Determinants of the Growth Cycle of The Gambia’s Economy using ARDL and Forecasting Techniques

This paper intends to show the determinants of the forecasting of the growth cycle of the Gambia’s economy using a data from 1934- 2017.  The impact of the variables under observation towards the growth of the Gambia’s economy was analyzed. I will use forecasting techniques together with Auto Regression Distributed Lags to find the impacts of the variable. Tourism, exports and taxes play a very crucial role towards growth of the Gambia’s economy. The growth cycle will be forecasted with a variable values on the GDP series at a VECR of 0.9 point, unrestricted variable of 0.7 and a Bayesian variable of an open interval of the CLT at 0.5-0.9. I will also make use of both the dynamic and static forecasting methods to reach the statistically significant conclusion. Keywords: Growth Cycle, Gross Domestic Products, Taxes, Investment, Net Exports and Tourism JEL Classification: B22, C10, C12, C13, C51, C52, C53, C55, C80, F43, Y1

Does Agriculture have an Impact on Economic Growth? Empirical Evidence from the Gambia

The present study aims to answer the question, ‘Does agriculture have an impact on economic growth in the Gambia? The secondary source of data covering the time series period 1980 to 2017 is employed. It opines that agriculture is one of the variable techniques of economic growth in developing countries like the Gambia. The methods of analysis used were Error correction model and Auto regressive distributed lag model (ARDL) to estimate the economic growth. The study found a significant positive effect of agriculture on economic growth in both the short- run and long-run, reaffirming the sector’s importance in the economy. The impact of agriculture to economic growth is further affirmed from a causality test which showed that agriculture growth Granger- causes GDP growth and GDP growth also Granger causes agriculture growth. The study concludes that agriculture have a positive impact on economic growth. I recommend that, the government and policy makers should embark on diversification and enhance more allocation in terms of budgeting and policy changes in the agricultural sector. Key Words: Economic Growth, Gross Domestic Product and Agriculture

Serum homocysteine level in hormonal contraceptive users in Kano Metropolis

Background: Homocysteine is a sulfur containing amino acid that is normally present in all cells of the body. The homocysteine level is linked to folate and Vitamin B-12 levels. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of hormonal contraceptives (HCPs) on homocysteine levels among healthy women using the HCPs. Method: A total of 90 participants were recruited in this study; 60 women on hormonal contraceptives served as the case group and 30 non-HCP users were considered as control. Blood samples were collected, and serum was analyzed for homocysteine levels in both groups. The mean ± standard deviation of the homocysteine levels were then determined and compared using student t-test. Results: The mean ± standard deviation of Serum Homocysteine in the case group, (14.14 ± 7.56μmol/L, was found to be significantly higher than the mean ± standard deviation of the control group which was 9.59 ± 5.87μmol/L (p-value of 0.005). The study also found statistically significant positive correlation (r<1) between duration of hormonal contraceptives use and serum homocysteine levels of HCPs users with r-value of 0.058. Conclusion: This study observed significant relationship between HCPs and increased serum homocysteine. Significantly increased homocysteine levels were observed in HCPs users compared to non-users. There was also positive correlation between the duration of HCP usage and increased homocysteine levels. Keywords: Contraception; Folate; Homocystinuria; Oral contraceptive

Estimation Of Lithologies And Depositional Facies From Wireline Logs

We approach the problem of identifying facies from well logs though the use of neural networks that perform vector quantization of input data by competitive learning. The method can be used in either an unsupervised or supervised manner. Unsupervised analysis is used to segregate a well into distinct facies classes based on the log behavior. Supervised analysis is used to identify the facies types present in a certain well by making use of the facies identified from cores in a nearby well. The method is suitable for analyzing lithologies and depositional facies of horizontal wells, which are almost never cored, especially if core data is available for nearby vertical wells. Both types of modes are implemented and used for the automatic facies analysis of horizontal wells in Saudi Arabia. In addition to the identification of facies, the method is also able to calculate confidence measures for each analysis that is indicative of how well the analysis procedure can identify those facies given uncertainties in the data. Moreover, constraints derived from human experience and geologic principles can be applied to guide the inference process.Saudi AramcoMassachusetts Institute of Technology. Borehole Acoustics and Logging ConsortiumMassachusetts Institute of Technology. Earth Resources Laboratory. Reservoir Delineation Consortiu

Ultimate Load of Different Types of Reinforced Self-Compacting Concrete Columns Attacked by Sulphate

In this study, the effects of the partial immersion of sulphate attack on the ultimate load capacity of reinforced self-compacting concrete (SCC) columns and the sulphate attack resistance improvement using silica fume, steel fibres, and the combination of silica fume and steel fibres were assessed. Twelve short circular self-compacting reinforced concrete columns (0.150 m in diameter and 0.7 m long) were cast and divided into groups according to (1) the three acid-attack groups. The first group was tested without an acid attack (control). The second group was tested after 1 month of exposure to 2% acid. The final group was tested after 1 month of exposure to 4% acid and was then (2) subdivided according to the type of casted concrete. The first group was cast with SCC. The second group was cast with SCC and silica fume (0.1% of the cement weight). The third group was cast with SCC and 1% volume fraction steel fibres. The fourth group was cast with SCC silica fume and 1% volume fraction steel fibre. All columns were tested by axial loading. The ultimate load was increased by 42% with silica fume, 190% with steel fibres, and 238% with silica fume and steel fibres. Exposure to 2% and 4% acid reduced the ultimate loads of the columns casted with SCC by 23% and 47%, the columns casted with SCC and silica fume by 34% and 37%, the columns casted with SCC and steel fibres by 69% and 78%, and the columns casted with SCC, silica fume, and steel fibres by 72% and 79%, respectively. Based on the results, using silica fumes improved sulphate resistance, and using steel fibres enhanced sulphate resistance at an acceptable ratio. Furthermore, the mix with silica fume and steel fibres improved sulphate resistance at a good ratio. We encountered several problems in this study. The partial immersion of sulphate affected the strain in both concrete and steel. Future studies using different immersion ratios are recommended. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-2022-08-10-04 Full Text: PD

Coordination of Cu(II) and Ni(II) in polymers imprinted so as to optimize amine chelate formation

Molecular imprinting has become an established technique. However, little was done on direct investigation of the sorbents produced. In the present work, en ESR method was used for the investigation of the complex formation processes within the sorbents imprinted with copper(II) and nickel(II). The sorbents were synthesized from a mixture of linear low molecular weight polyethyleneimine oligomers. The composition, structure and distribution of complexes in the resin phase were investigated. The effects of the synthesis conditions, loading degree and water content were examined. The presence of certain copper complexes was found to be a convenient characteristic of the imprinting efficiency. The optimum synthesis conditions for obtaining sorbents imprinted with copper(II) or nickel(II) were identified. The imprinting results in the improvement of the stability of the complexes and the selectivity and working capacity of the sorbents. The imprinted samples are also characterized by a more even distribution of chelating sites. The synthesis conditions and loading by ions allow for the regulation of the ratio between individual complexes and magnetic associates in the resin phase. This is a critical point on the future use of the metal containing imprinted sorbents as catalysts. (C) 2003 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd

Dynamic response of NASA Rotor Test Apparatus and Sikorsky S-76 hub mounted in the 80- by 120-Foot Wind Tunnel

A shake test was conducted in the 80- by 120-Foot Wind Tunnel at NASA Ames Research Center, using the NASA Ames Rotor Test Apparatus (RTA) and the Sikorsky S-76 rotor hub. The primary objective of this shake test was to determine the modal properties of the RTA, the S-76 rotor hub, and the model support system installed in the wind tunnel. Random excitation was applied at the rotor hub, and vibration responses were measured using accelerometers mounted at various critical locations on the model and the model support system. Transfer functions were computed using the load cell data and the accelerometer responses. The transfer function data were used to compute the system modal parameters with the aid of modal analysis software

A Rare Case of Mucinous Adenocarcinoma of the Colon Presenting as Ileoileal Intussusception in an Adult

Intussusception is the cause of around 1% of all bowel obstructions in adults. Unlike in children, where intussusception is most often idiopathic in nature, cases in adults usually have an identifiable etiology, most commonly malignancy. Symptoms are usually non-specific, but timely identification and management is crucial due to high rates of carcinoma as the lead point of intussusception. Here we present a rare case of mucinous adenocarcinoma of the colon that presented as ileoileal intussusception. Diagnostic and treatment issues are also discussed

Modifiable risk factors for dementia, and awareness of brain health behaviors: Results from the Five Lives Brain Health Ireland Survey (FLBHIS)

Up to 40% of dementias globally are attributable to modifiable risk factors. Many existing studies examining attitudes to brain health are limited by a failure to consider a range of pertinent risk factors and associated barriers to protective behaviors. In Ireland, self-reported knowledge of dementia is poor compared to other conditions. In this context, the current study aimed to explore exposure to and awareness of specific modifiable risk factors for dementia. We also aimed to investigate whether exposure to these risk factors is associated with demographic and socioeconomic factors. A cross-sectional survey was administered to 555 voluntary participants in February 2022. The survey captured the following information: (1) Sociodemographic factors; (2) Exposure to, as well as knowledge of modifiable risk factors for dementia, namely diet, social interaction, exercise, hypertension, sleep, depression, smoking, alcohol consumption, cognitive stimulation, hearing impairment, diabetes, air pollution, and head injury. The study population comprised 551 participants (50.3% male; 49.6% female). Mean age was 59.7 years. Modifiable risk factors for dementia were prevalent. Relative to females, male gender was significantly associated with multiple risk factors. Whilst 65.6% of participants believed that lifestyle improvements can decrease a person’s risk of developing dementia, only 31.4% believed that dementia could be prevented. Head injury (90.9%, n = 500), low mental stimulation (85.3%, n = 469), and alcohol consumption (77.8%, n = 428) were the three most commonly recognized risk factors. Awareness was significantly greater in both university groups (undergraduate and postgraduate) for multiple risk factors. Our findings demonstrate that the distribution of exposure to modifiable risk factors for dementia is unequal across gender and age groups, and that awareness levels vary across risk factors. These findings highlight that focus surrounding dementia prevention should shift toward individual risk profiling and should be tailored toward an individual’s specific needs