Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
M ay 2 01 6 Quantum Holonomy Theory and Hilbert Space Representations

We present a new formulation of quantum holonomy theory, which is a candidate for a non-perturbative and background independent theory of quantum gravity coupled to matter and gauge degrees of freedom. The new formulation is based on a Hilbert space representation of the QHD(M) algebra, which is generated by holonomy-diffeomorphisms on a 3-dimensional manifold and by canonical translation operators on the underlying configuration space over which the holonomy-diffeomorphisms form a non-commutative C-algebra. A proof that the state that generates the representation exist is left for later publications. email: aastrup@math.uni-hannover.de email: jesper.grimstrup@gmail.com
Poverty Transitions in Rural South West Nigeria

Poverty dynamics enables a better appreciation of the extent of poverty over time by distinguishing between households exiting and entering into poverty, those never poor and the persistently poor. However, it has not received much attention in the poverty literature in Nigeria, largely due to the lack of nationally representative panel data that track the poverty status of households over time. The dynamics of poverty in rural SouthWest Nigeria (SWN) was therefore investigated using regional panel data. Results showed that 49.5 percent of the households were non-poor while 28.2 percent were poor in both periods respectively. On the other hand, 22.3 percent of the households moved in and out of poverty between the two periods indicating a higher level of chronic poverty in rural South Western Nigeria. However, of the transient poor, while 6.8 percent exited poverty, a larger proportion (15.5 percent) moved into poverty. Results also revealed an overlap between the determinants of chronic and transient poverty as vulnerability aggravated both chronic and transient poverty in the region by increasing the odds of remaining and moving into poverty of poor and non poor households respectively. However, there were a few factors such as primary education of household head, membership of local group or association, access to remittance and credit associated with chronic but not transient poverty and vice versa. The study suggests adoption of mixed policies to poverty reduction and taking into account the factors that prevent the poor from slipping into poverty while giving due attention to the factors that help them overcome poverty in the targeting of the various anti-poverty programmes of government.
Synoptic reorganization of atmospheric flow during the Last Glacial Maximum

Abstract A coupled global atmosphere–ocean model of intermediate complexity is used to study the influence of glacial boundary conditions on the atmospheric circulation during the Last Glacial Maximum in a systematical manner. A web of atmospheric interactions is disentangled, which involves changes in the meridional temperature gradient and an associated modulation of the atmospheric baroclinicity. This in turn drives anomalous transient eddy momentum fluxes that feed back onto the zonal mean circulation. Moreover, the modified transient activity (weakened in the North Pacific and strengthened in the North Atlantic) leads to a meridional reorganization of the atmospheric heat transport, thereby feeding back onto the meridional temperature structure. Furthermore, positive barotropic conversion and baroclinic production rates over the Laurentide ice sheets and the far eastern North Pacific have the tendency to decelerate the westerlies, thereby feeding back to the stationary wave changes triggered by orogr.
A low-growth model: informality as a structural constraint

After years of reforms and unending debate, the question remains unanswered: why is Latin America not growing more? The present article approaches the subject from an unconventional perspective, presenting the persistence of informality as a structural barrier to growth. As an analytical frame of reference, it introduces a 2 x 2 model of growth in which the economy comprises just two sectors, the formal and the informal. The model presents the links between the growth pattern of the formal sector and the dynamics of the informal sector, and between these and the pattern of growth in the overall economy. Adverse specialization patterns and an unfavourable international trade profile are perpetuating informality. Thus, export-led growth most resembles an enclave model which does not even guarantee high growth, since the dynamic of the informal sector, which accounts for about half the urban workforce, adversely affects the performance of the whole economy.
Financial Development and Economic Growth: Evidence from a Heterogeneous Panel of High Income Countries

This paper examines the empirical relationship between financial development and economic growth for high income countries. The study focuses on both indirect finance and direct finance, separately as well as jointly. Applying the methodology of Nair-Reichert and Weinhold (2001) for causality analysis in heterogeneous panel data, two sets of results are reported. First, the evidence regarding the relationship between financial development and economic growth from a contemporaneous non-dynamic fixed effects panel estimation is mixed. Negative and statistically significant estimates of the coefficient of the inflation and financial development interaction variable indicate that financial sector development may even be harmful to economic growth when inflation is rising. Second, in contrast with the recent evidence of Beck and Levine (2003), heterogeneous panel causality analysis applied on a refined model indicates that there is no definite evidence that finance spurs economic growth or growth spurs finance. Most of our findings are in line with the Lucas (1988) view that the importance of financial matters is over-stressed. The only exception is the case of activity in stock markets where our result supports the Robinson (1952) view that finance follows enterprise.
Behavioral finance: insights from experiments I: theory and financial markets

Purpose - – The purpose of this paper, and a companion paper (Duxbury, 2015), is to review the insights provided by experimental studies examining financial decisions and market behavior. Design/methodology/approach - – Focus is directed on those studies examining explicitly, or with direct implications for, the most robustly identified phenomena or stylized facts observed in behavioral finance. The themes for this first paper are theory and financial markets. Findings - – Experiments complement the findings from empirical studies in behavioral finance by avoiding some of the limitations or assumptions implicit in such studies. Originality/value - – The authors synthesize the valuable contribution made by experimental studies in extending the knowledge of the functioning of financial markets and the financial behavior of individuals.
IN ECAES ( quality examinations for higher education ) FOR MEDICAL STUDENTS

Research carried out with senior medical students in a higher education institution. Quantitative research was implemented a 2 x 4 factorial design of two variables; learning styles and knowledge representation systems. The participants were classified by applying The Kolb learning style inventory; according to learning styles they were classified in Assimilators, accommodators, Divergers and Convergers. The knowledge representation systems used during the research were concept maps, conceptual graphs, conceptual mentefactos and frames. The objective of the research was to determine if there are significant differences in the conceptual transfer between students according to their learning styles and their knowledge representation systems used in the study of basic medical skills using ECAES examinations as strengthening resources. The study revealed that 53% of the students were divergers (Reflective observation). The knowledge representation systems that allow students got the best findings were frames and conceptual mentefactos, although the results were not significant.
Macro and Micronutrient Storage in Plants and Their Remobilization When Facing Scarcity: The Case of Drought

Human mineral malnutrition or hidden hunger is considered a global challenge, affecting a large proportion of the world’s population. The reduction in the mineral content of edible plant products is frequently found in cultivars bred for higher yields, and is probably increased by intensive agricultural practices. The filling of grain with macro and micronutrients is partly the result of a direct allocation from root uptake and remobilization from vegetative tissues. The aim of this bibliographic review is to focus on recent knowledge obtained from ionomic analysis of plant tissues in order to build a global appraisal of the potential remobilization of all macro and micronutrients, and especially those from leaves. Nitrogen is always remobilized from leaves of all plant species, although with different efficiencies, while nutrients such as K, S, P, Mg, Cu, Mo, Fe and Zn can be mobilized to a certain extent when plants are facing deficiencies. On the opposite, there is few evidence for leaf mobilization of Ca, Mn, Ni and B. Mechanisms related to the remobilization process (remobilization of mineral forms from vacuolar and organic compounds associated with senescence, respectively) are also discussed in the context of drought, an abiotic stress that is thought to increase and known to modulate the ionic composition of grain in crops.
QTL detection of yield-related traits of cashew

The identification of quantitative trait loci (QTL) and marker-assisted selection with a view to breeding programs have aroused great interest, including for cashew improvement. This study identified QTL for yield-related traits: nut weight, male and hermaphrodite flowers. The traits were evaluated in 71 F1 genotypes of the cross CCP 1001 x CP 96. The methods of interval mapping and multiple QTL mapping were applied to identify QTL. Eleven QTL were detected: three for nut weight, four for male flowers and four for hermaphrodite flowers. The QTL accounted for 3.79 to 12.98 % of the total phenotypic variance and had phenotypic effects of -31.81 to 34.25 %. The potential for marker-assisted selection of the QTL hf-2f and hf-3m is great and the phenotypic effects and percentage of phenotypic variation higher than of the others.
Understanding the Top of the Mind Awareness/Brand Preference Congruence in Prospective Hospital Patients through Discriminant Analysis of Aaker’s Brand Equity Model

This study was carried on to understand the influence of the assets of brand equity which are brand awareness, perceived quality, brand association and brand loyalty on the Top of the Mind Awareness/Brand Preference (TOMA/ BP) congruence of a multi-speciality hospital. According to Aaker’s theory these assets are linked to the brand and add value to the product or service offered. The TOMA/BP congruence refers to a relationship which exists between the Top of the Mind Awareness and Brand Preference and tries to answer the question: Is the hospital which comes first to a patient’s mind the one they prefer to attend. For this study TOMA refers to the first hospital that comes to a patient’s mind due to his/her exposure to some branding activity of the hospital. Brand Preference referred to the hospital the patient would attend in case a need arises. Having TOMA doesn’t necessarily require the patient to have BP and hence this study was crucial. Three hypotheses tested whether the assets of brand equity had a relationship with a prospective patient’s TOMA/BP congruence. They were after conducting a primary research in Coimbatore city. Statistical analysis using SPSS indicated that incorporation of Aaker’s brand equity model would be significant in predicting the prospective patient’s brand choice of attending hospitals.
Scaling restoration to achieve quantitative enhancement of loon, seaduck, and other seabird populations

The 1996 'North Cape' oil spill along the Rhode Island coast led to the deaths of at least 2292 birds, resulting in an estimated 6275 bird-years lost (adjusted by expected longevity and pro- ductivity). We synthesize information on bird population dynamics to develop an appropriate restor- ation strategy. Marine birds (seaducks, loons, grebes) with natural recovery periods estimated to exceed 1 yr accounted for 87% of the total bird-years lost. Marine birds (gulls, cormorants, alcids, gannets) with recovery estimated to be less than a year accounted for 10% of injuries. Common loons Gavia immer and common eiders Somateria mollissima were selected as targets for restoration because of regional concern over their population status and the magnitude of lost bird-years. Three restoration options were evaluated for loons: nest site protection; nest site enhancement; and public education/outreach. Nest site enhancement opportunities were limited and benefits from public edu- cation/outreach efforts were uncertain. Nest site protection was preferred for both loons and eiders because nest site availability and/or quality currently limit(s) productivity. This option assumes that preventing future productivity loss compensates for productivity loss that resulted from the 'North Cape' oil spill. This assumption is supported by regional productivity estimates for the 2 target spe- cies, is consistent with scientific literature, and represents the consensus of expert opinions. Based on a series of scaling calculations, protection of 25 nest sites for a 100 yr period is expected to balance the loss of 2920 loon-years. Protection of 315 eider nest sites over a 100 yr period would replace 2605 bird-years lost (remaining marine bird injury). Calculations adjust future production credit through economic discounting of 3% yr -1 . Our analysis provides a means of quantifying the level of breeding habitat protection required to restore injured populations of marine birds.
Optimal Control of Automatic Generation with Automatic Voltage Regulator Using Particle Swarm Optimization

A simultaneous study of load frequency control and automatic voltage regulation is considered. The single-area and two-area power systems have been considered with a combined model of AGC and AVR for analysis of frequency and voltage deviation. The primary aspect of the design is to keep real power control as to preserve frequency of the system in a prescribed limit. Reactive power control is used to keep the voltage magnitude of synchronous generator at a tolerable limit. The transients produced in dynamic responses are controlled using intelligent and soft-computing technique. The fuzzy logic controller and particle swarm optimization based PID controllers are considered. The steady state error and settling time of the dynamic responses are observed and found to be reduced very effectively. The frequency and terminal voltage results of a single-area power system with proposed PSO-PID controller is compared to the responses of system with controllers presented in literature and found to be more effective. The comparison of fuzzy logic controller with PSO-PID is done by observing the nature of two-area responses. The result obtained by soft computing algorithm and intelligent controller is analyzed on the basis of settling-time, undershoot and ISE Error.
Determinants of Active Tuberculosis among HIV-Positive Adults Attending Clinical Care in Ambo general hospital and Gedo hospital, West Shoa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia (unmatched case-controlstudy)

Background : Diseases and conditions that weaken immunity, such as malnutrition, smoking, alcoholism, HIV/AIDS and diabetes, are factors that facilitate the development of active TB disease. The rapid growth of the HIV pandemic in many developing countries has resulted in an equally dramatic rise in the estimated number of new TB cases. The Objective of this study was to assess the determinants of active TB among HIV-positive adults attending clinical cares in Ambo general and Gedo hospitals, West Shoa zone. Methods and materials : A facility based unmatched case control study design was employed using Systematic Random Sampling method from May to August/ 2015. A total sample size of 123 TB/HIV co-infected patients from Cases and 246 HIV infected without TB infection patients from control groups were selected for the study. Data were entered to computer by Epi data version 3.2. 1 and transferred to SPSS version 16 software package for analysis. To measure the strength of association between dependent and independent variables, odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval was done. Finally, logistic regression was done to control possible confounders and to identify independent predictors of active TB among HIV positive patients. Results: Active TB among HIV-positive adults was significantly associated with lack of formal educational (AOR 3.23, 95%CI 1.60, 6.81), under nourished (lower BMI <18.5) (AOR 2.62, 95%CI 1.23, 5.95), advanced WHO clinical stages (AOR 2.89, 95%CI 1.12, 4.96) and CD4+count<200/µL (AOR 2.5 95%CI 1.18, 4.97) and being married is the protective factor (AOR .20 95%CI 0.11, 0.50) Conclusion and Recommendation: lack of formal education, under nourished, advanced WHO clinical stages and CD4+ count <200/ µL were the independent predictors for active TB among HIV positive patients. People with TB/HIV co-infection are important targets for interventions such as early diagnose and treatment of opportunistic infection and giving health education to prevent and control it.
Simulation of the effects of water pricing scenarios on smallholder irrigators in South Africa

The growing water scarcity worldwide puts pressure on irrigation systems as main consumptive user to improve performance. In developing countries, where today agricultural water use is often still heavily subsidised, a tendency exists of introducing water pricing policies to stimulate rational water use. The exact impact of water pricing policies in terms of water saving or its effect on the farmers? production systems remains unknown. This study introduces a new two-stage method that allows estimating at farm level the effects on the agricultural production process and water demand of introducing or raising a water price. In the first stage the technical efficiency frontier is constructed and the technical and allocative efficiency levels of each farm are calculated. This representation of the technology is used in the second stage in a profit maximization model. Applying the method to small-scale irrigators in South Africa, it is shown that water demand of farmers is quite responsive even to small changes in the water price. Furthermore, introduction of a water price is found to significantly decrease farm profit, which is particularly problematic for poor farmers.
Artwork characteristics and prices in the New Zealand secondary art market, 1988–2011

ABSTRACT Using hedonic pricing, prices realised at auction are estimated against artwork characteristics for New Zealand for over 27,000 artworks by over 1600 artists. The data-set is larger and more representative of an art market, especially for lower prices, than all other art price studies. The number of works by each artist auctioned over the entire period is a measure of each artist's market presence. Sample selection bias created by unsold artworks is corrected using the Heckit method. Estimation results including the creation of the first New Zealand art price index are presented and interpreted.
Pressure measurements on real high-speed trains travelling through tunnels

From November, 2006 to March, 2008 a series of tests were performed onboard a wide variety of trains in order to check their response to pressure waves generated while passing through tunnels. In this communication part of the experimental results are presented, showing the pressure waves generated and focusing on the differences caused by some parameters involved such as train length and shape or tunnel lengths. The results are in accordance with the train wave signature method and the one-dimensional pressure wave theory.
Corrosion of carbon steel in flowing Sulfuric acid

Corrosion tests of carbon steel metal in 5% H2SO4 solution at different operating conditions were performed for ranges of temperature (30 to 60 o C) and rotational velocity (0 to 600 rpm) using both weight loss method and electrochemical polarization technique (Tafel extrapolation). The results revealed different trends of carbon steel against the experimental parameters. The corrosion rate was found to increase considerably with increasing temperature for the majority of results. However, increasing rotational velocity clearly enhanced the corrosion rate for carbon steel. The corrosion potential shows sharp decrease with time in first few minutes and then increase reaching an asymptotic value beyond that. In weight loss experiments, increasing temperature shifted the Ecorr to more positive at stationary condition. Increasing velocity from 0 to 400 rpm shifted the Ecorr to more negative at 40 °C. Then trended to positive with increasing velocity to 600 rpm. In polarization experiments, Ecorr shifted to more positive with increasing temperature from 30 to 40 °C and small change when increasing the temperature from 40 to 60 °C. Increasing velocities shifted the corrosion potential to more positive.
Lactation curves and body weight changes of Alpine, Saanen and Anglo-Nubian goats as well as pre-weaning growth of their kids

Thirty-six goats: 15 Alpine (AG), 13 Saanen (SG) and 8 Anglo-Nubian (ANG) were used to evaluate dry matter intake (DMI), body weight (BW) changes and milk production to validate Wood's model in lactation curves. The kids pre-weaning weight, weaning weight (WW) and daily weight gain (DWG) were determined. Milk production was measured daily for a period of 90 d. The DWG was quantified daily, while BW was recorded weekly. Performance of 48 kids (20 AG, 15 SG and 13 ANG), aged 15 d were evaluated. Wood's model was utilised to describe goat's lactation curve in the different studied goat breeds. Milk production was differed between breeds and according to the number of kids suckled (P < 0.05). Both of DMI and BW showed a linear increase (P < 0.05) during the studied period. Both of WW and DWG were unaffected by type of kidding and breed and were higher in males than in females. It is suggested that equation of Wood's model is adequate to describe the lactation curve in studied goat breeds. The ANG and AG breeds versus SG had more persistence for milk production which was higher for those with single type of birth than those with twins.
Valganciclovir for the prophylaxis and treatment of cytomegalovirus infection in solid organ transplantation

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) can be a problematic virus for solid organ transplant recipients affecting both morbidity and mortality. Valganciclovir (VGC) is a commonly utilized antiviral agent for the prevention of this virus post-transplantation and recently it has been evaluated for the treatment of CMV. It is a pro-drug of ganciclovir (GCV) and has increased bioavailability compared to GCV. It is unclear whether VGC is superior to intravenous or oral GCV in terms of efficacy and safety in the prevention of CMV particularly in the liver transplant population as there have been studies reporting inferiority while other studies have not. Despite this, VGC has been reported to be the most commonly utilized agent for CMV prophylaxis in the liver transplant population in the United States and Canada. This article reviews CMV and VGC in the context of solid organ transplant, describes and assesses selected studies that have been conducted using this agent in this patient population, and summarizes VGC's advantages and disadvantages. Additional studies are needed to further define VGC's role in the treatment of CMV in the solid organ transplantation population as there are an insufficient number of studies pertaining to CMV treatment and no studies have been performed to assess its role in the treatment of life-threatening CMV disease. VGC is non-inferior to GCV for CMV prevention in the solid organ transplant population with the exception of liver transplant recipients.