Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Intergenerational transfers, lifetime welfare, and resource preservation*

ABSTRACT This paper analyzes overlapping-generations models where natural capital is owned by selfish agents. Transfers in favor of young agents reduce the rate of depletion and increase output growth. It is shown that intergenerational transfers may be preferred to laissez-faire by an indefinite sequence of generations: if the resource share in production is sufficiently high, the welfare gain induced by preservation compensates for the loss due to taxation. This conclusion is reinforced when other assets are available, e.g. man-made capital, claims on monopoly rents, and R&D investment. Transfers raise the welfare of all generations, except that of the first resource owner: if resource endowments are taxed at time zero, all successive generations support resource-saving policies for purely selfish reasons.
Scientific Productivity and Academic Promotion: A Study on French and Italian Physicists. NBER Working Paper No. 16341.

The paper examines the determinants of scientific productivity (number of articles and journals' impact factor) for a panel of about 3600 French and Italian academic physicists active in 2004-05. Endogeneity problems concerning promotion and productivity are addressed by specifying a generalized Tobit model, in which a selection probit equation accounts for the individual scientist's probability of promotion to her present rank, and a productivity regression estimates the effects of age, gender, cohort of entry, and collaboration characteristics, conditional on the scientist's rank. We find that the size and international nature of collaborative projects and co-authors' past productivity have very significant impacts on current productivity, while age and gender, and past productivity are also influential determinants of both productivity and probability of promotion. Furthermore we show that the stop-and-go policies of recruitment and promotion, typical of the Italian and French centralized academic systems of governance, can leave significant long-lasting cohort effects on research productivity.
Energy Consumption Awareness for Resource-Constrained Devices: Extension to FPGA

The devices running embedded applications tend to be battery-powered, and the energy efficiency of their operations is an important enabler for the wide adoption of the Internet-of-Things. Optimization of energy usage depends on modelling power consumption. A model-based simulation must consider parameters that depend on the device used, the operating system, and the distributed application under study. A realistic simulation thus depends on knowledge regarding how and when devices consume energy. This paper presents an approach to direct measurement of energy consumed in the different execution states of the device. We present the architecture and the measurement process that were implemented. We provide a reference architecture, whose constituent parts can be implemented in different manners, e.g. the processing unit of the device can be the chip on a mote, or an FieldProgrammable Gate Array (FPGA) implementation. Details are given regarding the setup of the experimental tests, and a discussion of the results hints at which architecture is the best for each application under study. The presented methodology can be extended easily to new architectures and applications, to streamline the process of building realistic models of power consumption.
Mitigation‐driven translocations: are we moving wildlife in the right direction?

Despite rapid growth in the field of reintroduction biology, results from scientific research are often not applied to translocations initiated when human land-use change conflicts with the continued persistence of a species' population at a particular site. Such mitigation-driven translocations outnumber and receive more funding than science-based conservation translocations, yet the conservation benefit of the former is unclear. Because mitigation releases are economically motivated, outcomes may be less successful than those of releases designed to serve the biological needs of species. Translocation as a regulatory tool may be ill-suited for biologically mitigating environmental damage caused by development. Evidence suggests that many mitigation-driven translocations fail, although the application of scientific principles and best practices would probably improve the success rate. Lack of transparency and failure to document outcomes also hinder efforts to understand the scope of the problem. If miti.
An Information Technology Diffusion Process by Optional Adoption Decision Making Models

The Information technology are easily implemented and introduced to the organization clearly. Some information technology is very difficult to run. It has been the cost increases due to run failure. It is not known for sure why this phenomenon occurs clearly. However, the success of IS implementation in many studies argue that rests on the adoption decision of new information technology individual level. The purpose of this study tested to Rogers’ diffusion theory optional adoption decision which accounts for an important part of the model is described by new information technology adoption. This process is utilization processes of individual levels in end-user computing environment that purpose. In this study, we assume that the success of information system implementation depends on the adoption decision of the individual level of new information technology. The optional adoption decision model describes the innovation adoption decision-making process within the social system. The purpose of this study is to investigate and analyze the empirical data about how you can describe the new information technology adoption decision-making process of individuals under the end-user computing environment.
Phenomenology, dynamical neural networks and brain function

Current cognitive science models of perception and action assume that the objects that we move toward and perceive are represented as determinate in our experience of them. A proper phenomenology of perception and action, however, shows that we experience objects indeterminately when we are perceiving them or moving toward them. This indeterminacy, as it relates to simple movement and perception, is captured in the proposed phenomenologically based recurrent network models of brain function. These models provide a possible foundation from which predicative structures may arise as an emergent phenomenon without the positing of a representing subject. These models go some way in addressing the dual constraints of phenomenological accuracy and neurophysiological plausibility that ought to guide all projects devoted to discovering the physical basis of human experience.
Phosphorus in Pig Diets Effect of Liquid Feeding, Phosphorus Levels and Phytase Supplementation on Digestibility and Performance

Lyberg, K. 2006. Phosphorus in Pig Diets Effect of liquid feeding, phosphorus levels and phytase supplementation on digestibility and performance. Doctoral thesis. ISSN 1652-6880, ISBN 91-576-7062-5 Pig feed is mainly based on cereals where phosphorus (P) is mostly present in inositol hexaphosphate (IP6), which is not readily available to monogastric animals. More available P sources are often added to ensure that pigs’ requirements are fulfilled; this results in high excretion levels of P. The digestibility of P depends on phytase activity and amount of IP6 in feedstuffs. The overall aim was to study effects of liquid feeding, P levels and phytase supplementation on digestibility and performance. Effects of soaking and P levels on digestibility were studied by total collection in metabolic cages, and effects on performance were studied in 192 growing pigs. Effects of soaking fermentation and phytase supplementation on ileal and total tract digestibility were studied with indicator technique on pigs surgically fitted with PVTC cannulas. P levels and phytase supplementation were studied in 104 pregnant sows for two reproduction cycles. All diets were cereal based and included wheat. Basic properties of a cereal mix fermented with whey, wet wheat distillers’ grain and water in different temperatures were also studied. Soaking reduced the level of IP6, whereas apparent digestibility of P was not significantly improved. Soaking increased average daily weight gain, carcass weights and improved the energy conversion ratio in pigs fed a low P diet to the same level as pigs fed high P diets. Low P diets resulted in lower femur density than high P diets. However, soaking of a low P diet resulted in increased femur density. Fermentation degraded IP6 efficiently and improved ileal apparent digestibility of P, organic matter, nitrogen, amino acids and total tract apparent digestibility of organic matter. Microbiological and biochemical properties of fermented liquid diets are strongly affected by feed components and temperature used. Phytase supplementation slightly affected apparent digestibility of P. Supplementing a low P gestation diet with phytase did not significantly affect sow performance. The slight effects of phytase supplementations found may depend on high levels of intrinsic phytase in the diets, and possibly suggest that the provided P level in the sows may have been sufficient. Under typical Swedish conditions of sow management, reduced total P level in gestation diets seems not to negatively affect performance.
Molecular characterization of chemical mutagenesis induced diversity in elite maize germplasm

Three classical breeding Iowa Super Stiff Stalk (SSS) inbred lines B37, B73 and B84, one Lancaster inbred Oh43 and mutant lines obtained by chemical mutagenesis followed by mutation breeding as follows: two of B37 and four of Oh43 were selected for molecular characterization. The mutant inbred lines were chosen because in addition to the improved GCA and SCA for grain yield, proven by their predominance in the Bulgarian breeding programs, they showed shifts in the flowering time as compared to the initial inbreds. Molecular markers (micro satellites and other PCR-based DNA markers) were used for characterization of maize genotypes and determination of the induced by chemical mutagenesis genetic variability in maize germplasm. The tested nine SSR markers (umc 1001, umclO14, umcl057, umcll81, umcl0lS, umc 1029. umcl003, umc 1033 and umcl035) can discriminate between the initial classical breeding inbred lines and the originating mutant inbreds. Allelic diversity was also studied by PCR amplification with specifically de-signed primers in the coding regions and flanking sequence of two genes: dwarf8 (d&: chromosome 1, 198.5 cM), and indeterminate l (id1; chromosome 1. 175.0 cM). These are considered candidate genes for variation in plant height and/or flowering time, based on mutant phenotypes and chromosomal locations near major QTLs. Single nucleotide polymorphisms and indels were detected in the region flanking the SH2 domain of dwarf8 gene in some of the mutant inbreds as a result of SSCP and sequencing analyses. However, these polymorphisms could not be associated with the observed variations in flowering time. PCR analysis of the promoter region dwarf8 showed a variant fragment of about 1 kb in the inbred line Oh43 that was not present in any other initial and mutant in-bred lines included in the study. PCR amplification of the 5' end of the Id1 coding sequence revealed polymorphic bands in the mutant lines XM535, XM521, XM250-l, XM98-8 and XM85-105, as well as in the classical breeding line B73. The data, presented here demonstrate the usefulness of chemical mutagenesis for generation of genetic diversity within the elite maize germplasm. Some of this variation may affect the major genes in the QTLs. Our initial data revealed mutagenesis induced polymorphisms in the coding sequences of two important for the determination of flowering time transcription factors. Further molecular analyses of the proposed model systems may complement the trait association efforts and will help to directly identify the major genes in the QTLs.
A further biodiversity index applicable to species lists: variation in taxonomic distinctness

A further biodiversity index is proposed, based on taxonomic (or phylogenetic) relatedness of species, namely the Œvariation in taxonomic distinctness¹ (VarTD, Λ+) between every pair of species recorded in a study. It complements the previously defined Œaverage taxonomic distinctness¹ (AvTD, Δ+), which is the mean path length through the taxonomic tree connecting every pair of species in the list. VarTD is simply the variance of these pairwise path lengths and reflects the unevenness of the taxonomic tree. For example, a species list in which there are several different orders represented only by a single species, but also some genera which are very species-rich, would give a high Λ+ by comparison with a list (of equivalent Δ+) in which all species tended to be from different families but the same order. VarTD is shown to have the same desirable sampling properties as AvTD, primarily a lack of dependence of its mean value on the sample size (except for unrealistically small samples). Such unbiasedness is of crucial importance in making valid biodiversity comparisons between studies at different locations or times, with differing or uncontrolled degrees of sampling effort. This feature is emphatically not shared by indices related to species richness and also not by properties of the phylogeny adapted from proposals in other, conservation contexts, such as Œaverage phylogenetic diversity¹ (AvPD, Φ+). As with AvTD, the VarTD statistic for any local study can be tested for Œdeparture from expectation¹, based on a master taxonomy for that region, by constructing a simulation distribution from random subsets of the master list. The idea can be extended to summarising the joint distribution of AvTD and VarTD, so that values from real data sets are compared with a fitted simulation Œenvelope¹ in a 2 d (Δ+, Λ+) plot. The methodology is applied to 14 species lists of free-living marine nematodes, and related to a master list for UK waters. The combination of AvTD and VarTD picks out, in different ways, some degraded locations (low Δ+, low to normal Λ+) and the pristine island fauna of the Scillies (normal + , high Λ+). The 2 indices are also demonstrated to be measuring effectively independent features of the taxonomic tree, at least for this faunal group (although it is shown theoretically that this will not always be the case). The combination of Δ+ and Λ+ is therefore seen to provide a statistically robust summary of taxonomic (or phylogenetic) relatedness patterns within an assemblage, which has the potential to be applied to a wide range of historical data in the form of simple species lists.
Do tree-related factors mediate the response of lichen functional groups to eutrophication?

Abstract In the last decades, the pollution regime has been drastically changed in most industrialized countries, with a considerable decrease in sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions and an increasing relevance of eutrophication compounds, such as nitrogen compounds and particulate matter. This situation hampers the interpretation of data in biomonitoring surveys, as high lichen diversity is not always associated with good air quality. The objective of this study was to test whether the effects of eutrophication on the abundance of different lichen functional groups varies according to some tree-related factors. We analysed the relationships between epiphytic lichen diversity, emissions of main atmospheric pollutants and tree characteristics (circumference and bark pH, light transmitted through the canopy). Hierarchical partitioning of variance and Generalized Linear Mixed Models (GLMM) confirmed that lichen functional groups with different nitrogen tolerances responded to several atmospheric pollutants, with both independent and joint effects, whereas they did not show significant differences depending on main tree-related factors. We demonstrated that, under high eutrophication levels, differences in bark pH did not significantly differentiated the composition of epiphytic lichen communities.
4 Protein Kinases and Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative colitis (UC), together with Crohn’s disease (CD), collectively called inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), is a chronic, spontaneously remitting, and relapsing disorder of large intestine, characterized by abdominal pain and diarrhea. UC differs dramatically from CD with the respects of disease distribution, morphology, and histopathology; meantime, they share a lot of inflammatory similarities, such as epithelial barrier dysfunction. UC may result in significant morbidity and mortality, with compromised quality of life and life expectancy. While there is no cure for UC, the last two decades have seen tremendous advances in our understanding of the pathophysiology of this intestinal inflammation. Even though the precise etiology of IBD remains elusive, it is accepted that UC arises from abnormal host–microbe interactions, including qualitative and quantitative changes in the composition of the microbiota, host genetic susceptibility, barrier function, as well as innate and adaptive immunity. Intracellular signaling cascades mediated by protein kinases are the main route of communication between the plasma membrane and regulatory targets in various intracellular compartments. The signaling pathway mediated by protein kinase plays an important role in transducing signals from diverse extra-cellular stimuli (including growth factors, cytokines and environmental stresses) to the nucleus in order to affect a wide range of cellular processes, such as proliferation, differentiation, development and apoptosis, and more importantly, also involved in intestinal inflammation. In this chapter, we are going to focus on the involvement protein kinases in the pathogenesis of UC, try to shed some light on the clues of intervention of UC.
Factoring integere with elliptic curves-H W Lenstra , Ji-verewn 19860508 Factoring integere with elliptic curves

This paper 19 devoted to the deacnption and analysis of a new algonthm to factor positive mtegers It depends on the use of elliptic curves The new m et b öd α obtained from Pollird's p-1-method (Proc Cambridge Philos Soc 76 (187-1), 521-528) by replacing the multiplicative group by tbe group of points on a random elliptic curve 1t u conjectured thit the algonthm determmes a non-tnvial divuor of a composite number n m expected time at most K(p)(logn)2, where p is the least pnme dmding n and K u a function for which logK(t)=v'(2+o(l))logiloElogz for t—>oo In the worst case, when n la the product of two pnmes of the same order of magnitude, this is exp((l+o(l))\/lognloglogn) (for n—>oo) There are several other factonng algonthms of which the conjectural expected running time is given by the latter formula However, these algonthms have a running time (hat is basically lodependent of the size of the pnme factors of n, whereas the new elliptic curve method is subatantially faster for amall p
Non-destructive testing of mid-IR optical fiber using infrared imaging

Optical fiber lasers offers the advantage of being relatively compact and efficient. However, the materials such as fluoride and chalcogenide glasses used for their fabrication must be exempt of defects in order to make efficient laser systems. However, most existing quality control techniques are not compatible with chalcogenide fibers because of their limited transparency in the visible spectral range. For this reason, the Université Laval's Centre d'optique, photonique et laser (COPL), in Quebec City, Canada, has developed a novel non-destructive testing (NDT) methodology based on infrared imaging to address this problem. The results show how this simple screening technique eases the selection of high-quality fibers for the design of high-power mid-IR lasers.
Unraveling turbulence via physics-informed data-assimilation and spectral nudging

Inferring physical parameters of turbulent flows by assimilation of data measurements is an open challenge with key applications in meteorology, climate modeling and astrophysics. Up to now, spectral nudging was applied for empirical data-assimilation as a mean to improve deterministic and statistical predictability in the presence of a restricted set of field measurements only. Here, we explore under which conditions a nudging protocol can be used for two novel objectives: to unravel the value of the physical flow parameters and to reconstruct large-scale turbulent properties starting from a sparse set of information in space and in time. First, we apply nudging to quantitatively infer the unknown rotation rate and the shear mechanism for turbulent flows. Second, we show that a suitable spectral nudging is able to reconstruct the energy containing scales in rotating turbulence by using a blind set-up, i.e. without any input about the external forcing mechanisms acting on the flow. Finally, we discuss the broad potentialities of nudging to other key applications for physics-informed data-assimilation in environmental or applied flow configurations.
A Strength and Conditioning Approach for Ice Hockey

ABSTRACT ICE HOCKEY IS A MAINSTREAM SPORT IN SOME COUNTRIES BUT NOT WORLDWIDE. THIS CREATES LIMITATIONS ON THE TIME AND MONEY AVAILABLE FOR ICE HOCKEY ORGANIZATIONS. SUCH CIRCUMSTANCE CREATES LIMITATIONS ON THE TIME AND MONEY AVAILABLE FOR ORGANIZATIONS TO DEVOTE TO EXTENSIVE OFF-ICE CONDITIONING. THIS ARTICLE EDUCATES COACHES AND PLAYERS INTO THE BENEFITS OF OFF-ICE CONDITIONING, EVEN IN AN ENVIRONMENT OF SCARCE RESOURCES, AND TO PROVIDE AN EXAMPLE OF A COMPREHENSIVE YEAR-LONG CONDITIONING PROGRAM FOR ICE HOCKEY. MAXIMUM STRENGTH AND MAXIMUM POWER DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES ARE DISCUSSED, ALONG WITH A SUGGESTED STRATEGY FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF GAINS ACROSS A PHYSICALLY DEMANDING SEASON.
Milky Mangrove Excoecaria agallocha L. Plant as a source for potential mosquito larvicides

Article history: Received on: 07/01/2015 Revised on: 06/02/2015 Accepted on: 04/03/2015 Available online:28/03/2015 Mosquitoes are one of the most dangerous vectors among the group of arthropods. Infections due to mosquitoes are a major worldwide health problem, with high endemicity in developing countries. In the present study, we determined the larvicidal activity of Methanol, Acetone, Hexane, Chloroform and Aqueous extracts of a mangrove plant Excoecaria agallocha against (4 instar larvae) Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus. Mosquito larvicidal assays were conducted and their mortality rate was identified after 24hours to evaluate the larvicidal activity of the crude extract of Excoecaria agallocha.
Measuring long-horizon security price performance

Our simulation results show that tests for long-horizon (i.e., multi-year) abnormal security returns around firm-specific events are severely misspecified. The rejection frequencies using parametric tests sometimes exceed 30% when the significance level of the test is 5°A,. Our results are robust to many different abnormal-return models. Conclusions from long-horizon studies require extreme caution. Nonparametr ic and bootstrap tests are likely to reduce misspecification.