Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Gendered economic policy making: the case of public expenditures on family allowances

Abstract Parliament is the place where politicians make laws to set the policy direction of countries. Non-involvement of different voices such as gender, race and ethnicity in policy decisions may create an inequality in policy-making. Regarding gender, previous literature suggests that women and men may have different policy prefer- ences and women give more priority to policies related to their traditional roles as care givers to children in the family. Public spending on family allowances is one of the economic policies that plays an important role in helping families for childcare. This paper contributes to the literature by analyzing the relationship between female political representation and public spending on family allowances within a perspective of critical-mass framework.
Temperature and abundances in the Jovian auroral stratosphere: 1. Ethane as a probe of the millibar region

We report infrared heterodyne spectroscopy (λ/Δλ ∼ 106) of C2H6 emission at 11.9 μm from the northern Jovian auroral region, in observations conducted over December 2–7, 1989. Accurately measured line shapes provide information on C2H6 abundance as well as temperature and permit retrieval of the source pressure region. Enhanced emission was observed in the longitude range ∼150°–180° at ∼60° north latitude, approximately corresponding to the CH4 7.8-μm hot spot and the region of brightest UV aurora. Significant brightness variations were observed in the hot spot emissions on a time scale of ∼20 hours. Analysis of the brightest hot spot spectra indicates C2H6 mole fractions of ∼(6.3–6.8) × 10−6 at temperatures of ∼182–184 K at 1 mbar, compared to mole fractions of (3.8 ± 1.4) × 10−6 averaged over spectra outside the hot spot at a temperature of ∼172 K at the same pressure. Fixing the mole fraction to the lower limit retrieved in the quiescent (non-hot spot) region allows the temperature at 1 mbar to be as high as ∼200 K within the hot spot. These results provide upper limits to the temperature increase near the source of the C2H6 thermal infrared emission. Combined with results from similar measurements of ethylene emission probing the ∼10-μbar region (Kostiuk et al., this issue), altitude information on the thermal structure of the Jovian auroral stratosphere can be obtained for the first time.
Observations of long period Rayleigh wave ellipticity

SUMMARY We analyse phase shifts and amplitude ratios of horizontal to vertical components of T ∼ 150 s fundamental Rayleigh waves. In the ray picture of surface wave propagation, it is expected that at a single station this ratio will be constant, being controlled only by the seismic velocity structure beneath the seismic station. In contrast, we observe substantial variability in the amplitude ratios measured at a number of stations from the Global Seismic Network. We discuss possible causes for the anomalous ratios, concluding that they probably arise from effects associated with small scale heterogeneity distinctly distributed across different tectonic domains and having scale lengths shorter than a wavelength.
Framing Effects and Expected Social Security Claiming Behavior

Eligible participants in the U.S. Social Security system may claim benefits anytime from age 62-70, with benefit levels actuarially adjusted based on the claiming age. This paper shows that individual intentions with regard to Social Security claiming ages are sensitive to how the early versus late claiming decision is framed. Using an experimental design, the authors find that the use of a "break-even analysis" has the very strong effect of encouraging individuals to claim early. They also show that individuals are more likely to report they will delay claiming when later claiming is framed as a gain, and when the information provides an anchoring point at older, rather than younger, ages. Moreover, females, individuals with credit card debt, and workers with lower expected benefits are more strongly influenced by framing. They conclude that some individuals may not make fully rational optimizing choices when it comes to choosing a claiming date.
Some Results Involving the Airy Functions and Airy Transforms

Abstract In the present work, the author studied some properties of the modified Bessel’s functions and Airy functions. It is worth mentioning that the Airy functions are used in many fields of physics. They are applied in many branches of classical and quantum physics. The author also studied certain properties of the Airy transform and derived some new integral relations involving the Airy functions. Non-trivial illustrative examples are provided as well. All the results are presented in lucid and comprehensible language.
An evaluation of spatial autocorrelation feature selection

Spatial autocorrelation analysis of ratioed image bands is compared to other methods of selecting features including the grouping of correlated bands, and the spacing of features equal wavelengths apart. In addition, features based on the band-passes of the SPOT XS, Multi-Spectral Scanner (MSS) and Thematic Mapper (TM) sensors are also synthesized. Three different types of spatial autocorrelation-based features are identified: (1) Narrow band features are selected by ranking the spatial autocorrelation of ratios of all possible combinations of bands. (2) Broad band features are produced by allowing the previously chosen best bands to merge with spectrally adjacent bands if this increases the overall spatial autocorrelation of the feature set. (3) Nonadjacent multiple band features are produced by removing the constraint that the merges are limited to neighbouring bands. The spatial autocorrelation ratio analysis suggests the majority of the most useful bands in an Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectro.
SACRAMENTO RIVER FLOW RECONSTRUCTED TO A.D. 869 FROM TREE RINGS 1

ABSTRACT: A time series of annual flow of the Sacramento River, California, is reconstructed to A.D. 869 from tree rings for a long‐term perspective on hydrologic drought. Reconstructions derived by principal components regression of flow on time‐varying subsets of tree‐ring chronologies account for 64 to 81 percent of the flow variance in the 1906 to 1977 calibration period. A Monte Carlo analysis of reconstructed n‐year running means indicates that the gaged record contains examples of drought extremes for averaging periods of perhaps = 6 to 10 years, but not for longer and shorter averaging periods. For example, the estimated probability approaches 1.0 that the flow in A.D. 1580 was lower than the lowest single‐year gaged flow. The tree‐ring record also suggests that persistently high or low flows over 50‐year periods characterize some parts of the long‐term flow history. The results should contribute to sensible water resources planning for the Sacramento Basin and to the methodology of incorporating tree‐ring data in the assessment of the probability of hydrologic drought.
Global effects of doubled atmospheric CO2 content on evapotranspiration, soil moisture and runoff under potential natural vegetation

Abstract Rising atmospheric CO2 concentration affects the water balance through climatic changes and through changes in transpiration, vegetation structure and distribution. This study quantifies CO2 effects upon evapotranspiration, soil moisture and runoff under conditions of potential natural vegetation globally, using a biosphere model forced by observed climate (1961–1990). Isolated CO2 impacts were inferred from a 2 × CO2 scenario, assuming no climate change. Global effects are moderate: evapotranspiration reduces by 7%, whilst runoff and soil moisture increase by 5% and 1%, respectively. But the effects vary regionally and seasonally, owing to the complex interplay between water and vegetation dynamics. For example, reduced leaf-level transpiration is outweighed by increased transpiration resulting from enhanced vegetation cover in semiarid areas; and seasonal transpirational water savings result in year-round increases in soil moisture in boreal regions. Overall, CO2 effects impart significant variability to hydrological processes at all scales, so they merit consideration in assessments of future water resources.
Statistical analysis of background noise in seismic prospecting

From a conventional viewpoint, seismic‐prospecting background noise is usually regarded as the product of a stationary and Gaussian stochastic process. In this paper, we use statistical methods to investigate the properties of the land‐seismic‐prospecting background noise on stationarity, Gaussianity, power spectral density, and spatial correlation. We use and analyse the passive noise records collected by receiver arrays at different typical geological environments (desert, steppe, and mountainous regions). Differences exist in the statistical properties of the background noise from different geological environments, but we still find some common characteristics. It is shown that the background noise is not strictly stationary and has different stationary properties over different timescales. Most of the noise records appear to be a Gaussian process when examined over a period of about 20 s but are found to be non‐Gaussian when examined over shorter periods of about 1 s. The background noise is a kind of colored noise, and its energy mainly concentrates in the low‐frequency bands. We also find that the spatial correlation of the background noise is weak. The results of this paper provide a scientific understanding about the properties of seismic‐prospecting background noise.
Development of Snowfall Retrieval Algorithm by Combining Measurements from CloudSat, AQUA and NOAA Satellites for the Korean Peninsula

Cloudsat satellite data is sensitive to snowfall and collected during each month beginning with Dec 2007 and ending Feb 2008. In this study, we attempt to develop a snowfall retrieval algorithm using a combination of radiometer and cloud radar data. We trained data from the relation between brightness temperature measurements from NOAA`s Advanced Microwave Sounder Unit-B(AMSU-B) and the radar reflectivity of the 2B-GEOPROF product from W-band( 94 GHz) cloud radar onboard Cloudsat and applied it to the Korea peninsula. We use a principal components analysis to quantify the variations that are the result of the radiometric signatures of snowfall from those of the surface. Finally, we quantify the correlation between the higher principal component (orthogonal to surface variability) of the microwave radiances and the precipitation-sensitive CloudSat radar reflectivities. This work summarizes the results of applying this approach to observations over the East Sea during Feb. 2008. The retrieved data show reasonable estimation for snowfall rate compared with Cloudsat vertical image.
0.3 byr of drainage stability along the Palaeozoic palaeo-Pacific Gondwana margin; a detrital zircon study

The palaeo-Pacific margin of Gondwana in the present-day south–central Andes is marked by tectonic activity related to subduction and terrane accretion. We present detrital zircon U–Pb data encompassing the Palaeozoic era in northern Chile and northwestern Argentina. Cathodoluminescence images reveal dominantly magmatic zircon barely affected by abrasion and displaying only one growth phase. The main age clusters for these zircon grains are Ediacaran to Palaeozoic with an additional peak at 1.3–0.9 Ga and they can be correlated with ‘Grenvillian’ age, and the Brasiliano, Pampean, and Famatinian orogenies. The zircon data reveal main transport from the nearby Ordovician Famatinian arc and related rocks. The Silurian sandstone units are more comparable with Cambrian units, with Brasiliano and Transamazonian ages (2.2–1.9 Ga) being more common, because the Silurian deposits were situated within or east of the (extinct) Famatinian arc. Hence, the arc acted as a transport barrier throughout Palaeozoic time. The complete suite of zircon ages does not record the accretions of exotic terranes or the Palaeozoic glacial periods. We conclude that the transport system along the palaeo-Pacific margin of Gondwana remained stable for c. 0.3 byr and that provenance data do not necessarily reflect the interior of a continent. Hence, inherited geomorphological features must be taken into account when detrital mineral ages are interpreted. Supplementary material: U–Pb data, CL images, and detailed geological maps are available at www.geolsoc. org.uk/SUP18796.
Ecology

Abstract Ecology is a science that studies the mutual interactions between organisms and their environment. The fundamental subject of interest in ecology is the individual. Topics of interest to ecologists include the diversity, distribution and number of particular organisms, as well as cooperation and competition between organisms, both within and among ecosystems. Today, ecology is a multidisciplinary science. This is particularly true when the subject of interest is the ecosystem or biosphere, which requires the knowledge and input of biologists, chemists, physicists, geologists, geographists, climatologists, hydrologists and many other experts. Ecology is applied in a science of restoration, repairing disturbed sites through human intervention, in natural resource management, and in environmental impact assessments.
Calibration and Verification of SWMM for Low Impact Development

The Storm Water Management Model was used to simulate runoff and nutrient export from a low impact development (LID) watershed and a watershed using traditional runoff controls. Predictions were compared to observed values. Uncalibrated simulations underpredicted weekly runoff volume and average peak flow rates from the multiple subcatchment LID watershed by over 80%; the single subcatchment traditional watershed had better predictions. Saturated hydraulic conductivity, Manning's n for swales, and initial soil moisture deficit were sensitive parameters. After calibration, prediction of total weekly runoff volume for the LID and traditional watersheds improved to within 12 and 5% of observed values, respectively. For the validation period, predicted total weekly runoff volumes for the LID and traditional watersheds were within 6 and 2% of observed values, respectively. Water quality simulation was less successful, Nash–Sutcliffe coefficients >0.5 for both calibration and validation periods were only achieved for prediction of total nitrogen export from the LID watershed. Simulation of a 100‐year, 24‐h storm resulted in a runoff coefficient of 0.46 for the LID watershed and 0.59 for the traditional watershed. Results suggest either calibration is needed to improve predictions for LID watersheds or expanded look‐up tables for Green–Ampt infiltration parameter values that account for compaction of urban soil and antecedent conditions are needed.
Comparison of several kinetic approaches to evaluate the pyrolysis of three Mediterranean forest fuels

The thermal degradation of three Mediterranean forest fuels was studied by using thermogravimetric analysis. The different behaviours were compared and the degradation characteristics were determined for each fuel. Then a kinetic study was performed. Simple modelling of the thermal degradation was carried out with a global scheme. These results were compared with current kinetic models used in forest fire modelling. These methods predict the mass rate evolution globally. However, they do not describe the fluctuations well owing to the different pyrolysis steps. Next, the kinetic parameters were established in function of the degree of conversion with isoconversion methods for each fuel. The results calculated by the Friedman method were compared with the experimental results, showing good agreement. These data, which take into account the degree of conversion and the fuel, can be useful to model the burning rate of forest fuels.
Preservation of a Late Glacial terrestrial and Holocene estuarine record on the margins of Kaipara Harbour, Northland, New Zealand

Abstract Subtidal to intertidal deposits from the margins of Kaipara Harbour in Northland preserve a c. 23 000 year incomplete sedimentary record of the transition from terrestrial to estuarine conditions. Cores are used to reconstruct the depositional setting for this transition, interpreted as a succession from dune and freshwater wetland to shallow estuarine environments. The fossil pollen record provides a proxy of Last Glacial Maximum and Late Glacial vegetation for the area. Stability of the Pleistocene dune landscape during the postglacial marine transgression is interpreted on the basis of strong dominance of tall forest taxa (Dacrydium) in the pollen record and soil development in dune sands, with preservation aided by location along the estuary margin. During the Holocene, reworking of the buried dune and wetland sediments has only reached to a depth of 1.5 m below the modern tidal flat. As such, the site provides a rare example of good preservation of Pleistocene deposits at the coast, where extensive reworking and loss of record are more typical.
A spatial impact assessment of human-induced intervention on hydrological regimes: a case study in the upper Srepok River basin, Central Highlands of Vietnam

The objective of this study is to assess the impact of human activity on hydrological regimes in the upper Srepok River basin, Central Highlands of Vietnam. For this purpose, specific flow and water demand for each sub-basin were first estimated and then input into the calibrated river basin management model (MIKE Basin) to generate flow data. Future land use/cover was predicted using a geographic information system (GIS)-based logistic regression approach and the population projected from historical data. The hydrologic impact of human intervention was evaluated using the indicators of hydrologic alterations method and the range of variability approach under various developed scenarios. The results show that the overall hydrologic alteration (HA) values are classified as being moderate at all reaches; they generally increase from the upstream to the downstream reaches. Flow regimes have been altered along the river under the accumulated impacts of the operations of cascade dams. However, the impacts of land-use/cover change and population growth have been found to be greater at most of the reaches. The combined scenario shows that the HA of the Srepok 3 dam downstream reach is highest (75.7%), followed by the downstream reaches of Srepok 4 (65.8%) and Buon Koup dams (43.7%). Low flow, extreme flow, and frequency and rate of change are found to be the most alterative indicators. When environmental flow is considered, the HA of all reaches are reduced, and low and extreme flows are the most reductive indicators. It has been suggested that the trade-off between instream and offstream objectives should be considered in water allocation. The results of this study would be greatly important for future understanding of the human impact on hydrological regimes.
Spatial and temporal variability in aerosol properties over the Mediterranean basin based on 6-year (2000-2006) MODIS data

[1] The temporal variability of aerosol optical properties is investigated over the broader Mediterranean basin, with emphasis on aerosol optical depth (AOD) that is an effective measure of aerosol load. The study is performed using Collection 005 Level-3 mean daily spectral aerosol data from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument on board the Terra and Aqua satellites, which cover the 6-year period from 2000 to 2006. The results of our analysis reveal a significant interannual variability of AOD in the study region. Specifically, the regional mean visible AOD over land and ocean has decreased over the period 2000–2006 by 20% in relative percentage terms (or by 0.04 in absolute terms). This tendency is statistically significant according to the Man-Kendall test. However, the decreasing tendency of AOD is not uniform over the whole basin. It appears mainly in the western parts of Iberian, Italian, and Balkan peninsulas (and coastal areas), as well as in the southern Anatolian peninsula. The analysis for summer (June to September) and winter (November to March) seasons revealed different tendencies in both AOD and precipitation. The summer-period AOD has decreased by 0.04 (or by 14%) probably due to decreased emission rates of anthropogenic pollution. In contrast, the winter AOD has increased by 0.03 (or 19%) mainly related to decreased precipitation (associated with an increasing tendency in the NAO index). The decreasing tendency in MODIS AOD is in good agreement with corresponding AOD tendencies based on data from Aerobot Robotic Network (AERONET) stations in the study region and ground based PM10 measurements at selected stations.
The Heteroptera of the Netherlands Antilles – III Saldidae (Shore Bugs)

The material of Saldidae covered in this paper comprises: Pentacora signoreti, from St. Martin; Pentacora sphacelata, from Aruba, Curacao, Klein Curacao, Bonaire, and St. Martin; Saldula “palustris”, from St. Martin; Saldula dentulata, from Curacao, and Bonaire; Micracanthia humilis, from Curacao, St. Eustatius, and St. Martin; Micracanthia drakei, n. sp. , from Aruba, Curacao, and Bonaire; Micracanthia husseyi, from St. Martin.
Adverse Selection, Reputation and Sudden Collapses in Secondary Loan Markets

Banks and financial intermediaries that originate loans often sell some of these loans or securitize them in secondary loan markets and hold on to others. New issuances in such secondary markets collapse abruptly on occasion, typically when collateral values used to secure the underlying loans fall. These collapses are viewed by policymakers as signs that the market is not functioning efficiently. In this paper, we develop a dynamic adverse selection model in which small reductions in collateral values can generate abrupt inefficient collapses in new issuances in the secondary loan market. In our model, reductions in collateral values worsen the adverse selection problem and induce some potential sellers to hold on to their loans. Reputational incentives induce a large fraction of potential sellers to hold on to their loans rather than sell them in the secondary market. We find that a variety of policies that have been proposed during the recent crisis to remedy market inefficiencies do not help resolve the adverse selection problem.
Incorporating Spatial Dependence in Predictive Vegetation Models: Residual Interpolation Methods

Abstract Predictive vegetation modeling can be used statistically to relate the distribution of vegetation across a landscape as a function of important environmental variables. Often these models are developed without considering the spatial pattern that is inherent in biogeographical data, resulting from either biotic processes or missing or misspecified environmental variables. Including spatial dependence explicitly in a predictive model can be an efficient way to improve model accuracy with the available data. In this study, model residuals were interpolated and added to model predictions, and the resulting prediction accuracies were assessed. Adding kriged residuals improved model accuracy more often than adding simulated residuals, although some alliances showed no improvement or worse accuracy when residuals were added. In general, the prediction accuracies that were not increased by adding kriged residuals were either rare in the sample or had high nonspatial model accuracy. Regression interpolation methods can be an important addition to current tools used in predictive vegetation models as they allow observations that are predicted well by environmental variables to be left alone, while adjusting over- and underpredicted observations based on local factors. *The author would like to thank her advisor, Janet Franklin, and other committee members—Mike Goodchild, Joel Michaelsen, and Serge Rey—for their comments on an earlier version. The author gratefully acknowledges the Geography Department at San Diego State University for support during this research. Finally, the author thanks the editor and reviewers for helpful comments that improved this article.