Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Capturing Heterogeneity Among Consumers with Multitaste Preferences

In diverse product categories, a consumer's preferences may include several tastes. For example, someone may enjoy cooking both American and Chinese recipes, and have different specific criteria for each. Capturing such multi-taste consumers' choice behavior is particularly challenging because we do not observe which taste was used to evaluate which products. In this paper, we propose a model that allows for multiple tastes and an efficient estimation algorithm. The algorithm initializes individual taste parameters with a clustering algorithm combined with regularized logistic regression; it then follows an iterative optimization procedure similar to the Concave-Convex procedure (CCCP), iteratively updating parameters corresponding to each taste, and shuffling products between tastes. In a numerical study, we simulate multi-taste consumers and demonstrate the proposed algorithm accurately recovers parameters, whereas benchmark models underfit. We test the algorithm empirically on unstructured recipe text data. Using text mining, we extract attributes from the recipe text. We show the algorithm scales to a large parameter space, and the model fits the data well. We achieve significant improvements in prediction over single-taste benchmarks.
The Canadian Income Taxation: Statistical Analysis and Parametric Estimates

Using the administrative tax return database from Canada, we report facts on the distribution of tax liabilities and the variation of average tax rates by family size and marital status and compare them with those of the US. We estimate parametric tax functions used in applied macroeconomic and public finance studies. Although these functions are good fits to the data, their residuals are significantly high at top income levels. We introduce a new parametric tax function which captures the top rates better compared to existing tax functions. The new specification can provide better quantitative analysis for studies on heterogeneous households.
The origins and diversification of C4 grasses and savanna‐adapted ungulates

C4 grasses constitute the main component of savannas and are pervasive in other dry tropical ecosystems where they serve as the main diet for grazing animals. Among potential factors driving C4 evolution of grasses, the interaction between grasses and grazers has not been investigated. To evaluate if increased grazing pressure may have selected for higher leaf silica production as the grasses diverged, we reconstructed the phylogeny of all 800 genera of the grass family with both molecular (combined multiplastid DNA regions) and morphological characters. Using molecular clocks, we also calculated the age and number of origins of C4 clades and found that shifts from C3 to C4 photosynthesis occurred at least 12 times starting 30.9 million years ago and found evidence that the most severe drop in atmospheric carbon dioxide in the late Oligocene (between 33 and 30 million years ago) matches the first origin of C4 photosynthesis in Chloridoideae. By combining fossil and phylogenetic data for ungulates and implementing a randomization procedure, our results showed that the appearance of C4 grass clades and ungulate adaptations to C4‐dominated habitats match significantly in time. An increase of leaf epidermal density of silica bodies was found to correspond to postulated shifts in diversification rates in the late Miocene [24 significant shifts in diversification (P<0.05) were detected between 23 and 3.7 million years ago]. For aristidoid and chloridoid grasses, increased grazing pressure may have selected for a higher leaf epidermal silica production in the late Miocene.
Comportamiento De La Tasa De Rotación Laboral En La Industria Maquiladora En Mexicali, Baja California, 2009-2013 (Behavior of Labor Turnover Rate at the Maquila Industry in Mexicali, Baja California, 2009-2013)

Spanish Abstract: En el presente trabajo, se realiza un análisis de los procesos de rotación laboral en un grupo de empresas maquiladoras asentadas en el municipio de Mexicali, industria de gran relevancia por el número de plazas laborales que genera; específicamente el análisis se hace en la denominada industria maquiladora de exportación (IME). El estudio es de corte longitudinal y cubre el periodo 2009-2013. Se aplica un instrumento tipo encuesta para obtener información que permita caracterizar los índices de rotación laboral. Los resultados muestran que la rotación laboral está vinculada con el dinamismo de la economía, cuya tendencia se correlaciona directamente con la del Producto Interno Bruto (PIB) e inversamente con el desempleo. Los sectores con mayores tasas de rotación están representados por el de electrónica, vidrio y médico, mientras que los menores valores de rotación se observan en el de mecánica. English Abstract: In this paper, an analysis of the employee turnover process is performed in a group of maquiladora companies that operate in the city of Mexicali. This industry is of great importance because of the number of work places it generates. Specifically the analysis is made with reference to maquiladora's whose production is for exportation (IME). The study is longitudinal and covers the period 2009-2013. We utilize data from a survey with the objective to characterize the rates of labor turnover. The results show that job turnover is linked to the dynamism of the economy, whose tendency is directly correlated with the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and inversely with unemployment. Sectors with higher turnover rates are represented by the electronics, medical and glass, while the lowest values are observed in mechanics.
Toward a Radically Embodied Neuroscience of Attachment and Relationships?

Attachment theory (Bowlby, 1969/1982) posits the existence of internal working models as a foundational feature of human bonds. Radical embodied approaches instead suggest that cognition requires no computation or representation, favoring a cognition situated in a body in an environmental context with affordances for action (Barrett, 2011; Chemero, 2009; Wilson & Golonka, 2013). We explore whether embodied approaches to social soothing, interpersonal warmth, separation distress, and support seeking could replace representational constructs such as internal working models with a view of relationship cognition anchored in the resources afforded to the individual by their brain, body, and environment in interaction. We review the neurobiological bases for social attachments and relationships and attempt to delineate how these systems overlap or don’t with more basic physiological systems in ways that support or contradict a radical embodied explanation. We suggest that many effects might be the result of the fact that relationship cognition depends on and emerges out of the action of neural systems that regulate several clearly physically grounded systems. For example, the neuropeptide oxytocin appears to be central to attachment and pair-bond behavior (Carter & Keverne, 2002) and is implicated in social thermoregulation more broadly, being necessary for maintaining a warm body temperature as has been discovered in rats (Kasahara et al., 2007) and humans (Beck et al., 1979). Finally, we discuss the most challenging issues around taking a radically embodied perspective on social relationships. We find the most crucial challenge in individual differences in support seeking and responses to social contact, which have long been thought to be a function of representational structures in the mind (e.g., Baldwin, 1995). Together we entertain the thought to explain such individual differences without mediating representations or computations ending with a discussion of how representational approaches might be integrated with embodied approaches.
Causes of death in different areas for Bonelli's Eagle Hieraaetus fasciatus in Spain

The Spanish Bonelli's Eagle populations have decreased markedly because of high mortality. We recorded 424 cases of dead eagles between 1990 and 1998 in Spain which after cross-comparison corresponded to 377 individuals. Electrocution (55% of deaths), followed by direct persecution (26%) were the main causes of death. No differences in the cause of death were found between sexes. Non-adult eagles mostly died of electrocution whereas adults were mainly the victims of persecution. A log-linear model showed that these differences were associated with a difference in the spatial distribution of age classes, rather than to age or experience per se. Persecution was the main cause of death in breeding areas and electrocution in non-breeding areas. There were differences between regions: electrocution was the main cause in Catalonia and Central Spain (50% and 86% respectively) whereas direct persecution was the main cause in Levant and Northern Spain (52% and 43% respectively). We recommend that steps are taken in order to reduce eagle mortality, taking into account the differences between regions and areas.
Risk-Adjusted Performance Attribution and Portfolio Optimizations Under Tracking-Error Constraints

This paper examines whether the risk-adjusted performance attribution process is consistent with portfolio optimization under tracking-error constraints. Since Mina (2003), Bertrand (2005) and Menchero and Hu (2006), risk attribution has been widely used in the performance attribution process. This article analyzes and discusses the information ratio decomposition proposed by Menchero (2007) in the light of the analysis of risk-adjusted performance attribution developed in Bertrand (2005). It is also shown that only optimization under the tracking-error constraint alone is consistent with the risk-adjusted performance attribution process. Indeed, as soon as additional constraints (e.g. on total risk) are introduced, the component information ratios of the decisions are no longer uniform nor equal to the information ratio of the whole portfolio. This means that no equilibrium between expected return and relative risk has been reached.
AI Agents for Sequential Promotions: Combining Deep Reinforcement Learning and Dynamic Field Experimentation

As the most cutting-edge frontiers, AI agents bring many exciting opportunities for personalized promotions. In the face of continuous, high-dimensional consumer behavior and marketing action space, AI agents can scale up the design of personalization and provide non-linear targeting policies. AI agents can also provide a sequential, instead of one-shot, marketing action recommendations to maximize a company’s long-term revenue and account for managerial risk preferences and decision horizons (e.g., the forward-looking strategy) at the same time. In this study, we illustrate the design and implementation of a deep reinforcement learning (DRL)-based AI agent for sequential, personalized promotions based on a large field experiment on randomized promotions in a major mobile app platform. The results suggest that AI agents with “risk-seeking�? exploration can identify the optimal personalized promotion strategy faster and reach higher long-term revenue for the platform in comparison with a more conservative exploration. In addition, a forward-looking AI agent accounting for 90% of the future delayed reward works best among the different decision horizons including the myopic and fully forward-looking agent. We further demonstrate that our DRL-based AI agent generates 27.8% more long-term revenue compared with non-personalized mass promotions, and 24.3% more revenue compared with various one-shot personalized strategies.
El Niño, Interannual Variability and Fisheries in the Northeast Pacific Ocean

In this review I describe the oceanic and atmospheric observations, physical mechanisms, and theories associated with El Nino – Southern Oscillation (ENSO) warming episodes in the tropical Pacific, and critically examine the means by which these anomalous events are believed to produce unusual conditions in the northeast Pacific. However, not all tropical ENSO episodes have a noticeable effect at higher latitudes. Also, because of anomalous local atmospheric forcing, significant warmings, strong coastal currents, and high sea levels along the west coast of North America can occur in years during which there are no tropical ENSO episodes. The possible impacts of ENSO-induced changes and of other interannual fluctuations in the northeast Pacific on various fisheries are described. Such impacts include changes in the migration routes of the bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynuus) and Fraser River sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka), increases in the Pacific herring (Clupea pallasi) recruitment, earlier return times f.
Effect of growth regulators and nitrogen on the growth, number and size of seed tubers and yield of potatoes

Summary Field investigations conducted at Ludhiana (India) showed that the foliar application of 2-chloroethyltrimethyl-ammonium chloride (CCC) (50% a.i.) at 300,600 and 900 ml/ha about 5 weeks after planting did not depress plant height. The dose of 600 ml CCC/ha was most effective and increased seed yield by 1·31 and 0·74 t/ha over the control (water spray) in 1978–9 and 1979–80, respectively. The corresponding increases in total yield were 1·37 and 0·86 t/ha. However, in 1980–1 when CCC was applied 3 weeks after planting even the lower dose of 300 ml/ha depressed the plant height. Then the treatment of CCC increased significantly the number of tubers of seed size and seed yield by decreasing the ‘ware’ yield but did not influence the total yield. The yields of potatoes were not affected signifioantly by the application of N-dimethyl amino succinamic acid (B 9) and succinic acid (SA). In an experiment where the interaction of nitrogen and CCC was studied both factors not only increased the seed yield but also increased the total yield. However, there was no interaction between nitrogen and CCC.
Performance of Franchising Networks: Conceptual Framework

This paper works out a conceptual framework for studying the performance of franchising networks. Franchising networks, which originally developed in the context of Western economies, are currently operating in transition economies as well. Some franchising networks fail and some succeed. The paper views performance of networks as a complex process of adaptation to the environment. Characteristics of networks, which appear due to the environment, influence the drivers of performance, i.e. the factors that are responsible for the networks’ success or failure. The paper is theoretical and makes use of different sources of evidence: empirical and theoretical studies on franchising and inter-organisational networks. The conceptual framework is finally tested on a small case study of two franchising networks operating in Russia.
Deficit in cytochrome c oxidase activity induced in rat sperm mitochondria by in vivo exposure to zidovudine

A decreased sperm motility has been reported in men treated with nucleoside analog reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTI). Sperm motility is correlated with enzymatic activities of the sperm mitochondrial respiratory chain (MRC), which may be impaired by NRTI. We compared sperm and skeletal muscle MRC and citrate synthase (CS) activities, sperm adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content and sperm motility between rats exposed to zidovudine (AZT) for 10 weeks and controls. Decreased levels of CS-normalized cytochrome c oxidase (COX, the MRC complex IV) activity were observed in the spermatozoa from AZT-treated rats, with no significant decrease in ATP content or motility. In muscle absolute COX activity increased after exposure to AZT but CS-normalized COX activity remained unchanged. These results suggest that exposure to NRTI can induce MRC dysfunction earlier in spermatozoa than in skeletal muscle.
Prevention and Alleviation of Terrorism Through Socioeconomic Nudges

The objective of this paper is to explain how ‘nudge theory’, as formulated by Thaler and Sunstein, can be successfully applied to alleviate the incidence of terrorism. It briefly explains ‘nudge theory’ and associated concepts, provides evidence of its successful application in recent times as well as in the more distant past, and then on the basis of the proven effectiveness of ‘nudges’ in influencing human behaviour, makes certain recommendations for preventing and alleviating terrorism through socio-economic nudges. The recommended nudges, born out of an axiomatic structure and implied dynamics that explain terrorism, include those that promote formation of mixed neighbourhoods by inducing more frequent interactions between members of hitherto hostile socio-economic groups; cultural exchange; and corporate social responsibility fostering the wellbeing of poor communities.
Alteration in Small Intestinal Structure Induced by Experimental Subclinical Coccidiosis in Chicken

Abstract Teshfam, M. and Rahbari, S. 2003. Alteration in small intestinal structure induced by experimental subclinical coccidiosis in chicken. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 24: 33–39. The aim of this study was to show the changes in the morphology and the absorptive area of the mucosa of the small intestine. The small intestine mucosa of 10 cockerels experimentally infected with the oocyst of Eimeria was examined and compared with 10 healthy broiler chicks. In most samples from infected group a significant reduction in the number of tongue like villi was noticed and more complex villus forms (ridged villi) had appeared at all intestinal sites, compared with control group. Villus width and crypt depth also increased in infected animals compared with control group.
PESTonFARM – stochastic model of on‐farm insect behaviour and their response to IPM interventions

PESTonFARM is an agent‐based pattern‐oriented model with elements of cellular automata, developed to simulate insect behaviour within seasonally changing mosaic of farming landscapes, under the challenge of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) actions. The model is based on a software construct (‘virtual insect’), acting according to a pre‐defined set of behavioural rules. Each ‘virtual insect’ acts independently, developing its individually unique behavioural sequence and life history. The local on‐farm conditions and the planned IPM interventions can be represented through user‐defined spatial and temporal parameters. Incompatibility among IPM treatments, for example, pesticide vs. biological control, also could be taken into account. Unit costs of IPM interventions and crop values can be specified to obtain cost/benefit assessments for each IPM scenario. The model emulates the behaviour of a pest population during a virtual IPM experiment, and each run generates stochastically equivalent but unique sets of results, which functionally correspond to a replication of an on‐farm experiment. By taking into account the local farm structures and their spatiotemporal variations the model alludes to the concept of ‘precision agriculture’. Once customized to the local conditions and validated, the model can support site‐specific forecasting, decision‐making and training, serving as a component of the ‘precision IPM’ toolbox. To demonstrate the concept, an example of the model application in management of the cherry fruit fly, Rhagoletis cherasi, is briefly presented and discussed.
MicroRNA identification in plasma and serum: a new tool to diagnose and monitor diseases

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small noncoding RNAs that regulate gene expression at the posttranscriptional level by degrading or blocking translation of messenger RNA (mRNA) targets. MiRNAs play important regulatory roles in a variety of cellular functions as well as in several diseases, including cancer. MiRNA-specific expression profiles have been reported for several pathological conditions. Recently, the discovery of miRNAs in serum opens up the possibility of using miRNAs as biomarkers of disease. In this review, we discuss the potential use of miRNAs as clinically diagnostic biomarkers of various cancers and other diseases as well as the approaches used to detect these molecules in serum and plasma.
Characterization of the soybean gene GmENOD40-2

The GmENOD40-2 gene was isolated from a soybean genomic library and the nucleotide sequence of a 3 kb EcoRI/HindIII fragment was determined. A 1.7 kb fragment of the GmENOD40-2 promoter region was used in a transcriptional fusion construct with GUS. In transgenic Vicia nodules containing this construct, β-glucuronidase activity was detected in the pericycle of the nodule vascular bundles as well as in the root pericycle at the attachment point of the nodule
INFLUENCE OF AGE AND PRESENCE OF THE OVARIES ON REPRODUCTIVE FUNCTION IN RATS INJECTED WITH ANDROGENS1

THE DEVELOPMENT OF REPRODUCTIVE FUNCTION in female rats is materially altered by the injection of testosterone compounds during the first weeks of postnatal life (1–4). When these animals reach adulthood they show abnormalities in several features of reproductive structure and function. They do not display cyclic mating behavior; ovulation and corpus luteum formation do not occur; the uterus differentiates atypically and is not normally responsive to estrogen. When such animals are spayed and injected with estrogen and progesterone estrous behavior is not induced even with 10 times the quantity of hormone (3) which causes heat in control animals. It was concluded from these studies that testosterone propionate in doses from 3 to 36 mg. is effective in suppressing reproductive function when the injections are begun soon after birthOn the other hand, these androgens when given to sexually mature.
Análisis Del Capital Social En Una Pyme De La Industria Metalmecánica De La Región Centro De Coahuila (Analysis of Social Capital at a SME from the Metalworking Industry in the Central Region of Coahuila State, Mexico)

Este artículo muestra el nivel de desarrollo alcanzado en el capital social en una empresa de la industria metalmecánica de la región centro del Estado de Coahuila; el capital social, es considerado como la capacidad de un colectivo humano para generar procesos de interacción social que faciliten la coordinación y la cooperación para obtener beneficios mutuos que contribuyan al desarrollo económicosocial. El análisis del estudio, permitió identificar los elementos más fuertes y débiles de la organización relacionados con su capital social, basándose en 8 indicadores: Nivel de información y comunicación, Nivel de confianza, Cooperación, Participación, Cantidad de relaciones, Calidad de relaciones, Frecuencia de relaciones personales y Frecuencia de relaciones no personales. La metodología empleada fue de enfoque cuantitativo, aplicándose un cuestionario estructurado basado en escala múltiple o medición por índices, encuestándose a 32 sujetos que representan al total de los trabajadores de la empresa en estudio. Entre los resultados se encontró que el capital social es limitado en cuanto a las relaciones externas de la empresa, sin embargo hacia el interior se encontró que su desarrollo es bastante fuerte. This paper shows the level of development achieved by social capital at a firm from the metalworking Industry in the Central Region of Coahuila State, Mexico. Social capital is deemed as the ability of a human group to generate processes of social interaction that facilitate coordination and cooperation in order to obtain mutual benefit and contribute to socio-economic development. This analysis used 8 indicators to identify the strongest and the weakest elements of the social capital related to the firm: Information and communication level, trust level, cooperation, participation, level of relationships, quality of relationships, frequency of interpersonal relationships and frequency of non-interpersonal relationships. A quantitative analysis of the data from a survey of all the 32 workers of the firm shows that external social capital is limited, but internal development of social capital is strong.