Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A market mechanism for solving multi-period optimal power flow exactly on AC networks with mixed participants

The difficult problem of optimal power flow on AC networks has recently been tackled via reformulation as a semidefinite program. New work in the field suggests that a globally optimal solution is attainable in this way. Here, the problem is extended to multiple time periods in order to accommodate the time-coupled nature of power system entities' costs and constraints. A market mechanism is then developed for the clearing of nodal prices for both real and reactive power, and it is shown that these prices are optimal under standard convexity assumptions. The mechanism is motivated by the separable structure of the Lagrangian associated with the relaxed SDP formulation, allowing the application of a dual subgradient method. Physical insights into the electrical network are then used to make improvements over the standard method that dramatically speed up convergence. The advantage of considering multiple time periods in parallel is that dynamic costs and constraints, e.g. generator ramping and wear, as well as the important price smoothing role of storage, can be accommodated naturally - something existing multi-period auctions do not allow. The mechanism is demonstrated on a 39 bus network populated with a variety of market participant types.
Analysing policy processes as multiple governance: Accountability in social policy

There is a need to develop appropriate ways to analyse issues about complexity in the governance process and about accountability. The preoccupation with policy ‘stages’ need to be replaced with a more complex model of the way in which policy decisions are inter-related or ‘nested’. It is argued that a ‘multiple governance framework’, influenced by Elinor Ostrom’s ‘institutional analysis and development’ framework, offers a way to do this. The framework is illustrated using examples from English health and education policy, where there are opposed positions about professional autonomy and about local prerogatives, to show how this approach assists the analysis of issues like these.
Women in the Legislatures and Executives of the World: Knocking at the Highest Glass Ceiling

This article reports the results of a survey of women in legislatures and executives around the world as they were constituted in 1998 (N = 180). The chief hypotheses regarding the factors hindering or facilitating women's access to political representation were tested by multivariate regression models. The regression models juxtaposed a cocktail of institutional, political, cultural, and socioeconomic variables with the following dependent variables: (1) the percentage of MPs who are women and (2) the percentage of cabinet ministers who are women. A number, although not all, of the cited hypotheses were statistically confirmed and more finely quantified. The socioeconomic development of women in society has an effect on the number of women in parliament but not in the cabinet. A country's length of experience with multipartyism and women's enfranchisement correlates with both the legislative and the executive percentage. Certain electoral systems are more women friendly than others. The ideological nature of the party system affects the number of women elected and chosen for cabinet posts. And last, the state's dominant religion, taken as a proxy for culture, also statistically relates to the number of women who will make it to high political office. However, other long-held hypotheses were not proved. The degree of democracy is not a good indicator of the percentage of women who will make it into the legislature or the cabinet, nor is the dichotomy between a presidential or parliamentary system.
A Preliminary Look at the Social Perspective of Warn-on-Forecast: Preferred Tornado Warning Lead Time and the General Public's Perceptions of Weather Risks

AbstractTornado warnings are currently issued an average of 13 min in advance of a tornado and are based on a warn-on-detection paradigm. However, computer model improvements may allow for a new warning paradigm, warn-on-forecast, to be established in the future. This would mean that tornado warnings could be issued one to two hours in advance, prior to storm initiation. In anticipation of the technological innovation, this study inquires whether the warn-on-forecast paradigm for tornado warnings may be preferred by the public (i.e., individuals and households). The authors sample is drawn from visitors to the National Weather Center in Norman, Oklahoma. During the summer and fall of 2009, surveys were distributed to 320 participants to assess their understanding and perception of weather risks and preferred tornado warning lead time. Responses were analyzed according to several different parameters including age, region of residency, educational level, number of children, and prior tornado experience. A .
Opinions and Expectations of Women in the Treatment of Cervical and Uterine Cancer in Spain

Aim: To know the experiences, needs and expectations of women in the treatment of cervical and uterine cancer in the Andalusian Health Service. Methods: Focus groups and in-depth interviews with women being treated for cervical–uterine cancer within the Andalusian Health Service. Analysis with Nudist Vivo 1.0 (QSR International Pty Ltd, Doncaster, Victoria, Australia). Results: The needs and expectations detected were: coherence in the promotion strategies and the presence of a proactive approach by health professionals, availability of comprehensive information and understanding, possibility of expressing to health professionals one's doubts and fears, and of participation in decision-making, technical quality, humane treatment and continuity of care and attention to psychosocial aspects. Conclusion: The knowledge of women in the treatment of cancer of the cervix and uterus plays a crucial part in improving the delivery of these services.
An Introduction to Governance in Africa

The objective of the journal Governance in Africa (GiA) is to engage with the contemporary and evolutionary debates on transformative governance for sustainable and equitable development, and stability, in Africa. In recent years, there have been signs of a move away from conventional approaches to governance reform — constructed through the analytical lens of western powers — toward a new convention that uses African localities and everyday norms as the starting point for transformation. This is an approach that is also informed by orthodox analytical approaches. The objective of this journal is therefore to provide an exploratory space for creative thinking and to encourage a wider, deeper and more nuanced debate from a broader knowledge base. It aims for a different assessment of what transformative governance might mean in Africa, and adopts a multidisciplinary approach to the issues. It seeks to provide a unique platform for the presentation of new evidence or new theory from a variety of well-informed voices, and to cross-pollinate ideas. It is the goal of GiA to align innovative thinking, research and policy making in this complex and dynamic field.
Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome: a novel marker of kidney neoplasia.

BACKGROUND Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome (BHD) is a dominantly inherited predisposition for development of fibrofolliculomas, trichodiscomas, and acrochordons. Concurrent internal tumors, such as colonic polyps and renal carcinoma, have been described in patients with BHD. OBJECTIVE To evaluate kindreds with familial renal tumors for cutaneous manifestations of BHD. DESIGN One hundred fifty-two patients from 49 families underwent complete oral and skin examination. Skin lesions were identified by their clinical appearance, and the diagnosis was confirmed by results of histologic examination. Individuals underwent screening for familial renal neoplasms. SETTING A tertiary referral research hospital. PATIENTS Individuals with familial renal tumors and their asymptomatic at-risk relatives. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE We determined whether any form of renal cancer is associated BHD. RESULTS We identified 3 extended kindreds in whom renal neoplasms and BHD appeared to segregate together. Two kindreds had renal oncocytomas and a third had a variant of papillary renal cell carcinoma. Thirteen patients exhibited BHD. Seven individuals, including a set of identical twins, had renal neoplasms and BHD. An additional 4 patients (3 deceased and not examined) in these families had renal neoplasms but not BHD. Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome without renal neoplasms was present in 6 individuals. Thirteen patients with fibrofolliculomas and trichodiscomas presented clinically with multiple smooth skin-colored to grayish-white papules located on the face, auricles, neck, and upper trunk. Oral papules were present in 9 of 28 and achrochordons in 11 of 28 patients. Features of BHD not previously appreciated included deforming lipomas in 5, collagenomas in 4, and pulmonary cysts in 4 of 28 patients. Families with BHD did not display germline mutations in the von Hippel-Lindau gene or in the tyrosine kinase domain of the MET proto-oncogene. CONCLUSIONS Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome may be associated with familial renal tumors. Birt-Hogg-Dubé and renal tumors segregate together in an autosomal dominant fashion. Patients with BHD and their relatives are at risk for development of renal tumors. Therefore, patients with BHD and their relatives should undergo abdominal computed tomography and renal ultrasound screening for renal tumors.
Mixture analysis of longitudinal binary data

The dependence of longitudinal binary outcomes on covariates and the covariation observed between them is often modelled by (multivariate) logistic and probit models, respectively, assuming specified association structure or random effects. Alternatively, latent class models may be used that capture the covariation by assuming heterogeneity of the observational units regarding their reaction tendencies while postulating independence within classes. In the presence of a few categorical covariates, the multi‐group method of latent class analysis allows one to relate the class sizes and the class‐specific response probabilities to these covariates. Wheeze data from the Harvard Six‐Cities study on respiratory health are a typical example for such a situation: at four occasions, the wheeze status of 537 children was examined, 187 among them exposed to maternal smoking and 350 not exposed. Thus, there is a single binary covariate (maternal smoking versus no maternal smoking) making easily applicable the multi‐group method of latent class analysis. Based on a series of unrestricted and restricted models having up to three classes for the exposed and not‐exposed subgroup each, no statistically significant effect of maternal smoking on children's wheeze status could be substantiated. Moreover, it was not possible to show statistically significant difference at all between the two distributions of wheeze patterns collected from exposed and not‐exposed children. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Presidential Calculus

This article proposes a decision-theoretic model to explain how cabinets help presidents implement their policy-making strategies. Presidents are assumed to have two policy-making strategies: a strategy based on the use of statutes or a strategy based on executive prerogatives. If the president's preferences and the institutional incentives and economic conditions faced favor a statutory strategy, the president is more likely to appoint a majority cabinet, select more partisan ministers, and distribute portfolios to parties on a proportional basis. Econometric analysis of 106 cabinets appointed in 13 countries of the Americas demonstrates that the determinants of cabinet legislative status are the size of the president's party, extremist presidents, and economic crises. The share of partisan ministers and proportionality in portfolio allocation are affected by the size of the president's party, extremist presidents holding decree powers, the extension of the president's veto powers, and the elapsing of the president's term.
Artificial Neural Network Models for Forecasting Stock Price Index in the Bombay Stock Exchange

Artificial Neural Network (ANN) has been shown to be an efficient tool for non-parametric modelling of data in a variety of different contexts where the output is a non-linear function of the inputs. These include business forecasting, credit scoring, bond rating, business failure prediction, medicine, pattern recognition and image processing. A large number of studies have been reported in literature with reference to the use of ANN in modelling stock prices in western countries. However, not much work along these lines has been reported in the Indian context. In this article we discuss the modelling of the Indian stock market (price index) data using ANN. We study the efficacy of ANN in modelling the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) SENSEX weekly closing values. We develop two networks with three hidden layers for the purpose of this study which are denoted as ANN1 and ANN2. ANN1 takes as its inputs the weekly closing value, 52-week moving average of the weekly closing SENSEX values, 5-week moving average of the same, and the 10-week Oscillator for the past 200 weeks. ANN2 takes as its inputs the weekly closing value, 52-week moving average of the weekly closing SENSEX values, 5-week moving average of the same and the 5-week volatility for the past 200 weeks. Both the neural networks are trained using data for 250 weeks starting January 1997. To assess the performance of the networks we used them to predict the weekly closing SENSEX values for the two-year period beginning January 2002. The root mean square error (RMSE) and mean absolute error (MAE) are chosen as indicators of performance of the networks. ANN1 achieved an RMSE of 4.82 per cent and MAE of 3.93 per cent while ANN2 achieved an RMSE of 6.87 per cent and MAE of 5.52 per cent.
Thermodynamics of micelle formation in water, hydrophobic processes and surfactant self-assemblies.

The critical micelle concentration (c.m.c.) for four cationic surfactants, alkyl-trimethyl-ammonium bromides, was determined as a function of temperature by conductivity measurements. The values of the standard free energy of micellisation DeltaG degrees(mic) at different temperatures were calculated by using a pseudo-phase transition model. Then, from the diagram (-DeltaG degrees(mic)/T)=f(1/T), the thermodynamic functions DeltaH(app) and DeltaS(app) were calculated. From the plots DeltaH(app)=f(T) and DeltaS(app) = f(ln T) the slopes DeltaC(p) = n(w(H))C(p,w) and DeltaC(p)=n(w(S))C(p,w) were calculated, with the numbers n(w(H)) and n(w(S)) negative and equal and therefore defined simply as n(w). The number n(w)<0, indicating condensed water molecules, depends on the reduction of cavity that takes place as a consequence of the coalescence of the cavities previously surrounding the separate aliphatic or aromatic moieties. The analysis, based on a molecular model consisting of three forms of water, namely W(I), W(II), and W(III), respectively, was extended to several other types of surfactants for which c.m. c. data had been published by other authors. The results of this analysis form a coherent scheme consistent with the proposed molecular model. The enthalpy for all the types of surfactant is described by DeltaH(app)= -3.6 + 23.1xi(w)-xi(w)C(p,w)T and the entropy by DeltaS(app)= +10.2+428xi(w)-xi(w)C(p,w) ln T where xi(w)= |n(w)| represents the number of molecules W(III) involved in the reaction. The term Deltah(w)= +23.1 kJ mol(-1) xi(w)(-1) indicates an unfavourable endothermic contribution to enthalpy for reduction of the cavity whereas the term Deltas(w)= +428 J K(-1) mol(-1) xi(w)(-1) represents a positive entropy contribution for reduction of the cavity, what is the driving force of hydrophobic association. The processes of non polar gas dissolution in water and of micelle formation were found to be strictly related: they are, however, exactly the opposite of one another. In micelle formation no intermolecular electronic short bond is formed. We propose, therefore, to substitute the term "hydrophobic bond" with that of "hydrophobic association".
The L-4F mimetic peptide prevents insulin resistance through increased levels of HO-1, pAMPK, and pAKT in obese mice

We examined mechanisms by which L-4F reduces obesity and diabetes in obese (ob) diabetic mice. We hypothesized that L-4F reduces adiposity via increased pAMPK, pAKT, HO-1, and increased insulin receptor phosphorylation in ob mice. Obese and lean mice were divided into five groups: lean, lean-L-4F-treated, ob, ob-L-4F-treated, and ob-L-4F-LY294002. Food intake, insulin, glucose adipocyte stem cells, pAMPK, pAKT, CB1, and insulin receptor phosphorylation were determined. Subcutaneous (SAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) were determined by MRI and hepatic lipid content by magnetic resonance spectroscopy. SAT and VAT volumes decreased in ob-L-4F-treated animals compared with control. L-4F treatment decreased hepatic lipid content and increased the numbers of small adipocytes (P < 0.05) and phosphorylation of insulin receptors. L-4F decreased CB1 in SAT and VAT and increased pAKT and pAMPK in endothelium. L-4F-mediated improvement in endothelium was prevented by LY294002. Inhibition of pAKT and pAMPK by LY294002 was associated with an increase in glucose levels. Upregulation of HO-1 by L-4F produced adipose remodeling and increased the number of small differentiated adipocytes. The anti-obesity effects of L-4F are manifested by a decrease in visceral fat content with reciprocal increases in adiponectin, pAMPK, pAKT, and phosphorylation of insulin receptors with improved insulin sensitivity.
Dietary Animal Plasma Proteins Improve the Intestinal Immune Response in Senescent Mice

Increased life expectancy has promoted research on healthy aging. Aging is accompanied by increased non-specific immune activation (inflammaging) which favors the appearance of several disorders. Here, we study whether dietary supplementation with spray-dried animal plasma (SDP), which has been shown to reduce the activation of gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) in rodents challenged by S. aureus enterotoxin B (SEB), and can also prevent the effects of aging on immune system homeostasis. We first characterized GALT in a mouse model of accelerated senescence (SAMP8) at different ages (compared to mice resistant to accelerated senescence; SAMR1). Second, we analyzed the SDP effects on GALT response to an SEB challenge in SAMP8 mice. In GALT characterization, aging increased the cell number and the percentage of activated Th lymphocytes in mesenteric lymph nodes and Peyer’s patches (all, p < 0.05), as well as the expression of IL-6 and TNF-α in intestinal mucosa (both, p < 0.05). With respect to GALT response to the SEB challenge, young mice showed increased expression of intestinal IL-6 and TNF-α, as well as lymphocyte recruitment and activation (all, p < 0.05). However, the immune response of senescent mice to the SEB challenge was weak, since SEB did not change cell recruitment or the percentage of activated Th lymphocytes. Mice supplemented with SDP showed improved capacity to respond to the SEB challenge, similar to the response of the young mice. These results indicate that senescent mice have an impaired mucosal immune response characterized by unspecific GALT activation and a weak specific immune response. SDP supplementation reduces non-specific basal immune activation, allowing for the generation of specific responses.
Advertising and Publicity: Suggested New Applications for Tourism Marketers

This research explores two of the basic tools used by tourism marketers: advertising and publicity. Message stimulus is the independent variable and consists of two parts: message presentation (i.e., publicity or advertising) and message sequencing (i.e., publicity only, publicity then advertising, advertising only, or advertising then publicity). Four dependent variables are organized in two categories: message acceptance (i.e., perceived credibility, message strength) and message response (i.e., attitude toward the destination, purchase intent). Results of the study show that publicity, in either presentation or sequencing, created significantly higher mean scores than advertising for credibility, message strength, and purchase intent. This study reaffirms that publicity is an important element in the tourism marketing mix. Furthermore, it suggests that a publicity-then-advertising strategy is most effective at persuading potential tourists to visit a specific destination.
Green Practices and Organizational Design as Sources of Strategic Flexibility and Performance

Green competences are dynamic capabilities based on practices (green practices), routines and structures that can be used to detect opportunities, make the most of them and use them to transform organizations. With this in mind, we explore the relationships between environmental management, organizational performance, and organizational processes and practices. We identify three key constructs related to green competences: (1) hybrid structures, (2) environmental best practices and (3) strategic flexibility, a key variable connecting structural design and green practices to organizational performance. We propose that the implementation of specific organizational structures characterized by the inclusion of market-driven control practices within hierarchies (internal hybrids) could enhance firms' environmental responsiveness and deployment of green best practices. In addition, we suggest that green practices and structures are positively related to the development of strategic flexibility, driving above-average returns in dynamic environments. To test these hypotheses, we use data from the European aviation industry. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment
ARE RETAILERS’ PREFERENCES FOR SEAFOOD ATTRIBUTES PREDICTIVE FOR CONSUMER WANTS? RESULTS FROM A CHOICE EXPERIMENT FOR SEABREAM (Sparus aurata)

Aquaculture production has grown considerably in the southern countries of Europe during the last two decades. This increase in supply has not been matched by an equivalent rise in consumer demand, resulting in price decay. For farmed seabream (Sparus aurata) this article examines which attributes and claims are able to successfully influence Spanish consumers' perceived value of seafood and to which degree consumers and retailers in a traditional fish market differ in their choice reaction to these attributes. A heteroscedastic logit model was used to assess the impact of seafood claims on consumer choice and to test for differences in attribute preferences between retailers and consumers. Results indicate that both consumers and retailers agree in their marginal willingness to pay for wild, over farmed, seabream. However, they differ in the extent to which the disutility from farmed production can be offset by the declaration of domestic origin, sustainability certifications, and presence of health benefits or safety claims. Results suggest an asymmetry between retailer and consumer preferences that might explain why seabream differentiated by claims still struggles to find the desired retail distribution.