Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
INCOME INEQUALITY IN URBAN CHINA AND THE ROLE OF STATE SECTOR

We tried to develop a two sector model to investigate the role of state sector on the urban income inequality in China.We showed that the state sector in the coastal provinces rather than the state sector in the interior provinces plays an important role in the income inequality in urban China.The findings of empirical analysis imply that the income inequality for urban households in China is mainly related to the coastal provinces with relatively higher return to capital, capital intensity, and thus capital income in the state sector.The Chinese government should redirect their policy that emphasizes the role of large enterprises in the state sector and subsidizes the capital in the capital-intensive state sector.The main reason for shifting from emphasizing the capital-intensive state sector to the labor-intensive private sector is to reduce inequality in the urban China.
Youth in Agriculture; Perceptions and Challenges for Enhanced Participation in Kajiado North Sub-County, Kenya

DOI: 10.15580/GJAS.2017. 8.100117141 Agriculture in Kenya can develop gainful employment opportunities for youth that would enable them exploit their economic innovation and enhance equal opportunities for the male and female youth for national economic growth. Improving youth participation in the agricultural sector is thus of paramount importance for the nation to develop. Youth’s interest in agriculture is however likely to be positively related to their perceptions in terms of agricultural-related activities mostly being portrayed as difficult and assumed to be meant for the ageing rural population. The relationship between youth’s perception on agriculture and their participation in agriculture in Kajiado North Sub-County was poorly understood and hence the need for this study, which used a crosssectional design to collect data from 397 randomly, selected youth and 22 youth and agricultural officers. Content validity of the youth and agricultural officers’ questionnaires was ascertained by extension experts while reliability was determined through a pilot test involving 30 respondents. The reliability coefficient were 0. 86α and 0. 80α respectively, which were above the 0.70 threshold for acceptable reliability. The study showed that there is a statistically significant relationship between youth perception on agriculture and their participation in the study area (r=0.675 p=0.01), p=. 001). The study revealed youth’s negative perceptions of agriculture as a reason why many did not participate in the sector; where 18.1% youth felt that there were no role models in agriculture and 17.6% claimed that agriculture was not profitable. The government and other development partners should come up with strategies of addressing the issue of negative perception that has an implication on youth participation in agriculture. Government can ensure that agricultural education and training reflects the needs of the agricultural labour market and enhance youth’s familiarity with the world of work, including its practical challenges and rewards. Youth should be directly linked to business partners and they should be given hands-on experience. Submitted: 01/10/2017 Accepted: 07/10/2017 Published: 14/10/2017
Self-selection, Export Market Heterogeneity and Productivity Improvements: Firm Level Evidence from Slovenia

This paper adds a new dimension to the recent literature on relationship beween firm's heterogeneity in terms of productivity and its decision to exports and/or invest in foreign affiliate, namely the heterogeneity of foreign markets. Exploiting a rich and complete dataset for Slovenian exporting firms in the period 1994 - 2002, we gain several interesting insights. First, we demonstrate the importance of fixed entry costs in foreign markets causing that the number of foreign markets served by individual firm increases with firm's productivity level. We show that firms enter additional export markets only gradually - on average one market in two years. Second, we demonstrate that, on average, exporting firms are not always more productive than firms supplying only domestic market. Also, we confirm a conjecture that higher productivity level is required for firms starting to export to advanced countries as opposed to starting to export to developing countries. Finally, we observe that firms can gain significant productivity improvements when serving foreign markets. Significant productivity improvements occur only when serving advanced, high-wage foreign markets. In a small open country, exporting per se does not warranty such effects.
Incidence of Cerebral Palsy in Yorkshire by ethnicity and area deprivation

Objective. This short report investigates variations in the incidence of cerebral palsy in children by broad ethnic group and area deprivation Design. An observational study of the incidence of cerebral palsy in children registered on the Yorkshire Cerebral Palsy Register during 1984-1999. Denominators for rates were derived from live birth counts with estimates by South Asian and non-South Asian ethnicities. Linkages to area deprivation were achieved using postcode of residence. Results. 11.1% of the 1,462 registered cases were of South Asian ethnic origin. The overall rate of cerebral palsy was 2.4 per 1,000 live births. This rate was 2.2 per 1,000 live births in the non-South Asian population but significantly higher at 4.3 per 1,000 live births in the South Asian population. A higher proportion of cases in both ethnic groups live in areas of high deprivation. Conclusion. There is a significantly higher incidence rate of cerebral palsy in the South Asian population in Yorkshire. Now that ethnicity coding is improving this work can be updated using Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) which is important given ongoing population growth in the South Asian ethnic group.
Violence Risk Assessment in Lithuania

Evaluating the risk of violence and re-offending with recognized and validated instruments is a new practice in Baltic countries such as Lithuania. Actuarial assessment and structured professional judgment methods were developed in North American and Western European nations and have recently been adjusted to local settings for research and practice. The present manuscript reviews research, contemporary practice, and relevant policies regarding violence risk assessment in the Baltic region. Specifically, the focus will be on the implementation and patterns of use for risk assessment instruments in Lithuania. The correctional and forensic mental health systems of the country will be described, followed by an overview of government-supported risk assessment tools. The manuscript reviews Lithuanian research on these tools and offers directions for future research and practice.
Molecular diversity of bacterioplankton: link to a predictive biogeochemistry of pelagic ecosystems

In this paper, we focus on the current understanding of the microbial diversity of bacte- rioplankton and its link to the biogeochemistry of the pelagic zone of aquatic ecosystems. During the last 2 decades, a large array of molecular approaches has been developed and applied to assess the diversity of bacterioplankton. One key result of the classical molecular approaches, such as commu- nity fingerprints and environmental clone libraries, is that the bacterioplankton community contains only a few abundant species and a large number of less abundant to rare members. This is in contrast to soil bacterial communities, where no abundant species are detected and the total number of spe- cies is substantially larger. New approaches, such as metagenomics and pyrosequencing, are dis- cussed in terms of their ability to determine the diversity and abundance of the rare members of the community and the biogeochemical potential of the community. Several new approaches, such as sta- ble isotope probing (SIP) and multi-isotope imaging mass spectrometry (MIMS), have been devel- oped to study structure-function relationships of microbial communities. The combination of biogeo- chemical stimulation experiments with these functional and/or molecular approaches has the potential to elucidate the role of specific microorganisms concerning specific biogeochemical func- tions. These experimental analyses, together with in situ measurements of molecular and biogeo- chemical markers, enable the identification of key catalysts of pelagic biogeochemical processes and determination of their regulatory factors. Based on our current understanding of the structure- function links in bacterioplankton, we hypothesize that any local bacterial community comprises 2 parts: the abundant members form a core community that carries out the ongoing biogeochemical functions, and the rare members form a seedbank that provides the genetic potential to respond to any change in the system. Together, both parts form a pan community that is able to mediate the biogeochemical processes in the pelagic ecosystems of the earth.
The Influence of Loyalty Programs and Short-Term Promotions on Customer Retention

Despite the proliferation of loyalty programs in a wide range of categories, there is little empirical research that focuses on the measurement of such programs. The key to measuring the influence of loyalty programs is that they operate as dynamic incentive schemes by providing benefits based on cumulative purchasing over time. As such, loyalty programs encourage consumers to shift from myopic or single-period decision making to dynamic or multiple-period decision making. In this study the author models customers' response to a loyalty program under the assumption that purchases represent the sequential choices of customers who are solving a dynamic optimization problem. The author estimates the theoretical model using a discrete-choice dynamic programming formulation. The author evaluates a specific loyalty program with data from an online merchant that specializes in grocery and drugstore items. Through simulation and policy experiments, it is possible to evaluate and compare the long-term effects of the loyalty program and other marketing instruments (e.g., e-mail coupons, fulfillment rates, shipping fees) on customer retention. Empirical results and policy experiments suggest that the loyalty program under study is successful in increasing annual purchasing for a substantial proportion of customers.
Development of a New 760°C (1400°F) Capable Low Thermal Expansion Alloy

A recently developed 760C (1400F) capable low thermal expansion alloy, HAYNES 244TM alloy, is introduced. The new alloy is intended for use in seal rings and other static parts of future generation gas turbines operating at higher temperatures. The alloy is an improvement over current generation low thermal expansion alloy HAYNES 242 alloy. Its defining feature is the partial substitution of tungsten for molybdenum. Judicious alloying enabled the same age-hardening mechanism to be operative while increasing the thermal stability of the strengthening phase, thus raising the temperature capability of the new alloy. The results of a mill scale-up of this concept are reported with regard to several key performance characteristics: thermal expansion, tensile and creep strength, and thermal stability. While additional product forms such as plate and sheet are being processed, the bulk of the presented results relates to capability pancakes obtained from forged billet. Benchmarking against several current generation low thermal expansion alloys indicates the potential of the new alloy for more demanding operating conditions.
Questioning the Weber Thesis: Capitalist Ethics and the Hebrew Bible?

Weber’s thesis proposed that it was ascetic Protestantism which supported the emergence of modern capitalism in 17th and 18th century Europe, and that this was a completely new and unique phenomenon in the history of mankind up to that point in time. This paper casts doubt on the Weber thesis by examining findings from an economic reconstruction of the Hebrew Bible, and proposing that modern capitalism the way Weber understood it is already visible in the ancient religious text of the “Hebrew Bible”. By means of institutional economic reconstruction, I show that the Hebrew Bible and particularly the stories involving Jacob and Joseph reveal a conceptual structure that can be compared with ideas of modern constitutional and institutional economics. Through this reconstruction, I find myself in agreement with one of Weber’s early but largely forgotten adversaries, Werner Sombart, who suggested, in a behavioral tradition, that other religions, and more specifically Jewish thought, contributed to the emergence of modern capitalism long before the advent of Protestantism.
Ratooning ability and its effect on grain yield of upland Nerica rice varieties in Central Kenya

Field experiments were conducted at Mwea Irrigation Agricultural Development (MIAD) Centre in central Kenya (0o 41'S, 37o 20'E, 1159m) to assess rice ratooning ability and its effect on grain yield. Four upland NERICA (NERICA 1, 4, 10 and 11) and one local Oryza sativa (Duorado precoce) rice varieties were planted in randomized complete block design with three replicates. The main crop was harvested at maturity after which the tillers were hand cut to stubble of about 15cm tall. The stubbles were left to grow without application of any further input until the ratooned plants were ready for harvesting. Ratooning ability among the NERICAs ranged from 26% (NERICA 1) to 39% (NERICA 4) while Duorado precoce recorded the lowest (19%). Total grain yield (main crop plus ratoon) differed significantly (p<0.05) among the rice varieties with NERICA 4 attaining the highest total yield (6206kg ha -1 ) while the local variety Duorado precoce attained the lowest (3376kg ha -1 ). NERICA 4 and NERICA 10 recorded remarkable yield increase of more than 1500kg ha -1 (the average yield of upland rice in Subsahara Africa) with no additional input. NERICA 4 recorded the highest grain yield and ratooning ability and is therefore recommended for Central Kenya though the yield and ratooning ability of the other three NERICA varieties were also encouraging. Results of this study can serve as a guide on how ratooning can be used to maximize upland rice yield in Central Kenya.
The Boundary value problems for second order elliptic operators satisfying a Carleson condition

Let $\Omega$ be a Lipschitz domain in $\mathbb R^n$ $n\geq 2,$ and $L=\mbox{div} (A\nabla\cdot)$ be a second order elliptic operator in divergence form. We establish solvability of the Dirichlet regularity problem with boundary data in $H^{1,p}(\partial\Omega)$ and of the Neumann problem with $L^p(\partial\Omega)$ data for the operator $L$ on Lipschitz domains with small Lipschitz constant. We allow the coefficients of the operator $L$ to be rough obeying a certain Carleson condition with small norm. These results complete the results of [5] where $L^p(\partial\Omega)$ Dirichlet problem was considered under the same assumptions and [6] where the regularity and Neumann problems were considered on two dimensional domains.
The Effect of Metalanguage on Grammar Noticing of the Iranian EFL Learners

Metalanguage did not receive a lot of attention in communicative language teaching (CLT) but has remained an untouched area in second language studies. This research wanted to examine the effect of teachers’ metalanguage on learners’ noticing of grammatical points. This research was conducted at two proficiency levels of elementary and intermediate. In each level of elementary and intermediate, two groups were chosen, an experimental and a control group. In the experimental group, the teachers used metalanguage to teach grammar points. However, in control group the teachers used examples to teach grammar points. A noticing task test was administered to the two groups to collect data. The result indicated that the metalanguage had impacted the learners’ noticing, of grammatical points.
Bernstein-Sato ideals and local systems

The topology of smooth quasi-projective complex varieties is very restrictive. One aspect of this statement is the fact that natural strata of local systems, called cohomology support loci, have a rigid structure: they consist of torsion-translated subtori in a complex torus. We propose and partially confirm a relation between Bernstein-Sato ideals and local systems. This relation gives yet a different point of view on the nature of the structure of cohomology support loci of local systems. The main result is a partial generalization to the case of a collection of polynomials of the theorem of Malgrange and Kashiwara which states that the Bernstein-Sato polynomial of a hypersurface recovers the monodromy eigenvalues of the Milnor fibers of the hypersurface. We also address a multi-variable version of the Monodromy Conjecture, prove that it follows from the usual single-variable Monodromy Conjecture, and prove it in the case of hyperplane arrangements.
SUITABILITY OF HEART RATE RECORDING AS PHYSIOLOGICAL MEASURES TOOL TO DETERMINE DRIVERS' PERFORMANCE IMPAIRMENT: A PRELIMINARY STUDY

Performance impairment may occur if the driver feels fatigue while driving. This study investigated the drivers’ condition while performing one hour driving simulation in a controlled environment. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether heart rate measures can be used to detect impaired driver performance as well as reduced alertness. There are two different experiments conducted among the subjects; (i) without vibration and (ii) with vibration. A monotonous driving simulation scenario with low demand of traffic flow was utilized to detect drivers’ performance impairment. Heart rate (HR) was recorded over the entire experiment; (i) 30 minutes before driving, (ii) one hour during driving and (iii) 30 minutes after driving in the morning before lunch break. The baseline measurement was recorded when the subject has performed his daily routine in the same hours of experiment, which is about three hours. HR measures were derived and correlated to variation of lane deviation (VLD), a driving performance measure, and to the driver's state, which was estimated by the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS). Experimental result shows all subjects’ HR data were lower at the end of the driving task, particularly when driving in the simulator without vibration. Based on KSS evaluation, subjects tend to feel sleepy during driving and become less sleepy when they reach the destination. In term of VLD, all subjects tend xto cross the lane, which means they were not focused to the task. In conclusion, HR can be used as a tool to detect drivers’ performance and it is a useful indicator of physiological adaptation and intensity of effort.
Effect of EMS on morpho-physiological characters of wheat in reference to stay green trait

To feed the ever growing world population, the demand of food supply must be increased by 70 % of major cereal crops like wheat, rice etc. It was predicted that the detrimental effect of abiotic stresses like drought, heat, salt etc. on yield would be decreased by genetic improvement in terms of photosynthetic response, long green leaf duration and delayed leaf senescence. â€˜Stay greenâ€™ is a vital trait of all crops which is directly associated with the capacity of the plant to maintain CO2 assimilation, photosynthesis and chlorophyll content. The present study was conducted to develop the stay green mutants genotype by using 1.5 % Ethyl Methane Sulphonate (EMS). The variety K 7410 showed highest leaf area 37.34 cm2, seeds per spike 65.47, 1000 grain weight 62.03 g after treatment of EMS among morphological characters observed. Among physiological characters of wheat variety Sonalik showed lowest RWC (21.48 %), HD 2135 showed lowest chlorophyll content (33.53 Âµg/cm2) and C 306 showed lowest photosynthetic rate (15.05 Âµmol/m2sec) after treatment of EMS. But varieties K 7410, VL 401 and RAJ 3765 varieties showed higher value of physiological characters after the treatment. The results suggested that the stay green trait had been developed by mutation (EMS) in these three wheat varieties and they can exhibit better tolerance under abiotic stress conditions like drought, high temperature. Such results would prove useful for further research and crop management in stress affected areas or under unfavourable climatic conditions.
Venture Capital Availability and Labor Market Performance in Industrial Countries: Evidence Based on Survey Data

This paper finds that more readily available venture capital is likely to have lowered unemployment rates and raised employment rates in industrial countries over the period 1982 to 2003. More readily available venture capital is also likely to have lowered the share of long-term unemployed in the total number of unemployed. The magnitude of the effects appears to have been substantial. To measure access to venture capital, we use answers from surveys of senior business executives. We also employ a large number of control variables. Our regression results are robust to variations in specification and sample size.
Rainfall Estimation from Polarimetric S-Band Radar Measurements: Validation of a Neural Network Approach

A procedure for the estimation of rainfall rate, capitalizing on a radar-based raindrop size distribution (RSD) parameter retrieval and neural network (NN) inversion techniques, is validated using an extensive and quality-controlled archive. The RSD retrieval algorithm utilizes polarimetric variables measured by the polarimetric prototype of the Weather Surveillance Radar-1988 Doppler (WSR-88D) in Norman, Oklahoma (KOUN), through an ad hoc regularized neural network method. Evaluation of rainfall estimation from the NN-based method is accomplished using a large radar data and surface gauge observation dataset collected in central Oklahoma during the multiyear Joint Polarization Experiment (JPOLE) field campaign. Point estimates of hourly rainfall accumulations and instantaneous rainfall rates from NN-based and parametric polarimetric rainfall relations are compared with dense surface gauge observations. Rainfall accumulations from RSD retrieval-based methods are shown to be sensitive to the choice of a raindrop fall speed model. To minimize the impact of this choice, a new ‘‘direct’’ neural network approach is tested. Proposed NN-based approaches exhibit bias and root-mean-square error characteristics comparable with those obtained from parametric relations, specifically optimized for the JPOLE dataset, indicating an appealing generalization capability with respect to the climatological context. All tested polarimetric relations are shown to be sensitive to hail contamination as inferred from the results of automatic polarimetric echo classification and available storm reports.
The social network is the m(a)ssage: virtual social capital and real world business opportunities

This paper compares the relationships between virtual social capital acquired on two mainstream social networks – Facebook and LinkedIn – and real-world business opportunities. Using quantitative research methodology, the case of Facebook has already been explored at the sample of more than 100 students of the Polytechnic of Zagreb in the recent study conducted by the same group of authors [1]. This study explores the relationships between social capital acquired at LinkedIn and real-world business opportunities and compares found results with the case of Facebook. On such basis it draws connections between real and virtual habitats of students at the Polytechnic of Zagreb and their career prospects, identifies methodological restrictions to found conclusions, and proposes several directions for future research.