Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Labor Earnings Respond Differently to Income-Tax and to Payroll-Tax Reforms

We estimate the responses of gross labor earnings with respect to marginal and average net-of-tax rates in France over the period 2003-2006. We exploit a series of reforms to the income-tax and the payroll-tax schedules that affect individuals who earn less than twice the minimum wage. Our estimate for the elasticity of gross labor earnings with respect to the marginal net-of-income-tax rate is around 0.2, while we find no response to the marginal net-of-payroll-tax rate. The elasticity with respect to the average net-of-tax rates is not significant for the income-tax schedule, while it is close to -1 for the payroll-tax schedule. A plausible explanation is the existence of significant labor supply responses to the income-tax schedule, combined with a short-term rigidity of the hourly taxable wage (i.e. the gross wage minus payroll taxes), casting doubts about public finance analysis that assumes perfect competition on the labor market. Finally, the effect of the net-of-income-tax rate seems to be driven by labor supply participation decisions, in particular those of females.
On the Very-Long-Term Effect of Managing One’s Own Memory: The Intention to Forget Improves Recognition After a Year’s Delay

While such factors as demand characteristics, encoding, and retrieval inhibition were shown to be significant in producing the directed forgetting effect, no attention was paid to whether the intention to manage one’s own memory, per se, matters. In the present article, we addressed this important gap in the literature. To control the quality of encoding we ensured that both the to-be-remembered (TBR) and to-be-forgotten (TBF) items were genuinely learned before the manipulation. We used extremely long delays between the memory instructions and testing to release inhibition associated with the content of instructions. 98 participants demonstrated flawless recall of 12 Russian - made up language word pairs. They then viewed each Russian word from a pair once, with randomized instructions “Forget”, “Remember”, “Repeat”, or a short cognitive task. Self-reports on the mnemonic strategies were collected. Free recall and recognition tests were administered three times - 45 minutes, a month and a year (N = 58) later. Despite a strong incentive to recall all word pairs, fewer TBF pairs were recalled in comparison with TBR pairs, both after 45 minutes and after one month’s delay. Recognition among all conditions was equally high. A year later free recall was close to zero. In contrast, the TBR and TBF pairs were recognized equally better than pairs presented in “Repeat” and “Task” conditions. Thus, our results show that the intention to manage one’s own memory enhances the accessibility of memories at a very long time delay, no matter what type of instruction is issued.
Management of supply networks using PDES

The paper presents some numerical results for supply networks modeled by a fluid dynamic approach. A mixed continuum-discrete model is examined: the dynamics on each arch is described by a conservation law for the goods density, and an evolution equation for the processing rate. For solving dynamics at nodes, two routing algorithms are considered, maximizing the flux with possible adjustments of the processing rate. Simulations of a supply network have been made assigning a constant input profile with one discontinuity. A functional is defined to locate the discontinuity point in order to maximize the overall production. Parameters dependence is shown solving Riemann Problems with different rules.
Economics of Sorghum Production under Traditional Farming System in Nyala Governate of South Darfur State, Sudan

This study on the economics of sorghum production under traditional farming system was conducted in Nyala Governate of South Darfur State, Sudan. It was focused on socio-economic characteristics of the farmers that affect sorghum production. Descriptive statistics analysis was applied to primary data collected from two stages stratified random sample of 192 sorghum producers using structural questionnaire. The results shows 47.54% of farm household members are illiterate,43.75 percent of the respondents have more than one wife, average household size is of 7 members and the range is about one to more than ten members. The results of regression coefficient of own plow (D2) and operational area (OP) were significant at 1% level, while total labour (family and hired) and farm household age insignificants. To give attention to adult education and training more priority especially females who mostly shoulder the wide responsibilities of field activities. To develop the traditional rainfed production with especial attention given on the valley’s deposits and clay soils for agricultural production.
On the long-term correlation between the flux in the Ca ii H & K and Hα lines for FGK stars

The re-emission in the cores of the Ca II H & K and H$\alpha$ lines, are well known proxies of stellar activity. However, these activity indices probe different activity phenomena, the first being more sensitive to plage variation, while the other one being more sensitive to filaments. In this paper we study the long-term correlation between $\log R'_{HK}$ and $\log I_{H\alpha}$, two indices based on the Ca II H & K and H$\alpha$ lines respectively, for a sample of 271 FGK stars using measurements obtained over a $\sim$9 year time span. Because stellar activity is one of the main obstacles to the detection of low-mass and long-period planets, understanding further this activity index correlation can give us some hints about the optimal target to focus on, and ways to correct for these activity effects. We found a great variety of long-term correlations between $\log R'_{HK}$ and $\log I_{H\alpha}$. Around 20% of our sample has strong positive correlation between the indices while about 3% show strong negative correlation. These fractions are compatible with those found for the case of early-M dwarfs. Stars exhibiting a positive correlation have a tendency to be more active when compared to the median of the sample, while stars showing a negative correlation are more present among higher metallicity stars. There is also a tendency for the positively correlated stars to be more present among the coolest stars, a result which is probably due to the activity level effect on the correlation. Activity level and metallicity seem therefore to be playing a role on the correlation between $\log R'_{HK}$ and $\log I_{H\alpha}$. Possible explanations based on the influence of filaments for the diversity in the correlations between these indices are discussed in this paper.
Engineering change analysis during ongoing product development

Engineering changes are part of any design process. Changes are often requested even before a product design has been completed. However, change requests during an ongoing design process are difficult to assess because the design is still evolving. Some parts, where only conceptual designs exist, may be easy to change; other parts may already be frozen and hence more difficult and probably more expensive to change. In order to find the best way to implement a change at a given time, the designer needs to be aware of not only the design and the interactions, but also of the state of development of every part. However, many designers are not always aware of all interactions and, hence, unexpected and expensive change alternatives are chosen. This paper focuses on the question of how designers can be made aware of the impact of a proposed change before they commit. It discusses the links between the product, process and people domains that interact during product development, listing limiting factors that make change implementation risky and lead to increased change cost. The paper presents a tool to evaluate change proposals during ongoing design processes where the state of the development of parts is taken into account. The tool extends the Cambridge Change Prediction Method which assesses the risk of changes propagating between two parts. The paper concludes with the findings of two tool evaluation studies.
Vagal activity and oxygen saturation response to hypoxia: Effects of aerobic fitness and rating of hypoxia tolerance

Background: A reduction in the inspired oxygen fraction (FiO2) induces a decline in arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2) and changes of heart rate variability (HRV). It has been shown that SpO2 and HRV responses to similar levels of acute normobaric hypoxia are inter-individual variable. Variable response may be influenced by normoxia reached maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) value. Objective: The primary aim was to assess HRV and the SpO2 response to hypoxia, and examine the association with normoxic VO2max. Methods: Supine HRV and SpO2 were monitored during normobaric hypoxia (FiO2 = 9.6%) for 10 minutes in 28 subjects, aged 23.7 ± 1.7 years. HRV was evaluated by using both spectral and time domain HRV analysis. Low frequency (LF, 0.05-0.15 Hz) and high frequency (HF, 0.15-0.50 Hz) power together with square root of the mean of the squares of the successive differences (rMSSD) were calculated and transformed by natural logarithm (Ln). Based on the SpO2 in hypoxia, subjects were divided into Resistant (RG, SpO2 ≥ 70.9%, n = 14) and Sensitive (SG, SpO2 < 70.9%, n = 14) groups. Perceived hypoxia tolerance was self-scored on a 4-level scale. Results: VO2max was higher in SG (62.4 ± 7.2 ml ⋅ kg-1 ⋅ min-1) compared with RG (55.5 ± 7.1 ml ⋅ kg-1 ⋅ min-1, p = .017, d = 0.97). A significant relationship (r = -.45, p = .017) between hypoxic-normoxic difference in SpO2 and normoxic VO2max level was found. Vagal activity (Ln rMSSD) was significantly decreased (SG: p < .001, d = 2.64; RG: p < .001, d = 1.22), while sympathetic activity (Ln LF/HF) was relatively increased (p < .001, d = -1.40) in only the SG during hypoxia. Conclusions: Results show that subjects with a higher aerobic capacity exhibited a greater decline in SpO2, accompanied by greater autonomic cardiac disturbances during hypoxia. The SpO2 reduction was associated with perceived hypoxia comfort/discomfort. The hypoxia discomfort state was accompanied by a greater withdrawal in cardiac vagal activity.
Determination of the Antibiotic Properties of Cannabidiol

Marijuana has been used for centuries as therapy for very diverse health issues which displayed various pathologies, from anorexia to cancer including almost all kinds of inflammatory diseases. However, the use of cannabis as therapy generates much controversy as there is conclusive evidence of its beneficial properties. Also it entails unwanted effects due to psychoactive power of some of its main components. Hence, this ongoing work focuses on finding ways to administer cannabinoids, specifically, cannabidiol (CBD), without the presence of any of the psychoactive compounds. Extensive study in this field could be used amicably and we may also find ways to evaluate the effectiveness of this kind of treatment.
SELF ACCELERATED SMART PARTICLE SWARM OPTIMIZATION FOR NON LINEAR PROGRAMMING PROBLEMS

This paper presents Self Accelerated Smart Particle Swarm Optimization (SASPSO) for nonlinear programming problems (NLP). In SASPSO, the positions of particle are updated by pbest (Personal or local best) and gbest (Global best). The main advantages of SASPSO are that it doesn’t require velocity equation. In addition, it does not require any additional parameter like acceleration coefficients and inertia weight as in case other PSO algorithms. Momentum factor is introduced in SASPSO which can prevent particles from out of defined region without checking the validity of positions at every iterations result in saving of computational cost. During the initial stages of the experimentation, the step size will be large and during the final stage of the experimentation, the step size is reduced to smaller value. The SASPSO is tested on global optimization problems such as Nonlinear Programming Problems (NLP). The results are compared with the Genetic Algorithm (GA). The results of SASPSO are good in terms of are accuracy of optimal solution and generations as compared GA. It also gives large number of possible optimal solutions as compared GA.
A Low-power Cordic and CSD based DCT Architecture

A low power discrete cosine transform (DCT) architecture is presented. It is implemented through Loffler DCT based on the coordinate rotation digital computer (Cordic) algorithm and the canonical sign-digital (CSD) multiplier-less architecture. The synthesis results show that the proposed 8-point one-dimensional DCT architecture consumes lower power and smaller area.
Effects of Chinese Font Size and Space on Efficiency of VDT Single-line Text Reading

This study investigated the factors which affect the single-line Chinese text reading efficiency on a visual display terminal (VDT) screen and in the end has given a reasonable suggestion. The efficiency of reading is dependent on how ergonomically the visual information is presented. A great quantity of investigations have shown that font size characteristics could affect readability. A detailed research of the influences of font size and space on efficiency for reading single Chinese information on a VDT screen has been carried out on young adults in this study, and reading speed as well as accuracy were used as two evaluation indicators to appraise reading efficiency. First, the calculation formula is obtained and the best range of Chinese font size and space is determined in a fixed reading distance under the VDT reading environment according to the classic theory of ergonomics. Then, Microsoft Word is used to assign a quantitative value to font size and space. Four sizes of fonts were used: 9, 10.5, 12 and 14 point, and all fonts were presented in 1, 2, 3 and 4 point spaces. In order to obtain simple and effective experimental combinations to reflect the results, an orthogonal experimental method is applied to design the experiment. Finally, the synchronous device is connected, and relevant data about reading time and accuracy is obtained by a record in E-prime 2.0 software. It shows, by statistical analysis, that the best combination for efficiently reading single Chinese information on a computer screen is 12 point font size and 2 point space. Furthermore, through further analysis, the best viewing angle is determined to be 21'. The outcome of this study will help as a guideline to all PC users, web page designers, information tips in public places so that readers can more easily grasp information accurately and rapidly.
Household market participation and stunting in preschool children in Lilongwe, Malawi

Abstract Background: Stunting among Malawian preschool children continues to be a concern. Method: A cross-sectional survey of 251 semi-urban households, who participated in a community-supported preschool programme, was conducted. Results: Of the 433 participating two- to five-year-old children, 34.4% had stunting. Children from families who grow tobacco were less likely than other children to have stunting (27.0% vs. 37.3%, p-value = 0.04). In contrast, children from families who grow a local type of cowpea (khobwe) had a higher rate of stunting than other children (46.8% vs. 32.9%, p-value = 0.01). Conclusion: The study suggests that the increased income associated with household participation in the growing of globally marketable cash crops, as compared to the growing of local crops, may lead to increased nutritional benefits for children.
A pattern‐filtering method for the determination of ocean bottom pressure anomalies from GRACE solutions

Comparison of mass anomalies from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) to in‐situ ocean bottom pressure (OBP) data is complicated by the fact that GRACE estimates are representative for phenomena with scales of hundreds of km, while OBP measurements are pointwise by nature. Simulations with the Finite Element Sea‐ice Ocean Model (FESOM) indicate that on a monthly time scale OBP anomalies are coherent over large areas of complex geometry. A new filtering method for GRACE‐derived ocean mass anomalies is obtained by applying these coherence patterns on a regular grid. Time series from OBP recorders all over the world ocean are used for validation. Compared to Gaussian filtering, the pattern‐filtering method improves the correlation between GRACE retrievals and in‐situ OBP data (max. correlation now 0.87). Land leakage effects are eliminated almost completely. Finer scales can be resolved such that highly variable currents like the Gulf Stream can now be identified.
Spatial distribution of soils determines export of nitrogen and dissolved organic carbon from an intensively managed agricultural landscape

Abstract. The surrounding landscape of a stream has crucial impacts on the aquatic environment. This study pictures the hydro-biogeochemical situation of the Tyrebaekken creek catchment in central Jutland, Denmark. The intensively managed agricultural landscape is dominated by rotational croplands. The small catchment mainly consist of sandy soil types besides organic soils along the streams. The aim of the study was to characterise the relative influence of soil type and land use on stream water quality. Nine snapshot sampling campaigns were undertaken during the growing season of 2009. Total dissolved nitrogen (TDN), nitrate (NO3−), ammonium nitrogen and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations were measured, and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) was calculated for each grabbed sample. Electrical conductivity, pH and flow velocity were measured during sampling. Statistical analyses showed significant differences between the northern, southern and converged stream parts, especially for NO3− concentrations with average values between 1.4 mg N l−1 and 9.6 mg N l−1. Furthermore, throughout the sampling period DON concentrations increased to 2.8 mg N l−1 in the northern stream contributing up to 81% to TDN. Multiple-linear regression analyses performed between chemical data and landscape characteristics showed a significant negative influence of organic soils on instream N concentrations and corresponding losses in spite of their overall minor share of the agricultural land (12.9%). On the other hand, organic soil frequency was positively correlated to the corresponding DOC concentrations. Croplands also had a significant influence but with weaker correlations. For our case study we conclude that the fractions of coarse textured and organic soils have a major influence on N and DOC export in this intensively used landscape. Meanwhile, the contribution of DON to the total N losses was substantial.
Mediterranean fruit fly (Dipt., Tephritidae) suppression in persimmon through bait sprays in adjacent coffee plantings *

Abstract: Oriental persimmon, Diospyros kaki L. , in Upper Kula on the island of Maui (Hawaii) is attacked by the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann). Recent suppression trials using mass trapping with a synthetic food‐based bait, initiated in alternate host crops before the start of persimmon season, had shown promise as a means of reducing C. capitata population levels. However, this did not adequately suppress C. capitata population where there were adjacent plantings of coffee, Coffea arabica L. , a favoured alternate host, which bears fruits before and during the persimmon season. To improve C. capitata population suppression, we applied a spinosad‐based bait spray to coffee plants, starting before persimmon fruits became susceptible to oviposition by the Mediterranean fruit fly. The bait spray suppressed the C. capitata population and led to reduced infestation of both coffee cherries and persimmon fruits. Percentage parasitization of C. capitata in coffee cherries by established biological control agents, primarily Fopius arisanus (Sonan), was not significantly different in unsprayed vs. sprayed plots even after 11 weekly sprays. These results suggest that mass trapping, combined with spinosad‐based bait sprays, are control components that are compatible with biological control and can be combined in an integrated pest management system for C. capitata.
Fluctuating asymmetry and developmental instability in Protoreaster nodosus (Chocolate Chip Sea Star) as a biomarker for environmental stress

Fluctuating asymmetry (FA), pertains to small and random departures from perfect symmetry of an organism’s bilateral traits and has been used as a measurement of developmental instability and as a potential indicator of stress in populations. It measures the variations from symmetry of a symmetrical structure whose sides are said to be genetically identical, with similar history of gene activity and experiencing the same environment. Symmetries are potentially the basis for studies on FA. Hence, this study assessed the potential of FA as a reliable developmental instability and environmental stress indicator in five-fold dihedral symmetrical Protoreaster nodosus (Chocolate chip sea fish) from three (3) different sites (Linamon, Lanao del Norte; Initao, Misamis Oriental and Jasaan, Misamis Oriental). FA for each population from every site was measured for comparison. In this study, anatomical landmarks were subjected to Procrustes superimposition and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) using “Symmetry and Asymmetry in Geometric Data” (SAGE) program. Results showed highly significant FA and significant DA for population from Jasaan and Linamon where habitat disturbance due to anthropogenic activities were prevalent. Thus, experienced more stress compared to the other populations, suggesting that significant variation in size or left-right side of each individual could be a product of genotype-environment interaction. Moreover, insignificant FA and high DA was obtained from Initao (protected seascape area) which indicated that variation among individual genotypes and asymmetry in phenotypes is mostly induced by genetics under less stressful environment. Significant FA and increase FA present inability of species to buffer stress in its developmental pathways and have implications on species fitness. Hypothesis assumes that fluctuating asymmetry has costs, reflects the quality of individuals and the level of genetic and environmental stress experienced by individuals or populations during development. Here, FA proved to be efficient when applied to five-fold dihedral symmetrical organisms.
In vivo antiplasmodial effect of chloroform extracts of Artemisia maciverae Linn and Artemisia maritima Linn

Chloroform extracts of Artemisia maciverae and Artemisia maritima (whole plants) were tested in vivo for anti-malarial activity in Swiss albino mice experimentally infected with chloroquine resistant Plasmodium berghei NK 65 at a dose of 100 mg/kg. The 2 plant extracts showed high anti-malarial activity. The parasitemia in the infected mice treated with the extracts were significantly reduced (P < 0.05) when compared with the untreated negative control and the pre-treatment period (Day 0). The plant extracts were also screened for phytochemicals and secondary metabolites. Some phytochemicals like flavonoids, steroids, terpenoids, tannins, phlobatannins, alkaloids and anthraqinones were detected in the two plant extracts. The anti-malarial activity of these extracts might be attributed to these phytochemicals/secondary metabolites. This study suggests that antiplasmodial activity of Artemisia may be widely distributed within the genus.