181 research outputs found
'And I saw that the delicacies were many’: A Commentary on Food and Eating in the Book of Tobit
No full textThe role of food ш its consumption in literature is well recognised in a number of fields, but is just beginning to play a role in the study of ancient Jewish and Christian writings. Although the Book of Tobit contains some three dozen references to food and drink, there has until now been no full-length study of the phenomenon. Most of the time, when food is mentioned in Tobit, it is in connection with the dietary laws, an area along with a few other topics such as fasting, Passover, and commensality that are the primary focus of scholarship of food in Judaism. This dissertation reveals that the role of food in the Book Tobit is much deeper and more complex. Ubiquitous and highly varied, food is essential to the telling of the story. This includes not only its three major meals/celebrations, but a whole range of activities including food preparation, the gift of food to others, and a variety of ways in which food is not consumed. Unlike well-known themes such as endogamy, burial of the dead, and almsgiving that are the mainstays of commentary work on Tobit, food's varied appearance allows it to play a supporting role of the major themes of the unit in which it appears. It is crucial to illustrating Tobit's righteous behaviour in the opening chapter, for instance, just as much as it is critical to evoking the dark, liminal backdrop for Tobiah’s combat with a hungry large fish in chapter 6. In addition to illuminating how food is integral to the story, this study raises broader questions about the composition of Tobit in general as well as the role of food in ancient narrative
Interaktive Tutorials in digitalen Spielen: Eine iterative Entwicklung am Beispiel von Tabletop Tumult
No full textDiese Bachelorarbeit befasst sich mit der iterativen Entwicklung und Optimierung eines
interaktiven Tutorials für das asymmetrische Koop-Spiel „Tabletop Tumult“, in dem ein
VR-Spieler und ein PC-Spieler zusammenarbeiten, um eine Burg zu verteidigen. Da
der Einstieg in Virtual-Reality-Umgebungen für unerfahrene Spieler oft eine Heraus
forderung darstellt, bestand die zentrale Problemstellung darin, spezifische Einstiegs
hürden im Onboarding-Prozess von „Tabletop Tumult“ zu identifizieren und zu behe
ben.
Die Arbeit verfolgt einen iterativen Entwicklungsansatz, der auf Playtests und syste
matischem Nutzerfeedback basiert. Über drei Zyklen hinweg wurden das Tutorial kon
zipiert, implementiert, getestet und basierend auf den gesammelten Daten überarbei
tet. Zur Datenerhebung wurden sowohl qualitative Methoden wie Beobachtungen und
Interviews als auch quantitative Methoden wie Fragebögen und spielinterne Metriken
eingesetzt.
Die Ergebnisse der iterativen Entwicklung zeigen eine signifikante Verbesserung der
Spielerfahrung. Insbesondere die dritte Tutorial-Version führte zu einer messbaren
Steigerung der Spielkompetenz, indem sich der durchschnittliche Highscore im Ver
gleich zur Vorversion mehr als verdoppelte (+101 %). Auch die Nutzung relevanter
Spielmechaniken durch beide Spielerrollen stieg deutlich an, was auf eine erhöhte
Lerneffektivität hinweist. Trotz dieser Erfolge deckte das qualitative Feedback weiter
hin Usability-Probleme auf, wie unklare Erklärungen zur Ressourcenverbindung zwi
schen den Spielern und Sprachbarrieren bei englischen UI-Texten. Die Arbeit schließt
mit der Ableitung von Best Practices für das Onboarding in asymmetrischen VR-Spie
len und Implikationen für die weitere Entwicklung von Tabletop Tumult ab
Fertilization: trade-offs between manure abatement and plant productivity
No full textIn 2005, 30% of the Flemish farms faced a manure excess, while at aggregated level still 9.7% of the emission rights were unused. This means that, despite the various possibilities, Flemish farmers do not succeed in an effective exchange of manure between farms. In current paper is shown how inorganic fertilizer use influences the use and exchange of organic nitrogen. Because of the mutual interdependency between organic and inorganic nitrogen emission rights (or quota), inorganic nitrogen use limits the emission rights for organic nitrogen. Utilisation of these emission rights are analysed as a trade-offs choice between plant productivity (use of inorganic nitrogen) and manure disposal, as the major abatement alternative of manure production. Farmers still prefer inorganic fertilizers because of their effect on plant productivity and income. However, by changing the quota rent of organic nitrogen, the fertilization behaviour can be influenced. A higher quota rent of organic nitrogen would increase the use of manure. This trade-off behaviour seriously influences effectiveness of policies. When the objective is to lower the total nitrogen use, a mere reduction of organic quota can partially be counteracted by a higher inorganic nitrogen use. When the objective is to better spread the manure, increasing the quota rent for deficit farms will increase their acceptance of manure.manure abatement, nutrient emission rights, Tobit model, Crop Production/Industries,
Sensitivity analysis of censored output through polynomial, logistic and tobit models: Theory and case study.
No full textEstimating Monetary Reaction Functions at Near Zero Interest Rates: An Example Using Japanese Data
No full textThe importance of truncated distributions for bias in estimation of regression coefficients has been well understood by econometricians, but the relevance of truncation when estimating policy reaction functions has not been fully appreciated. Due to the emergence of low interest rates and the proximity of a zero lower bound (ZLB) on interest rates, coefficient estimates can be biased upwards. This paper illustrates the importance of measuring and correcting estimates for this bias using Japan’s unique experience of prolonged low inflation/deflation. While we would expect the monetary policy reaction function in Japan to differ from other countries in the G4, we show the bias from truncation of the interest rate distribution is significant and needs to be taken into account.Monetary policy, Reaction functions, Zero lower bounds, Japan, Tobit.
Religious life in The Book of Tobit
No full textKnjiga o Tobiji (Tob), napisana oko 200. god. pr. Kr., koloritnim pripovijedanjem
govori o jednoj obiteljskoj povijesti u kojoj pobožni Židov Tobit, sužanj iz
Naftalijeva plemena, autentično živi svoju religioznost. On je nadasve milosrdan
i vršitelj je Zakona. Cilj mu je ostati dosljedan vjeri svojih otaca, pa makar i uz
cijenu vlastitoga života. Jako mu je stalo da vrednote do kojih je držao prenese na
sina Tobiju. Knjiga je prožeta osjećajem pouzdanja u Božju providnost i idejom o
Božjem očinstvu koji se brine za čovjeka i uvijek se odaziva onima koji ga zazivaju.
Povijesni kontekst Tob podsjeća na mogućnost življenja punine vlastite vjere unutar
kulturne, društvene i političke stvarnosti koja se na prvi pogled čini da je
potpuno strana židovstvu. Nije teško shvatiti kako je vjerski život u Tob aktualan
i za nas. Naime, Tob i danas upućuje na put življenja svoje vjere u Boga, zajedno s
vrednotama, u kontekstu koji se često čini da je potpuno stran. Drugim riječima,
Tob ima za cilj odgovoriti na ključno pitanje: Kako živjeti kao vjernik u svijetu koji
nije naklon i ne pomaže na tom putu? Autor članka otkriva vjerske elemente u Tob
izvlačeći ih na površinu i praveći jednu sintezu. U nekoliko podnaslova sagledava
Tobitovu vjernost Bogu, analizira njegov moralno-vjerski lik, donosi nekoliko
karakteristika Sarine molitve i vjere te govori o zajedničkom putu vjere mladih
supružnika Tobije i Sare. Vjerski osjećaj i zajedništvo s jedinim Bogom, tajna su
idiličnog ambijenta o kojem govori Tob.The Book of Tobit was written around 200 BC. The colorful narrative tells the
history of one family in which the pious Jew, Tobit, a prisoner of the Naphtali tribe, lives
in a manner of authentic religious observance. Filled with grace, he acts according to
the Law. His goal is to follow the faith of his fathers, even if it costs him his life. He is determined
to pass on the values he treasures to his son Tobias. The book is imbued with
a sense of trust in Divine Providence and with the idea of the fatherhood of God, who
cares for people and always responds to those who call upon him. The historical context
of Tobit recalls the opportunity to live the fullness of faith within a cultural, social
and political reality which at first glance seems to be totally alien to Judaism. It is not
difficult to see that the religious life in Tobit is actual for us too. Even today Tobit offers
a way of living in fidelity to God in an environment where the prevailing values seem
to be completely alien. In other words, Tobit aims to answer the key question: How
do we live as believers in a world that is not disposed towards religion and does not
support religion? The author of this article highlights the religious elements in Tobit,
bringing these elements to the surface and creating a synthesis. In several subsections
he examines Tobit’s faithfulness to God, analyzing the moral and religious character of
this fidelity. The author also explores characteristics of Sarah’s prayer and faith, and
discusses the common journey of faith of the young married couple, Tobias and Sarah.
Religious sensibility and a state of fellowship with the one true God are the mystery at
the heart of the idyllic atmosphere described in Tobit
Meaning and context in Job and Tobit
No full textThe book of Tobit, which is dated to the Hellenistic period, is often compared with the model of the pious and innocent sufferer in the book of Job which is assumed to be the product of a late Persian or early Hellenistic scribal idea. It has been argued that in many ways, the author of Tobit directly alluded to Job’s texts and put its literary framework and themes into a new historical context, the Assyrian Diaspora. However, these literary works are quite dissimilar in how they use various Israelite and non-Israelite materials and they substantially reflect different thoughts and interests. In this article, I indicate how each book understands Jewish the literary tradition and suggest that both books reflect their own intellectual background. This will be discussed in relation to four areas: (1) suffering and theodicy; (2) dialogue; (3) retribution, law, and piety; and (4) election, eschatology, and the apocalyptic
Moral Highlights in the Book of Tobit
No full textKnjiga o Tobiji (Tob) je jedna od manje poznatih knjiga Staroga zavjeta napisana između III. i II. st. pr. Krista. Već od prvih svojih stranica Tob naglašava djela pravednika koja mu donose spasenje, kao npr. pokapanje mrtvih. Moralna doktrina Tob u skladu je s ostatkom biblijske književnosti čije je pripovijedanje puno moralnog nauka, a sadržaj donosi životnu priču jedne židovske obitelji u progonstvu. Dok u Tob ponajviše govori pobožni Tobitov lik, od njega se mogu čuti moralna pouka i mudra načela, poglavito kroz upute sinu Tobiji prije odlaska na dalek put. Autor ovoga članka sažeto prezentira odabrane moralne naglaske u Knjizi svrstavajući ih u četiri cjeline: Tora i Deuteronomij, društveno-politički moral, pravednost kao struktura općeg morala, vjerski moral. Knjiga o Tobiji dokumentira svjedočanstvo vjernikâ koji se bore sa svim stvarnostima ovoga svijeta, bez predrasuda i privilegija.The Book of Tobit (Tb) is one of the less known books in the Old Testament. It was written sometime between the III and II centuries BC. In the first pages of the book Tobit emphasises the work of the just which brings salvation, eg. burying the dead. Tobit’s moral doctrine along with other Biblical literature which is full of moral teachings is described through a description of a Jewish family in exile. Even though the book is basically speech by the pious Tobit, the moral messages and principles presented can be seen as he speaks and directs his son before departing on a long journey. The author of this article presents selected moral highlights in the Book placing them into four units: the Thora and Deuteronomy, social-political morals, justice as a structure of general morals, religious morals. The Book of Tobit records testimonies by believers who struggle with the realities of this world without any prejudice and privileges
Determinants of Agricultural Technology adoption: the case of improved groundnut varieties in Malawi
No full textThis paper applies the Average Treatment Effect (ATE) framework on data obtained from a random cross-section sample of 594 farmers in Malawi to document the actual and potential adoption rates of improved groundnut varieties and their determinants conditional on farmers’ awareness of the technology. The fact that not all farmers are exposed to the new technologies makes it difficult to obtain consistent estimates of population adoption rates and their determinants using direct sample estimates and classical adoption models such as probit or tobit. Our approach tries to control for exposure and selection bias in assessing the adoption rate of technology and its determinants. Results indicate that only 26% of the sampled farmers grew at least one of the improved groundnut varieties. The potential adoption rate of improved groundnut for the population is estimated at 37% and the adoption gap resulting from the incomplete exposure of the population to the improved groundnut is 12%. We further find that the awareness of improved varieties is mainly influenced by information access variables, while adoption is largely influenced by economic constraints. The findings are indicative of the relatively large unmet demand for improved groundnut varieties suggesting that there is scope for increasing the adoption rate of improved groundnut varieties in Malawi once the farmers are made aware of the technologies and if other constraints such as lack of access to credit are addressed.groundnuts, adoption, Average Treatment Effect, Malawi, Crop Production/Industries,
Adoption and diffusion of no tillage practices in Southern Spain olive groves
No full textThis paper analyses the process of adoption of no tillage in South-eastern Spain’s olive groves. Olive tree groves in South-eastern Spain’s mountainous areas are subject to a high risk of soil erosion, which is the main environmental problem for this crop, and have to incur in high costs of soil conservation. This results in a greater difficulty to comply with the practices required to benefit from both the single payment and agri-environmental schemes. In many high-steeped areas, farmers have opted for non-tillage practices as an alternative to other conservation practices. Using our own data from a survey carried out in 2006 among 215 olive tree farmers from the Granada Province in Southern Spain regarding the adoption of soil conservation and management practices, we model the diffusion process of no tillage practices using several specifications (logistic, Gompertz and exponential). We also estimate an ordered probit model to analyse which socio-economic and institutional factors determine the adoption of no tillage. Our results show that 90% of farmers in the area of study perform no tillage with either localized (21%) or no localized (69%) application of weedicides. The diffusion process of no tillage has been very intense since the middle nineties, and has been based on the interactions among farmers in the area of study rather than in external factors such as EU policies or extension services. Among other relevant factors that positively affect the adoption of no tillage practices in general, such as farm size and irrigation, the probability of a farmer adopting no tillage with non-localized application of weedicides increases when there is a relative that will continue with the farming activity, what causes the farmer to incorporate long term effects in his farming decisions, when the farmer is only a manager or when he bought the farm rather than inherited it (i.e. on more professionalized farms), and with his educational level. These results confirm some findings from previous studies in other nearby areas.Spanish olive groves, soil erosion, no tillage, Crop Production/Industries, Land Economics/Use,
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