Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Environmental Tax Reform and Economic Welfare

According to a new study Environmental Performance Index (EPI) (2012), India has the worst air pollution in the entire world. Given the severe damages caused by air pollution, it is important to explore various options to control air pollution. In chapter 1, I use a computable general equilibrium (CGE) model to show that a Pigouvian tax on the use of fossil fuels with cuts in existing distortionary taxes could have double dividend in India. In addition, the fuel tax policy is also progressive. Alternative Pigouvian tax on output of pollution intensive commodities has a positive effect on economic growth, but it achieves only a modest reduction in air pollution. This tax policy does not have a significant distributive impact. Chapter 2 presents a new econometric model of aggregate demand for urban India. I create inter-area consumer price indices for India and combine them with a nationally representative consumer expenditure survey to estimate the model. The consumer expenditure data allows for substantial demographic heterogeneity. I estimate a flexible model of aggregate demand known as Translog model in the literature and report estimated model parameters, cross price elasticities and expenditure elasticities. The model is able to explain the patterns of aggregate demand in urban India and it can be useful in general equilibrium models to evaluate macro-economic impacts of a broad range of policies. The results of such general equilibrium models will be more realistic if they incorporate flexible functional form such as the one presented in the chapter. In chapter 3, I evaluate the impact of three revenue neutral environmental tax policies — carbon tax, fuel tax and output tax — on consumer welfare in India. I take the results of my CGE simulations to household data to estimate the welfare impacts of the environmental policies. Demographic attributes such as household size, the education the age of household head affect the expenditure patterns and thus the individual welfare effects. As for the aggregate welfare, the impact of pollution taxes is generally very modest compared to the improvement in environment as measured by reduction in health damages due to air pollution. The output tax policy seems to offer double dividends, because the output tax policy works as a tax reform rather than an additional burden on consumers. The output tax is mildly regressive, but other policies could be mildly progressive or regressive depending on the measure of progression used.
Strategy for the Supply Chain Development of Biodiesel as an Alternative Fuel in Pakistan

Abstract Biodiesel is a clean-burning alternative fuel, produced from domestic, renewable resources. It is biodegradable, nontoxic, and essentially free of sulfur and aromatics. Biodiesel is usually blended with hydro-carbon diesel with ratios 10–90 (called B-10) or 20–80 (called B-20). This bio mix is a tested model in various countries for use as alternative fuel. Biodiesel can be produced from a number of seed oils (used and unused). The production process for resources vary from one to another in terms of minor operational deviations. The flow line from stakeholder to consumer consists of thegrowing of seeds, oil extraction, chemical treatments, and consumption. This flow line involves a number of characters that can play their specific roles behind the scenes. This article proposes a strategy for the development of a supply-chain mechanism for the use of biodiesel as an alternative fuel in Pakistan. The rational of this article is an introduction of biodiesel including its viable sources in Pakistan and its subsequent benefits as principle motivators for the production of biodiesel in Pakistan and the worldwide development in this field. The actual theme of this article is supply-chain development strategy in Pakistan, which covers demand management, identification of inventory requirements, devising the production process flow, deployment models and basic infrastructure requirements. The attributes covered are the availability of raw materials, production processes, handling, transportation, distribution and storage in different stages. In the end, the authors have described expected challenges and uncertainties in deploying the supply chain of biodiesel as an alternate fuel in Pakistan and the possible solutions.
Análise Técnica: Sorte ou Realidade?

The purpose of this paper is to test market efficiency by using the so-called ''technical analysis'' investment strategies. We apply predictive hability tests developed by White (2000) in order to measure whether these strategies are capable of producing excess returns relative to the buy-and-hold strategy. It considers the possibilty of data-snooping, allowing the detection of models whose seemingly good performance are in fact due only to chance. Our results indicate that technical analysis is not profitable and should not be used by investors, being in line with weak-form efficient market hypothesis predictions.
An evidence‐based approach to developing HR strategy: transformation in Royal Mail

Purpose – This case study aims to describe the benefits of an evidence‐based, metrics‐driven approach to formulating HR strategy.Design/methodology/approach – The approach taken to developing the HR strategy at Royal Mail Letters involved five phases: identifying the priorities for the HR strategy based on key business objectives; conducting an analysis of the current state in the organization; developing the HR strategy supported by robust analysis; reviewing the proposed approach against data and with key stakeholders; and finalizing the HR strategy.Findings – Four factors were key to successfully delivering a successful HR strategy: identification of the right metrics; engagement with and facilitation across stakeholders; adopting a robust, evidence‐based approach; and adopting a business rather than HR focus.Practical implications – Firstly, HR functions need the requisite analyst skills, combining “hard” data analysis relating to financial and operational performance measures alongside “soft” analysi.
Linking Systems to Strategy

Presents a framework to determine manufacturing planning and control system requirements that reflect differences in manufacturing strategy and process technology in a business. Manufacturing planning and control systems represent a critical part of the manufacturing infrastructure and support functions, and their design needs to be closely linked to decisions regarding a firm′s manufacturing strategy and choice of processes. Discusses examples of companies which have developed a good fit between their manufacturing planning and control systems and their manufacturing strategy in terms of the framework presented.
11 THz figure-of-merit phase-change RF switches for reconfigurable wireless front-ends

We report on GeTe-based, phase-change RF switches in a series configuration with an embedded micro-heater for thermal switching. With heater parasitics reduced, these GeTe RF switches show on-state resistance of 0.12 ohm*mm and off-state capacitance of 0.12 pF/mm. The RF switch figure-of-merit is estimated to be 11 THz, which is about 15 times better than state-of-the-art silicon-on-insulator switches. With 50-μm-wide GeTe switches, RF insertion loss was 0.25 dB and isolation was 24 dB at 20 GHz. Harmonic powers were suppressed >90 dBc at 35 dBm, meeting wireless requirements. The GeTe switches were characterized under W-CDMA signals without spectral regrowth up to 25 dBm.
The Study on Resolutions of STRIDE Threat Model

The database security is usually connected with the network security. This passage will discuss and study the resolution of threat model based on STRIDE. The B/S architecture is used to illustrate that what threat this architecture will be faced with. Aimed at the threats, the responding resolutions are also given to build more safe and credible system.
Generic and specific impression estimation of clothing fabric images based on machine learning

Consumers' psychological feeling or impression is an important factor for product design. The impression estimation becomes an important issue. In this paper, we propose generic and specific impression estimation methods based on machine learning for cloth fabric images. We use a semantic differential (SD) method to measure the user's impression such as bright, warm while they viewing a cloth fabric image. We also extract both global and local features of cloth fabric images such as color and texture using computer vision techniques. Then we use support vector regression to model the mapping functions between the generic impression (or specific impression) and image features. The learned mapping functions are used to estimate the generic or specific impression of cloth fabric images.
Bargaining Piecemeal Or All At Once

Perfect-information, Rubinstein-style bargaining models are used to explore questions about multiple-issue bargaining--is it ever sensible to offer on only a subset of the issues being bargained? What is the effect of limiting offers so that they must cover all issues? We conclude that in realistic settings the answer to the first question is yes and that restricting offers to those covering all issues may be harmful to one or both parties.
Accelerated Multimodal Images Joint Non-local Filtering

In this paper, we present a novel non-local averaging based multimodal image filtering method. In the method the mean average for filtering the noisy image is computed nonlocally and weights for average is jointly guided by the reference image taken from another imaging device. The experiment results shows that the proposed method is out performance than the state of the art joint bilateral filter, especially in the case of the periodic texture is involved in the images. Further more, we accelerate the method by constructing integral histograms, speed it up by factor of about 2 order compared with the brute-force method. In addition, the algorithm is independent of the size of the filter, and easy to be implemented on parallel system.
A pricing-based evolutionary cooperative game for sustainable development: a case study on land purchasing

Evolutionary Game Theory (EGT) originated from the understanding that frequency dependent fitness introduces a strategic aspect of evolution. In this paper, we apply EGT and dynamics to a sustainable development problem in economic mutualism condition and develop respective evolutionary cooperative games. In particular, we study a land purchase bargaining case in China. Using a fairness line-based dealing model, the bargaining process between the mutualistic players is analysed. Furthermore, by introducing evolutionary cooperative game model, we study the dynamical properties of the game for sustainable development and achieve stable solutions instead of periodical oscillations in traditional EGT such as prey-predator model. Evolutionary stable strategy leads to reciprocal outcomes, i.e. the win-win Nash equilibrium. Simulation results show that evolutionary stable strategies for evolutionary cooperative games depend upon certain specific values of the parameters that construct the strategy space in the evolutionary cooperative games.
Membrane properties of cell types within guinea pig basal forebrain nuclei in vitro.

1. Neurons in the nucleus of the diagonal band of Broca (nDBB) and ventral portion of the medial septum (MS) were studied using intracellular recording and single-electrode voltage clamp (SEVC) techniques in an in vitro brain slice preparation. Cell types could be operationally divided into three categories: cells with a slow postspike afterhyperpolarization (SAHP cell, 40%), neurons with a fast AHP (FAHP cells, 53%), and a third cell group recorded infrequently (7% of the cells) that fired in a burst pattern. Double-labeling techniques have shown that SAHP cells stain positively for acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and are presumably cholinergic (22). The present study provides a more detailed analysis of the passive and active membrane properties of SAHP and FAHP types within these forebrain nuclei. 2. SAHP cells were characterized by a postspike afterhyperpolarization (AHP) with an amplitude of 10-20 mV and duration of approximately 600 ms at -65 mV. In the voltage range of -60--70 mV, the AHP decayed as a single exponential function with a time constant of 170 +/- 53 ms (n = 10). However, many neurons at these membrane potentials exhibited an AHP decay that was a multiple exponential function lasting for seconds. The null potential of the SAHP was approximately -90 mV and shifted by 25 mV in 9 mM KCl, a value closely predicted for a potassium (K+) conductance. The SAHP was reversibly blocked by cadmium (Cd2+), suggesting the SAHP was mediated by a calcium (Ca2+)-activated K+ conductance. 3. FAHP cells displayed afterhyperpolarizations of smaller amplitude (5-10 mV) and duration (5-50 ms) that reversed at approximately -85 mV. Elevating extracellular K+ concentration [Ko] to 6 mM shifted the reversal 13 mV more positive. Cd2+ also reduced the AHP in these cells suggesting a second faster Ca2+-activated K+ conductance may be present. 4. Both SAHP and FAHP cells had similar input resistances and resting membrane potentials but markedly different action-potential characteristics. SAHP cells had a spike duration of 1.4 ms and a prominent shoulder on the falling phase of the SAHP cell action potentials that was reduced by Cd2+. In contrast, FAHP cells had an average spike duration of 0.63 ms that was unaffected by Cd2+. 5. The passive electrical cable properties of both cell types were characterized. Equivalent electrotonic length of the dendrites (L) and the dendritic-to-somatic conductance ratio (rho) were calculated for different cell groups. SAHP cells displayed average L values of 0.61, and the average rho was 2.13. Similar values of 0.69 and 2.14 were calculated for L and rho, respectively, in FAHP cells. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Patterns of State Productivity Growth in the U.S. Farm Sector: Linking State and Aggregate Models

This article focuses on agricultural productivity growth at both sector and state levels. It does so in a way that preserves the economic integrity of national and state production accounts. A model accounting for interstate transactions in farm goods links sectorwide and state-specific measures of total factor productivity growth. An interesting conclusion is that the smooth, persistently positive trend typically observed for farm sector productivity growth masks considerable variation across states and regions. The results also indicate that farm sector productivity growth is wholly a function of productivity trends in the individual states. Interstate shifts in production activity and resource reallocations have had little impact. Copyright 1999, Oxford University Press.
The role of CD44 in fetal and adult hematopoietic stem cell regulation

Throughout development, hematopoietic stem cells migrate to specific microenvironments, where their fate is, in part, extrinsically controlled. CD44 standard as a member of the cell adhesion molecule family is extensively expressed within adult bone marrow and has been previously reported to play important roles in adult hematopoietic regulation via CD44 standard-ligand interactions. In this manuscript, CD44 expression and function are further assessed and characterized on both fetal and adult hematopoietic stem cells. Using a CD44−/− mouse model, conserved functional roles of CD44 are revealed throughout development. CD44 is critical in the maintenance of hematopoietic stem and progenitor pools, as well as in hematopoietic stem cell migration. CD44 expression on hematopoietic stem cells as well as other hematopoietic cells within the bone marrow microenvironment is important in the homing and lodgment of adult hematopoietic stem cells isolated from the bone/bone marrow interface. CD44 is also involved in fetal hematopoietic stem cell migration out of the liver, via a process involving stromal cell-derived factor-1α. The absence of CD44 in neonatal bone marrow has no impact on the size of the long-term reconstituting hematopoietic stem cell pool, but results in an enhanced long-term engraftment potential of hematopoietic stem cells.
Appealing to the Elusive Tourist: An Attribute Cluster Strategy

The development of a technique to identify tourist-attracting features for use in market segmentation was the primary focus of this article. For purposes of segmentation, 10 tourist attracting attributes were used as the basis of a linear-compensatory, multi attribute attitude model. A unidimensional attitude score representative of a bundle of attributes was used as a basis for the BMDP K-means clustering procedure, which was used to divide heterogeneous tourist markets into homogeneous subsegments. Within the resort test area, three viable tourist clusters were identified as differing significantly (p < .001) for each attribute. Demographic differences between the clusters were examined. However, no significant differences were revealed. In other words, the clusters or market segments differed with respect to benefits sought but did not differ demographi cally. The use of attribute bundles and demographic information for the development of promotional campaign strategies is discussed.
Determinants of tourist expenditure: a review of microeconometric models

This paper presents a comprehensive review of the econometric approaches for the analysis of tourism expenditure at individual level. The attempt to consider only regression models is novel in literature. The paper resumes 86 papers and 354 estimates of econometric models from data at individual level, ranging from 1977 to the early 2012. Discussion focuses on models used, dependent variables, explanatory variables by category and their effect on expenditure. The most frequently used explanatory variables were income, socio-demographic and trip-related, and were tested mainly through classical regression techniques (OLS, quantile, Tobit and two-step, logistic). Future research directions should concern the exploration of new evidence through novel methodological techniques, a more extensive use of psychographic variables and a stronger relation to economic theory.
The Theory of Fiscal Illusion in a Constitutional Perspective

This article examines the theory of fiscal illusion, showing that after the international attention received, thanks to James M. Buchanan, it deserves some further reflections. In particular, this article emphasizes the general nature of the fiscal illusion processes, which can be found not only in totalitarian but also in democratic systems. At the end, the suggestion is made to remove (or at least minimize) the effects of the illusion processes and to make stable the fiscal system according to the Buchananâ€™s fiscal constitutional proposal.
Methanogenic Community Was Stable in Two Contrasting Freshwater Marshes Exposed to Elevated Atmospheric CO2

The effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration on soil microbial communities have been previously recorded. However, limited information is available regarding the response of methanogenic communities to elevated CO2 in freshwater marshes. Using high-throughput sequencing and real-time quantitative PCR, we compared the abundance and community structure of methanogens in different compartments (bulk soil, rhizosphere soil, and roots) of Calamagrostis angustifolia and Carex lasiocarpa growing marshes under ambient (380 ppm) and elevated CO2 (700 ppm) atmospheres. C. lasiocarpa rhizosphere was a hotspot for potential methane production, based on the 10-fold higher abundance of the mcrA genes per dry weight. The two marshes and their compartments were occupied by different methanogenic communities. In the C. lasiocarpa marsh, archaeal family Methanobacteriaceae, Rice Cluster II, and Methanosaetaceae co-dominated in the bulk soil, while Methanobacteriaceae was the exclusively dominant methanogen in the rhizosphere soil and roots. Families Methanosarcinaceae and Methanocellaceae dominated in the bulk soil of C. angustifolia marsh. Conversely, Methanosarcinaceae and Methanocellaceae together with Methanobacteriaceae dominated in the rhizosphere soil and roots, respectively, in the C. angustifolia marsh. Elevated atmospheric CO2 increased plant photosynthesis and belowground biomass of C. lasiocarpa and C. angustifolia marshes. However, it did not significantly change the abundance (based on mcrA qPCR), diversity, or community structure (based on high-throughput sequencing) of methanogens in any of the compartments, irrespective of plant type. Our findings suggest that the population and species of the dominant methanogens had weak responses to elevated atmospheric CO2. However, minor changes in specific methanogenic taxa occurred under elevated atmospheric CO2. Despite minor changes, methanogenic communities in different compartments of two contrasting freshwater marshes were rather stable under elevated atmospheric CO2.
Change in the Innovation Process: New Knowledge Production and Competitive Cities--The Case of Stuttgart

The global integration of economic activities is bringing with it major changes in innovation processes. New kinds of innovation, such as service and organizational innovations, became increasingly important in the 1990s. The shift to new forms of knowledge creation reflects the emerging knowledge based economy. This has effects on the existing comparative advantages of metropolitan innovation systems and is a major challenge to the ability of cities to adjust, especially those in mature industrial sectors whose competitiveness is based on innovations in industrial technology and scientific and technological knowledge production. Stuttgart is one of these cities. Much of the comparative innovative strength of the Stuttgart region derives from the generation of synergy effects of its technological and institutional development paths. The high levels of industrial exports and the competitiveness of the global players in the Stuttgart region indicates how advantageous the technology based knowledge production and diffusion in the region has been for the innovativeness of the core industrial branches. The crisis at the start of the 1990s showed that the economic success of particular firms does not mean that the metropolitan region as a whole is innovative and competitive. The institutional structures used to establish and maintain the comparative innovative advantages of the industrial sector have hindered adjustment to new forms of knowledge production and diffusion. The paper examines the adjustment processes in the Stuttgart region which are changing the organization of innovation and learning in a way that makes it receptive to new forms of knowledge production and diffusion.
Scheduler Reducing CSI Feedback Overhead and Computational Complexity for 5G Ultra High-Density Distributed Antenna Systems with Hybrid BF

Recently, we proposed large-scale coordinated multi-user MIMO (LSC-MU-MIMO), which combines joint transmission from multiple transmission points (TPs) and MU-MIMO, to increase the system capacity of ultra high-density distributed antenna systems. Applying hybrid beamforming (BF) to LSC-MU-MIMO is effective in further increasing the system capacity. However, since the previously proposed scheduler for LSC-MU-MIMO requires all downlink channel matrices between TP and user equipment (UE) to estimate the SINR of each UE, those of all analog BF candidates are necessary when applying hybrid BF, which results in a huge channel state information (CSI) feedback overhead. Besides, the conventional scheduler has high computational complexity since it requires inverse matrix calculation. In this paper, we propose a scheduler with low CSI feedback overhead and low computational complexity for LSC-MU-MIMO with hybrid BF. The proposed scheduler estimates the SINR of each UE using the received signal power of each analog BF without inverse matrix calculation. Simulation results show that the proposed scheduler achieves almost the same throughput performance as the scheduler using full-CSI feedback and inverse matrix calculation.