Trade Flows, Exchange Rate Uncertainty and Financial Depth: Evidence from 28 Emerging Countries

We investigate the effects of real exchange rate uncertainty and financial depth on manufactures exports from 28 emerging economies to the North and South over 1978-2005. We estimate a dynamic panel model using system GMM approach and show that for the majority of countries in our sample exchange rate uncertainty affects both South-South and South-North trade negatively. Furthermore, for several cases we discover that this effect is unidirectional, that is South-South or South-North. In addition, we find that while financial depth plays a trade-enhancing role, exchange rate shocks can negate this effect. We also show that trade among developing economies is likely to enhance export growth

Las crisis de los refugiados en el Líbano y en Jordania: la necesidad de invertir en el desarrollo económico

La forma más eficaz de abordar las crisis de los refugiados sirios para los Estados colindantes sería asumir un papel de liderazgo en la inversión en desarrollo, en la mejora de las infraestructuras y en la creación del empleo, especialmente en las regiones más subdesarrolladas de estos países

PEMBELAJARAN MEMBACA DENGAN MODEL SNOWBALL THROWING UNTUK MENINGKATKAN KEMAMPUAN MEMBACA PEMAHAMAN (PENELITIAN TINDAKAN KELAS SISWA KELAS VIIIB SMPN 7 CIMAHI)

Penelitian Tindakan Kelas (PTK) ini berjudul â€Pembelajaran Membaca Menggunakan Model Snowball Throwing Untuk Meningkatkan Kemampuan Membaca Pemahaman Siswa Kelas VIIIB SMPN 7 Cimahiâ€. Berawal dari temuan hasil pengalaman sebelumnya, bahwa kemampuan siswa dalam pembelajaran membaca materi membaca pemahaman rendah, maka penelitian mencari solusi dengan menggunakan model pembelajaran Snowball Throwing. Kegiatan penelitian ini dimulai dengan penyusunan perencanaan dan dilanjutkan melaksanakan tindakan.Penelitian ini dilaksanakan dalam dua siklus,hasilnya sebagai berikut: 1)pada siklus-1 prestasi hasil belajar siswa baru mencapai 63,16% yang dapat mencapai ketuntasan dengan KKM=70,   2)  pada sklus-2 dilakukan perbaikan-perbaikan segala kekurangan yang terjadi pada siklus-1, dari hasil prestasi siswa naik secara signifikan mencapai ketuntasan menjadi 89,47% dengan nilai rata-rata 80.Dengan demikian tindakan sudah dianggap berhasil karena tingkat ketuntasan  KKM siswa sudah di atas 75%. Pada Siklus-1 dilihat dari criteria tentang nilai siswa kategori sangat baik 4,76%, kategori baik 52,38%, kategori cukup 16,67%, kategori kurang 30,95%. Pada siklus-2 siswa yang memperoleh kategori sangat baik 40,48%, kategori baik 47,62%, dan kategori cukup 11,90%. Pada siklus-2 tidak ada siswa yang memperoleh kategori kurang , karena hasilnya sudah mencapai tingkat keberhasilan melebihi 75%, maka tindakan sudah dianggap tercapai.  Dari hasil penelitian ini dengan menggunakan Model Snowball Throwing dalam pembelajaran membaca pemahaman dapat disimpulkan bahwa Model Snowball Throwing dapat meningkatkan kemampuan siswa dalam materi membaca pemahaman murid kelas VIIIB SMPN  7 Kota Cimahi

Identification and characterization of polymorphic mobile elements (MEs) in humans

Retrotransposons are mobile elements (MEs) that propagate in a “copy and paste” fashion in the genomes via RNA intermediates. In the human genome, retrotransposons consist of long terminal repeats (LTRs), long interspersed elements (LINEs), short interspersed elements (SINEs), SINE-VNTR- Alus (SVAs), and processed pseudogenes (PPSGs), and they collectively contribute close to 50% of the genome. Some members of these MEs continue to undergo retrotransposition, thereby generating a type of structural variations (SVs) within and between human populations by the presence and absence of ME insertions at specific genomic locations. A large number of such polymorphic MEs have been previously reported and documented, including cases associated with diseases, but with limited sequence characterization and genotype analysis. In this study, we performed extensive computational analysis and compilation of polymorphic MEs from multiple sources. We focused on characterization of complete sequences representing the insertion alleles and pre-integration alleles of ME polymorphic loci, using methods including local sequence assembly based on rich personal genome sequence data for many entries. Further, we performed in silico genotyping and population distribution for these polymorphic MEs for 2600 human subjects representing 28 well recognized populations around the world, as well as phylogenetic analysis of these human subjects using these polymorphic MEs as markers. We identified a total of 4400 polymorphic MEs with full sequence characterization for both the pre-integration and insertion alleles. Among these, 1267 entries represent new insertions not previously documented in the Database of Retrotransposon Insertion Polymorphisms in humans (dbRIP), and 1777 entries represent ME insertions outside the current human reference genome. By individual populations and all samples as whole, all 5 ME types displayed a similar allele distribution pattern with the majority having an allele frequency at 0.5, while differences across ME types are also seen at the very low frequency range. Nevertheless, polymorphic MEs do show substantial geographic differentiation, with numerous continent-specific loci identified. Polymorphic ME-based clustering of human subjects seems to correlate well with what we know about the history and relationship of human populations, indicating the usefulness of polymorphic MEs as markers for studying human evolution. Furthermore, polymorphic MEs were found to participate in both coding and regulatory sequences, signifying their potential contribution to the phenotypic diversity present among human populations and individuals. In conclusion, polymorphic MEs represent a significant source of human genetic diversity with potentials on impacting the structure, function, and evolution of the human genome

Spatial Resolution Analysis of a Variable Resolution X-ray Cone-beam Computed Tomography System

A new cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) system is designed and implemented that can adaptively provide high resolution CT images for objects of different sizes. The new system, called Variable Resolution X-ray Cone-beam CT (VRX-CBCT) uses a CsI-based amorphous silicon flat panel detector (FPD) that can tilt about its horizontal (u) axis and vertical (v) axis independently. The detector angulation improves the spatial resolution of the CT images by changing the effective size of each detector cell. Two components of spatial resolution of the system, namely the transverse and axial modulation transfer functions (MTF), are analyzed in three different situations: (1) when the FPD is tilted only about its vertical axis (v), (2) when the FPD is tilted only about its horizontal axis (u), and (3) when the FPD is tilted isotropically about both its vertical and horizontal axes. Custom calibration and MTF phantoms were designed and used to calibrate and measure the spatial resolution of the system for each case described above. A new 3D reconstruction algorithm was developed and tested for the VRX-CBCT system, which combined with a novel 3D reconstruction algorithm, has improved the overall resolution of the system compared to an FDK-based algorithm

Outage Performance of Generalized Cooperative NOMA Systems with SWIPT in Nakagami-m Fading

This paper investigates cooperative non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) with simultaneous wireless informationand power transfer (SWIPT) radio networks. A decode-andforward relay deserves a base station to transmit informationto two users. Two access schemes are addressed: direct andrelay assisted transmission (DRAT) where a line-of-sight existsbetween the source and destination, and non-direct and relayassisted transmission (nDRAT) where the only access to the finalusers is through the relay. New closed-form expressions of outageprobability are derived at these schemes. A generalization usingNakagami-m fading channels in considered, in order to present acomplete cover of relayed NOMA systems with energy harvestingbehavior in small scale fading.We consider the impact of time splitting fraction, power allocation and channel parameters on system maintainability andevaluate its maximum data rate transmission with full autonomy.By comparing the two schemes, cooperative NOMA with energyharvesting (EH) in nDRAT scenario outperforms transmissionwith direct link in terms of outage probability and transmissiondata rate

The Political Economy of the Egyptian and Arab Revolt

This article advances a framework for understanding the political economy of the Egyptian and Arab revolts. After almost three decades of implementing neoliberal economic policies, the Egyptian economy was nevertheless stagnating in the early 2000s and political unrest was increasing. In response two key policy decisions were undertaken by the ruling elite, one to embark on a programme of further liberalisation and privatisation in the hope of attracting foreign direct investment and the other to use the global war on terror framework as a means of repressing internal dissent. While these decisions ‘succeeded’ in the short term, they also created the conditions which led to the uprisings

Stress and Coping Strategies Among Final Dental Students at Karary University 2021

Background: Stress is a situation where the demands exceed the capacity of an individual to respond and can affect negatively the physical and psychological consequences. Dentistry can be extremely stressful for dental students who need to acquire different proficiencies such as theoretical knowledge, clinical skills, and interpersonal communication skills. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the sources of stress among dental students at the clinical stage, their perceived levels of stress, and the coping strategies they adopt. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study, which was conducted during the final semester of the academic year 2020-2021 at the College of Dentistry, Karary University, Sudan. We used the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) and dental environmental stress scale (DES) questionnaire to evaluate stress among the selected students. The surveys were conducted among 78 dental clinical students (51 female and 27 male) and were asked to assess the different forms of stress they had been exposed to during the previous months. Descriptive analysis methods, Chi-square test, Pearson Correlation, and analysis of variance test (ANOVA) were performed to analyze the data. Results: Analysis indicated that there was a significant association between perceived stress scale and age (P < 0.05). Also, there was a significant association between gender and stress, Females were exposed to high PSS more than males with percentages of 54.9%. Our results indicated that the main sources of extreme stress among dental students were Compliance of patients (63.60%), Completing clinical requirements (62.30%), inadequate time for relaxation (57.70%), Insufficient treatment time (57.10%), academic factors (57.10%), reduced holidays (55.10%), Discrimination between students (46.10%), Lack of recreation places within the accommodation (42.3%) and financial problems (42.30%). To cope with stress, students used multi-factorial strategies, spiritual comfort, and sleeping. Conclusion: The primary sources of stress were academic factors and clinical education. The females expressed higher levels of stress in certain areas of dental training. the Present study identified stressors affecting dental students' academic life and highlights the importance of stress management programs and other measures to minimize the impact of stress on both the academic and personal lives of the students. Keywords: stress, PSS, DES, Dental Students, Coping Strategies