Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Political Economy of the German Länder Deficits ∗ preliminary version

We analyse the deficits of the German Länder for the period of 1960 to 2000 and test a number of hypotheses derived from the literature on the political economy of public expenditures and public deficits. Estimating a dynamic panel data model we find evidence for one aspect of political opportunism. German voters seem to favour fiscal discipline as debt issue in preelection years is significantly lower. There is no evidence for partisan behaviour. Coalition governments issue more debt, although this effect is statistically insignificant. We also find no influence of government tenure on public debt. However, the reelection probability seems to have a negative influence on deficits.
Détecteur optique Cherenkov de photons 511 keV, rapide et efficace, pour l’imagerie TEP

La Tomographie par Emission de Positrons (TEP) est une technique d’imagerie medicale utilisee largement dans le traitement du cancer et dans la recherche neurobiologique, afin d’imager l’activite biologique des organes. Il s’agit de detecter deux photons de 511 keV produits par l’annihilation d’un positron dans les tissus, ce qui permet d’en reconstruire la carte 3D. En mesurant avec une tres bonne precision la difference de temps de detection des deux photons, il sera possible d’ameliorer la qualite d’image (technique du temps de vol). Dans ce manuscrit, nous presentons le developpement de deux detecteurs innovants, rapides et efficaces, pour la detection de la lumiere Cherenkov produite par la conversion des photons de 511 keV. Le premier, destine a un scanner clinique (cerveau) et pre-clinique a haute precision spatiale, utilise comme milieu de detection du TriMethylBismuth. Le second, pouvant etre utilise pour construire un scanner corps entier, met en œuvre un cristal de PbF₂ comme radiateur Cherenkov. Dans les deux configurations, un photomultiplicateur a micro-canaux (MCP-PMT) est utilise pour detecter les photons Cherenkov. Notre electronique de detection montre une resolution temporelle limitee a 5 ps (RMS). La chaine de detection est limitee par les performances du MCP-PMT. Apres etalonnage, nous avons mesure une efficacite de 25 % (grande pour un detecteur Cherenkov), et de resolution temporelle de 200 ps (FWHM). Nous exposons les facteurs limitant la resolution temporelle des detecteurs et proposons des developpements qui permettront d’en ameliorer les performances.
Plant Science Today

Hong Thien Van1 *, Dang Gia Man Nguyen1, Nguyen Tuong An Huynh2 & Van Son Le3 1Institute of Biotechnology and Food Technology, Industrial University of Ho Chi Minh City, No. 12 Nguyen Van Bao, Ward 4, Go Vap District, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam 2Office of Postgraduate Management, Industrial University of Ho Chi Minh City, 12 Nguyen Van Bao Street, Go Vap District, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam 3Binh Chau-Phuoc Buu Nature Reserve, Bung Rieng Ward, Xuyen Moc District, Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, Vietnam *Email: vanhongthien@iuh.edu. vn
Interband absorption of light in a semiconductor sphere

A very simple model is used to allow for the influence of size quantization on interband absorption in a semiconductor sphere. Expressions are obtained for the absorption coefficients of light in three limiting cases; when the radius of a semiconductor sphere a is less than the Bohr radii of electrons a, and holes a h ; when a h <a <a e ; finally, when a h <a and a e <a. It is shown that in the first two cases the short-wavelength shift of the maximum of the absorption coefficient is proportional to h 2 /m e a 2 , where m e is the electron mass. However, if the sphere radius obeys a<a e and e<a h , the shift is detemined by the total exciton mass M =m, + m, and it is proportional to h 2 /Ma 2 . The case of a mixture of spheres is considered and the distribution of the radii is described by the Lifshitz-Slezov formula.
Continuum Mechanics - Solids

HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access archive for the deposit and dissemination of scientific research documents, whether they are published or not. The documents may come from teaching and research institutions in France or abroad, or from public or private research centers. L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires publics ou privés.
Risk factors for pressure ulcer development in critically ill patients

Of the patient populations in acute care facilities, the critically ill are most vulnerable to the development of pressure ulcers. The most commonly used pressure ulcer risk assessment tool in the United States, the Braden Scale, demonstrates low levels of specificity when used to predict pressure ulcer incidence in the critically ill, suggesting that additional risk factors may help to focus prevention efforts. As the framework for the investigation of pressure ulcer risk factors in critically ill patients, additional risk factors identified in the literature that are specific to this patient population were evaluated simultaneously with the Braden Scale using a case-control study design. The Braden Scale scores and additional risk factors were compared in pressure ulcer positive and negative patients. Hierarchical logistic regression determined that the Braden Scale was statistically significantly associated with pressure ulcer development when used alone, and the addition of other variables at both 24 and 48 hours did contribute statistically significantly to the overall model. Male gender and low hematocrit values were statistically significantly associated with pressure ulcer development when analyzed at univariate and multivariate levels, and increased age demonstrated a statistically significant association with pressure ulcer incidence with multivariate analysis. Restraint use was identified as a statistically significant protective factor with multivariate analysis.
Effectiveness of a Toothpaste with Low Fluoride Content Combined with Trimetaphosphate on Dental Biofilm and Enamel Demineralization in situ

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate in situ whether a toothpaste with low fluoride associated with sodium trimetaphosphate (TMP) would provide similar effect to that of a 1,100 ppm F toothpaste. Design: This crossover double-blind study consisted of 4 phases (14 days each), during which 10 volunteers wore oral appliances containing 4 enamel bovine blocks. The cariogenic challenge was performed by the application of a 20% sucrose solution (6×/day). The toothpaste treatments (2×/day) were: placebo, 500 ppm F, 500 ppm F plus 1% TMP, and 1,100 ppm F. At the end, enamel mineral loss and biofilm composition were analyzed. Results: The toothpaste with 500 ppm F plus 1% TMP showed the lowest mineral loss (p < 0.05). Regarding the fluoride and calcium concentrations in the enamel and in the biofilm, there were no significant differences between 500 ppm F plus 1% TMP, and 1,100 ppm F toothpastes (p > 0.569), but they were significantly different when compared to toothpaste with 500 ppm F (p < 0.050). Conclusion: The addition of 1% TMP to a low-fluoride toothpaste reduces enamel demineralization in situ similar to a 1,100 ppm F toothpaste.
An evidence-based review of the potential role of icatibant in the treatment of acute attacks in hereditary angioedema type I and II

Conclusion: Subcutaneously administered 30 mg icatibant has been shown to be a safe and efficacious treatment in clinical trials. It is the only specific treatment authorized for self-administration by the subcutaneous route offering increased patient independence. Core Evidence is an international, peer-reviewed open-access journal evaluating the evidence underlying the potential place in therapy of drugs throughout their development lifecycle from preclinical to post- launch. The focus of each review is to evaluate the case for a new drug or class in outcome terms in specific indications and patient groups.
3D object hiding using three-dimensional ptychography

We present a novel technique for 3D object hiding by applying three-dimensional ptychography. Compared with 3D information hiding based on holography, the proposed ptychography-based hiding technique is easier to implement, because the reference beam and high-precision interferometric optical setup are not required. The acquisition of the 3D object and the ptychographic encoding process are performed optically. Owing to the introduction of probe keys, the security of the ptychography-based hiding system is significantly enhanced. A series of experiments and simulations demonstrate the feasibility and imperceptibility of the proposed method.
Analysis of electromagnetic scattering from anisotropic impedance boundaries

OF DOCTORAL DISSERTATION HELSINKI UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY P.O. BOX 1000, FI-02015 TKK http://www.tkk. fi Author Ilari Hänninen Name of the dissertation Analysis of electromagnetic scattering from anisotropic impedance boundaries Manuscript submitted 3.3. 2008 Manuscript revised 28.4. 2008 Date of the defence 6.6. 2008 Monograph Article dissertation (summary + original articles) Faculty Faculty of Electronics, Communications and Automation Department Department of Radio Science and Engineering Field of research Electromagnetics Opponent(s) Professor Tapan Sarkar, Syracuse University, U.S.A. Supervisor Professor Keijo Nikoskinen, Professor Jukka Sarvas Instructor Professor Keijo Nikoskinen, Professor Jukka Sarvas Abstract Analysis of electromagnetic scattering from complex surfaces is an often encountered problem in electrical engineering. Solving such problems is usually difficult, and generally numerical solution methods are needed. Impedance boundary condition (IBC) can often be used to simplify the original scattering problem, if only the fields outside the scatterers are of interest. In this thesis the focus of the research has been on the analysis of scattering from anisotropic impedance surfaces. The research was divided into two parts. The first part concentrates on the theoretical analysis of scattering using complex boundary conditions. The Perfectly Anisotropic Boundary (PAB) is defined and a possible realization for it is introduced. Similarly, a realization for the the previously introduced Generalized Soft-and-Hard Surface (GSHS) is introduced. The scattering properties of these boundaries are studied, especially regarding the polarization transforming properties. The second part of the research concentrates on the numerical analysis of scattering from anisotropic impedance boundaries. Surface integral equation formulations for the Soft-and-Hard Surface and a specific IBC surface are presented and the scattering properties of these surfaces are studied. The second part of the research also necessitated the study of the accurate numerical integration techniques, and new results regarding these are given. In scattering computations the number of unknowns often grows beyond practical limits due to the electrically large size and the complex nature of the studied objects. Thus, more efficient computational methods are needed. The Multilevel Fast Multipole Algorithm (MLFMA) is a very popular such method. In latter part of the thesis a novel and efficient way to compute the translator operator in MLFMA is introduced.
Mathematics: "In Context,""Pure," or "with Applications"?.

Education is nothing more than polishing of each single link in the great chain that binds humanity together and gives it unity The f;:lilings of education and human conduct spring as a rule from our disengaging a single link and giving it special treatment as though it were a unit in itself rather than a part of the chain It is as though we thought the strength and utility of the link came from its being silver-plated, gilded, or even jeweled, rather than from its being joined unraveled to the links close to it, strong and supple enough to share with them the daily stresses and strains of the chain (Johann Heimich Pestalozzi, 1he education of man)
Human Capital, Unemployment, and Relative Wages in a Global Economy

This paper develops a simple framework for examining human capital accumulation, unemployment, and relative wages in a global economy. It builds on the models of Davis (1997a,b) of trade between a flexible wage America and a rigid wage Europe. To this it adds a model of human capital accumulation based on Findlay and Kierzkowski (1983). A variety of comparative statics are examined, including changes in educational capital and population, entry of new countries to the trading world, techniucal change, and a productivity slowdown. We derive the consequences for the skillled-to-unskilled wage gap, unemployment, and skill composition.
Evaluating the Causal Effects of Foreign Acquisition on Domestic Skilled and Unskilled Wages

This paper investigates the effects of the takeover of a domestic establishment by foreign owners on the domestic target’s development of wages for skilled and unskilled workers. We pay particular attention to identifying the causal effect, using a propensity score matching approach combined with a difference-in-differences estimator, and differences in post acquisition effects depending on the nationality of the acquirer. Our results suggest that there is substantial heterogeneity in the post-acquisition wage effect depending on the nationality of the foreign acquirer, the industry in which the firms operate and the skill group of workers. In particular, we find that skilled workers, on average, experience a post acquisition increase in the wage rate following an acquisition by a US firm, while no such effect is discernible following acquisitions by EU or firms of other nationalities. For unskilled workers, there are positive post acquisition wage effects from take-overs by EU firms in the electronics industry and US firms in the food industry.
Democracy and Autocracy

a thoughtful and creative application of V-Dem measures to the role of social mobilization in democratic processes, with findings that are both reassuring and troubling. As a political sociologist working on similar issues, I would like to consider how to expand the conversation by complementing V-Dem measures with more contextual, dynamic, and episodic approaches. The Bernhard and Edgell chapter provides a cogent overview and empirical test of three meta-approaches to the role of “social forces” in democratic origins and maintenance. This includes theories on incorporation of marginalized groups into electoral systems, on contentious movements as potential catalysts for democracy
Efficient parallel approximation algorithms

Over the past few decades, advances in approximation algorithms have enabled near-optimal solutions to many important, but computationally hard, problems to be found efficiently. But despite the resurgence of parallel computing in recent years, only a small number of these algorithms have been considered from the standpoint of parallel computation. Furthermore, among those for which parallel algorithms do exist, the algorithms—mostly developed in the late 80s and early 90s—follow a design principle that puts heavy emphasis on achieving poly-logarithmic depth, with little regard to work, generally resulting in algorithms that perform substantially more work than their sequential counterparts. As a result, on a modest number of processors, these highly parallel—but "heavy"—algorithms are unlikely to perform competitively with the state-of-the-art sequential algorithms. This motivates the question: How can one design a parallel approximation algorithm that obtains non-trivial speedups over its sequential counterpart, even on a modest number of processors? In this thesis, we explore a set of key algorithmic techniques that facilitate the design, analysis, and implementation of a wide variety of efficient parallel approximation algorithms. This includes: (1) Maximal nearly independent set. A natural generalization of maximal independent set (MIS) solvable in linear work, which leads to linear-work RNC ((1+e) ln n)-approximation set cover, (1– 1e – e)-approximation (prefix optimal) max cover, and (4+e)-approximation min-sum set cover—and a work-efficient RNC (1.861 + e)-approximation for facility location. (2) Low-diameter decomposition, low-stretch spanning trees, and subgraphs. This allows us to develop a near-linear work, O(m1/3)-depth algorithm for solving a symmetric diagonally dominant (SDD) linear system Ax = b, with m nonzeros. The solver leads fast parallel algorithms for max flow, min-cost flow, (spectral) sparsifier, etc. (3) Probabilistic tree embeddings. An RNC O (n2 log n)-work algorithm for probabilistic tree embeddings with expected stretch O(log n), independent of the aspect ratio of the input metric. This is a parallel version of Fakcharoenphol et al.'s algorithm, providing a building block for algorithms for k-median and buy-at-bulk network. (4) Hierarchical diagonal blocking. A sparse matrix representation that exploits the small separators property found in many real-world matrices. We also develop a low-depth parallel algorithm for the representation, which achieves substantial speedups over existing SpMV code.
IGV position optimization for centrifugal blower

There is a need for centrifugal blowers to adapt to different operating conditions in order to meet the user requirements, in a high efficiency manner. Variable Inlet Guided Vanes (known as IGVs) are a simple solution which can lead to important energy savings. The IGV consists of wedge-shaped steel blades mounted around the inside circumference of a short length inlet pipe, with the purpose to restrict, or increase the inlet flow area, thus controlling the mass flow. The aim of this research is to determine the optimal distance between the IGV and the rotor in order to achieve maximum efficiency. The study will focus on the pressure losses and the separation of the boundary layer at the different lengths, for a fixed angle of the IGV of 45 degrees. For this study, the commercial CFD software Ansys CFX will be used to estimate the efficiency of the rotor for different set-ups, via a 3D steady-state numerical flow analysis. The end results of this study will help correlate the position of the IGV to the efficiency of the blower and to determine the optimal distance between the rotor and the IGV for an increased performance.
Incompleteness of the Inference System BNeg

Any propositional discourse can be represented as a propositional theory in a specific form in such a way that the theory is inconsistent if and only if the discourse is paradoxical. Propositional theories in this form can be represented as directed graphs such that the models of the theory correspond to the kernels of the digraph. This thesis looks at Neg; a sound, refutationally complete, non-explosive resolution system over such propositional theories. We investigate the relation between various graph structures and clauses provable by the resolution system from the corresponding theory. The main results is a counter-example to a conjecture that a restricted version BNeg of the system is refutationally complete.
Understanding Knowledge Sharing in Virtual Communities: An Integration of Expectancy Disconfirmation and Justice Theories

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the motivations behind people's intentions to continue knowledge sharing (continuance intention) in open professional virtual communities.Design/methodology/approach – Data collected from 270 members of a professional virtual community provides partial support for the proposed model. LISREL 8.5 was used to analyse the measurement and structural models.Findings – The results show that playfulness is critical for the community members' satisfaction and continuance intention. However, only positive self‐worth disconfirmation, distributive justice, and interactional justice can influence the satisfaction of the community members.Research limitations/implications – The data were collected from a single open professional community; the generalisation of the model and findings to other virtual communities requires additional research. The findings imply that justice factors appear to be important in leading to higher satisfaction levels.Practical implications.
A series solution of Black-Scholes equation under jump diffusion model

We introduce a series solution for a partial integro-differential equation which arises in option pricing when the Black-Scholes partial differential equations are considered under jump diffusion models. We construct a polynomial chaos solution using the Taylor expansion with respect to Hermite polynomials, which simplifies the integral term and derives a system of deterministic ordinary differential equations. Numerical examples show that the proposed method efficiently gives the desired accuracy for pricing options.
Complexities and Lessons in Researching Culture-Specific Experiences

The challenges of researching culture-specific experiences can be illustrated by a phenomenon known as gheirat, which Razavi et al. described as a complex moral-emotional reaction to boundary violations such as perceived threat and harm, romantic betrayal, and intrusions against culturally agreed-upon romantic and family relationship norms. Image: Iranian family in the 1970s by Farzad Khorasani, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Non-Fermi liquid behavior in the quasi-one-dimensional Kondo lattice CeCo2Ga8

We report synthesis and systematic investigations of the single crystal CeCo2Ga8. Resistivity measurements reveal the onset of coherence at T*~20K and non-Fermi liquid behavior with linear temperature dependence over a decade in temperature from 2 K and 0.1 K. The specific heat increases logarithmically with lowering temperature below about 10 K and reaches 800 mJ/mol K^2 at 1 K, suggesting that CeCo2Ga8 is a heavy fermion compound in the close vicinity of a quantum critical point. The magnetic susceptibility is found to follow the typical behavior for a one-dimensional (1D) spin chain from 300 K down to T*, while first-principles calculations predict flat Fermi surfaces for the itinerant f-electron bands. These suggest that CeCo2Ga8 is a rare example of the quasi-1D Kondo lattice and its study may help us to understand the role of dimensionality on heavy fermion physics and quantum criticality.
Some Unpleasant Properties of Loglinearized Solutions When the Nominal Rate is Zero

Does fiscal policy have large and qualitatively different effects on the economy when the nominal interest rate is zero? An emerging consensus in the New Keynesian (NK) literature is that the answer to this question is yes. Evidence presented here suggests that the NK model׳s implications for fiscal policy at the zero bound may not be all that different from its implications for policy away from it. For a range of empirically relevant parameterizations, employment increases when the labor tax rate is cut and the government purchase multiplier is less than 1.05.
Symmetries and search in trick-taking card games

In this dissertation we consider the problem of cardplay move evaluation in the context of trick-taking card games, specifically the German card game Skat, and to a lesser extent Contract Bridge. To this end we construct symmetry-based search extensions for efficiently solving perfect information game states, for use in a Monte Carlo-based high-performance computer Skat player. We extend these symmetries to construct precomputed endgame lookup tables, reducing search time substantially. Finally, we show that recursive rollout-based move selection techniques can achieve superior performance in Skat and a broad class of parameterized games, with respect to both tournament performance and game-theoretic exploitability.