Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Policy Brief : Malawi

Why Skills for Girls? A low level of marketable skills among youth is a widely recognized barrier to employment in many developing countries. After completing primary or even secondary school, youth often lack the skills that employers need. Young women are especially disadvantaged by their lower average educational attainment. Compounding the low levels of skills gained in the formal education system, the market for vocational training is weak in many developing countries. As a result, many youth enter the labor market without the skills needed for success. For girls who have dropped out of school, skills development can offer an alternative to early family formation and put them on a path toward a healthy future. Increased female employment can affect marriage and fertility outcomes through at least three channels. First, the ability to contribute economically expands the role of women in the household and society and can alleviate social and familial pressure for early marriage and fertility.1 Second, the loss in earnings associated with childrearing
Observations of the relationship between sprite morphology and in‐cloud lightning processes

[1] During a thunderstorm on 23 July 2003, 15 sprites were captured by a LLTV camera mounted at the observatory on Pic du Midi in the French Pyrenees. Simultaneous observations of cloud-to-ground (CG) and intracloud (IC) lightning activity from two independent lightning detection systems and a broadband ELF/VLF receiver allow a detailed study of the relationship between electrical activity in a thunderstorm and the sprites generated in the mesosphere above. Results suggest that positive CG and IC lightning differ for the two types of sprites most frequently observed, the carrot- and column-shaped sprites. Column sprites occur after a short delay (<30 ms) from the causative +CG and are associated with little VHF activity, suggesting no direct IC action on the charge transfer process. On the other hand, carrot sprites are delayed up to about 200 ms relative to their causative +CG stroke and are accompanied by a burst of VHF activity starting 25–75 ms before the CG stroke. While column sprites associate with short-lasting (less than 30 ms) ELF/VLF sferics, carrot sprites associate with bursts of sferics initiating at the time of the causative +CG discharge and persisting for 50 to 250 ms, indicating extensive in-cloud activity. One carrot event was found to be preceded by vigorous IC activity and a strong, long-lived cluster of ELF/VLF sferics but lacking a +CG. The observations of ELF/VLF sferic clusters associated with lightning and sprites form the basis for a discussion of the reliability of lightning detection systems based on VHF interferometry.
Mining-Induced Seismicity Associated with Self-Similar Propagation of Sliding Zones

friction at the loci of initiation. To model interaction between the sliding zones we assume, guided by the GuttenbergRichter law, that the distribution of their sizes is self-similar and the self-similarity is maintained in the process of their growth. We show that the latter is only possible if the sliding zones are coplanar and that the exponent and the prefactor of the distribution function are uniquely determined. The addition of a new sliding zone does not change the distribution but rather increases the upper cut-off. This happens either by instantaneous growth of the added zone to the maximum size producing the strongest microseismic event or by initiating a cascade of intermediate crack growth producing a series of smaller events. The found energy distribution permits risk assessment based on the determination of the probability of hazardous events. The model parameters can be determined by observing statistical moments of the energy distribution combined with the determination of fault deformation from its influence on the approaching excavations by displacement monitoring. Mining-Induced Seismicity Associated with Self-Similar Propagation of Sliding Zones
Weathering Behaviour of a Basaltic Regolith from Pahang, Malaysia

The characteristics and degree of weathering in a deep saprolitic regolith developed on basalt were investigated. A 15 m deep regolith of soil-saprolite-rock sequence, located along a new road cut in Pahang, Malaysia, was selected. The intensity of weathering in this regolith was assessed by various weathering indices, as well as by the changes in the physiarchemical properties, clay mineralogy and the microfabric characteristics of the profile. All assessments gave strong evidences of intense weathering, even at the stage of saprock formation. Extreme depletion of major elements such as K, Na, Ga and Mg, and significant enrichment of Fe, Ti, Gu and Nb occurred during saprolitization process, and, these perhaps explain the extreme weathering pattern of this regolith.
Analysis of Alternatives for Dismantling of the Equipment in Building 117/1 at Ignalina NPP - 13278

Ignalina NPP was operating two RBMK-1500 reactors which are under decommissioning now. In this paper dismantling alternatives of the equipment in Building 117/1 are analyzed. After situation analysis and collection of the primary information related to components' physical and radiological characteristics, location and other data, two different alternatives for dismantling of the equipment are formulated - the first (A1), when major components (vessels and pipes of Emergency Core Cooling System - ECCS) are segmented/halved in situ using flame cutting (oxy-acetylene) and the second one (A2), when these components are segmented/halved at the workshop using CAMC (Contact Arc Metal Cutting) technique. To select the preferable alternative MCDA method - AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process) is applied. Hierarchical list of decision criteria, necessary for assessment of alternatives performance, are formulated. Quantitative decision criteria values for these alternatives are calculated using software DECRAD, which was developed by Lithuanian Energy Institute Nuclear engineering laboratory. While qualitative decision criteria are evaluated using expert judgment. Analysis results show that alternative A1 is better than alternative A2. (authors)
Matrix G-strands

We discuss three examples in which one may extend integrable Euler–Poincaré ordinary differential equations to integrable Euler–Poincaré partial differential equations in the matrix G-Strand context. After describing matrix G-Strand examples for SO(3) and SO(4) we turn our attention to SE(3) where the matrix G-Strand equations recover the exact rod theory in the convective representation. We then find a zero curvature representation of these equations and establish the conditions under which they are completely integrable. Thus, the G-Strand equations turn out to be a rich source of integrable systems. The treatment is meant to be expository and most concepts are explained in examples in the language of vectors in .
The Effect of Incentive Return-to-Work Policies on Single-Parent Families: A Comparative Approach / Podsticajne Mere Za Povratak Samohranih Roditelja Na Tržište Rada: Uporedni Pristup

Abstract As part of their struggle against inequality and social exclusion, many countries are trying to reform their redistributive system and low-income support measures to encourage return to work, and reduce inactivity traps. The purpose of this article is to propose a reflection on the social and fiscal policies. The analysis focuses on three measures in three different countries: the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) in the United States, the Working Tax Credit (WTC) in the UK and the Active Solidarity Income (RSA) in France. The emphasis is placed on the effects of such policies on the situation of single parents, in particular as part of their transition from welfare (social assistance) to the labor market. Rezime Kao vid borbe protiv nejednakosti i socijalne isključenosti, mnoge zemlje pokušavaju da reformišu svoje sisteme redistribucije i uvedu stimulativne finansijske mere kako bi podstakli povratak na posao i smanjili neaktivnost stanovništva. Ovaj rad ima za cilj da pruži osvrt na postojeće društvene i fiskalne politike i programe. U istraživanju se prikazuju tri podsticajne mere preraspodele dohotka za siromašne u tri različite zemlje: sniženje poreza po zarađenom dohotku (EITC) u SAD-u; odbitak poreske obaveze za decu i zaposlene osobe (WTC) u Velikoj Britaniji; i odbitak poreza na dohodak slabije plaćenih osoba (RSA) u Francuskoj. U radu se stavlja naglasak na dejstvo takvih stimulativnih programa na finansijsku situaciju samohranih roditelja, naročito kao deo njihovog prelaska iz stanja socijalnog blagostanja (socijalne pomoći) na tržište rada.
Apparent nutrient digestibility and mineral availability of protein-rich ingredients in extruded diets for Nile tilapia

Apparent digestibility coefficients (ADC) of gross energy and dry matter (DM) and mineral availability were evaluated for eight protein-rich ingredients (corn gluten meal, soybean meal, cottonseed meal at 280.0 and 380.0 g/kg, poultry by-product meal, meat meal, fish meal and feather meal) in compound diets for Nile tilapia. Chromic oxide was used as inert digestibility marker. Higher ADC values of DM and energy were, respectively, 0.862 and 0.881 for corn gluten meal, 0.811 and 0.888 for poultry by-product meal; 0.729 and 0.731 for feather meal; 0.666 and 0.754 for fish meal; 0.578 and 0.642 for soybean meal; 0.476 and 0.652 for meat meal at 450.0 g/kg; 0.352 and 0.449 for cottonseed meal at 380 g/kg; and 0.251 and 0.324 for cottonseed meal at 280.0 g/kg. The highest average mineral availability was for poultry by-product meal (0.582), and the lowest calcium and phosphorus availability were recorded for cottonseed meal at 280.0 g/kg. Therefore, poultry by-product meal appears to be the best ingredient for using in Nile tilapia diets.
Risk In Agriculture As Impediment To Rural Lending - The Case Of North-Western Kazakhstan

On the basis of portfolio selection theory, this paper finds that whole-farm risk must be regarded as a major reason for the low level of credit flow to agriculture in North-western Kazakhstan. A quadratic programming model was used in order (a) to demonstrate the comparatively high overall risk exposition of a typical farm, (b) to show that an inflow of working capital could contribute to risk reduction, and (c) to illustrate short-term risk management strategies. Although there may be a role for the government in reducing risk exposition of agriculture in its current form, natural and economic constraints suggest to pave the way for structural reforms that reduce the importance of agriculture in the rural economy.
An intercomparison of Arctic ice drift products to deduce uncertainty estimates

An intercomparison of four low-resolution remotely sensed ice-drift products in the Arctic Ocean is presented. The purpose of the study is to examine the uncertainty in space and time of these different drift products. The comparison is based on monthly mean ice drifts from October 2002 to December 2006. The ice drifts were also compared with available buoy data. The result shows that the differences of the drift vectors are not spatially uniform, but are covariant with ice concentration and thickness. In high (low) ice-concentration areas, the differences are small (large), and in thick (thin) ice-thickness areas, the differences are small (large). A comparison with the drift deduced from buoys reveals that the error of the drift speed depends on the magnitude of the drift speed: larger drift speeds have larger errors. Based on the intercomparison of the products and comparison with buoy data, uncertainties of the monthly mean drift are estimated. The estimated uncertainty maps reasonably reflect the difference between the products in relation to ice concentration and the bias from the buoy drift in relation to drift speed. Examinations of distinctive features of Arctic sea ice motion demonstrate that the transpolar drift speed differs among the products by 13% (0.32 cm s−1) on average, and ice drift curl in the Amerasian Basin differs by up to 24% (3.3 × 104 m2 s−1). These uncertainties should be taken into account if these products are used, particularly for model validation and data assimilation within the Arctic.
Living with Alien invasives. The political ecology of wattle in the eastern highveld Mpumalanga, South Africa

Un certain nombre d’arbres australiens - en particulier acacias et eucalyptus - ont ete cultives dans de vastes zones de l’Afrique du Sud pour l’industrie forestiere. Au cours des dernieres annees, ces plantations ont ete beaucoup discutees en raison de leur impact suppose sur les ressources en eau et sur la biodiversite autochtone. Dans l’ere post-apartheid, les politiques gouvernementales de lutte contre la pauvrete ont de maniere paradoxale pousse les Noirs pauvres des zones rurales a se livrer a la fois a l’arrachage de ces arbres exotiques envahissants avides d’eau, tout en encourageant les gens a les planter dans de petites plantations dans le cadre de programmes d’emancipation economique de ces memes Noirs. Cet article etudie comment une telle situation paradoxale s’est mise en place, et quels sont ses impacts sur les paysages ruraux comme sur les moyens de subsistance campagnards en utilisant le cas de l’acacia noir (Acacia mearnsii De Wild.), dans le highveld de l’Est de la province de Mpumalanga. Il retrace l’evolution de discours strategiques entrant en concurrence les uns avec les autres (environnementaux, industriels forestiers, economiques paysans) et presente une etude de cas de leurs impacts sur les paysages locaux et sur les moyens de subsistance des populations locales.
Mode of action of asenapine vs. other antipsychotic drugs : an experimental analysis

Antipsychotic drugs (APDs) are used in the treatment of schizophrenia and manic or mixed episodes associated with bipolar I disorder. Generally, the so-called atypical APDs, such as clozapine, may in contrast to typical APDs improve not only positive, but also negative symptoms and some aspects of cognitive impairment associated with schizophrenia. However, as also the atypical APDs may be associated with severe side effects such as weight gain, dyslipidemia, increased prolactin levels and even agranulocytosis, the need for novel and improved pharmacotherapy in this area is considerable. This need is underlined by the fact that in recent years, the beneficial effects of low doses of atypical APDs in the treatment of depressive symptoms in uni- as well as bipolar depression have been increasingly recognized. The APD risperidone is one of the most commonly prescribed APDs in the world. In similarity with clozapine, risperidone has, however to a smaller extent, affinity for α2- adrenoceptors, an effect that otherwise distinguishes clozapine from most other APDs. We therefore examined if additional α2-adrenoceptor blockade could enhance the efficacy of risperidone. The antipsychotic-like effect, extrapyramidal side effect (EPS) liability and effects on critical neurotransmitter systems in the brain were studied. Our data propose that the α2:D2 ratio by risperidone is indeed not optimal and that its antipsychotic-like efficiency can be enhanced by adjunctive treatment with an α2- adrenoceptor antagonist, e.g. idazoxan, allowing for reduced dosage and a subsequent reduced EPS liability, yet with maintained efficacy. Asenapine is a recently approved APD with a unique receptor binding profile, developed for the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Clinical studies have shown that asenapine possesses, in addition to its effect on psychosis and mania, a well tolerated side effect profile. Using a range of well established preclinical methods we therefore analyzed experimentally the mode of action of asenapine, demonstrating an antipsychotic-like activity, low EPS liability and an atypical profile as regards its effects on critical neurotransmitter systems in the brain. Notably, asenapine increased prefrontal dopamine release and subsequently, via a D1 receptor-mediated mechanism, glutamatergic NMDA-induced transmission in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), mechanisms implicated in cognitive functioning. Moreover, the release of noradrenaline and serotonin was also increased in the mPFC, generally indicating antidepressant activity. The profile of asenapine was shown to be similar in several important aspects to other potent atypical APDs, e.g. clozapine, which is the most efficacious APD presently known, but differs from typical APDs, e.g. haloperidol. It was furthermore shown that differential mechanisms are involved in the effects of asenapine on subcortical and cortical dopamine regulation. These data indicate that the dopamine release in the mPFC may largely depend on an intracortical action. …
The Variability of Surface p CO 2 and Nutrients in the North Atlantic Ocean

This PhD thesis was part of the EU-funded project CAVASSOO (Carbon Variability Studies by Ships of Opportunity). The major goal of the project was to establish an international network in the North Atlantic consisting of commercial vessels that are equipped with pCO2 measurement devices. The installation of a autonomously working pCO2 unit onboard the carcarrier M/V Falstaff was completed in January, 2002. Measurements started a month later with the first transatlantic crossing. In the following months continuous and discrete samples were analyzed. It was examined whether it i s possible to correlate the oceanic pCO2 with parameters that can be retrieved by shipindependent observations such as remote sensing. The correlatin between pCO2 and nitrate was promising in this context and it could also be shown that nitrate correlated well with the mixed layer depth. Parameters such as temperature and chlorophyll on the other hand did not reveal a unique correlation with the pCO2. Within this thesis it was also shown that the seawater pCO2 in the eastern basin (10°W-35°W) showed smaller seasonal changes than in the western basin (36°W-70°W) in the North Atlantic. This was explained by the fact that in the eastern basin the temperature effect on the seawater pCO2 was counteracted by the biological effect yielding a damped seasonal pCO2 cycle. In the western basin, however, temperature was the major force on the pCO2 which was not reduced by a counteracting biology effect thus yielding a pronounced seasonal pCO2 cycle. The CO2 flux calculation showed that this region of the North Atlantic was a sink for atmospheric CO2 in 2002. When comparing the CO2 flux to a well-cited pCO2 climatology the difference was small (4%). The seasonal cycles of nutrients within different watermasses showed distinct patterns. The C:N ratio of the seasonal new production were similar to the Redfield ratio for all watermasses excecpt for the Gulfstream watermass. In the latter a carbon overconsumption with respect to Redfield could be shown which pointed at N2 fixation. This result was underlined by the high N:P va lues of the Gulfstream waters.
Revisiting the pre-main-sequence evolution of stars

Aims. We want to investigate how planet formation is imprinted on stellar surface composition using up-to-date stellar evolution models. Methods. We simulate the evolution of pre-main-sequence stars as a function of the efficiency of heat injection during accretion, the deuterium mass fraction, and the stellar mass, M⋆. For simplicity, we assume that planet formation leads to the late accretion of zero-metallicity gas, diluting the surface stellar composition as a function of the mass of the stellar outer convective zone. We estimate that in the solar system, between 97 and 168 M⊕ of condensates formed planets or were ejected from the system. We adopt 150 M⊕(M⋆/M⊙)(Z/Z⊙) as an uncertain but plausible estimate of the mass of heavy elements that is not accreted by stars with giant planets, including our Sun. By combining our stellar evolution models to these estimates, we evaluate the consequences of planet formation on stellar surface composition. Results. We show that after the first ~0.1 Myr during which stellar structure can differ widely from the usually assumed fully convective structure, the evolution of the convective zone follows classical pre-main-sequence evolutionary tracks within a factor of two in age. We find that planet formation should lead to a scatter in stellar surface composition that is larger for high-mass stars than for low-mass stars. We predict a spread in [Fe/H] of approximately 0.05 dex for stars with a temperature of Teff ~ 6500 K, to 0.02 dex for stars with Teff ~ 5500 K, marginally compatible with differences in metallicities observed in some binary stars with planets. Stars with Teff ≤ 7000 K may show much larger [Fe/H] deficits, by 0.6 dex or more, in the presence of efficient planet formation, compatible with the existence of refractory-poor λ Boo stars. We also find that planet formation may explain the lack of refractory elements seen in the Sun as compared to solar twins, but only if the ice-to-rock ratio in the solar-system planets is less than ≈0.4 and planet formation began less than ≈1.3 Myr after the beginning of the formation of the Sun.
DSP Formulation of a Finite Difference Method for Room Acoustics Simulation

The digital waveguide mesh is a finite difference scheme for simulation of wave propagation in acoustic spaces. In this paper we show how this scheme can be formulated in terms of digital signal processing. A transfer function for a node in an N-dimensional mesh is derived. The main emphasis is in three-dimensional systems such as simulation of room acoustics. Wave propagation in the mesh is analyzed by numerical simulations and visualizations. Setting boundary conditions to walls is also studied.
Measurement of small photodestruction rates of cold, charged biomolecules in an ion trap

In this work, we demonstrate quantitative measurements of photodestruction rates of translationally cold, charged biomolecules. The long-term stable storage of the molecular ions in an ion trap under ultra-high vacuum conditions allows measurement of small rates and verification that rates are linear in photodestruction laser intensity. Measurements were performed on singly protonated molecules of the organic compound glycyrrhetinic acid (C30H46O4), dissociated by a continuous-wave UV laser (266 nm) using different intensities. The molecules were sympathetically cooled by simultaneously trapped laser-cooled barium ions to translational temperatures of below 150 mK. Destruction rates of less than 0.05 s−1 and a cross section of (1.1 ± 0.1) × 10−17 cm2 have been determined. An extension to tunable UV laser sources would permit high-resolution dissociation spectroscopic studies on a wide variety of cold complex molecules.
Concentration and estimated flow of soluble non-ammonia nitrogen entering the omasum of dairy cows as influenced by different protein supplements

Four ruminally fistulated Finnish Ayrshire cows were used to study the effects of different protein supplements on concentration and flow of soluble non-ammonia N (SNAN) into the omasum. The treatments in a 4 · 4 Latin square design were a basal diet of grass silage and barley and the basal diet supplemented with fishmeal, soybean meal and maize gluten meal. Protein supplements significantly increased concentrations of peptide N (P = 0.009) and total SNAN (P = 0.03) fractions in omasal digesta. Peptide constituted the largest proportion of SNAN flow into the omasum indicating that hydrolysis of peptides to amino acids is the most limiting step in rumen proteolysis. The microbial contribution to SNAN was on an average 0.64 indicating that a large proportion of SNAN flow leaving the rumen was of microbial origin. The estimated SNAN flow per kg dry matter intake from the basal diet and protein supplemented diets indicated that approximately 49, 22 and 37 g kg -1 of fish