Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The environmental impact of vehicle circulation tax reform in Germany

A core political strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from road transportation in Germany is to incentivize the purchase of motor vehicles with relatively low tailpipe CO2 emissions. Consequently, since mid-2009, owners of new cars in Germany face an annual vehicle circulation tax that is partially levied according to vehicles' CO2 emission index. In this paper, I estimate the effect of CO2 -based vehicle circulation taxation in Germany on annual CO2 combustion emissions from passenger cars and CO2 climate costs using a nested logit approach on a novel panel-dataset containing registration, cost and vehicle characteristic information on approximately 7,000 unique vehicle models and approximately 19.5 million new vehicle registrations in Germany from 2007 to 2013. This approach first yields vehicle model specific estimates for the elasticity of new vehicle registrations with regard to the circulation tax. These elasticities are used to estimate changes in new vehicle registrations by model, which are then combined with model-specific CO2 emission factors and segment-specific annual distances driven to yield total emission changes attributable to the change in vehicle circulation tax. Finally, physical changes in emissions are converted into changes in monetary climate damages. Uncertainty in the elasticity of new vehicle registrations by segment with regard to vehicle circulation tax, the fuel economy and corresponding CO2 emission indices of vehicles, distances traveled by market segment, and in the monetary damages resulting from CO2 emissions are propagated through the analysis. Overall I find statistically significant, but relatively small reductions in CO2 emissions and climate costs due to the change in taxation: When simulating the ceteris paribus effect of the most stringent taxation regime implemented in 2014 on the pre-tax change models available in 2008, median registrations are estimated to decrease by approx. 9,500 vehicles, or 0.3 per cent of total new registrations. In addition, changes in registrations of individual vehicle models within each market segment lead to a relatively small reduction of segment- specific CO2 emission indices (0.03 to 0.1 per cent across segments). The reduction in new registrations and reduction in CO2 emission indices decrease median CO2 combustion emissions from newly registered vehicles by 35,000 t (90 per cent confidence interval: 31.000 to 39.000 t), and climate costs by € 1.1 Million (90 per cent confidence interval: € 0.1 to 2.2 Million), or 0.4 per cent of total CO2 emissions and climate costs from newly registered cars.
Ab initio GW electron-electron interaction effects in quantum transport

We present an ab initio approach to electronic transport in nanoscale systems which includes electronic correlations through the $GW$ approximation. With respect to Landauer approaches based on density-functional theory (DFT), we introduce a physical quasiparticle electronic structure into a nonequilibrium Green's function theory framework. We use an equilibrium non-self-consistent ${G}^{0}{W}^{0}$ self-energy considering both full non-Hermiticity and dynamical effects. The method is applied to a real system, a gold monoatomic chain. With respect to DFT results, the conductance profile is modified and reduced by the introduction of diffusion and loss-of-coherence effects. The linear response conductance characteristics appear to be in agreement with experimental results.
Parent problem gambling: A systematic review of prevention programs for children

Parent problem gambling (PG) has pervasive adverse effects on children. These children experience considerable losses such as loss of trust, loss of safety and stability, as well as financial and emotional losses. They are at greater risk for maltreatment and mental health disorders, and they are also at risk for intergenerational transmission of PG. These children are two to four times more likely to develop PG than children of non-PG parents. To date, there has been a dearth of research examining the impact of parent PG on children, and even less research focusing on reducing risks in children of PG parents. The goal of this systematic review was to identify PG prevention programs for children and examine the types of prevention used and whether these programs target specific subgroups. Our search retained 16 studies examining PG prevention programs for children. Results indicated that all of the PG prevention programs in the selected studies are universal and do not target children of PG parents or any other specific subgroups. A large gap is the absence of secondary and tertiary PG prevention programs for children. Another gap is the lack of family focused prevention strategies which the substance use literature has shown to be the most effective form of prevention. Further research is needed on parent PG and ways of reducing risks and increasing protective factors in children and families. A public health framework must be adopted to delay onset, reduce risks and minimize consequences in children of PG parents.
Dynamics in rural entrepreneurship – the role of knowledge acquisition, entrepreneurial orientation, and emotional intelligence in network reliance and performance relationship

Purpose Social network and being a part of an established business network helps in the acquisition of resources. The purpose of this study specifically looked at the mechanisms through which network reliance (NR) influences the entrepreneurial performance (PERF) among rural farmer entrepreneurs in China. Design/methodology/approach The paper looks at the economic sociology perspective of social networks. A total of 450 rural farmer entrepreneurs were interviewed for the study. The study introduces emotional intelligence (EI) and entrepreneurial orientation (EO) into the relationship between NR, knowledge acquisition (KA) and entrepreneurial PERF. Findings The result shows that KA partially and positively mediates the relationship between NR and entrepreneurial PERF. EO is shown to moderate the relationship between KA and entrepreneurial PERF apart from its direct effect on entrepreneurial PERF. The EI of rural farmer entrepreneurs has a direct and significant effect on KA but does not moderate the relationship between NR and KA. Originality/value This study provides a new direction for extension education to rural farmer entrepreneurs. Knowledge building capacity programmes for rural farmer entrepreneurs should be an area of priority for extension education. Building the social capital and entrepreneurial capacities of rural farmer should be a new area of focus for policymakers. These measures will go a long to improving the capabilities of rural farmer entrepreneurs, which will, in turn, impact positively on their PERF.
ELECTRICAL NEUROIMAGING EVIDENCES OF SEX DIFFERENCES IN SOCIAL COGNITION: FACE PROCESSING

It is currently believed that face processing predominantly activates the right hemisphere in humans, but available literature is very inconsistent. In this study, ERPs were recorded in 50 right- handed women and men in response to faces of different age and sex and technological objects. Results showed no sex difference in the amplitude of N170 to objects; a much larger face-specific response over the right hemisphere in men, and a bilateral response in women; a lack of face-age coding effect over the left hemisphere in men, with no differences in N170 to faces as a function of age; a significant bilateral face-age coding effect in women. LORETA reconstruction showed a significant left and right asymmetry in the activation of the fusiform gyrus (BA19), in women and men, respectively. The present data reveal a lesser degree of lateralization of brain functions related to face coding in women than men. In this light, they may provide an explanation of the inconsistencies in the available literature concerning the asymmetric activity of left and right occipito-temporal cortices devoted to face perception during processing of face identity, structure, familiarity or affective content.
Short communication. Effect of housing system during the finishing period on growth performance and quality fat of Iberian pigs

The objective of this experiment was to study the effect of housing system during the finishing period on growth performance and fat quality of Iberian pigs. Thirty barrows were used. During the finishing period, sixteen pigs were reared indoor and fourten pigs were reared outdoor in paddocks. The pigs housed in outdoor paddocks had higher ( p = 0.0001) feed average daily intake than those housed reared indoor and tended ( p = 0.087) to show a worse feed efficiency. The C12:0 and C20:0 proportions in subcutaneous backfat from the pigs housed in outdoor paddocks were lower than those from the pigs housed reared indoor, whereas C17:0, C17:1 and C20:1 proportions tended ( p = 0.09) to be lower. However, C18:1 n-9 and C18:3 n-3 proportions and C18:1 n-9/C18:0 ratio tended ( p = 0.10) to be higher in the outdoor pigs than in the indoor pigs. In intramuscular fat from Longissimus dorsi muscle the C18:3 n-3 proportion tended ( p = 0.07) to be higher in outdoor pigs than in indoor pigs. It is concluded that the finishing period of Iberian pigs in outdoor paddocks has a negative effect on feed conversion ratio but may improve the fat quality.
AERIAL CENSUS OF THE BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN, TURSIOPS TRUNCATUS, IN A REGION OF THE TEXAS COAST

On five replicate aerial surveys in late March 1978, the bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus, herds were sighted and their numbers estimated in 21 strip transects flown across bays and channels between barrier islands and the coast from Port Aransas northeast to Matagorda, Texas. The transects were spaced at 4.63 km intervals and herds were scouted in about 800 m wide strips totaling 436 km in length, providing approximately 17% coverage ofthe area. On surveys 1-4 (survey 6 was excluded from population calculations because it was conducted in adverse weather) 133 bottlenose dolphin herds were sighted, containing an estimated 916 animals. Within these strips the mean heard size was 6.96 animals and mean herd density was 0.0947Ikm2, extrapolating to a population estimate of 1,319 dolphins and a density estimate ofO.7621km2for the entire area. These figures are relatively high in contrast to recent studies in other environments. About halftheherds were feeding and approximately one-third were traveling. Sightings were most frequent in ship channels, shallow areas inside barrier islands, and near shore. There were several sources ofbias in our measurements, and we consider the results to be conservative. In the waters under jurisdiction of the United States, live capture of marine mammals is now limited by law to those species that are used for public exhibition and scientific research. With the exception of certain pinnipeds, the greatest de­ mand is for the bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops trun­ catus Montagu, the most tractable of the smaller cetaceans. This recent management regime has generated a need for assessment of marine mammal stocks that consider population size and reproductive rates ofpotentially impacted species (Odell et al. B ). Obviously, rigorous density estimates are an es­ sential starting point for such studies, but despite the long history of a live fishery for bottlenose dolphins (Townsend 1914) there are scant popula
Hyoliths and small shelly fossils from the Lower Cambrian of North-East Greenland

Small shelly fossils are common in sediments of Early Cambrian age and include the earliest common representatives of metazoan animals with mineralized hard parts. The group includes fossils of very different morphology, composition and ultrastructure. They seem to represent skeletal remains of numerous animal groups, the biological affinities of which are largely unresolved. However, the wide geographic range of many forms has the potential to enhance biostratigraphic and palaeogeographic resolution in the Early Cambrian. The late Early Cambrian sequence of North-East Greenland has yielded an assemblage of more than 88 species of small shelly fossils, brachiopods and trilobites, indicative of a middle Dyeran age (Botoman equivalent). The recovered fossils include a number of species that are known from other Early Cambrian palaeocontinents, and particularly strong ties to late Early Cambrian faunas of Australia are documented. The many cosmopolitan taxa thus identified suggests a close juxtaposition of palaeocontinents at this time. The systematic affinity of many of these small shelly fossils is poorly understood, partly because of their fragmentary nature and poor preservation. However, new data from North-East Greenland improves our understanding of the function and biological affinity of certain taxa. Collections of the problematic fossil Mongolitubulus from North and North-East Greenland exhibit characters indicative of a defensive function as spines of bivalved arthropods, while species of the problematic genus Triplicatella represent the opercula of an unknown tubular shell, probably related to orthothecid hyoliths. The bivalved fossil Mickwitzia from North-East Greenland combines characters of linguliform brachiopods and sclerites of Micrina, a non-bivalved problematic form (halkieriid) from Australia. The combination suggests that Mickwitzia is a stem group brachiopod and strengthens arguments for a halkieriid ancestry of the brachiopod phylum.
Lats2-Underexpressing Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Ameliorate LPS-Induced Acute Lung Injury in Mice

The pathophysiology of the acute lung injury (ALI) is characterized by the damage of alveolar epithelial cells, which can be repaired by exogenous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). However, the migration and differentiation abilities of BMSCs are not sufficient for the purpose, and a new approach that could strengthen the repair effects of BMSCs in ALI still needs to be clarified. We have previously proved that in vitro large tumor suppressor kinase 2- (Lats2-) underexpressing BMSCs may enhance their tissue repair effects in ALI; thus, in the present study, we tried to explore whether Lats2-underexpressing BMSCs could rescue lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) induced ALI in vivo. BMSCs from C57BL/6 mice transfected with Lats2-interfering lentivirus vector or lentivirus blank controls were transplanted intratracheally into LPS-induced ALI mice. The retention and differentiation of BMSCs in the lung were evaluated by in vivo imaging, immunofluorescence staining, and Western blotting. The lung edema and permeability were assessed by lung wet weight/body weight ratio (LWW/BW) and measurements of proteins in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) using ELISA. Acute lung inflammation was measured by the cytokines in the lung homogenate and BALF using RT-qPCR and ELISA, respectively. Lung injury was evaluated by HE staining and lung injury scoring. Pulmonary fibrosis was evaluated by Picrosirius red staining, immunohistochemistry for α-SMA and TGF-β1, and hydroxyproline assay and RT-qPCR for Col1α1 and Col3α1. Lats2-mediated inhibition of the Hippo pathway increased the retention of BMSCs and their differentiation toward type II alveolar epithelial cells in the lung. Furthermore, Lats2-underexpressing BMSCs improved lung edema, permeability of the lung epithelium, and lung inflammation. Finally, Lats2-underexpressing BMSCs alleviated lung injury and early pulmonary fibrosis. Our studies suggest that underexpression of Lats2 could further enhance the repair effects of BMSCs against epithelial impair and the therapeutic potential of BMSCs in ALI mice.
Ja n 20 10 An A r threesome : Matrix models , 2 d CFTs and 4 d N = 2 gauge theories

We explore the connections between three classes of theories: Ar quiver matrix models, d = 2 conformal Ar Toda field theories and d = 4 N = 2 supersymmetric conformal Ar quiver gauge theories. In particular, we analyse the quiver matrix models recently introduced by Dijkgraaf and Vafa [1] and make detailed comparisons with the corresponding quantities in the Toda field theories and the N = 2 quiver gauge theories. We also make a speculative proposal for how the matrix models should be modified in order for them to reproduce the instanton partition functions in quiver gauge theories in five dimensions.
Bias-reduced extreme quantiles estimators of Weibull distributions

In this paper, we consider the problem of estimating an extreme quantile of a Weibull tail-distribution. The new extreme quantile estimator has a reduced bias compared to the more classical ones proposed in the literature. It is based on an exponential regression model that was introduced in Diebolt et al. (2008). The asymptotic normality of the extreme quantile estimator is established. We also introduce an adaptive selection procedure to determine the number of upper order statistics to be used. A simulation study as well as an application to a real data set are provided in order to prove the efficiency of the above mentioned methods.
BIM integration into railway projects - case study

The technology of Building Information Modeling BIM is booming. More and more countries are introducing regulations to integrate BIM into new infrastructure projects. But this remains a tool designed initially for buildings, circumscribed geographically. Railway infrastructure projects are generally linear and extend over a line, with bifurcations. This article aims to confirm the theoretical results (benefits, limitations, risks) concerning the integration of BIM (Building Information Modeling) to railway projects through the study of a practical case with a real reel scale experiment. The integration of Building Information Modeling into the rail project is a worldwide trend. The advantages of this integration are many: elimination of project collision risks, optimization of design, collaboration between disciplines and cost reduction. We will present the state of the art regarding BIM and its integration into the railway domain, and from there, we will list the benefits, limitations and risks. Then, we go through different experiments of integration of the BIM with the rail to reinforce the literature before presenting a real case of experimentation of study under BIM of a railway project in Morocco. Finally, we will draw conclusions and recommendations, comparing experiences with literature. Among the recommendations will naturally be an opening to future research that is needed. Our research confirmed the results of the literature. The advantages of BIM in rail are multiple: conflict detection, time saving, integrated team, improved 2182 Mounir Bensalah et al. design visualized throughout the study and cost optimization. Certain limitations and risks mentioned by the literature are also confirmed: ownership of the database, need for support of BIM from the idea of the project and adoption of the collaborative spirit by team members. It must be taken into account that the experimentation that we carried out is limited (in time, in interfaces and disciplines) and that it should lead to a greater experimentation taking charge of a railway project in its entirety. Nevertheless, these results open the door for more integration of BIM in the rail sector, especially in developing countries such as Morocco. In Morocco, and in similar countries, BIM is starting to be a topic of interest for the project managers, the authorities and the industrialists. This article provides added value in the integration of BIM into the railway (which can be transposed to other areas) through case studies and confirmation of the state of the art.
Enhancing the image and attractiveness of TVET

The image and attractiveness of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) constitutes an interesting topic that needs to be discussed. The issues related to this not only exist in developing countries but also in developed countries. In many countries to the present day, TVET is rated second class education. Parents who can afford it rarely send their son and/or their daughter to a vocational school. They predominantly prefer general education. This paper gives some insight into the issues of the image and attractiveness of TVET in Indonesia and in the efforts and measures to increase them. Data from China, India, South Korea and Russia show that these countries have similar problems and apply similar strategies to overcome them. In most societies TVET graduates are not considered to be ready for work. This is due to many factors, among others: lack of facilities for practice, lack of linkages between schools and companies, a poor educational system, lack of teachers’ qualifications, etc.
Instructions for use Title Serological investigation of Leptospira infection and its circulation in one intensive-type water buffalo farm in thePhilippines

Water buffalo is an indispensable livestock in the Philippines. Leptospirosis is a serious zoonosis that can be fatal to humans and cause reproductive problems in livestock. Leptospirosis has been reported in some countries where water buffaloes are commercially raised, highlighting the Leptospira prevalence in this farming system, but information on leptospirosis in water buffalo farms in the Philippines is limited. In this study, we collected blood samples from rats (n = 21), and water buffaloes (n = 170) from different groups and locations in one intensive-type buffalo farm in the Philippines. Serum was analyzed by microscopic agglutination test (MAT). Anti-Leptospira antibodies reacting with serogroups Canicola, Icterohaemorrhagiae and Pomona were found in sera of 30% tested rats, and 48% of water buffalo sera tested positive for at least one Leptospira strain, in which serogroups Marvin A. Villanueva, Claro N. Mingala, Nina G. Gloriani, Yasutake Yanagihara, Norikazu Isoda , Chie Nakajima , Yasuhiko Suzuki 6,*) and Nobuo Koizumi 1) Division of Bioresources, Hokkaido University Research Center for Zoonosis Control, North 20, West 10 Kita-ku, Sapporo 001-0020, Japan 2) Animal Health Unit, Philippine Carabao Center National Headquarters and Gene Pool, Science City of Muñoz, 3120 Nueva Ecija Philippines 3) Department of Medical Microbiology, College of Public Health, University of the Philippines-Manila, Manila 1000, Philippines 4) Department of Bacteriology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan 5) Unit of Risk Analysis and Management, Hokkaido University Research Center for Zoonosis Control, North 20, West 10 Kita-ku, Sapporo 001-0020, Japan 6) Global Institution for Collaborative Research and Education (GI-CoRE), Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 001-0020, Japan 7) Department of Bacteriology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan Received for publication, November 9, 2015; accepted, December 28, 2015 * Corresponding author: Yasuhiko Suzuki, Division of Bioresources, Hokkaido University Research Center for Zoonosis Control Kita 20, Nishi 10, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 001-0020, Japan Phone: +81-11-706-9503. Fax: +81-11-706-7310. E-mail: suzuki@czc.hokudai. ac.jp **Corresponding author: Nobuo Koizumi, Department of Bacteriology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan Phone: +81-3-5285-1111. Fax: +81-3-5285-1163. E-mail: nkoizumi@niid.go. jp doi: 10.14943/jjvr.64. 1.15 Leptospira in buffalo farm in the Philippines 16