Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The newly unemployed and the UIF take-up rate : implications for the wage subsidy proposal in South Africa

This paper investigates the take-up rate or claim-waiting period rate of the unemployed under the South African Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) system. The goal is to identify disincentive effects that income replacement rates (IRR) and accumulated credits may have on the claimant's behavior in terms of their claim waiting period rate (or how quickly they apply for UIF benefits). Utilizing nonparametric and semi-parametric estimation techniques, we find that there is little evidence, if any, for job disincentives or moral hazard problems. More specifically, the majority of claimants that are quickest to claim the UIF benefits are those who have worked continuously for at least four years and accumulated the maximum allowable amount of credits. The authors also note that claimants' waiting periods are indifferent with regard to levels of income replacements yet extremely sensitive to the amount of credits accumulated. Ultimately, the recipients of the UIF benefits do not rely heavily on the replacement incomes and prefer waiting longer for employment opportunities as opposed to exhausting their accumulated credits. The semi-parametric Cox's Proportional Hazard (PH) model confirms that there is a positive relationship between the claimant's accumulation of credits and the associated take-up rate of the UIF.
Storage Costs and Heuristics Interact to Produce Patterns of Aphasic Sentence Comprehension Performance

Background: Despite general agreement that aphasic individuals exhibit difficulty understanding complex sentences, the nature of sentence complexity itself is unresolved. In addition, aphasic individuals appear to make use of heuristic strategies for understanding sentences. This research is a comparison of predictions derived from two approaches to the quantification of sentence complexity, one based on the hierarchical structure of sentences, and the other based on dependency locality theory (DLT). Complexity metrics derived from these theories are evaluated under various assumptions of heuristic use. Method: A set of complexity metrics was derived from each general theory of sentence complexity and paired with assumptions of heuristic use. Probability spaces were generated that summarized the possible patterns of performance across 16 different sentence structures. The maximum likelihood of comprehension scores of 42 aphasic individuals was then computed for each probability space and the expected scores from the best-fitting points in the space were recorded for comparison to the actual scores. Predictions were then compared using measures of fit quality derived from linear mixed effects models. Results: All three of the metrics that provide the most consistently accurate predictions of patient scores rely on storage costs based on the DLT. Patients appear to employ an Agent–Theme heuristic, but vary in their tendency to accept heuristically generated interpretations. Furthermore, the ability to apply the heuristic may be degraded in proportion to aphasia severity. Conclusion: DLT-derived storage costs provide the best prediction of sentence comprehension patterns in aphasia. Because these costs are estimated by counting incomplete syntactic dependencies at each point in a sentence, this finding suggests that aphasia is associated with reduced availability of cognitive resources for maintaining these dependencies.
High resolution modelling of glacier flow

This thesis aims to develop and apply models of glacier flow at sufficiently high resolution to permit meaningful and accurate comparison with field data. At present there exists a discrepancy between the scales at which realistic simulations of glacier flow operate and the empirical data with which they are compared. This is true at a variety of spatial scales; from reconstructing the dynamics of past ice sheets constrained by geomorphological evidence to computing the stress/strain conditions acting alongside the processes of basal motion at the glacier bed. However, at finer scales of investigation, it becomes necessary to include more involved glaciological physics into models of glacier flow. This thesis is primarily concerned with one aspect of the quest for high resolution models; that is the inclusion of longitudinal stresses. Three schemes for the solution of longitudinal stresses in glaciers are presented, tested against field data and their role on dynamics is investigated. The commonly utilised shallow ice approximation, which neglects longitudinal stresses, is also assessed within this framework in order to gauge if any significant improvement in predictive power has been made. In light of these experiments, the models are in turn, applied to three case studies in order to demonstrate the level of insight which high resolution modelling of glacier flow has the potential to provide. These case studies involve the detailed comparison of modelling results with empirical data to investigate: i) palaeoglacier and climate fluctuations in the Chilean Andes; ii) the dynamics and evolution of the Younger Dryas ice sheet in Scotland; and, iii) the three-dimensional stress/strain field of Haut Glacier d'Arolla. Results indicate that longitudinal effects play a significant role in determining the dynamics of glaciers. Even though the solution of longitudinal stresses may require considerable computer overheads, their inclusion is crucial if we are to model glacier flow at high temporal and spatial resolutions with confidence. In doing so we equip ourselves with a powerful methodology for investigating a whole host of problems which exist in contemporary glaciology and ice sheet reconstruction.
México: Evolution of Earnings Inequality and Rates of Returns to Education (1988-2002)

This paper reviews the factors and mechanisms that have been driving inequality in Mexico and finds that educational inequality accounts for by far the largest share of Mexico’s variation in earnings inequality. The contribution of inequality of education to inequality of earnings in Mexico is the second highest in Latin America after Brazil. The increase in earnings inequality, however, does not appear to be the result of a worsening in the distribution of education, although the income profile, which is related to the returns to schooling, has become much steeper.
Personalized Disease Phenotypes from Massive OMICs Data

Application of new high-throughput technologies in molecular medicine collects massive data for hundreds to thousands of persons in large cohort studies by characterizing the phenotype of each individual on a personalized basis. The chapter aims at increasing our understanding of disease genesis and progression and to improve diagnosis and treatment. New methods are needed to handle such “big data. ” Machine learning enables one to recognize and to visualize complex data patterns and to make decisions potentially relevant for diagnosis and treatment. The authors address these tasks by applying the method of self-organizing maps and present worked examples from different disease entities of the colon ranging from inflammation to cancer.
Association of carotid intima-media thickness and arterial stiffness with diabetic retinopathy: the Chennai Urban Rural Epidemiology Study (CURES-2).

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to assess the association of intima-media thickness (IMT) and arterial stiffness with diabetic retinopathy in an Asian-Indian population that has very high prevalence rates of diabetes and coronary artery disease. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS The study was conducted on 600 type 2 diabetic subjects randomly selected from the Chennai Urban Rural Epidemiology Study (CURES), which is an ongoing population-based study of a representative population of Chennai. When present, retinopathy was graded according to a modified Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study grading system. IMT was determined using high-resolution B-mode ultrasonography. Arterial stiffness was measured by assessing the augmentation index (AI) using the Sphygmocor apparatus. RESULTS Retinopathy was diagnosed in 116 of 590 (19.6%) subjects in whom retinal photography was possible. Mean values of IMT (0.93 +/- 0.36 vs. 0.85 +/- 0.21 mm, P = 0.001) and AI (27.9 +/- 8.9 vs. 25.8 +/- 9.6%, P = 0.031) were significantly higher among diabetic subjects with retinopathy compared with those without. Both IMT (P = 0.024) and AI (P = 0.050) showed a significant association to diabetic retinopathy, even after adjusting for age, duration of diabetes, HbA(1c), serum cholesterol, serum triglycerides, and microalbuminuria. CONCLUSIONS Diabetic retinopathy is associated with IMT and AI, suggesting that common pathogenic mechanisms might predispose to diabetic micro- and macroangiopathy.
A Composite-Likelihood Approach for Detecting Directional Selection From DNA Sequence Data

We present a novel composite-likelihood-ratio test (CLRT) for detecting genes and genomic regions that are subject to recurrent natural selection (either positive or negative). The method uses the likelihood functions of Hartl et al. (1994) for inference in a Wright-Fisher genic selection model and corrects for nonindependence among sites by application of coalescent simulations with recombination. Here, we (1) characterize the distribution of the CLRT statistic (Λ) as a function of the population recombination rate (R = 4Ner); (2) explore the effects of bias in estimation of R on the size (type I error) of the CLRT; (3) explore the robustness of the model to population growth, bottlenecks, and migration; (4) explore the power of the CLRT under varying levels of mutation, selection, and recombination; (5) explore the discriminatory power of the test in distinguishing negative selection from population growth; and (6) evaluate the performance of maximum composite-likelihood estimation (MCLE) of the selection coefficient. We find that the test has excellent power to detect weak negative selection and moderate power to detect positive selection. Moreover, the test is quite robust to bias in the estimate of local recombination rate, but not to certain demographic scenarios such as population growth or a recent bottleneck. Last, we demonstrate that the MCLE of the selection parameter has little bias for weak negative selection and has downward bias for positively selected mutations.
Macroeconomic Determinants of Non-Performing Loans: An Empirical Study of Some Arab Countries

The issue of non-performing loans is one of the factors that reflect the soundness of the banking sector. The main objective of this study is to identify macroeconomic determinants of non-performing loans in some Arab countries through the period 2000-2012 using the dynamic panel data approach. The outcomes of this paper suggest that inflation rate has a negative impact on NPLs, whereas improvement in macroeconomic and financial conditions seems to have a negative impact on the level of NPLs. Regarding the impact of the global financial crisis, the results show that the crisis had a negative impact on the level of NPLs. With regard to household consumption, the outcomes point out to mixed results where this effect seems to be negative in non-petroleum countries but positive in petroleum countries, whereas increasing of government spending is associated with low level of NPLs in both groups of countries. Moreover, an increase of the aggregate debt burden has a positive impact on the level of bad loans whereas expansionary monitory policy and improvement of terms of trade in petroleum countries have a significant negative effect on NPLs but this effect is not clear in non-petroleum countries.
The Cyclic Deformation Behavior of Severe Plastic Deformation (SPD) Metals and the Influential Factors

A deeper understanding of the mechanical behavior of ultra-fine (UF) and nanocrystalline (NC) grained metals is necessary with the growing interest in using UF and NC grained metals for structural applications. The cyclic deformation response and behavior of UF and NC grained metals is one aspect that has been gaining momentum as a major research topic for the past ten years. Severe Plastic Deformation (SPD) materials are often in the spotlight for cyclic deformation studies as they are usually in the form of bulk work pieces and have UF and NC grains. Some well known techniques in the category of SPD processing are High Pressure Torsion (HPT), Equal Channel Angular Pressing (ECAP), and Accumulative Roll-Bonding (ARB). In this report, the literature on the cyclic deformation response and behavior of SPDed metals will be reviewed. The cyclic response of such materials is found to range from cyclic hardening to cyclic softening depending on various factors. Specifically, for SPDed UF grained metals, their behavior has often been associated with the observation of grain coarsening during cycling. Consequently, the many factors that affect the cyclic deformation response of SPDed metals can be summarized into three major aspects: (1) the microstructure stability; (2) the limitation of the cyclic lifespan; and lastly (3) the imposed plastic strain amplitude.
An Answer to the Long-Run Performance Puzzle of Ipos in Taiwan: An Application of the Fama-French Model

Prior research on initial public offerings (IPOs) emphasizes on the underpricing of IPOs. For the long-run performance of IPOs, Ritter (1991) and Loughran and Ritter (1995) argue that the long-run performance of IPOs is worse than that of the overall market or that of the firms with the matched size and age. Through backward induction, no one will purchase IPO shares once he realizes that he will suffer losses in the long run. This paper focuses on the measure of the long-run performance of IPOs. Typically, the capital asset pricing model (CAPM) which implies that beta is the only risk factor for the asset return is employed to measure the expected return on assets. However, Fama and French (1992, 1993, 1995, 1996) argue that the size related factor, book-to-market related factor along with the market risk are more powerful to describe asset returns. This study employs the Fama-French three-factor model as well as Jensen! s alpha to measure the long-run performance of IPOs. Our results show that the long-run performance of IPOs based on market adjusted returns or returns adjusted by market model is poor which is consistent with the findings in Ritter (1991). However, the long-run performance based on Fama-French three-factor model is fluctuating around zero, which is the normal return pattern for an ordinary asset. Therefore, we conclude that the underperformance of IPOs is attributed to the mis-specification of the measurement model.
Testing homocysteine-induced neurotransmitter deficiency, and depression of mood hypothesis in clinical practice.

BACKGROUND high total plasma homocysteine (tHcy) levels may cause neurotransmitter deficiency, and consequently depression of mood. We have recently shown that mixed oral nutritional supplements containing B-group vitamins led to a statistically significant benefit on depressive symptoms. The aim of this report was to examine the association between elevated plasma tHcy and symptoms of depression in older patients. METHODS two-hundred and thirty-six hospitalised acutely ill older patients, who were part of a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial, were assigned to receive daily mixed oral nutritional supplements containing B-group vitamins or a placebo for 6 weeks. Outcome measures included symptoms of depression measured using Geriatric Depression score and plasma tHcy levels. RESULTS the mean tHcy concentration fell by 22% among patients given the supplements compared with the placebo group (mean difference 4.1 µmol/l (95% CI: 0.14-8.03), P = 0.043). tHcy concentrations was divided into four quartiles and analysed against depression scores. tHcy concentrations in the first relative to the fourth quartile of the distribution were associated with a lower depression symptoms at the end of the supplement period (Geriatric depression score r = -0.20, P = 0.042). CONCLUSIONS lower plasma tHcy concentrations were associated with reduced depression symptoms in older patients recovering from acute illness.
Land Institutions and Land Markets

In agrarian societies land serves as the main means not only for generating a livelihood but often also for accumulating wealth and transferring it between generations. How land rights are assigned therefore determines households' ability to generate subsistence and income, their social and economic status (and in many cases their collective identity), their incentive to exert nonobservable effort and make investments, and often their ability to access financial markets or to make arrangements for smoothing consumption and income. With imperfections in other markets, the institutions governing the allocation of land rights and the functioning of land markets will have implications for overall efficiency as well as equity. The authors examine how property rights in land evolve from a situation of land abundance. They discuss factors affecting the costs and benefits of individual land rights and highlight the implications of tenure security for investment incentives. They also review factors affecting participation in land sales and rental markets, particularly the characteristics of the agricultural production process, labor supervision cost, credit access, the risk characteristics of an individual's asset portfolio, and the transaction costs associated with market participation. These factors will affect land sales and rental markets differently. Removing obstacles to the smooth functioning of land rental markets and taking measures to enhance potential tenants' endowments and bargaining power can significantly increase both the welfare of the poor and the overall efficiency of resource allocation. Drawing on their conceptual discussion, the authors draw policy conclusions about the transition from communal to individual and more formal land rights, steps that might be taken to improve the functioning of land sales and rental markets, and the scope for redistributive land reform.
Semi-parametric implied volatility surface models and forecasts based on a regression tree-boosting algorithm

A new methodology for semi-parametric modelling of implied volatility surfaces is presented. This methodology is dependent upon the development of a feasible estimating strategy in a statistical learning framework. Given a reasonable starting model, a boosting algorithm based on regression trees sequentially minimizes generalized residuals computed as differences between observed and estimated implied volatilities. To overcome the poor predicting power of existing models, a grid is included in the region of interest and a cross-validation strategy is implemented to find an optimal stopping value for the boosting procedure. Back testing the out-of-sample performance on a large data set of implied volatilities from S&P 500 options provides empirical evidence of the strong predictive power of the model. Accurate IVS forecasts also for single equity options assist in obtaining reliable trading signals for very profitable pure option trading strategies.
Landlessness and Rural Poverty in Pakistan

Although reducing rural poverty has been the key agenda of economic reforms in Pakistan, the rural poverty continued to rise during the 1990s. The causes of rural poverty are complex and multidimensional. The rural poor are quite diverse both in the problems they face, and the possible solutions to these problems are also different. The paper uses the most recent household data set available—PIHS 2001-02—to examine the causes of rural poverty, as to what accounts for its persistence and what policy measures should be taken to alleviate it. Poverty estimates using official poverty line suggest the high prevalence of rural poverty ranging from 39 percent to 48 percent in all provinces. Rural poverty is found to be strongly correlated with lack of asset in rural areas. The unequal land ownership in the country is found to be one of the major causes of rural poverty, as poverty level was the highest among the landless households followed by non-agriculture households. The incidence of landlessness is common in rural areas. About 67 percent households own no land in the country. Unusually, just 0.3 percent households own 55 and above acres of land across the country, suggesting a highly skewed landownership pattern. Gini Coefficient of landholding suggests that Punjab has the most unequal landownership pattern, followed by the NWFP, Sindh, and Balochistan. The highly unequal land distribution seems to have resulted in tenancy arrangements such as sharecropping, resulting in high prevalence of absolute poverty particularly in Sindh. A broad-based land reform programme, including land redistribution and fair and enforceable tenancy contracts together with rural public works programmes and access to credit, is critical to reducing rural poverty in Pakistan.
Water level prediction model using back propagation neural network: Case study: The lower of chao phraya basin

Global warming is the cause of climate change effected to the severe flood disaster. Improvements of water level prediction model are needed. The accuracy of prediction model can reduce flood damage. This research aims to extend the water level prediction model with back propagation neural network. The proposed model tested the important factors in order to predict the water levels. The input of the model composes of water level, the capacity of water discharge, average rainfall runoff, height of basin at gauging station, and the maximum capacity of water discharge at gauging station. Mean Square Error and Relative Absolute Error were used for measure the accuracy of the prediction model between the actual water level and the predicted water level. The result of the prediction model has high accuracy when comparing with the actual values.
Treatment of AO Type C Fractures of the Distal Part of the Humerus through the Bryan-Morrey Triceps-Sparing Approach

Several alternative approaches have been described to avoid the complications related to the olecranon osteotomy used to treat distal articular humerus fractures. The published experience with the triceps-sparing approach is scant. In this prospective study, a total of 12 patients with an articular humeral fracture were treated using this approach. At a mean followup of 1,7 years, the average range of motion was 112.8° (range from 85° to 135°); the elbow flexion averaged 125.5° (range from 112° to 135°) and the deficit of elbow extension 14.6° (range from 0° to 30°). All the elbows were stable. The Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS) averaged 93.3 (range from 80 to 100). In the present series no failure of the triceps reattachment to the olecranon was found, and all the patients recalled returning to their previous daily life activities without impairment with a satisfactory MEPS. As a conclusion, the triceps-sparing approach can be considered for treating distal articular humerus fractures. We consider that three clinical settings can be more favorable to use this approach: those cases in which a total elbow prosthesis might be needed, cases of ipsilateral diaphyseal fracture, or presence of previous hardware in the olecranon.