of the Yom-Nawdem group spoken by about 74,000 people (Gordon 2005, online version) in the department of Donga in Northern Benin. The study is based on results of my field research carried out in March/April 2005 in Djougou (Benin), within the framework of the project “Focus in Gur and Kwa languages”. Main aim of this fieldwork was to study the expression of focus in Yom. Regarding the basic grammatical structure of the language, I mainly rely on various publications by Beacham (1969, 1991, and 1997)

Rice Intensification in a Changing Environment: Impact on Water Availability in Inland Valley Landscapes in Benin

This study assesses the impact of climate change on hydrological processes under rice intensification in three headwater inland valley watersheds characterized by different land conditions. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool was used to simulate the combined impacts of two land use scenarios defined as converting 25% and 75% of lowland savannah into rice cultivation, and two climate scenarios (A1B and B1) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Special Report on Emissions Scenarios. The simulations were performed based on the traditional and the rainfed-bunded rice cultivation systems and analyzed up to the year 2049 with a special focus on the period of 2030–2049. Compared to land use, climate change impact on hydrological processes was overwhelming at all watersheds. The watersheds with a high portion of cultivated areas are more sensitive to changes in climate resulting in a decrease of water yield of up to 50% (145 mm). Bunded fields cause a rise in surface runoff projected to be up to 28% (18 mm) in their lowlands, while processes were insignificantly affected at the vegetation dominated-watershed. Analyzing three watersheds instead of one as is usually done provides further insight into the natural variability and therefore gives more evidence of possible future processes and management strategie

Determinants of Monetary Poverty among Female-Headed Households in Benin

This study investigates the impact of the gender of the household head on the determinants of monetary poverty in the Republic of Benin using data collected during the 1999 living standards measurement survey in the country's rural and urban areas. The results show that there has not been any feminization of poverty since 1995. In 1999, the incidence of poverty among female household heads was lower than that of their male-headed counterparts, but in some cities the poverty gap was higher. Based on these results, some suggestions are made in order to reduce the incidence of poverty in Benin.Poverty, female-headed households, rural, urban, gender, education, Benin

Implementação de gabinete gráfico na empresa Marques Soares, SA, com o objetivo de produção do produto gráfico “Catálogo de Vendas”

Introdução Tendo desenvolvido a minha atividade profissional no apoio a empresas e profissionais que desenvolvem atividade na área gráfica são vários os trabalhos realizados na consultoria informática, formação e apoio à produção de conteúdos gráficos. Desses escolhi um trabalho que considero demonstrativo dessas várias vertentes e das minhas capacidades e competências na área das Artes Gráficas permitindo contextualizar essas capacidades com a docência de várias unidades curriculares que leciono no Departamento de Artes da Imagem, Escola Superior de Música, Artes e Espetáculo do Instituto Politécnico do Porto. O trabalho em questão consistiu no apoio à criação do departamento gráfico na empresa Marques Soares com vista à produção de um catálogo de vendas e outros materiais como sejam cartazes, folhetos, decoração de lojas,... Esta empresa comercializa diversas gamas de produtos em loja e através de um catálogo de vendas com distribuição nacional, com especial implantação no Norte e Centro de Portugal. Foi uma das primeiras empresas a apostar no segmento de vendas por catálogo, desde 1980. Ao longo dos anos, o catálogo foi produzido por diversas empresas da área gráfica, no entanto, por questões de custo e controlo de qualidade, entendeu a administração passar a executar o catálogo internamente, tendo para isso contratado a empresa LOJApple. Foi proposto que se criasse um gabinete gráfico adstrito ao departamento de marketing e dada formação ao funcionário responsável pela gestão da produção catálogo e que embora sendo um profissional com conhecimentos de artes gráficas não tinha conhecimentos na utilização de informática. Foi ainda decidido que como condição de compra dos equipamentos e serviços deveria o primeiro catálogo ser realizado com acompanhamento da empresa LOJApple. Na qualidade de responsável técnico pela área gráfica fui designado para gerir este projeto. Tratando-se de um projeto com uma forte componente na área informática considerei se deveria propor-me a especialista na área informática, no entanto a Portaria n.º 316/2001, de 2 de abril, que aprovou a Classificação Nacional de Áreas de Formação (CNAF), a área de Audiovisuais e Produção dos Media, integrada na área de estudo Artes do grupo Artes e Humanidades indica que: “213 Audiovisuais e produção dos media Os programas de formação em audiovisuais e produção dos media dizem respeito às técnicas necessárias à produção de livros, jornais, programas de rádio e televisão, filmes, vídeos, música gravada e à reprodução gráfica. Esta área também se refere aos métodos de reprodução a cores, à fotografia e à computação gráfica, assim como à associação de imagens, texto e ilustrações para a produção de livros, revistas, anúncios, documentos publicitários, etc. Esta área inclui os programas cujo conteúdo principal incida sobre as seguintes formações: 2 Composição de texto; Composição de texto informatizada; Composição tipográfica; Concepção gráfica/design gráfico; Encadernação; Fotografia; Ilustração; Impressão; Produção assistida por computador; Produção cinematográfica; Produção de rádio e televisão; Produção multimédia; Produção musical; Realização gráfica/maquetização; Reprodução gráfica; Técnicas de som e imagem; Técnicas dos media” Nesse sentido, e dado que leciono no Departamento de Artes da Imagem, com uma forte incidência nos cursos tecnológico/artísticos das áreas audiovisual e multimédia considerei mais adequado submeter a minha candidatura nesta área

The mineralogy, petrology, and composition of anomalous eucrite Emmaville

The Emmaville eucrite is a relatively poorly studied basaltic achondrite with an anomalous oxygen isotope signature. In this study, we report comprehensive mineralogical, petrographic, and geochemical data from Emmaville in order to understand its petrogenesis and relationship with the basaltic eucrites. Emmaville is an unusually fine-grained, hornfelsic-textured metabasalt with pervasive impact melt veins and mineral compositions similar to those of typical basaltic eucrites. The major and trace element bulk composition of Emmaville is also typical of a basaltic eucrite. Three separated individual lithologies were also analyzed for O isotopes; a dark gray fraction (E1), a shocked lithology (E2), and a lighter gray portion (E3). Fractions E1 and E2 shared similar O isotope compositions to the bulk sample (E-B), whereas the lighter gray portion (E3) is slightly elevated in Δ17O and significantly elevated in δ18O compared to bulk. No evidence for any exogenous material is observed in the thin sections, coupled with the striking compositional similarity to typical basaltic eucrites, appears to preclude a simple impact-mixing hypothesis. The O-isotopes of Emmaville are similar to those of Bunburra Rockhole, A-881394, and EET 92023, and thus distinct from the majority of the HEDs, despite having similarities in petrology, mineral, and bulk compositions. It would, therefore, seem plausible that all four of these samples are derived from a single HED-like parent body that is isotopically distinct from that of the HEDs (Vesta) but similar in composition