Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Munich Personal RePEc Archive Efficient Contests

In their seminal contribution Lazear and Rosen (1981) show that wages based upon rank induce the same e¢ cient e¤ort as incentive-based reward schemes. They also show that this equivalence result is not robust towards heterogeneity in worker ability, as long as ability is private information, as it is not possible to structure contests to simultaneously satisfy self-selection constraints and rst best incentives. This paper demonstrates that e¢ ciency is achievable by a simple modi cation of the prize scheme in a mixed (heterogenous) contest. In the L&R contest, the winners prize as well as the losers prize are xed in advance. In this paper I demonstrate that e¢ ciency is restored by a modi cation of contest design, in which contestants choose from a menu of prizes.
Association of HLA-DRB1 Alleles in Juvenile-onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) in Iranian Children

Introduction Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune and inflammatory disease. Many studies show HLA alleles can be associated with SLE. The aim of this study was to determine the association of HLA-DRB1 alleles with juvenile- onset in Iranian children. Materials and Methods At a case – control study, 31 children with systemic lupus erythematosus (case group) who referred to Mofid Children’s Hospital, Shahid Behehsti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, and 56 healthy children (control group) were participant. Genomic DNA was extracted and HLA typing was performed by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) with Sequence - Specific Primers (SSP) technique. Results HLA- DRB1*01, HLA- DRB1*04, HLA- DRB1*11 and HLA- DRB1*13 were detected to as most frequent alleles associated with SLE in Iranian children. The frequency of HLA DRB1*08 was not significantly different in both groups (P>0.05(. HLA- DRB1*07 had a higher rate of repetition in the control group than patients with SLE. Conclusion There was a significant difference in the frequency of some alleles between patients and controls group, which could be related to susceptibility to SLE. These differences between frequencies of some alleles in both groups may help to determine the onset of lupus in children.
Horizontal and vertical propagation and dissipation of gravity waves in the thermosphere from lower atmospheric and thermospheric sources

[1] The dissipation of high-frequency gravity waves (GWs) in the thermosphere is primarily due to kinematic viscosity and thermal diffusivity. Recently, an anelastic GW dispersion relation was derived which includes the damping effects of kinematic viscosity and thermal diffusivity in the thermosphere and which is valid before and during dissipation. Using a ray trace model which incorporates this new dispersion relation, we explore many GW properties that result from this dispersion relation for a wide range of thermospheric temperatures. We calculate the dissipation altitudes, horizontal distances traveled, times taken, and maximum vertical wavelengths prior to dissipation in the thermosphere for a wide range of upward-propagating GWs that originate in the lower atmosphere and at several altitudes in the thermosphere. We show that the vertical wavelengths of dissipating GWs, λz(zdiss), increases exponentially with altitude, although with a smaller slope for z > 200 km. We also show how the horizontal wavelength, λH, and wave period spectra change with altitude for dissipating GWs. We find that a new dissipation condition can predict our results for λz(zdiss) very well up to altitudes of ∼500 km. We also find that a GW spectrum excited from convection shifts to increasingly larger λz and λH with altitude in the thermosphere that are not characteristic of the initial convective scales. Additionally, a lower thermospheric shear shifts this spectrum to even larger λz, consistent with observations. Finally, we show that our results agree well with observations.
On Exploiting Passing and Failing Test Cases in Debugging Hardware Description Languages

In this manuscript, we outline how to use test suites for software debugging of hardware description languages. We propose an algorithmic improvement for dealing with numerous failing test cases and show how to exploit passing test cases in terms of a technique called filtering. We report on results obtained on a well-known benchmark suite. The results clearly show that both passing and failing tests are capable of increasing the diagnoses accuracy in the field of software debugging. Model-based debugging; software debugging; debugging of hardware description languages; fault isolation.
Evolution of the central Mediterranean Centaurea cineraria group (Asteraceae): Evidence for relatively recent, allopatric diversification following transoceanic seed dispersal

We explored the spatiotemporal diversification of the Centaurea cineraria group based on AFLP fingerprints and plastid DNA sequences applied to a broad sampling of Central Mediterranean taxa of the Acrolophus subgroup. Despite its morphological distinctness, monophyly of the C. cineraria group was not supported by our data. A distinct lineage mostly restricted to Sicily (the Sicily group) comprised some members of the C. cineraria group but also included C. parlatoris, as- sumed to be a member of the C. dissecta group. The relationships of the Sicily group with other members of the Acrolophus subgroup could not be clarified. Molecular dating supported recent, presumably allopatric diversification whose onset dates back to less than 250,000 years within the Sicily group. Tunisia, the Aeolian Islands and the Island Ventotene in the central Tyrrhenian Sea were likely colonised from Sicily. The young age of diversification within the Sicily group rejects land bridges between Africa and Sicily, which were only available during significantly older periods, in favour of transoceanic seed dispersal. Dispersal might have been favoured by low sea levels during cold stages of the Pleistocene. Finally, we point out shortcomings of the taxonomic framework currently used in the C. cineraria group.
Recycling of archaeal biomass as a new strategy for extreme life in Dead Sea deep sediments

Archaea and Bacteria that inhabit the deep subsurface (known as the deep biosphere) play a prevalent role in the recycling of sedimentary organic carbon. In such environments, this process can occur over millions of years and requires microbial communities to cope with extremely limited sources of energy. Because of this scarcity, metabolic processes come at a high energetic cost, but the ways heterotrophic microbial communities develop to minimize energy expenses for a maximized yield remain unclear. Here, we report molecular biomarker evidence for the recycling of archaeal cell wall constituents in extreme evaporitic facies of Dead Sea deep sediments. Wax esters derived from the recombination of hydrolyzed products of archaeal membrane lipids were observed in gypsum and/or halite sedimentary deposits down to 243 m below the lake floor, implying the reutilization of archaeal necromass possibly by deep subsurface bacteria. By recycling the building blocks of putatively better-adapted archaea, heterotrophic bacteria may build up intracellular carbon stocks and mitigate osmotic stress in this energy-deprived environment. This mechanism illustrates a new pathway of carbon transformation in the subsurface and demonstrates how life can be maintained in extreme environments characterized by long-term isolation and minimal energetic resources.
The Influence of Green Building Certification Schemes on Real Estate Investor Behaviour: Evidence from Singapore

Based on an adaptive choice-based conjoint analysis, the aim of this paper is to ascertain the extent to which various characteristics of a condominium unit, and in particular the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) Green Mark Scheme, influence prospective real estate investors’ preferences for condominium units in Singapore. Through the analysis, this study determines that premium buyers would be willing to pay for property certified by the Green Mark Scheme. The results suggest that the price premium buyers would be willing to pay for green certification varies within the different levels of the Green Mark Scheme, ranging from 3.78 per cent for the Certified award to 7.98 per cent for the Platinum award. The results thus suggest a strong business case for developers of green buildings.
Autologous osteochondral transplantation for treatment of cartilage defects in osteoarthritic knee: preliminary results

Introduction: Osteoarthritis is a contributing factor for pain and loss of function of the knee. Osteoarthritis results in many damages to the knee; one of the most common damages that is difficult to recover is cartilage injury. This study aims to apply autologous osteochondral transplantation (OAT) under knee arthroscopy for the treatment of knee cartilage defects. Methods: This was a prospective, descriptive and non-controlled study. Patients were diagnosed as having osteoarthritis, as confirmed by 1cm2 – 3cm2 cartilage defects. Arthroscopic OAT was performed on each patient. Treatment efficacy and safety were evaluated based on Lysholm, Oxford Knee Scores (OKS) and pain scales (VAS) after 3, 6, 12 and 18 months. Results: From 3/2014 - 8/2016, 61 cases (54 women and 7 men) participated in the study. The average age was 55 ± 8 years old. Most cases had cartilage defects in the medial condyle. Results showed that Lysholm, OKS scores and VAS scales improved after 12 months of treatment. Of the cases, 33 of 61 were followed out to 18 months; these patients showed improvement in knee function and pain scores. There was 1 case with incomplete matching between the plug and receiving site and 1 case with a broken plug. At the final stage of monitoring, there were no patients who experienced complications, such as broken instruments or fracture of condyle, nor who experienced early postoperative complications, such as infection and bleeding. Conclusion: Autologous osteochondral transplantation via arthroscopy is a safe and promising method for the treatment of knee cartilage defects in patients with average osteoarthritis.
Reducing the Complexity of Multi-Dimensional LBP Texture Features using Genetic Optimisation

Texture analysis and classification have received significant research interest and have been shown to be essential in many computer vision systems and applications . Local binary patterns (LBP) form a simple yet powerful texture descriptor characterising local neighbourhoo d properties, which, due to its effectiveness and robustness , is widely employed. LBP information can be gathered at multiple scales to improve the performance of the descripto r. While in conventional LBP this information is recorded, in form of a histogram, separately for each of the scales, it was shown that a multi-dimensional (MD) feature representation removes some ambiguity and leads to better texture classification. However, the generated MD-LBP histograms result in relatively large feature descriptors which limit their practical use. In this paper, we show that a feature selectio n stage based on a genetic algorithm can be successfully applied to reduce the dimensionality of MD-LBP features while maintaining effective texture classification.
The influence of purchase confidence on information source selection: implications for hospitality industry.

Whether the product of choice is a restaurant, vacation resort or hotel, it is important for hospitality marketers to understand how consumers treat purchase decisions and the influence purchase confidence and situation play on that decision. This study investigated the role purchase confidence plays with knowledge in the selection of sources of information during purchase decisions. The results indicate sources of information are perceived differently by consumers and depending on the purchase situation, subjective knowledge is influenced by purchase confidence affecting the source of information considered when making a purchase decision. The results also indicated that those with high purchase confidence and subjective knowledge will rely on themselves as a source when making a purchase rather than a retail clerk or published material.
Semi-active Vibration Control Based on Switched Piezoelectric Transducers

Vibration in modern structures like airplanes, satellites or cars can cause malfunctions, fatigue damages or radiate unwanted and loud noise (Simpson & Schweiger, 1998; Wu et al., 2000; Hopkins et al., 2000; Kim et al., 1999; Zhang et al., 2001; Hagood et al., 1990). Since conventional passive damping materials have reached their limits to damp vibration because it is not very effective at low frequencies and requires more space and weight, new control designs with novel actuator systems have been proposed. These so called smart materials can control and suppress vibration in an efficient and intelligent way without causing much additional weight or cost. The vast majority of research in smart damping materials has concentrated on the control of structures made from composite materials with embedded or bonded piezoelectric transducers because of their excellent mechanicalelectrical coupling characteristics. A piezoelectric material responds to mechanical force by generating an electric charge or voltage. This phenomenon is called the direct piezoelectric effect. On the other hand, when an electric field is applied to the material mechanical stress or strain is induced; this phenomenon is called the converse piezoelectric effect. The direct effect is used for sensing and the converse effect for actuation. The methods of vibration control using piezoelectric transducers can be mainly divided into three categories: passive, active, and semi-active. Passive control systems, which use the R-L shunting (Hagood & Crawley, 1991; Hollkamp, 1994), are simplest among the three categories, but their control performance is sensitive to the variations of the system parameters. Moreover, the passive control systems usually need large inductance in low frequency domain, which is difficult to realize. Active control systems require high-performance digital signal processors and bulky power amplifiers to drive actuators, which are not suitable for many practical applications. In order to overcome these disadvantages, several semi-active approaches have been proposed. Wang et al. (1996) studied a semi-active R-L shunting approach, in which an adaptive inductor tuning, a negative resistance and a coupling enhancement set-up lead to a system with damping ability. Davis et al. (1997, 1998) developed a tunable electrically shunted piezoceramic vibration absorber, in which a passive capacitive shunt circuit is used to electrically change the piezoceramic effective stiffness and then to tune the device response frequency. Clark, W. W. (1999) proposed a state-switched method, in which piezoelements are periodically held in the open-circuit state, then switched and held in the short-circuit state, synchronously with the structure motion. Source: Vibration Control, Book edited by: Dr. Mickael Lallart, ISBN 978-953-307-117-6, pp. 380, September 2010, Sciyo, Croatia, downloaded from SCIYO.COM
Control of a hydraulic servo system using sliding mode with an integral and realizable reference compensation

In this paper a control law was designed to accurately control the rod position of hydraulic servo system. Infact, due to its having a nonlinear model, the hydraulic servo system is not accurately stabilizedby a proportional controller and suffers from wind up phenomenon when applying the PI controller.To overcome the problems encountered by the action of these linear controllers, a sliding modecontroller with an integral and realizable reference compensation is used to obtain an accurateposition in addition to having a short settling time. The efficiency of the proposed scheme isillustrated using numerical simulations.
FINANCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH IN NAMIBIA BY POSTRICK LIFA MUSHENDAMI A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN ECONOMICS

The objectives of this paper are to: examine whether there is a long-run relationship between financial development and economic growth in Namibia and hence determine the direction of causality as well as the implications of such results for a financial sector policyoriented growth in the economy. In order to test for the existence of long run relationship between the variables, the study employs a cointegration and error correction modeling (ECM) technique. The study uses quarterly data on the following variables: broadly defined money supply (M2); gross domestic product (GDP); credit to the private sector; commercial bank branches; inflation; and the openness index for the period 1993 to 2005. The degree of correlation between the financial sector development and growth does not necessarily mean the existence of a causal relationship among them; it may simply be attributed to the association of a third variable. Accordingly, a formal procedure called GrangerCausality test was applied to the variables to test for the direction of causation between variables. An empirical model for determinants of output growth with financial sector development as one of the explanatory variables is then estimated. The empirical results indicate that financial sector development is positively correlated with real GDP growth. The Granger causality test shows that the direction of causality runs from the financial development variables to GDP. Thus it is concluded that financial sector development have a positive effect on economic growth in Namibia. The study is organised as follows, Chapter 1 is the introduction, Chapter 2 reviews the recent economic developments, Chapter 3 looks closely into the Namibian financial sector, Chapter 4 explores the theoretical and literature review, Chapter 5 presents the methodology, Chapter 6 contains the empirical analysis and interpretations, while Chapter 7 comprises of the conclusions, policy implications and recommendation.
Evaluating the impact of land use uncertainty on the simulated streamflow and sediment yield of the Seyhan River basin using the SWAT model

As a result of the increased availability of spatial information in watershed modeling, several easy to use and widely accessible spatial datasets have been developed. Yet, it is not easy to decide which source of data is better and how data from different sources affect model outcomes. In this study, the results of simulating the stream flow and sediment yield from the Seyhan River basin in Turkey using 3 different types of land cover datasets through the soil and water assessment tool (SWAT) model are discussed and compared to the observed data. The 3 land cover datasets used include the coordination of information on the environment dataset (CORINE; CLC2006), the global land cover characterization (GLCC) dataset, and the GlobCover dataset. Streamflow and sediment calibration was done at monthly intervals for the period of 2001-2007 at gauge number 1818 (30 km upstream of the Catalan dam). The model simulation of monthly streamflow resulted in good Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) values of 0.73, 0.71, and 0.68 for the GLCC, GlobCover, and CORINE datasets, respectively, for the calibration period. Furthermore, the model simulated the monthly sediment yield with satisfactory NSE values of 0.48, 0.51, and 0.46 for the GLCC, GlobCover, and CORINE land cover datasets, respectively. The results suggest that the sensitivity of the SWAT model to the land cover datasets with different spatial resolutions and from different time periods was very low in the monthly streamflow and sediment simulations from the Seyhan River basin. The study concluded that these datasets can be used successfully in the prediction of streamflow and sediment yield.
Effects of Fulvic and Humic acid on Anthocyanin, soluble Sugar, µ- Amylase Enzyme and some micronurient elements in Lilium

The effects of spraying and soaking lilium bulb with humic and fulvic acids on anthocyanins, soluble sugars ,alpha-amylase , Zn and Fe concentration in Brindis Lilium variety , an experiment were carried out as a factorial in the greenhouse in a completely randomized design at tree replication. The concentration of humic and fulvic acid in soaking bulb treatment were Zero, 0.5 and 1 percent and in foliar applications were Zero, 0.50 and 1 per thousand. The results showed that Fulvic and Humic acid have increasing effects on anthocyanin content in lilium flowers. With increasing the amounts of µ-Amylase Enzyme and soluble sugar in lilium the anthocyanin concentration increased too. Soaking bulb method increased Zn, soluble sugar and µ-Amylase Enzyme concentration than spraying method but spraying method was more effective on anthocyanins amounts. The effects of fulvic acid on lilium petals color was more clear with respective to humic acid. With increasing the amounts of humic and fulvic acid, the lilium quality indices increased too but its trend in fulvic acid was more obvious.
Towards a 3D structural tomato model for calculating light interception

A number of physiological tomato models have been proposed the last decades, their main challenge being the correct simulation of fruit yield. For this, an accurate simulation of light interception, and thus photosynthesis, is of primary importance. Light interception is highly dependent of the canopy structure which is affected amongst others by distance between plant rows, distance of plants within the row, leaf pruning and crop variety. In order to simulate these processes, a functional structural tomato model for the simulation of light interception on an individual leaf basis is proposed. The 3D model was constructed using L-systems formalism. For the architectural part of the model, manual measurements of leaf length, width, angle of the leaf main stem to plant stem and leaf orientation were conducted. The diurnal pattern of leaf orientation was also tested. The architectural model was coupled with a nested radiosity model for light calculation. Area per individual leaflet served as input of the light module for calculation of reflection, absorption and transmission of light. The model was used to test different crop planting scenarios on their effect on light interception. Results were then compared with light simulation for a totally homogeneous canopy.
Heterogeneous Beliefs and Time Variation in the Level of Prices

I look at a standard endowment complete market economy with “keeping up with the Joneses” preferences, where agents hold different beliefs about the conditional mean of the aggregate consumption growth. The heterogeneity in beliefs gives rise to two asset pricing elements: (i) a time-varying discount factor and (ii) additional endogenous risk. Even though the additional risk is not substantial to explain the entire average realized equity premium the time-varying discount factor is potentially able to contribute in explaining the joint evolution of the dividend yield and the risk-free rate. In particular the phenomenal increase in prices during the 1990’s can be explained by a convergence in beliefs which probably occurred due to a decreased consumption risk.