Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Latent Complementarity in Bundles Models

This paper studies partial identi cation of latent complementarity in an optimizing model with two goods and binary quantities of each good (buy / don't buy). We provide simple bounds on the fraction of individuals for whom goods are complements/substitutes. Despite using only involve marginal choice probabilities, these bounds are sharp with a binary demand shifter. With rich variation in demand shifters, we show how to identify the distribution of latent complementarity using only marginal choice probabilities. Together, these results indicate that mean demands are su cient for measuring complementarity without observing whether goods are chosen together.
CO2 Prices and Portfolio Management

Since January 2005, the attention on European carbon markets has been increasing and thus the interest in studying the implications of the existence of two new assets in portfolio management. In this article we analyse both the characteristics of the EUAs Phase I and Phase II as a sole investment and the impact of including these two assets, considered separately, in a well-diversified portfolio. In order to control the problems of using historical returns, we have performed this analysis using as expected returns either historical returns or risk-adjusted returns. We find that, although the weights of EUAs are not too important when incorporating the EUAs in an optimal and well-diversified portfolio, the efficient frontier shows an increase in investor possibilities.
The role of epiphytic Pseudomonas and Pantoea population diversity on prevalence of fire blight disease

Several microbial populations on plants interact with each other and their host through the actions of secreted metabolites. However, the role of diverse microorganisms and their metabolites on plant health has yet to be fully appreciated. Here, we investigated the population diversity of two dominant epiphytic bacterial genuses in different area and their role in biological control of fire blight disease. To do so, we isolated and calculated population diversity of different Pantoea spp. and Pseudomonas spp. using serial dilution methods. The growth inhibition of Erwinia amylovora in vitro by some of these bacteria indicated the ecological significance of secondary metabolites produced by these bacteria and discuss how they might contribute to biological control of fire blight disease. Although, we did not work on the ability of these bacteria on induction of disease resistance but it could be considered for future, because they represent very different but important types of secondary metabolites. We also described how the weather conditions in different geographical regions can effect on the population of these epiphytic bacterial phenotypes leading to plant health promotion. In conclusion, we demonstrated the role of Pantoea and Pseudomonas population diversity on prevalence of fire blight in different area of north-east of Iran.
Bacterial Deterioration of Marble Monuments: A Case Study of the Conservation Project of Acropolis Monuments

The deterioration of the Acropolis monuments’ surface can be attributed to a combination of mechanical, physical, chemical and biological factors. The aim of this work was to investigate the potential use of biocides suitable for marble surface in order to confront the biodeterioration phenomenon due to heterotrophic bacteria. Surface bacterial populations were studied in respect to the application of three biocide agents. A significant decrease of the bacterial counts was occurred after the biocides’ application and remained less compared with the counts occurred on the untreated surfaces for more than 14 months. A gradual diminution of bacterial diversity was also observed leading to the survival of specific Gram positive strains.
Developmental Expression of Echinonectin, an Endogenous Lectin of the Sea Urchin Embryo

Echinonectin (EN) is a galactose‐binding lectin present in eggs and embryos of the sea urchin Lytechinus variegatus. Recent studies have suggested that EN is a hyaline layer protein that may function as a substrate adhesion molecule (SAM) during development. We have used monoclonal and affinity‐purified polyclonal antibodies that specifically recognize this protein to determine its spatial and temporal expression during embryogenesis. EN is stored in granules or vesicles in the unfertilized egg. After fertilization, these granules are rapidly redistributed to the apical cytoplasm of the zygote. Our results show that at subsequent stages of development the lectin is expressed by cells of all three germ layers, including cells of the developing gut, coelomic pouches, and ectoderm, and by both primary and secondary mesenchyme cells. In contrast to previous observations based solely upon light level immunofluorescent staining, immunoelectron microscopy demonstrates that EN is localized in intracellular, membrane‐bounded vesicles. In epithelial cell types these vesicles have a highly polarized distribution and are found in the apical cortical cytoplasm. In mesenchyme cells the distribution of EN‐containing vesicles is not obviously polarized. Steady‐state levels of EN protein in the embryo remain almost constant from fertilization to the pluteus larva stage, Metabolic labeling studies show that synthesis of EN in L. variegatus begins immediately after fertilization and continues throughout embryogenesis. Monospecific antibodies raised against L. variegatus EN have also been used to determine whether this lectin is expressed in other echinoid species.
Monetary Normalizations and Consumer Credit: Evidence from Fed Liftoff and Online Lending

On December 16th of 2015, the Fed initiated “liftoff,” a critical step in the monetary normalization process. We use a unique panel dataset of 640,000 loan-hour observations to measure the impact of liftoff on interest rates, demand, and supply in the online primary market for uncollateralized consumer credit. We find that credit supply increased, reducing the spread by 16% and lowering the average interest rate by 16.9-22.6 basis points. Our findings are consistent with an investor-perceived reduction in default probabilities; and suggest that liftoff provided a strong, positive signal about the future solvency of borrowers.
An Analysis of the Saving Motives of the Households in North Gujarat

For doing any activity, there needs to be some motivation. The act of saving is no different. The present study tries to identify if the households in North Gujarat Region have similar motives to save or not. In this study, fifteen motives were identified. A questionnaire was designed for this purpose and ranks were collected from the households living in the North Gujarat Region. Data from 860 units was collected. They were classified as per the district, area, age of the head of the household, their education, occupation, the type of the family and residence. About 399 homogeneous groups were created. The ranks given by the units were converted into Garret Score and then they were combined into five needs categories as proposed by Maslow (1943). With the help of Kruskal-Wallis Independent sample test it was tested if the ranks given by the units under the study were similar or not. The results of the study indicate that area and the occupation of the head of the household had a significant influence on the ranks given by the household while residence type had no influence on the ranks given by the household.
Intra-Portfolio Systemic Contagion

Traditional approaches to credit risk evaluation have looked at a portfolio’s obligors as separate elements. However, daily bank practice suggests that there can be contagion effects between obligors, a fact that through the current normative has been explicitly acknowledged by EU regulation authorities. The “group of connected clients” is the key-concept for this revolutionary change: EBA requires banks firstly to identify such groups according to a set of different criteria and then to treat each of them as a single risk unit. This normative challenges banks to adopt concepts and methods rather new with respect to its professional background and practice. Here, its conceptual and practical implications are discussed, and some of its main flaws are evidenced: its framework remains static instead of dynamic, local instead of systemic, threshold-based instead of continuous variations. Therefore, if on one side this normative introduces the revolutionary concept of the groups of connected clients among risk evaluation criteria, on the other side it remains still entrapped into the traditional view and leaves untouched the risk evaluation of “non-dominated” clients. Hence, it should be considered as a step towards a full new paradigm, which had to look at portfolios as inter-organizational networks, more or less subjected to “failure cascades” depending on its specific structures. To this aim, it is required to design a new rating system with which single obligor’s risk evaluation should be measured precisely and in relation with the position they cover within the whole portfolio.
Postembryonic development of Paracentrophyes praedictus (Homalorhagida): neoteny questionable among the Kinorhyncha

The postembryonic ontogeny of the kinorhynch Paracentrophyes praedictus is described by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The development of head scalids and trunk Characteristics has been studied. The first of 6 juvenile stages possesses 11 segments already. One segment each is added both in stages 2 and 5. The number of head scalids increases during development. Every scalid becomes visible as a spinose anlage in one stage and differentiates in the next stage. All head scalids in stage 1 represent anlagen of scalids. Late juvenile stages J‐5 and J‐6 express two different scalid patterns which do not seem to depend on the gender. Scalids and trunk segments develop in a subfrontal and a subcaudal growing zone, respectively. The presumed neotenic status of P. praedictus is rejected because this species exhibits the same number of juvenile stages as observed in all other Kinorhyncha studied. It is suggested that a weakly sclerotized, juvenile‐like trunk cuticle as found, e.g. in adult P. praedictus represents the plesiomorphic characteristic within the Kinorhyncha; a thickened cuticle has probably evolved independently within both the cyclorhagid and the homalorhagid Kinorhyncha.
Removal of cyanobacterial toxins in water treatment processes: Laboratory and pilot‐scale experiments

The effectiveness of various drinking water treatment processes has been tested in laboratory and pilot scale experiments using neurotoxic and hepatotoxic cyanobacterial blooms and laboratory-grown algal cultures as test material. The species involved belonged to the genera Microcystis, Oscillatoria, and Anabaena. Microcystis and Oscillatoria hepatotoxins were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography. The Anabaena neurotoxin, anatoxin-a, was determined using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry techniques. Toxicity was tested and verified by mouse bioassay. The laboratory study, made with freeze-dried cyanobacteria, showed that toxins were not removed by conventional flocculation treatment procedures. The simultaneous addition of a small amount of powdered activated carbon with the flocculation chemical did not improve the removal of hepatotoxins significantly. Substantial reduction of toxins was achieved by granulated activated carbon filtration and by ozonization. Pilot plant studies supported the laboratory findings. Results of the slow sand filtration experiments suggested some removal of toxins.
Life (Dis)Satisfaction and the Decision to Migrate: Evidence from Central and Eastern Europe

This paper provides the first evidence regarding the impact of life satisfaction on the individual intention to migrate. The impact of individual characteristics and country macroeconomic variables on the decision to migrate is analyzed in one framework. Differently from other studies, we allow for life satisfaction to serve as a mediator between macroeconomic variables and the intention to migrate. Using the Euro-barometer Survey for 27 Central Eastern (CEE) and Western European (non-CEE) countries, we test the predictions of our theoretical model and find that dissatisfied with life, people have a higher intention to migrate. The macroeconomic conditions have an effect on the intention to migrate indirectly through life satisfaction. At all levels of life satisfaction, unemployed, middle-aged individuals with a low or average income from urban areas at all levels of education are found to have higher intentions to migrate from CEE countries than from non-CEE countries.
The Political Economy of In-Kind Redistribution

Why do politicians redistribute resources through in-kind rather than cash transfers? This paper examines political incentives for in-kind government redistribution. By analyzing the political game between office-motivated politicians and self-interested citizens, I first show that in economies with competitive markets in-kind transfers are not required. Politicians can win elections targeting groups of voters with differential cash transfers. However, in-kind transfers arise in the presence of externalities in consumption. In that case, targeting groups of voters with in-kind rather than cash transfers allows politicians to attract simultaneously voters in additional groups with the same amount of resources. Politicians undertake political redistribution depending on the expected electoral returns obtained from targeting both cash and in-kind transfers into different groups. Furthermore, electoral competition leads the economy to achieve Pareto efficient allocations that markets cannot reach. Politicians internalize the presence of external effects when competing for marginal voters who could swing their vote.
Taxing Under the Influence? Corruption and U.S. State Beer Taxes

This paper examines the effect of state level corruption on state beer taxes in the United States. Our lobby group model predicts that corruption reduces the beer tax, but this effect is conditional on the level of alcohol-related vehicle deaths. Using a panel of state level data from 1982 to 2001, we find that increased corruption is associated with lower state beer tax rates. The magnitude of the effect, however, declines with increases in alcohol-related traffic deaths. Our findings suggest that future empirical work estimating the effect of alcohol taxes on alcohol-related traffic fatalities should treat alcohol taxes as endogenous.
Minimising weight loss in new broiler hatchlings through early feeding of simple sugars

Two experiments were conducted to assess the effect of delayed access to feed after hatch and the potential of two carbohydrate oligomers, trehalose and palatinose, as supplements for early feeding of broiler chickens. A total of 360 and 252 straight run broiler chicks were used in Experiments 1 and 2, respectively, with each involving six treatments and six replicates. The diets were commercial in nature and supplemented with palatinose or trehalose (at 10 or 20 g/kg). Chicks were allowed to access feed within 8 h of hatch or 36 h. In Experiment 2, the supplements were fed at 10 or 20 g/kg diet; the commercial diets was also fed immediately or delayed. One of the diets contains zinc-bacitracin at 50 ppm and fed within 8 h of hatch. Delayed access to feed and water was found to reduce starting weight at placement whereas early access to feed generally improved it. Supplementation with trehalose, in particular led to higher (P < 0.001) 21-day weights than in the other groups although feed conversion ratio was not improved. The benefits of early feeding was demonstrated and trehalose may have some potential as an early feed supplement but further studies are required into how it can be applied at economic levels to minimise production costs down.
On the Applicability of Advanced Forecasting Techniques to Developing Economies- A Case of Sri Lanka

This study attempts to find out whether advanced forecasting techniques that have been proved to be successfull in advanced countries can be employed to a developing country to forecast key macroeconomic variables. Five advanced forecasting models consisting of both univariate and multivariate models have been employed and the forecast accuracy of these models is evaluated againt that of benchmark ARMA model. Both point forecasts and density forecasts are produced from these models. Point forecast evaluation suggests that these models are superior to the benchmark model, though there is uncertainty in the significance of accuracy of mean inflation forecast. Density forecast performances of these models outperform the benchmark model without any doubt. This study has two main conclusions. First, these models can be included in the forecasting practice at the Central Bank of Sri Lanka to improve policy analysis. Second, the application of these models can be extended to any other developing country without large modifications.
Evaluation of the bioactive compounds and the antioxidant capacity of grape pomace

Summary Grape pomace is an agro-industrial residue produced worldwide and mainly employed for animal feed or as a fertiliser. Several studies have shown that grape pomace is a rich source of bioactive compounds, such as phenolic compounds, polysaccharides, fatty acids and others. Three varieties of grape pomace were evaluated in this study. Antioxidant activity was determined by three different methods, namely, DPPH˙, ABTS and ferrous ion assays. Fatty acids and phenolic compounds were identified, respectively, by gas and liquid chromatography. Results showed that grape pomace is a rich source of polyunsaturated fatty acids and phenolic compounds. Cabernet Sauvignon pomace revealed higher values of total phenolic compounds, total flavonoids and total monomeric anthocyanin, and presented the lowest value of EC50, and thus a higher antioxidant activity among the samples analysed.
Rainfall patterns in a major wheat-growing region of Australia

Rainfall is an important variable in the wheat production areas of Australia. This analysis examines, firstly, the pattern of rainfall over 2.3 million ha of a high-quality wheat-producing region, and secondly, develops regression equations for rainfall prediction over this region. Most of the variation in rainfall pattern across the region is accounted for by differences in October-to-March (summer) rainfall and in April-to-September (winter) rainfall. The summer rainfall differences account for over two thirds of the variation. Based on these two rainfall periods, a partitioning of the study area reveals five distinct regions. The second part of the analysis uses multiple regression to provide a set of equations for rainfall prediction at any location in the region, for a number of rainfall periods. These equations use altitude, longitude and latitude as predictors. Nearly all of the equations explain between 80% and 94% of the variation in rainfall. Differences between regions are accounted for in the analysis, making the equations widely applicable. The validity of the mean rainfall equations was tested on three further sites: the mean prediction error was 6.9%. This approach may be applicable where large land masses with similar geographical features occur.
Foraging trip strategies and habitat use during late pup rearing by lactating Australian fur seals

Australian fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus) are the most conspicuous and abundant marine mammal in shelf waters of south-eastern Australia. To successfully rear offspring, the females must encounter sufficient prey on each foraging trip out of a central place for periods up to11 months each year. We investigated foraging trip strategies and habitat use by the females in three winter–spring periods, 2001–03, from four colonies that span the species’ latitudinal range and contribute 80% of pup production. Trip durations of 37 females averaged 6.1 ± 0.5 (s.e.) days, although >90% of the seal’s time at sea was spent <150 km travel (<2 days) away. Most females exhibited strong fidelities to individually preferred hot-spots. Females from colonies adjacent to productive shelf-edge waters generally had shorter trips, had smaller ranges, foraged closer to colonies and exhibited less diversity in trip strategies than did those from colonies more distant from a shelf-edge. From a management perspective, there was minimal overlap (<1%) between where females foraged and a system of marine reserves established in 2007, suggesting that habitats visited by lactating Australian fur seals currently receive minimal legislative protection.
Produção de forragem e desempenho de novilhos de corte em um sistema silvipastoril: efeito de doses de nitrogênio e oferta de forragem

O estudo foi realizado com o objetivo de avaliar a producao forrageira e o desempenho de bovinos de corte pastejando sub-bosque de um sistema silvipastoril com eucalipto, adubado com fertilizante nitrogenado e duas ofertas de forragem. Os tratamentos consistiram de tres doses de fertilizante nitrogenado (0, 75 e 150 kg ha-1 de N, na forma de ureia), e duas ofertas de forragem (10 e 15% PV). O estudo foi conduzido sob delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com quatro repeticoes e tres periodos de avaliacao. Foi observado aumento no ganho de peso, apenas no primeiro periodo de avaliacao, a medida que se elevaram as doses de fertilizante nitrogenado. A variacao na oferta de forragem nao influenciou os ganhos medios individuais. O ganho por unidade de area aumentou a medida que foram adicionadas doses crescentes de fertilizante nitrogenado. A oferta de forragem de 15% e mais adequada quando se utilizam menores doses de nitrogenio na pastagem. Para doses mais elevadas, a intensificacao da utilizacao resulta em maiores ganhos por unidade de area. A fertilizacao do sub-bosque e eficiente e necessaria para a intensificacao do uso de sistemas integrados eucalipto-pastagem.
Future Threats to Internet of Things (IoT) Security & Privacy: A Survey

Now a day’s network security is one of the biggest concern and threat to the World. IoT is an emerging technology which is getting common day by day and billions of devices are interconnected to a wide network platform which are creating privacy and security concerns. Massive number of devices being used over internet by individuals and corporates and this strategy is making the system vulnerable to security risks. This paper will explore the various problems, challenges and threats involved in the multiple areas of IoT and their future trend.
Does China's Macroeconomy Respond to the Shocks to Oil Price and its Uncertainty?: A Generalized Interactive VAR-SV-In-Mean Approach

In this paper, we re-investigate the effects of oil price and its uncertainty on China’s macroeconomic activities using a monthly generalized VAR model with stochastic volatility in mean, named interactive VAR-SV-in-mean model, which allows for interactions amongst variables’ levels and volatilities and the correlations between the level and volatility shocks. Different from previous studies, we qualify the time-varying specification only on volatility by the method proposed in Chan and Eisenstat (2018) before conducting the empirical investigation. Counterintuitively, although China plays as a net oil importer and the 2nd largest oil consumption country, our empirical findings suggest that China’s macroeconomy responds little to the shocks to oil price and its uncertainty in general. Moreover, we argue that financial depth and trades of oil-related derivative contracts, together with coal-dominated energy consumption structure and oil price subsidies, make the economy less responsive to the shocks. Our results, as well, are much robust to several model specifications.