Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Review of Policy Options for Monitoring Household Saving

A proper understanding and monitoring of household saving are necessary to conduct appropriate macroeconomic policies aiming at a balanced economic recovery in the EU-15. The process of monitoring household saving is twofold: on the one hand, it concerns the liquidity level of the household savings portfolio (liquidity approach); and on the other hand, it places emphasis on the saving rates of households (saving rates approach). Within the liquidity approach, in theory, each of the household motives (target saving, precautionary saving and pension saving) is related to specific saving products. However, inadequate financial education and low confidence in banking systems can distort the relationship of saving motives to saving products and lead to a sub-optimal savings portfolio, with poor yields and excess liquidity (especially with regards to pension saving). Nevertheless, overall, yield spreads do have an impact on the corresponding relative savings market shares, confirming the effectiveness of monetary policy transmission mechanisms into the liquidity levels of household savings portfolios. Regarding the saving rates approach, data show differentiated dynamics across EU-15 countries, partly owing to specific local habits and developments in financial markets. The persistent saving ratio differentials across countries, which also mirror differentiated propensities to accumulate target saving, could be partially reduced by the design of regulations whose primary goal is to improve the overall attractiveness of mortgage and consumer credits. In addition, since 2007, consistently significant beta-convergence observed in the results of the panel data regressions indicates that the need for balance sheet repair was stronger for countries with low saving ratios in the years preceding the financial crisis. The absence of correlation between saving ratios and different types of saving yields suggests the poor transmission of monetary policies in the trade-off between private consumption and saving. Conversely, the results confirm the prominent role played by the precautionary motive during the financial crisis of 2008-09, which is reflected in the strong impact of unemployment rates and housing prices.
Impact of Tourism on Long-Run Economic Growth of Vietnam

Tourism is a potential industry as a new impetus for economic growth of Vietnam, and is identified as a key sector in Vietnamese economy, as such, the Vietnam government has identified the tourism industry as a key sector in the national economy and one of the crucial importance in securing its long-term growth. The study examines the role of tourism in driving the economic growth of Vietnam over the period of 1995-2013 by using Tourism-Led Growth Hypothesis (TLGH). The stability of TLGH is analyzed using a Rolling Window regression technique. The analyses performed in this study are based on an econometric methodology consisting of the pooled Ordinary Least Squares test, unit root test, co-integration analysis, and Granger causality test. The findings show that the TLGH is supported in the case of Vietnam. In other words, tourism has indeed played a key role in driving economic growth in Vietnam in recent decades. Moreover, the Rolling Window regression results confirm the stability of the TLGH in the case of Vietnam.
Towards a Novel Electrochemical Sensing Platform for Diagnosing Urinary Tract Infections

Urine culture, the current gold standard for urinary tract infection (UTI) diagnosis, does not produce results in an acceptable length of time. An ultra-sensitive, cost-effective electrochemical biosensing platform with nanostructured microelectrodes was designed to address the need for a rapid, point-of-care (PoC) test that could achieve a sample-to-answer time in less than an hour. Printed circuit boards and metallized glass slides were processed using various techniques and then tested for their ability to form nanostructured microelectrodes. Peptide nucleic acid probes for the bacteria and yeast as well as ten probes for antibiotic resistance genes were designed and synthesized for use with the new platform. Validation of the sensor's specificity was performed using high concentrations (100nM) of synthetic DNA oligomers. Furthermore, a clinically relevant sensitivity of 10 cfu/mL was demonstrated by detecting 4 pathogen lysates (Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus faecalis and Klebsiella pneumoniae) in a buffered solution.
The eradication of mammalian predators from Quail Island, Banks Peninsula, Canterbury, New Zealand

Summary During January 2000 -January 2003 an attempt was made to eradicate mammalian pests (rodents, mustelids and hedgehogs) from Quail Island (Otamahua) to allow re-introductions of native species that were once present. Eradication techniques involved live trapping, kill trapping using Fenn traps and night searches that removed a total of 353 individuals. A ground-based poison operation was also undertaken. During 2 - 9 August 2002, 555 bait stations (yellow and black) were placed at 40 m intervals covering Quail Island. Stations were baited with Pestoff 20R rodent bait pellets (0.002% brodifacoum) and, at later stages of the operation, Talon 50 WB briquette (0.005% brodifacoum). An analysis of predominant vegetation surrounding stations was also undertaken. Exotic grassland was the dominant habitat where hedgehogs were trapped and found during night searches. Hedgehogs were caught more readily on or near tracks, which they presumably use to feed and travel around the island. Male rats made up 70% of the rat catch. Bait-take by rodents was highest from black bait stations and from scrubland habitats surrounding bait stations on Quail Island. Eradication could not be confirmed, as a few bait stations were still active but most, if not all damage, appears to be by ground (Hemiandrus sp.) and cave weta (Pleioplectron simplex Hutton). Furthermore, a few hedgehog scats have been found since the poison operation began and no hedgehogs have been observed or trapped for 18 months indicating they have become vary scarce or have been eradicated. This information will be important for future management of Quail Island due to the proximity of the mainland, via mudflats, will need ongoing vigilance to protect against pest reinvasion.
The Role of Auditory Feedback in the Online Control of Articulatory Trajectories and Timing in a Multi-syllabic Utterance

words; 200 word limit) In order to study the role of auditory feedback in the online control of articulatory timing and trajectories in multi-syllabic utterances, we imposed unexpected time-varying perturbations to the 2nd formant frequency trajectory when subjects produce the utterance "I owe you a yo-yo". The perturbations either accelerated or decelerated the F2 transition between /i/ in the first word "I" and /u/ in the second word "owe", called acceleration-perturbation (AP) and deceleration-perturbation (DP), respectively. Here we report preliminary results from 12 subjects. Compared to the unperturbed (control) trials, the AP trials showed a shortening in the durations of the word "owe" and earlier initiation of the word "you" following the perturbation, whereas the DP trials showed lengthened durations in "owe" and delayed the initiations of "you". The timing differences between the AP and DP conditions each reached statistical significance. In addition to the timing changes, perturbed trials also showed significant changes in the path (magnitude) of F2 compared to the unperturbed baseline. These F2 path changes were in the directions opposite to the perturbations. These observations indicate that both the timing and path of articulation can be fine-tuned online by utilizing auditory feedback with a short latency during multisyllabic utterances.
Investigation of Realistic Performance Limits for Tera-Scale Computations

The two key factors affecting the performance of tera-scale computations are the parallel efficiency of the underlying algorithms, and the local performance on a single processor. In the past, most attention was given to parallel efficiency and parallel scalability. This led to algorithms and techniques that provide good scalability and parallel efficiency. However, it was often assumed that local computations, which require no inter-processor communications, could be performed at a high single processor performance rate (i.e. a high fraction of the advertised peak floating point arithmetic performance). For today's parallel computers, this might not be achievable. An investigation of realistic performance limits on a single processor is the focus of this paper.
Vicars, tramps and assembly of the New Zealand avifauna: a review of molecular phylogenetic evidence

The avifauna of New Zealand is taxonomically and ecologically distinctive, as is typical of island biotas. However, the potential for an old geological age of New Zealand has encouraged a popular notion of a 'Moa's ark' based on the idea that much of the fauna was isolated when Zealandia broke from Gondwana c. 83 million years ago. Molecular phylogenetics has proved useful for exploring the relative importance of different biogeographical processes, revealing for example that 'tramp' species (widely dispersing taxa) have arrived in New Zealand even in the last few hundred years, and that some avian taxa have close phylogenetic relatives overseas (predominantly Australian), indicating their recent ancestors were tramps, too. Distinctive taxa with deep phylogenetic ancestry might be 'vicars' that owe their presence to vicariance, but lack of close morphological, taxonomic and phylogenetic affinity provides only tenuous evidence for this. Disproving the alternative possibility that apparent vicars are descended from tramps that dispersed in earlier times remains challenging, but molecular analyses have yielded startling insights. Among New Zealand's iconic taxa, the world's largest eagle shared a Pleistocene ancestor with a small Australian eagle, and giant, flightless moa are phylogenetic sisters of the much smaller, flying tinamous of South America. The New Zealand avifauna is neither isolated nor stable, but demonstrative of prolonged and ongoing colonization, speciation and extinction.
Effects of chlormequat chloride and different rates of prohexadione-calcium on seedling growth, flowering, fruit development and yield of tomato

The aim of the study was to determine the effects of chlormequat chloride and different rates of prohexadione-calcium on seedling growth, flowering and fruit development and yield characteristics of tomato under conventionally poor growing conditions in an unheated greenhouse in Tekirdag, Turkey (40°59' N, 27°29' E). The effects of medium drench and spray applications of chlormequat chloride (2000 mg l -1 ) and different rates of prohexadione-calcium [(Regalis ® )(50, 100, 200, 250, 300, 100 × 2, 125 × 2 and 150 × 2 mg l -1 )] were evaluated. Chlormequat chloride and prohexadione-calcium effected seedling height, seedling diameter, number of leaves, chlorophyll, total and early yields, fruit diameter, percentage of fruits falling into the weight classes and flowering, and fruit development of tomato. In exception of 4 of 16 treatments, prohexadione-calcium, as well as chlormequat chloride, reduced seedling height related to control. The highest total yield was observed with chlormequat chloride and medium drench and spray applications of 100 and 300 mg l -1 and spray application of 100 × 2 mg l -1
Biological and antioxidant activity of Gunnera tinctoria (Nalca)

The endemic Chilean edible plant Gunnera tinctoria (Nalca) is highly appreciated in the south of Chile by the small farmers. Nevertheless, no background exists about his secondary metabolites. In the present study, in the leaf from G. tinctoria was investigated the content of bioactive compounds like coumaric acid, ascorbic acid and total phenols; the antioxidant capacity was evaluated by 3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-suslfonic acid (ABTS), oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), ferric reducing antioxidant power), and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) methods reducing sugars were measured. Finally, the biological activity was evaluated against Cladophialophora and Cryptococcus laurentii. The results suggest that the most abundant constituent in the extract were catechin (1344.97 mg/100 g dry weight) and epicatechin (1429.28 mg/100g dry weight), and was confirmed and quantified by high performance liquid chromatografy (HPLC-PDA); while the ORAC methodology showed a high antioxidant capacity (192000.0±5.91 umol Trolox Eq/100 g dry weight). On the other hand, the extract had a fungicide effect against both microorganism assayed, inhibiting the growth of Cladophialophora´s mold- and the yeast Cryptococcus laurentii. This is the first report of antioxidant capacity, bioactive compounds and biological activity of G. tinctoria, and these findings suggest that an extract prepared from the Nalca leaf may be a promising source of antioxidant and bioactive compounds and as a research object by being an antifungal and therapeutic alternative in development. Key words: Gunnera tinctoria, Nalca, antioxidant capacity, biological activity, nutraceutical.
Rheology, Mechanical Properties, and Thermal Stability of Maleated Polyethylene Filled with Nanoclays

Maleated polyethylene (MAPE) was used in this study as a model matrix for hosting hydrophobic nanoclay (C15A) and hydrophilic nanoclay (C30B), to investigate the effect of nanoclay loading on the bulk properties of the composites. Composites were prepared by melt-blending technique, with varying the loading from 0 to 9 wt. %. Tensile, oxidative TGA, and FE-SEM tests were employed for both C15A-filled polymer and C30B-filled polymer, which confirmed that C15A had better dispersion and was much superior to C30B for enhancing the mechanical properties and thermal stability of MAPE. Consequently, XRD and melt rheology tests were performed for C15A-filled polymer only. XRD confirmed the formation of nanocomposite structure, which could be the main reason for the significant increase in the thermal stability and viscosity. For example, compared to the neat polymer, the degradation temperature at the 20% mass loss was increased by 72°C after the addition of 5 wt. % C15A. Based on rheological analysis, the percolation threshold was around 3 wt. % loading of C15A. Fitting the viscosity data to the Cross model suggested that increasing C15A loading had a strong effect for increasing the shear thinning index and relaxation time of the nanocomposites.
Housing and the Household Wealth Portfolio: The Role of Location

There is little doubt that cities can provide many benefits, such as greater employment and business opportunities, which tend to result in higher income and wealth for urban households. In addition, there may be a number of non-pecuniary benefits, including greater access to education, infrastructure and services. But these benefits are accompanied by an urban premium on house prices, thus possibly affecting the composition of the asset portfolios of households living in different locations. Using a recent cross-section of wealth data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey we test whether urbanisation, when controlling for other factors, has a significant effect on the share of assets that households hold in housing. For owner-occupiers, the effect is found to be significant and positive, suggesting that housing is more expensive in larger cities even once we allow for the higher incomes and asset holdings of these households. In fact, the effect is quite large with a 100 person per square kilometre increase in urbanisation increasing the share of assets held in the home by 0.4 percentage points, on average. Further, we find that this effect is not linear but declines at higher levels of urbanisation. Hence, for example, for an average owner-occupier household moving from Cairns to Brisbane city – an increase in urbanisation of around 2 000 persons per square kilometre – the increase in their housing share of total assets is estimated to be 5.6 percentage points.
Bioactive Compounds and Antioxidant Potential of Food Industry By-products in Egypt

The present study was carried out to examine the bioactive compounds and antioxidant potential of four food industry by-products (potato peel, cauliflower leaves, onion skin and mango peel) in Egypt. The total dietary fiber content for all tested by-products was ranged 27.15-42.71 g.100g-1, total carotenoids was 92.43- 412.14 mg.100g-1 and total phenolics was 1104-7129 mg GAE.100 g-1. The mango peel powder (MPP) was recorded the highest content of total dietary fiber and total carotenoids while red onion skin powder (ROSP) recorded the highest values of total phenolics. The food by-product extracts showed considerable differences in antioxidant activity when it was calculated by the four different methods used in this study. The antioxidant value (AOX, A/h), antioxidant activity (AA,%), oxidation rate ratio (ORR) and Antioxidant activity coefficient (AAC) were ranged 0.017-0.106, 81.23-96.98, 0.030-0.187 and 584.46-858.27, respectively. ROSP showed strong antioxidant activity followed by MPP, PPP and CLP, respectively. Correlation analysis indicated that there were a strong positive significant relationship (r2 = 0.741-0.962, p≤ 0.01) between total phenolics content and antioxidant activity and a positive significant relationship (r2 = 0. 604-0.718, p≤ 0.05) between total carotenoids content and antioxidant activity in all tested by-products. These correlations confirm that phenolic compounds mainly with carotenoids partially are responsible for the antioxidant activity of the tested by-products. In conclusion, data of the present study revealed that food industry by-products can be good sources of valuable bioactive compounds and antioxidants subsequently extend their potential uses in nutritional and therapeutic applications.
A new method for determining mass-to-light ratios of nearly face-on spiral galaxies

Aims. This letter gives a new method for determining mass-to-light ratios of nearly face-on spiral galaxies. Methods. The method is based on the effective thickness of the galactic disk, the distribution of the vertical velocity dispersion, and the surface brightness of a spiral galaxy. Results. As examples, the results of the determination of NGC 1566 and NGC 5247 in B-band are presented, and their mass-to-light ratios are 4.86 ∼ 8.99 M ○. L -1 ○. and 5.02 ∼ 6.90 M ○. L -1 ○. respective.
A Hierarchical Control Scheme for Compensating Voltage Distortions in an Inverter Based Microgrid

Nowadays increasing in nonlinear loads intensifies harmonic problems and voltage distortion in distribution systems. With appropriate control of Distributed Generation (DG) resources in a Micro Grid (MG), it is possible to enhance the MG power quality. This paper proposes a hierarchical control method for Inverter Based Distributed Generators (IBDGs) to compensating voltage distortions such as: voltage harmonics, voltage unbalance and voltage sag and swell in Sensitive Load Bus (SLB). This method consists of two control level of primary and secondary. The secondary control proposes a selective harmonic compensating method and voltage unbalance compensation appropriately according to DGs impact on harmonic resonances. Some buses have more participation in exciting of the MG resonance modes. Therefore, larger harmonic compensation factors are considered for the IBDGs that are near to these buses. For the other IBDGs, the voltage unbalance compensation factor is selected bigger. On this basis, the Participation Factor (PF) of buses in different resonances is identified by network modal impedance analysis then, the compensation share of DGs would be prioritized accordingly. The primary control level includes of voltage controller, current controller, virtual resistor and DGs load compensation block. Effectiveness of the proposed control scheme is demonstrated through simulation studies. © 2018 Journal of Energy Management
Classification of Iberian pigs according to intensive feeding by chemsensor

Pork quality is highly dependent on intensive feeding during the fattening step. For that reason a large number of analytical methods are continuously being developed to evaluate it. Among them is the ChemSensor method which comprises a multivariate analysis in a gas chromatograph with a mass spectrometry detection device. This technique affords a feeding grouping of similar features, leading to a classification of meat quality. Using a mathematical predictive model for new, unknown samples the right classification is achieved as well as the type of intensive feeding used during the fattening of pigs. Pigs from two campaignes have been classificated with good results, although a certain difficulty in prediction was found due to the excessively large number of classes stated in the official Quality Iberian Standards, and the customs of the farmers themselves in relation with the handling of animals and the intensive feeding provided. Narrowing the number of classes down to two, “ Bellota ” and “ Pienso ”, would contribute to a better understanding in the Iberian pig market.
Multiplexing and de-multiplexing with scattering media for large field of view and multispectral imaging

Large field of view multispectral imaging through scattering medium is a fundamental quest in optics community. It has gained special attention from researchers in recent years for its wide range of potential applications. However, the main bottlenecks of the current imaging systems are the requirements on specific illumination, poor image quality and limited field of view. In this work, we demonstrated a single-shot high-resolution colour-imaging through scattering media using a monochromatic camera. This novel imaging technique is enabled by the spatial, spectral decorrelation property and the optical memory effect of the scattering media. Moreover the use of deconvolution image processing further annihilate above-mentioned drawbacks arise due iterative refocusing, scanning or phase retrieval procedures.