Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Poverty and income distribution in a CGE-household sequential model

This paper highlights the idea of combining CGE modeling with a micro-household model (micro-simulation) to generate a convergent solution, thus providing the basis to perform counterfactual analysis of trade and fiscal policies and their impact on poverty. In recent years, a number of papers have presented different approaches using CGE models to analyze poverty. Among them, the standard CGE models, which generates changes in the income of representative households in order to allow poverty analysis, albeit with no intra-group changes in the distribution; CGE models with high levels of household desegregation (3200) and the micro-simulation approach to modeling (with no feedback effect to the CGE model). In this paper, we provide an alternative to these methods that allows for richer microhousehold modeling then the first two approaches while keeping the properties of standard CGE (feedback effect of household behavior) which is usually simplified in micro-simulation context. We also introduce segmented labor markets with waiting unemployment inspired by Magnac (1991), which provides a basis for important changes in household income (i.e. when a worker leaves unemployment or becomes unemployed). Global and decomposable poverty analysis and income distribution indicators are computed at base year and after a 50% reduction in trade.
Resuming Ended Business Relationships: The Impact of Relationship Remains

Business relationships have been in focus in research for many years, and there are also streams of research investigating relationship initiating and ending processes, as well as their network effects. However, there are few studies on relationship aftermath time. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to elaborate on different types of remains that may influence the resumption of a former relationship. To illustrate this discussion, we make use of a case study. The study indicates that however intangible and vague, remains of a previous relationship may be substantially influential to a resumed relationship.
ANTI-OXIDATIVE RESPONSE OF DIFFERENT WHEAT GENOTYPES TO DROUGHT DURING ANTHESIS

The aim of this work was to study drought effects on lipid peroxidation, antioxidant compounds, and anti-oxidative enzymes activities in two tolerant (Daric and 92 Zhong), two moderately tolerant (Sabalan and DH-2049-3) and two sensitive (Shark and Tevees) wheat genotypes. Malondialdehyde content and electrolyte leakage increased significantly (P<0.05) in flag leaves under drought. The increase was higher in sensitive genotypes compared to the others. Protective enzymes activities (ascorbate peroxidase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione reductase) and non- enzymatic antioxidants contents (ascorbate and glutathione) increased under drought stress and this increase was higher in tolerant genotypes. There were significant positive correlations (P<0.05) between anti-oxidative enzyme activities and non- enzymatic antioxidants. It seems that peroxidase and superoxide dismutase - that showed higher increase under stress- had an important role in drought tolerance.
Small Firms, Corruption, and Demand for Credit. Evidence from the Euro Area

In this paper, we aim to assess how the quality of the institutional environment – identified according to the level of corruption perceived in a country – may affect the access to credit for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). Based on a sample of 68,115 observations – drawn from the ECB-SAFE survey – related to MSMEs chartered in 11 euro area countries, we investigate whether the level of corruption affects their demand for bank loans during the period 2009–2014. Overall, we find that the degree of corruption seems to play a role in the applications for bank loans when small firms are under investigation. Interestingly, results highlight that small businesses chartered in highly corrupt countries face a greater probability of self-restraint regarding their loan applications (about 7.4%) than small firms located in low-corruption economies (around 6%). The results are robust to various model specifications and econometric methodologies. Our findings suggest that anti-corruption policies and measures enhancing transparency in the economy may be crucial in reducing the negative spillovers generated by a low-quality institutional environment on the access to credit by small firms.
Entrepreneurial Orientation of Russian Firms: The Role of External Environment

The paper investigates the relationship between the dimensions of entrepreneurial orientation (EO) - innovativeness, pro-activeness, and readiness to take risks - and firm performance of Russian SMEs. We assess the effects of EO on firmperformance in the context of an emerging market taking into account environmental contingencies. Our findings are underpinned by the results of a survey of managers in 104 Russian small and medium firms. The data were processed using structural equation modeling.We find that EO structure in the context of the Russian market differs from the traditional three-dimensional conceptualization of entrepreneurial orientation that is typical of Western countries. Emerging markets - as illustrated byRussia - are characterized by a two-dimensional EO structure: innovativeness and pro-activeness are perceived as a single dimension, while readiness to take risks is a separate component. Moreover, a positive relationship between the united dimension of entrepreneurial orientation - innovativeness and pro-activeness - and firm performance is manifested only in a dynamic or hostile external environment. Particular features of Russia’s institutional and cultural environment may help to explain our findings.
Britain's Emerging Cyber-Strategy

In recent years, cyber-power has attracted a great deal of attention in government strategy and security reviews. This has been matched by regular increases in budget and the establishment of new organisations to co-ordinate UK activity in cyberspace. The result is the emergence of UK cyber-strategy. However, David J Lonsdale argues that at present UK cyber-strategy is not comprehensive, nor does it cohesively bring together the different elements of cyber-power to effectively serve UK policy objectives. Here, he identifies the components of the UK’s emerging cyber-strategy and assesses the UK’s approach against a comprehensive cyber-strategy framework. The latter includes seven elements: defence; cyber-espionage; information manipulation; widespread disruptive attacks; raids; joint operations; and deterrence.
Modified stochastic fragmentation of an interval as an ageing process

We study a stochastic model based on modified fragmentation of a finite interval. The mechanism consists of cutting the interval at a random location and substituting a unique fragment on the right of the cut to regenerate and preserve the interval length. This leads to a set of segments of random sizes, with the accumulation of small fragments near the origin. This model is an example of record dynamics, with the presence of ‘quakes’ and slow dynamics. The fragment size distribution is a universal inverse power law with logarithmic corrections. The exact distribution for the fragment number as function of time is simply related to the unsigned Stirling numbers of the first kind. Two-time correlation functions are defined, and computed exactly. They satisfy scaling relations, and exhibit aging phenomena. In particular, the probability that the same number of fragments is found at two different times s$ ? >t>s is asymptotically equal to [4πlog⁡(s)]−1/2 when s≫1 and the ratio t/s is fixed, in agreement with the numerical simulations. The same process with a reset impedes the aging phenomenon-beyond a typical time scale defined by the reset parameter.
Biorthogonal Extended Krylov Subspace Methods

A general framework for oblique projections of nonhermitian matrices onto rational Krylov subspaces is developed. To obtain this framework we revisit the classical rational Krylov subspace algorithm and prove that the projected matrix can be written efficiently as a structured pencil, where the structure can take several forms, such as Hessenberg or inverse Hessenberg. One specific instance of the structures appearing in this framework for oblique projections is a tridiagonal pencil. This is a direct generalization of the classical biorthogonal Krylov subspace method where the projection becomes a single nonhermitian tridiagonal matrix and of the Hessenberg pencil representation for rational Krylov subspaces. Based on the compact storage of this tridiagonal pencil in the biorthogonal setting, we can develop short recurrences. Numerical experiments confirm the validity of the approach.
Does playing O.zen improve our well-being?

Stress is considered to be an individual’s response to different pressures and demands in a particular environment (Pottier et al., 2011). In an ever more demanding and stressful world, many options for people to learn how to relax and how to deal with a challenging lifestyle are becoming available. O.zen is a great alternative, since it is a ludic and not expensive device, which goal is to help people to relax with the help of breathing games that can easily be accomplished no matter what time of the day or context. The goal of this study was to test O.zen’s efficiency. In order to do so, neuropsychological tests were held throughout the experiment to 28 participants that were divided in experimental (played O.zen) and control (watched videos equivalent to O.zen) groups. Also, cortisol levels and participants’ skin conductance was measured. Both groups showed overall improvements, with participants feeling significantly less anxious after playing O.zen, and showing a lower level of skin conductance. O.zen’s visuals and music seem to be beneficial on their own, with its biofeedback quality emphasizing the gains.
DCSLAM : un SLAM temps réel à contraintes dynamiques

La localisation d'une camera video en temps reel dans un environnement inconnu ou partiellement connu est un probleme aborde par les algorithmes de type CSLAM ( Constrained Simultaneous Localization And Mapping ). Ceux-ci utilisent des contraintes pour determiner la pose de la camera et la structure 3D de l'environnement. Toutefois, les difficultes d'implementations restreignent ces approches a l'utilisation d'une ou deux contraintes. Afin de depasser ces difficultes, nous proposons un nouvel algorithme temps reel de type CSLAM concu pour adapter dynamiquement chaque optimisation au nombre variable de familles de parametres ainsi qu'a la nature et le nombre de contraintes. Nous utilisons pour cela une methode permettant de generer automatiquement, a partir d'une liste exhaustive de contraintes, un algorithme d'optimisation specialise au probleme. C'est, a notre connaissance, la seule implementation qui allie a la fois flexibilite et performance. Les experimentations proposees montrent la pertinence de notre approche en terme de precision et de temps d'execution par rapport a l'etat de l'art sur plusieurs benchmarks publics de complexite differente. Une application de realite augmentee en mixant des objets et des contraintes heterogenes est egalement proposee.
Comparative study of neural networks used in modeling and control of dynamic systems

In this paper, a diagonal recurrent neural network that contains two recurrent weights in the hidden layer is proposed for the designing of a synchronous generator control system. To demonstrate the superiority of the proposed neural network, a comparative study of performances, with two other neural networks, has been made. The investigated neural networks were: a feedforward neural network (FFNN), a first-order diagonal recurrent neural network (1_DRNN) and the proposed second-order diagonal recurrent neural network (2_DRNN). Moreover, to confirm the superiority of the proposed 2_DRNN, the results obtained with this network were also compared with those of the IEEE recommended conventional excitation control system (CECS). Streszczenie: W artykule przedstawiono diagonalną rekurencyjną siec neuronową do projektowania ukladu regulacji generatora synchronicznego. Proponowana siec posiada dwie rekurencyjne wagi w warstwie ukrytej. Aby wykazac wyzszośc proponowanej sieci dokonano analizy porownawczej efektywności z dwoma innymi sieciami neuronowymi. Badanymi sieciami neuronowymi byly: jednokierunkowa siec neuronowa (FFNN), diagonalna rekurencyjna siec neuronowa pierwszego rzedu (1_DRNN) oraz proponowana diagonalna rekurencyjna siec neuronowa drugiego rzedu (2_DRNN). Ponadto, aby potwierdzic wyzszośc proponowanej sieci (2_DRNN), uzyskane wyniki dla tej sieci porownano z wynikami uzyskanymi dla konwencjonalnego ukladu regulacji (CECS) zalecanego przez IEEE. (Studium porownawcze sieci neuronowych uzywanych w modelowaniu i sterowaniu systemami dynamicznymi)
Effects of Disaster Management Programs on Individuals' Preparedness in Mount Merapi

Disaster management to mitigate or avoid impacts of hazards by reducing vulnerability has been conducted in Mount Merapi since 1969. Vulnerability introduced since 1980s has two main characteristics, such as physical vulnerability (i.e., impacts of hazards) and social vulnerability (i.e., composite characteristics including social, economic and environmental factors). As regulations in Indonesia, i.e. Law of Republic Indonesia No. 24 Year 2007, emphasizes the community involvement in disaster management, individuals or groups of individuals have significant roles in reducing social vulnerability. To promote the community involvement effectively in disaster management, this research hypothesized nine relationships between disaster management programs to assess effects of disaster management programs on the community involvement, such as individuals’ preparedness. Since disaster management programs are not measurable quantitatively, variance-based partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was applied to test hypothesized causal relationships between the programs. As a result, all nine hypotheses were substantiated. The model revealed that individuals’ preparedness is significantly influenced by emergency logistics and financial aid through self-efficacy, and contingency plans affect reconstruction significantly and successively reconstruction affects rehabilitation.
First population assessment of the Asian Water Dragon (Physignathus cocincinus Cuvier, 1829) in Thua Thien Hue Province, Vietnam

The Asian Water Dragon, Physignathus cocincinus Cuvier, 1829, was originally described from southern Vietnam. Wild populations of this species are strongly affected by harvesting, particularly in central Vietnam, while potential negative impacts are not yet foreseeable. This study provides the first population size estimation using a capture-recapture approach and an evaluation of threats to and trade levels in P. cocincinus in Thua Thien Hue Province, central Vietnam. Field surveys were conducted at 14 sites of known occurrences of the species in Thua Thien Hue during April and June of 2016 and 2017. The estimated population size of the species amongst these sites ranged from 232 to 250 individuals. The mean abundance varied from 1.98–2.64 individuals/100 m along inhabited streams. This study revealed harvest activities for local food consumption and to supply the pet trade. Accordingly, imports of several thousand living individuals per year from Vietnam into the EU were documented. It was further demonstrated that the level of negative impacts on different sub-populations is in accordance with respective abundances and the incidence of adults. This finding indicates that rising harvest levels in concert with decreasing habitat Nature Conservation 26: 1–14 (2018) doi: 10.3897/natureconservation.26. 21818 http://natureconservation.pensoft. net Copyright Truong Quang Nguyen et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. RESEARCH ARTICLE Launched to accelerate biodiversity conservation A peer-reviewed open-access journal
Virulence Factors Involved in Passage of Francisella tularensis subsp.novicida Through an Air-Blood Barrier Model

Francisella tularensis subsp. novicida ( F. novicida ) is a facultative intracellular pathogen that when inhaled causes respiratory infection in mice; it is widely used as a model to study tularemia caused by F. tularensis. F. novicida is able to infect different cell types including macrophages and dendritic cells. In the present study we examined F. novicida interactions with human lung epithelial cells and determined the role of established virulence determinants in these processes. A549 type II lung epithelial cells and murine LA-4 bronchial epithelial cells were used to examine the ability of wild type F. novicida and the mutant F. novicida strains deficient in IglC, Tul4, MglA, 58kDa membrane lipoprotein, and RipA to adhere, invade, replicate within, and translocate through an in vitro transwell system. Using this systematic approach, we determined that different virulence factors play cell-site specific roles during infection: Tul4 is important for adhesion to lung cells; MglA, 58kDa protein, and Tul4 are important for cell invasion; IglC and its transcriptional regulator MglA are important for intracellular replication; and the function of MglA is required for migration across cell barriers. In addition we also determined that F. novicida infection results in upregulation of matrix metalloprotease 9 (MMP-9) by lung epithelial cells and the subsequent disruption of cell adherens junctions as characterized by loss of cadherin, alpha and beta catenin, and the basal membrane protein laminin. We conclude that F. novicida is able to attach, invade, and cross through lung epithelial cells and that these properties are determined by individual virulence determinants.
Large deviations of the maximum of independent and identically distributed random variables

A pedagogical account of some aspects of extreme value statistics (EVS) is presented from the somewhat non-standard viewpoint of large deviation theory. We address the following problem: given a set of N independent and identically distributed (i.i.d.) random variables { X 1 , … , X N } ? > drawn from a parent probability density function (pdf) p ( x ) ? > , what is the probability that the maximum value of the set X max = max i X i ? > is ‘atypically larger’ than expected? The cases of exponential and Gaussian distributed variables are worked out in detail, and the right rate function for a general pdf in the Gumbel basin of attraction is derived. The Gaussian case convincingly demonstrates that the full rate function cannot be determined from the knowledge of the limiting distribution (Gumbel) alone, thus implying that it indeed carries additional information. Given the simplicity and richness of the result and its derivation, its absence from textbooks, tutorials and lecture notes on EVS for physicists appears inexplicable.
Théorie des groupes Invariants relatifs : une algèbre extérieure

Résumé Soient G ⊂ GL(V ) un groupe de réflexion complexe, M un G-module de dimension finie et S l’algèbre symétrique de V ∗. Nous généralisons des résultats d’Orlik et Solomon, et de Shepler en construisant une structure d’algèbre extérieure sur l’ensemble des invariants relatifs (associés à un caractère linéaire de G) de l’algèbre S ⊗ Λ(M∗). Pour citer cet article : V. Beck, C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Ser. I 342 (2006). © 2006 Académie des sciences. Publié par Elsevier SAS. Tous droits réservés. Abstract
Thermal Equilibrium Dynamic Control Based on DPWM Dual-Mode Modulation of High Power NPC Three-Level Inverter

In some special applications of NPC three-level inverters, such as mine hoist, there exist special conditions of overloading during the whole hoisting process and large overload in starting stage, during which the power-loss calculation of power devices and thermal control are important factors affecting the thermal stability of inverters. The principles of SVPWM and DPWM were described in this paper firstly, based on which the dynamic power losses of the two modulations of hoist in single period were calculated. Secondly, a thermal equilibrium dynamic control based on DPMW dual-mode modulation was proposed, which can switch the modulation dynamically according to the change of dynamic power loss to realize dynamic control of power loss and thermal equilibrium of inverter. Finally, simulation and experiment prove the effectiveness of the proposed strategy.
Effect of Periodic Variation of Sol-air Temperature on the Performance of Integrated Solar Collector Storage System

Parametric study is carried out in the present article to investigate the unsteady performance of solar energy gain and heat retention of two different integrated-collector-storage systems. The systems are the conventional rectangular-shaped storage tank and the modified tank shaped as rectangular cuboid with one semi -circular top. The two systems have the same absorber surface area and volume for water. The heat and fluid flow is assumed to be unsteady, two-dimensional, laminar and incompressible. The performances of the two systems are evaluated based on the maximum temperature in the system during daytime heating period and nighttime cooling period. For comprehensive study, 24 hours simulations for 3 cases with different wall boundary condition impose on the absorber plate are investigated. The simulation results show that the modified system has better heat retain than the conventional system. Periodic variations of both systems are investigated, and it is found that both systems show consistent results on different days. The modified system is able to store most of the thermal energy in the semi-circular top region with higher temperature than that of the conventional system.
Progress on genetic modifications of pulp wood tree species relevance to India-A review

The major tree species grown for pulp and paper industry in India are eucalypts, poplars, casuarinas, subabul and acacias. There is a growing demand for pulp and paper products with minimum adverse effect on natural forest and environment. Genetic transformation in these pulp woods are aimed at enhancing growth, wood characteristics and stress tolerance. However, genetic transformation of trees is a time consuming process because of long life cycle, recent domestication status and recalcitrance to in vitro procedures. Though various instances of incorporating desired trait by transformations in trees have been reported, the effect of genetically modified trees on surrounding ecosystems need further studies. Efforts towards making transgenic trees should take in to consideration of alleviation of public concerns on pollen dispersal, contamination of wild germplasm and biosafety.
Flower visitors and fruitset of Anacardium occidentale

The flower visitors, pollination and fruitset of cashew (Anacardium occidentale) were studied. The investigation involved monitoring of flower visitors, assessment of floral rewards for pollinators and breeding experiments to establish the role of flower visitors on fruitset. Yield of fruits has been low due to the lack of appropriate pollinators and the possible role of ants in pollen damage. Bees, flies, butterflies, beetles and ants visited the flowers. Relative abundance of visitors coincided with nectar availability. Breeding manipulation by bagging experiments indicated that bees are efficient pollinators increasing fruitset, while ants decreased fruitset by damaging the viable pollen. Effective fruit production requires more activities of bees and management to reduce ant damages in A. occidentale.