Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Advantages of linking national registries with twin registries for epidemiological research

Linking national registries with twin data represents an opportunity to produce epidemiological research ofhigh quality. National registries contain information on a broad array of variables, some of which cannot bemeasured reliably in regular health surveys. By taking kinship into consideration, twin studies have thebenefit of being able to identify confounding stemming from genetic or shared environmental sources. Inthis paper, we use examples from our own interview and questionnaire-based twin studies from the NorwegianTwin Registry (NTR) on mental disorders, alcohol use and socioeconomic status linked to registrydata on medical benefits to demonstrate the value. In the first example, we examined to what extent geneticand environmental factors contributed to sick leave and disability pension and the association between thesetwo types of benefits. In the second example, we explored the genetic and environmental relationshipbetween personality disorders and sick leave. In the third example, a co-twin control design was applied toexplore whether there is a true protective relationship between moderate alcohol consumption and health.The fourth example shows to what degree anxiety and depression are associated with later sick leave grantedfor not only mental disorders, but also somatic disorders, adjusted for confounding by genetic and sharedenvironmental factors. In the fifth example, we address the socioeconomic gradient in sick leave, adjustingfor non-observed confounders associated with the family in a co-twin control design. Our examples illustratesome of the potentials obtainable by linking national registries with twin data. The efforts that have beenmade to create the NTR in Norway and the International Network of Twin Studies (INTR) internationallymake these types of linkage studies easier to conduct and available to more researchers. As there are stillmany areas to explore, we encourage epidemiological researchers to make use of this possibility.
ICA-based Single Channel Audio Separation: New Bases and Measures of Distance

Independent Component Analysis (ICA) can be used for single channel audio separation, if a mixed signal is transformed into time-frequency domain and the resulting matrix of magnitude coefficients is processed by ICA. Previous works used only frequency (spectral) vectors and Kullback-Leibler distance measure for this task. New decomposition bases are proposed: time vectors and time-frequency components. The applicability of several different measures of distance of components are analysed. An algorithm for clustering of components is presented. It was tested on mixes of two and three sounds. The perceptual quality of separation obtained with the measures of distance proposed was evaluated by listening tests, indicating “beta” and “correlation” measures as the most appropriate. The “Euclidean” distance is shown to be appropriate for sounds with varying amplitudes. The perceptual effect of the amount of variance used was also evaluated.
Exploring the spatial variation in quality-adjusted rental prices and identifying hot spots in Berlin’s residential property market

In this work, we use residual values obtained from an estimated hedonic pricing model to assess the role of district-level neighbourhood effects for the spatial variation in quality-adjusted rental prices in Berlin between 2008 and 2013. By doing so, we also aim at identifying hot and cold spots of quality-adjusted rental prices for apartments across the residential locations within the city of Berlin. The resulting pattern of ‘residual’ rental prices with a growing concentration of hot spots in central districts of Berlin can be interpreted as the tenants’ valorization of apartments in geographic proximity to the city centre compared to similar properties in Berlin’s periphery once we control for the properties’ physical characteristics. The observed temporal evolution of the rental price distribution between 2008 and 2013 thereby hints at an ongoing gentrification process in Germany’s capital associated with the current housing market boom. This visual impression is also confirmed by the application of quantile regressions for a correlation analysis between quality-adjusted rental price values and Berlin district-level characteristics obtained from the last census in 2011. Among other factors, we find that districts’ net in-migration balances are positively correlated with quality-adjusted rental price levels for higher quantiles of the distribution, thereby potentially proxying the price dynamics of underlying gentrification processes. Using statistical tests from the explanatory spatial data analysis (ESDA) toolbox, we finally pinpoint particular hot spots of the city’s residential property market associated with a significant spatial clustering of similar rental price values around individual observations.
IF Impedance and Mixer Gain of Phonon Cooled Hot-Electron Bolometers and the Perrin-Vanneste Two Temperature Model

We have measured the IF impedance and mixer gain bandwidth of a small area phonon cooled hot-electron bolometer in the 0.05-10 GHz range under a variety of bias and LO pumping level conditions. The device used is a twin slot antenna coupled NbN HEB mixer, with a bridge area of 1 μm x 0.15 μm, and a critical temperature of 8.3 K. We model the HEB IF impedance following the work of Nebosis, Semenov, Gousev, and Renk, from now on refered to as the ”NSGR” model. This model is based on the two-temperature model of Perrin-Vanneste, and is found to accurately describe the measured data at different bias and LO pump levels. Three fitting parameters are used in the NSGR model to describe the frequency dependent modulation of the electron temperature; the electron-phonon interaction time τeph, the phonon escape time (into the substrate) τes, and the ratio of the electron and phonon specific heat capacity ce/cph. The described time constants and temperature dependent heat capacity ratio obtained from fitting the model to the measured data agrees well with those reported on for thin NbN films in literature. Using an expression for mixer gain from the NSGR model, but modified to take additional parasitic loss and the complex voltage reflection between mixer and IF load impedance into account, we find when we use the impedance fit parameters τeph, τes, ce/cph, an excellent agreement between measured and modeled HEB conversion gain. Keywords— IF Impedance, phonon cooled hot electron bolometer (pHEB), two-temperature model, ”hot” electrons, Perrin-Vanneste, NSGR model, electron temperature modulation, electron-phonon interaction time, phonon escape time, electro-thermal feedback, complex impedance, HEB mixer conversion gain.
Cloves Export Response to trade liberalization in Tanzania: A Cointegration Analysis

This paper investigates the cloves export response in Tanzania before and after trade liberalization from 1970 to 2010. The econometric and nonparametric techniques have been applied. Econometric techniques include cointegration, error correction modeling approach as well as the trend analysis. Error correction modeling approach its empirical findings revealed that there exists a long run or equilibrium relationship amongst the variables that is cloves export earnings, world price and real exchange rate. The short run (short term dynamic behavior) of Tanzania’s cloves export response to trade liberalization has been investigated through the error correction model. Empirical results on error correction model were found to be correctly signed. The coefficient estimate of the error correction term in this model indicates a high speed of adjustment of variables to equilibrium. This implies that variables adjusting to equilibrium at the speed of 78 percent per annum as such confirming the validity of the long run equilibrium relationship. World price also has been found to be correctly signed and statistically significant at 5 percent as such is one of the important determinants of cloves export supply. On other hand real exchange rate as well found with correct sign but statistically insignificant and dummy variable which captured the effect before and after trade liberalization found to be an important determinants of cloves supply since it has a positive sign, however it is statistically insignificant. Trend analysis of cloves export earnings found to be improving. Generally, robustness has also found in error correction model used in this study since it provided with relevant information about diagnostic tests. A non parametric technique revealed that shift of trade policy in Tanzania is statistically significant at 5 percent level. Keywords: Trade liberalization, export response or performance and agricultural export.
Numerical Solution of the Fractional Partial Differential Equations by the Two-Dimensional Fractional-Order Legendre Functions

A numerical method is presented to obtain the approximate solutions of the fractional partial differential equations (FPDEs). The basic idea of this method is to achieve the approximate solutions in a generalized expansion form of two-dimensional fractional-order Legendre functions (2D-FLFs). The operational matrices of integration and derivative for 2D-FLFs are first derived. Then, by these matrices, a system of algebraic equations is obtained from FPDEs. Hence, by solving this system, the unknown 2D-FLFs coefficients can be computed. Three examples are discussed to demonstrate the validity and applicability of the proposed method.
Corporate Tax Holidays and Investment

Governments of developing countries commonly adopt tax holidays to encourage investment. This article evaluates the incentives provided by company income tax holidays and explains the importance of the timing of depreciation allowances in determining the effective tax rates and the cost of capital to firms considering additional investment during the holiday. If an asset is long-lived and depreciation allowances for tax purposes are accelerated, the tax holiday, by preventing depreciation deductions during periods of peak profits, may actually penalize a company for investing during the holiday. The closer the investment to the end of the holiday period, the more severe the penalty. If, instead, depreciation allowances may be deferred until after the holiday, this program of incentives is quite generous to the firm. How these sharply contrasting results may emerge is illustrated through estimation of effective tax rates and user costs of capital under tax holiday systems in Bangladesh, C6te d'Ivoire, Malaysia, Morocco, and Thailand.
Single crystal structure refinement of tetramethylammonium-hectorite

Abstract A synthetic Cs-fluorohectorite was intercalated with Tetramethylammonium-cations (TMA+). Under appropriate reaction conditions, a complete cation exchange is feasible while preserving the phase relationship between adjacent silicate layers. Starting from a three-dimensionally (3D) ordered [1] and homogeneously charged [2], synthetic Cs-hectorite it is possible to synthesize single crystals of a 3D ordered intercalation compound (TMA-hectorite). Single crystal structure refinement (TMA0.5interMg2.5Li0.5octSi4tetO10F2, monoclinic, C2/m, a = 5.2735(11) Å, b = 9.1165(14) Å, c = 13.5609(35) Å, β = 97.693(3)°, V = 646.1(2) Å3, Z = 2) conclusively reveals the arrangement of the TMA-cations in the interlayer space. The results are compared with an earlier structure refinement of an analogous TMA-intercalated natural vermiculite [3] and the results of a computer simulation carried out on TMA-vermiculite [4].
Design and Implementation of Intermediate Frequency Dual Band 2-Way Wilkinson Power Divider for Radar System

In this paper, design and implementation of dual band 2-Way Wilkinson Power Divider (WPD) is presented. This WPD can used for frequency of 456 MHz (X-Band Radar) and frequency 600 MHz (S-Band Radar). The Dual Band WPD used a two-section broadband method which consists only of cascaded sections of branch-lines (ZA and ZB) and Resistors (R1 and R2). The Dual Band WPD was implemented on a FR4 Substrate with Ɛr = 4.6 and thickness of 1.575 mm. From the simulation results, a good agreement about return loss, insertion loss and isolation were obtained. But in the measurement results, the WPD behaves like a wideband power divider. The simulation and measurement results show that the dual band design with the two-section broadband method is not suitable for dual band design with narrow bandwidth (about 144 MHz).
MODIFICATION OF INPUT IMAGES FOR IMPROVING THE ACCURACY OF RICE FIELD CLASSIFICATION USING MODIS DATA

The standard image classification method typically uses multispectral imagery on one acquisition date as an input for classification. Rice fields exhibit high variability in land cover states, which influences their reflectance. Using the existing standard method for rice field classification may increase errors of commission and omission, thereby reducing classification accuracy. This study utilised temporal variance in a vegetation index as a modified input image for rice field classification. The results showed that classification of rice fields using modified input images provided a better result. Using the modified classification input improved the correspondence between rice field area obtained from the classification result and reference data (R2 increased from 0.2557 to 0.9656 for regencylevel comparisons and from 0.5045 to 0.8698 for district-level comparisons). The classification accuracy and the estimated Kappa value also increased when using the modified classification input compared to the standard method, from 66.33 to 83.73 and from 0.49 to 0.77, respectively. The commission error, omission error, and Kappa variance decreased from 68.11 to 42.36, 28.48 to 27.97, and 0.00159 to 0.00039, respectively, when using modified input images compared to the standard method. The Kappa analysis concluded that there are significant differences between the procedure developed in this study and the standard method for rice field classification. Consequently, the modified classification method developed here is significant improvement over the standard procedure.
Constraining symmetron fields with atom interferometry

We apply the new constraints from atom-interferometry searches for screening mechanisms to the symmetron model, finding that these experiments exclude a previously unexplored region of the parameter space. We discuss the possibility of networks of domain walls forming in the vacuum chamber, and how this could be used to discriminate between models of screening.
Effect of Chemical Treatments on Pests and Diseases of Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)

A study on the effects of chemical treatments of pests and diseases on pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) was carried out at the Institute of Agricultural Research for Development in Cameroon. The trial was laid out in a 4 x 4 factorial design (4 varieties of pepper x 4 chemical treatments), making 16 treatments in 4 replications. The results showed that chemical treatments had highly significant effects (P < 0.001) on the reduction of pepper plant infections by viral diseases. To control Fusarium disease, fungicide treatment and insecticide + fungicide treatment gave satisfactory results. To combat fruitflies ( Ceratitis spp., Bactrocera spp., etc.) responsible for premature fruit fall off, chemical treatments had highly significant effects (P < 0.001) on the reduction of the pests’ population. The chemical treatments used during this experiment had highly significant effects (P < 0.001) on the number and average weight of marketable fruits harvested during the reproductive phase of pepper plants. Highly significant differences were observed in fruit yields from subplots in the following decreasing order: insecticide + fungicide, insecticide, fungicide and finally the control with no chemical treatment. Concomitantly, the total revenue and benefit margin accruing from the different chemical treatments followed the same trend.
Impact of Common Kingfisher on a salmon population during the nestling period in southern England

The effect of fish-eating birds on their fish-prey populations has been a matter of concern to conservationists, anglers and fishery interests, especially when both bird and fish species have conservation status and are afforded some protection by law. Understanding the predator-prey interactions will assist in managing these potential conflicts. This situation could arise with the Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis ), whose range covers many important Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar ) rivers. In order to increase our knowledge on predator-prey interactions between these species, we collected data on the diet and feeding rates of a kingfisher population breeding in an Atlantic salmon river in southern England (River Frome). Results showed that, during nestling period, kingfishers provided a mean of 62 fish per day to the nest and that the mean salmon intake was 2.5% of the entire diet, which is equivalent to 86 salmon parr consumed by each kingfishers pair for the entire breeding period (assuming 2.2 broods/pair/year). The total 0-group salmon population in the River Frome was 63 900. The estimated loss of 0-group salmon parr to the kingfishers over one season was 0.8%, thus supporting the view that the kingfisher has a negligible biological impact over this salmon population.
KIER DISCUSSION PAPER SERIES

Based on the factor-proportion gravity framework we build a model that identifies driving forces for trade in parts and components. We test our model empirically by using a detailed and large European data set. We show that trade in parts and components is driven by relative supply-side country differences, proxied by wages and capital labor ratios. The pattern is compatible with models of incomplete specialization and trade. We take our results as evidence for the existence of international East-West production networks in Europe, driven by trade-offs between wages, capital labor ratios and coordination costs. Our results also reveal that (i) in response to stronger relative wage differences trade in parts and components across Europe is predominantly realized along the extensive margin but (ii) potential to intensify the trade and international production network in new EU members is not exhausted yet. JEL-Classification: C23, F14, F23
Capital Movements and the Political Economy of trade Policy

We develop a political economy model of trade policy using a sector specific factor model with international capital mobility, looking for the relationship between protection and the composition of foreign capital. As foreign direct investment is remunerated at the marginal productivity of capital, an increase of the tariff raises its remuneration, increasing also the transfer of resources abroad. This is an additional cost of the tariff in terms of welfare. As external debt is remunerated at a given international interest rate, the additional cost of protection in terms of welfare does not appear. Then the equilibrium tariff with external debt is higher than with foreign direct investment. We present evidence for a panel of developing countries observed between 1970 and 1998 giving support to the main implication of the model. We find a significant effect of the composition of foreign capital on trade policy, implying that countries which have relatively more foreign direct investment than external debt also have less protection.
Interferences of PCR effectivity: importance for quantitative analyses.

Importance of the Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) have already crossed the border of mere target DNA sequence present or absence analysis. For number analyses e.g. Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) or gene expression assesment the DNA quantification is demanded. Real-time (or quantitative) PCR is the most used tool for nucleic acids quantification. PCR efficiency has relevant importance on DNA quantification - it should be almost same for each PCR and its value should varied between 90-100%. There are a lot of PCR enhancers and inhibitors well known. We described impact of used DNA solvent and used laboratory plastic on real-time PCR efficiency.
Hilferding's Influence on Schumpeter : A First Discussion

In the present paper, the origins of some of Joseph Alois Schumpeter’s views are traced back to Rudolf Hilferding’s Finance Capital, regarding the Schumpeterian hypothesis and the separation of roles between capitalists, entrepreneurs and managers. After a careful examination of Hilferding’s writings, the conclusion may be drawn that Schumpeter expresses ideas very similar to Hilferding’s on these issues, and seems to have been influenced by his conceptualisation of a “latest phase” of capitalism, shaped by the structure and functions of the “monopolistic enterprise”. Hilferding’s approach is understood in this paper as a major revision of Marx’s methodological perspective and conceptual understanding of the capitalist mode of production and, therefore, as a “paradigm shift” within Marxian economic theory.
Comparison between RLS-GA and RLS-PSO for Li-ion battery SOC and SOH estimation: a simulation study

This paper proposes a new method of concurrent SOC and SOH estimation using a combination of recursive least square (RLS) algorithm and particle swarm optimization (PSO). The RLS algorithm is equipped with multiple fixed forgetting factors (MFFF) which are optimized by PSO. The performance of the hybrid RLS-PSO is compared with the similar RLS which is optimized by single objective genetic algorithms (SOGA) as well as multi-objectives genetic algorithm (MOGA). Open circuit voltage (OCV) is treated as a parameter to be estimated at the same timewith internal resistance. Urban Dynamometer Driving Schedule (UDDS) is used as the input data. Simulation results show that the hybrid RLS-PSO algorithm provides little better performance than the hybrid RLS-SOGA algorithm in terms of mean square error (MSE) and a number of iteration. On the other hand, MOGA provides Pareto front containing optimum solutions where a specific solution can be selected to have OCV MSE performance as good as PSO.
Molecular gene expression following blunt and rotational models of traumatic brain injury parallel injuries associated with stroke and depression

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is associated with a collection of physical, emotional and cognitive post complications. The background for such complex consequences may be due to a number of different factors, and the nature of these changes indicates that the frontal lobes may be implicated. In this study we have employed gene expression arrays and gene ontology databases to search for possible similarities between different forms of acquired brain injuries in order to test whether molecular relationships exist between the different pathologies. Two types of experimental models for traumatic brain injuries, lateral fluid percussion and rotational acceleration, were used. Their molecular signature was identified and compared with those related to other rodent models simulating stress, depression, alcohol dependence, stroke, and Alzheimer’s disease. The data show that the two TBI models share similar gene expression changes with the models with regard to depression and stroke, indicating a common molecular support between these pathologies. The data provided can contribute to the introduction of new treatment strategies related to TBI.