Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Transportation Investment and Property Tax Growth in Minnesota Counties ⇤

This paper examines the linkage between accumulated transportation capital stocks in Minnesota counties and their annual property tax revenues with a longitudinal data between 1995 and 2011. Estimations from panel-data regressions show that local-road capital stocks within a county have a positive e↵ect on its property tax revenues, but much of the benefits may be the outcome of a zero-sum game due to inter-county competition of property tax bases. Trunkhighway capital stocks not only have a positive e↵ect on property tax revenues within the county, but also show a positive and even higher spillover e↵ect on neighboring counties. Applying the estimations to county data in FY2010, the analysis finds that the average ROI (return of investment) on the growth of EMV (Estimated Market Values) within a county is about 1.254 for local roads, and about 0.871 for trunk highways.
Balancing Giving-Up Vs. Taking-In: Does the Pattern of Payments and Benefits Matter to Customers in a Financing Decision Context?

Despite the relevance of mental accounting as a framework in addressing consumer behavior decision making, very little has been documented about the applicability of mental accounting to financial marketing and behavioral financing. This paper attempts to build and extend the literature on financial decision making by drawing on mental accounting and prospect theory. Specifically, we take the current literature one step further by testing the alignment hypothesis which states that consumers prefer financing schemes that not only match the length of benefits with payments but also the corresponding patterns as well. Through three studies, our paper finds general support for the alignment hypothesis. Implications for financial decision making along with retailing strategies are discussed.
Provenance and tectonic settings of accretionary wedge sediments on northeastern Karaginski Island (Kamchatka, Russian Far east)

The provenance and tectonic setting of the sediments and rare cobbles from the accretionary wedge on Karaginski Island were examined. This study provides a picture of the nature of the NE Asian paleomargin in the middle Eocene to early Miocene. The trace element geochemistry of shale from the flysch and melange indicates (a) their common provenance with the quartzofeldspathic and arkosic sandstones, and (b) derivation of these sediment types from active continental and island arcs with partially dissected basement rocks. Previous studies of the sandstones (Shapiro et al., 2000) showed that they dominate in debris whose composition is very similar to those of the felsic extrusive and intrusive rocks in cobbles and boulders embedded in the sediments. Fission-track (FT) ages from detrital zircon from sandstones, and felsic cobbles show their derivation from sources with several cooling histories in the Late Cretaceous and Early Tertiary. The youngest detrital component probably represents continuous younging population from active volcanism in the source that is nearly the same age of deposition. The felsic cobbles represent the essentially random selection of the older material component. They include three distinct types: (a) subduction-related low-K tonalites and trondhjemites and their extrusive analogues; (b) crustally-derived med-K two-mica leucogranites, and (c) crustally-derived high-K biotite leucogranites. The felsic rock cobbles of all types have a narrow range of zircon FT grain ages that indicate cooling in the source in the Late Cretaceous to Early Paleogene. Tonalites and trondhjemites (low-K) cooled at 53.8 ( 3.5/+3.8) Ma and 78.5 ( 6.7/+7.6) Ma. The rhyolites (med-K) cooled at 70.1 ( 3.7/+3.9) Ma. The biotite leucogranites (high-K) cooled between 59.1 Ma ( 3.3/+3.9) and 58.6 ( 3.2/+3.3) Ma (two clasts). The Late Cretaceous cooling ages (70-78 Ma) probably reflect original magmatic activity whereas the Early Eocene cooling ages may indicate timing of exhumation. The chemical and age data obtained on the felsic cobbles suggest derivation of the accretionary wedge sediments from a source formed either by: (a) subduction in the Late Cretaceous and collision/exhumation in the Early Paleogene; or by (b) continuous subduction. The closest petrochemical and age intrusive and extrusive analogues of the felsic cobbles occur only locally in the Olyutorsky Peninsula subterrane. Nonetheless, this structure is too small and too remote from Karaginski Island to supply enough material for the middle Eocene-early Miocene accretionary wedge sediments. We speculate that the structure of the Olyutorsky Peninsula subterrane might be extended in the shelf where several highs exist.
EFECTO DE LAS PLANTAS ARVENSES SOBRE LA ABUNDANCIA Y DIVERSIDAD DE INSECTOS DEL FOLLAJE

Las arvenses son plantas exitosas en los cultivos por lo que su control es costoso. No obstante, muchas especies son hospederas de insectos beneficos y promueven variadas interacciones ecologicas importantes para los cultivos, por lo que el objetivo fue evaluar la diversidad de plantas arvenses y de la entomofauna asociada a estas en tres cultivos (zanahoria, maiz y sorgo) de El Copal, Irapuato, Gto. Se realizaron 30 puntos de muestreo, por cultivo, en cuadrantes de 2 m2. Los ejemplares de plantas e insectos fueron identificados a nivel de especie y familia respectivamente. Se realizaron distintos analisis de diversidad, abundancia y comparaciones estadisticas. La mayor cantidad de plantas y riqueza de especies fue observada en el cultivo de zanahoria, esto se relaciono con la diversidad de insectos que fue mayor en comparacion con el resto de los cultivos. La composicion de las comunidades de arvenses e insectos fue distinta entre cultivos y los valores de diversidad de insectos fueron significantivamente diferentes. El cultivo de zanahoria presento la mayor abundancia y riqueza de arvenses y la mayor diversidad de insectos. Las poblaciones de arvenses e insectos fue distintiva de cada cultivo.
Preventive role of low-molecular-weight heparin in unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss

Background. Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is a source of great distress for couples, and the search continues for an intervention to improve live birth rates in affected women. A daily injection of low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) is often prescribed to women with unexplained RPL, although evidence suggesting a benefit is limited. Objective . To compare the efficacy of LMWH with a placebo in terms of live birth rates in women with unexplained RPL. Methods . All pregnant females between 18 and 44 years of age who reported at the unit of obstetrics and gynaecology, Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad, during April 2013 to January 2014, who had a history of ≥2 consecutive first trimester pregnancy losses were enrolled. All participants were randomly allocated to one of two groups. Group A received a daily dose of 40 mg enoxaparin (LMWH) subcutaneously and group B women received a placebo in the form of multivitamin tablets. Efficacy was defined in terms of live births after the age of viability (i.e. 24 weeks’ gestation) and was compared in both treatment and control groups. Risk estimation was also performed and relative risk (RR) along with 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated. Results . The groups were similar in terms of mean age, gestational age and body mass index. Our results showed no statistically significant difference in live birth rates between the two groups, with 78.8% and 73.8% for group A and B, respectively ( p =0.0574). A RR of 1.07 (95% CI 0.9 - 1.3) was calculated for group A. Conclusion . Subcutaneous enoxaparin in a once daily dose of 40 mg did not improve the chance of live births in nonthrombophilic women with unexplained RPL when compared with the placebo.
A hippocratic privacy protection framework for relational databases

Individuals are not comfortable when disclosing their personal information to corporate organisations and are becoming increasingly concerned. Decision criteria needed for privacy protection are more complex than those that apply to access control when managing security. A typical problem in this context concerns giving individuals better control over their personal information, while at the same time allowing the organisation to process its transactions on the same personalised information. To address this difficulty, we consider extending the Hippocratic principles and model them in our Hippocratic Privacy Protection (HPP) framework that is based on the concept of privacy contracting. A prototype of the proposed HPP framework was constructed to serve as a proof of concept in order to demonstrate the developed HPP framework as an applicable and efficacious model for solving privacy problems. Based on this prototype, we afford individuals more control over their personal information. The prototype that we developed is validated against a proposed PET evaluation framework.
Seasonal development of lesions caused by Hymenoscyphus fraxineus on young Fraxinus excelsior trees in Latvia

Abstract: The spread of the ascomycete Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, causing dieback of common ash (Fraxinus excelsior) in Europe, is rapid and the damage is pronounced, as young ashes can perish over the course of only a few months following infection. The objective of this study was to investigate the rate and extent of lesion formation on young (5-8-year-old) ashes during a vegetation season in the hemiboreal zone in Latvia. Continuous surveys (with monthly intervals) of the health condition of 30 young ash and measurements of lesion area in three stands were performed during the vegetation season of 2015. From June to September of that year, the number of observed lesions gradually rose from 58 to 87. New lesions emerged on branches (55%, 0.5 per tree), top shoots (28%, 0.3 per tree), and stems (17%, 0.2 per tree), mostly appearing at the beginning of the observation period (45%, 52%, and 3% in June, July, and August, respectively). During the vegetation season, 20% of the existing and 28% of the newly-emerged lesions on branches, as well as 20% and 25% of top shoot lesions, respectively, reached the main stem. Some (< 20% of cases) transitions of lesions from the tops and branches to the stems were observed. The extension of lesions was significant until August, and ceased afterwards in a similar fashion in all stands. The mean extension of area significantly differed between the previously-existing and newly-emerged lesions. During the vegetation season, the new lesions expanded by 25.1 ± 4.8 cm2, whereas the existing ones grew by only 7.3 ± 1.1 cm2. The extension of the new lesions varied according to their location on a tree. The spread of emerging lesions on stems was considerably slower than on branches or top shoots (1.9 ± 0.7, 7.3 ± 1.5, and 14.5 ± 4.1 cm2 per lesion per month, respectively). During the studied vegetation season (summer), the overall health score of trees decreased twice, yet the relationship between heath status and development of lesions lacked significance.
In Silico Docking of Small-Molecule Inhibitors to the Escherichia coli Type III Secretion System EscN ATPase

Abstract : The type III secretion system (T3SS) is a supermolecular construct that allows many Gram-negative pathogens to translocate effector virulence proteins directly into host cells in a process requiring adenosine triphosphate (ATP) hydrolysis. We used in silico molecular modeling and computational chemistry to determine the conformations of three different small-molecule compounds when bound to EscN, the T3SS ATPase of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli. Each compound was shown to separately bind EscN within or very close to its active site and to effectively inhibit catalytic activity. Two structurally related compounds were observed to adopt extended conformations in the active-site cleft and essentially occupied the entire cleft, which obstructed the ATP binding including the formation of ATP-EscN non-covalent interactions and hydrogen bonds. Both compounds appeared to span the region in the active site with Phe355 and Gln426, residues that are essential for forming -stacking interactions and hydrogen bonds with the adenosine base of the ATP substrate. In contrast, the third compound appeared to fold upon itself in the EscN active-site cleft to adopt a very compact conformation that occupied only one side of the cleft. Our goal was to determine the three-dimensional structures of the compound EscN complexes for designing lead compounds and ultimately develop broad-spectrum therapeutics against T3SS pathogens.
Exploring Cross-National Changes in Instructional Practices: Evidence from Four Cycles of TIMSS. Policy Brief No. 13.

COLOPHON 10 SUMMARY The IEA’s Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) can reveal a great deal about national teaching cultures and policies. Changes in instructional practices over more than a decade may be studied from a crosscultural perspective. Using teacher and student reports on the frequency of seven distinct practices, as assessed by TIMSS in 1995, 1999, 2003 and 2007, it is possible to identify a number of significant changes between adjacent time points for individual countries. Teaching practices seem to be shaped by national educational cultures or policies. While this brief does not identify the causes or effects of these changes, there is mixed evidence for global “mega-trends” in education, as discussed by researchers and policymakers. Constructivist pedagogy (working in groups, applying mathematical content to daily life) was boosted on a large scale during the mid-2000s. However, there is only limited support for a rise in assessment-based instruction and a shift from computational practice to problem-solving in mathematics. TIMSS evidence suggests a quest for systematic development of teaching practices, classroom cultures, and teacher quality at the national level. Exploring cross-national changes in instructional practices: evidence from four cycles of TIMSS
Deglaciation of a large piedmont lobe glacier in comparison with a small mountain glacier – new insight from surface exposure dating. Two studies from SE Germany

Abstract. 10Be-Oberflachenaltersdatierungen von Moranenblocken der Wurm-Maximalvergletscherung und der Deglaziationzeit ergaben in zwei verschiedenen Regionen Suddeutschlands unterschiedliche Altersverteilungen trotz gleicher klimatischer Randbedingungen. Im Bayerischen Wald zeigen die Moranenalter eines kleinen Talgletschers eine prazise und konsistente spatwurmzeitliche Chronostratigraphie. Oberflachenexpositionsalter von Moranen des Isar-Loisach und Inngletschers in den Ostalpen weisen auf eine hochwurmzeitliche Moranenablagerung deutlich vor 18.0±1.9 ka und einer anschliessenden Moranenstabilisierung hin. Beide glaziale Systeme (Mittelgebirgs-Talgletscher und alpines Eisstromnetz) erreichten ihre maximale Ausdehnung im Spatwurm (MIS 2). Trotz der weitgehenden Ubereinstimmung war ihre Reaktionszeit auf Klimafluktuationen sehr unterschiedlich: der kleine Talgletscher reagierte empfindlicher auf klimatische Anderungen als das alpine Eisstromnetz. Ein synchrones Verhalten zeigten die Gletscher im Bayerischen Wald sowie in den Ostalpen erst im Spatglazial um 16–15 ka (H 1), als in beiden Gebieten Talgletscher existierten. Die unterschiedlichen Altersverteilungen der spatwurmzeitlichen Chronologien in den beiden Wurmgletscher-Endmoranengebieten werden mit Unterschieden der Eisdynamik und der geomorphologischen Prozesse bei der Moranenstabilisierung sowie mit Phasen intensiver Hangprozesse infolge periglazialer Aktivitat und Toteis-Tauens erklart. Die Ergebnisse sind fur Probennahmestrategien und Dateninterpretation von Moranen-Oberflachenaltern von groser Bedeutung.
The Charismatic Computer: Examining How Expressive Interfaces Influence Beliefs

research in applied psychology and management science suggests charismatic behavior can be learned. Furthermore, people who have undergone training to learn these behaviors are identified by observers as being charismatic. Other research suggests charismatic and expressive teaching interfaces improve learning outcomes in students. This adds support to "The Media Equation", Reeves and Nass' communication theory that states people often treat computers as though they were real people. This study attempts to further knowledge in these areas by investigating how charismatic behaviors can be leveraged in computer interfaces to influence beliefs and opinions. A virtual character was created and programmed with charismatic nonverbal behaviors. Results from evaluations indicate a promising approach to developing and evaluating charismatic computer interfaces.
Differential Expression of Genes Important to Efferent Ductules Ion Homeostasis across Postnatal Development in Estrogen Receptor-α Knockout and Wildtype Mice

Our earlier studies showed that estrogen was involved in the regulation of fluid reabsorption in adult mouse efferent ductules (ED), through estrogen receptor (ER) a and ERβ, by modulating gene expression of epithelial genes involved in ion homeostasis. However, little is known about the importance of ERa in the ED during postnatal development. Based on previous findings, we hypothesized that there should be a difference in the expression of epithelial ion transporters and anion producers in the ED of postnatal wild type (WT) and estrogen receptor a knockout (aERKO) mice. Using absolute, comparative and semi-quantitative RT-PCR along with immunohistochemistry, we looked at expression levels of several genes in the ED across postnatal development. The presence of estrogen in the testicular fluid was indirectly ascertained by immunohistochemical detection of the P450 aromatase in the testis. There was no immunohistochemically detectable difference in the expression of P450 aromatase in the testes and ERp in the ED of WT and aERKO mice. ERa was only detected in the ED of WT mice. The absence of ERa in the ED of postnatally developing mice resulted in differential expression of mRNAs and/or proteins for carbonic anhydrase II, Na + /H + exchanger 3, down-regulated in adenoma, cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator, and Na + /K + ATPase al. Our data indicate that the absence of ER α resulted in altered expression of an epithelial ion producer and transporters during postnatal development of mice. We conclude that the presence of ERa is important for regulation of the ED function during the prepubertal developmental and postpubertal period.
ks: Kernel Density Estimation and Kernel Discriminant Analysis for Multivariate Data in R

Kernel smoothing is one of the most widely used non-parametric data smoothing techniques. We introduce a new R package ks for multivariate kernel smoothing. Currently it contains functionality for kernel density estimation and kernel discriminant analysis. It is a comprehensive package for bandwidth matrix selection, implementing a wide range of data-driven diagonal and unconstrained bandwidth selectors.
On the Riesz Sums in Number Theory

The Riesz means, or sometimes typical means, were introduced by M. Riesz and have been studied in connection with summability of Fourier series and of Dirichlet series [8] and [11]. In number-theoretic context, it is the Riesz sum rather than the Riesz mean that has been extensively studied. The Riesz sums appear as long as there appears the G-function. Cf. Remark 1 and [14]. As is shown below, the Riesz sum corresponds to integration while Landau's differencing is an analogue of differentiation. This integration-differentiation aspect has been the driving force of many researches on number-theoretic asymptotic formulas. Ingham's decent treatment [13] of the prime number theorem is one typical example. We state some efficient theorems that give asymptotic formulas for the sums of coefficients of the generating Dirichlet series not necessarily satisfying the functional equation.
Decomposition of Differences in PISA Results in Middle Income Countries

Our objective is to analyse the role of teacher and school quality to explain differences in students’ educational outcomes. With this aim, we use PISA microdata for 10 middle income and 2 high income countries and we apply decomposition methods in order to identify the role of these factors for different groups of students. Our results show that school and teacher quality and better practices matter even in different institutional settings. From a policy perspective, this evidence supports actions addressed at improving both factors in order to reduce cross-country differences but also between students at the top and bottom distribution in terms of socio-economic characteristics.
Comparing flux‐averaged and resident concentration in a fractured bedrock using ground penetrating radar

Saline tracer transport experiments were performed to compare flux‐averaged and resident concentration in a single subhorizontal fracture in sandstone bedrock. Tracer migration over a 14 m distance was monitored at an extraction well and imaged within the rock as it passed below a ground penetrating radar (GPR) positioned at the surface. Reflected radar amplitude was calibrated to tracer concentration by circulating saline fluid of known concentration through the fracture. Saline breakthrough curves measured at the well and within the rock were comparable but showed differences in both magnitude and shape. Transport differences were explored using flux‐averaged and resident concentration first‐passage‐time models combined with streamline advective tracking. Application of the appropriate transport model to the two breakthrough curves produced identical estimates of dispersivity and similar estimates of effective fracture aperture. The tracer‐derived fracture aperture also agreed reasonably well with hydraulic aperture derived from cross‐hole pump tests. The availability of both flux and resident concentrations helped constrain the interpretation of the flow and transport behavior in the fracture. Flow appeared to be highly channelized with less than half the hydraulically swept area of the fracture contributing to efficient tracer transport.
Biochemical parameter and feto-maternal outcome in preeclampsia: a hospital based observational study

Background: Preeclampsia is one of the maternal diseases that cause detrimental effects on to the maternal, fetal, and neonatal health. The objective of the present study was to analyse maternal, perinatal outcome and investigation parameter in preeclampsia.Methods: This is an observational study and total of 90 consecutive patients were enrolled who has blood pressure ≥ 140/90 mmHg after 20 weeks of gestation with proteinuria (1+ by dipstick). Results: Among enrolled patients, 52 (58%) were in age group of 25-35 year and 51 (57%) were primigravida. Mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure of patients was 148±3.8 mm of Hg and 95±1.4 mm of Hg respectively. Most common presenting symptom was labor pain in 65 (72%) patients followed by edema in 61 (68%) patients. Most common complication was CNS symptom including seizure (Eclampsia) in 13 (15%) patients followed by vaginal bleeding (including abruption) in 12 (13%) patients. Mean hemoglobin level was 9.12±0.9 gm/dl. Mean urea and creatinine values were 34±4.6 mg/dl and 1.5±1.1 mg/dl respectively. Out of total 90 patients, 18 (20%) had elevated liver enzymes. Most common neonatal outcome was low birth weight 63 (70%) and 40 (44%) were preterm. APGAR score was less than 7 in 11 (12%) patients and more than 7 in 79 (88%) patients. Five (5.5%) newborn were still born.Conclusions: Preeclampsia is associated with multiple maternal and neonatal complications. Hence, there is a need for regular antenatal checkup to detect early and strengthening of neonatal intensive care units.