bdbms -- A Database Management System for Biological Data

Biologists are increasingly using databases for storing and managing their data. Biological databases typically consist of a mixture of raw data, metadata, sequences, annotations, and related data obtained from various sources. Current database technology lacks several functionalities that are needed by biological databases. In this paper, we introduce bdbms, an extensible prototype database management system for supporting biological data. bdbms extends the functionalities of current DBMSs to include: (1) Annotation and provenance management including storage, indexing, manipulation, and querying of annotation and provenance as first class objects in bdbms, (2) Local dependency tracking to track the dependencies and derivations among data items, (3) Update authorization to support data curation via content-based authorization, in contrast to identity-based authorization, and (4) New access methods and their supporting operators that support pattern matching on various types of compressed biological data types. This paper presents the design of bdbms along with the techniques proposed to support these functionalities including an extension to SQL. We also outline some open issues in building bdbms.Comment: This article is published under a Creative Commons License Agreement (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/.) You may copy, distribute, display, and perform the work, make derivative works and make commercial use of the work, but, you must attribute the work to the author and CIDR 2007. 3rd Biennial Conference on Innovative Data Systems Research (CIDR) January 710, 2007, Asilomar, California, US

Cross Countries Economic Performances - SPF Approach

Created in 2009-2010; The differences in technical inefficiency (inefficient allocation of production inputs) explain the diverse cross-country economic performances, using estimating a “global” stochastic production frontier (SPF) model, and (Rodrik (2000)’s taxonomy of institutions), to compare the mean level of technical inefficiency for each country per period. Our model, consider three variables dimensions – human capital, openness, and institutions. Institutions are more fundamental to the sources of technical inefficiency. Specifically, the rule of law has a direct impact on improving technical efficiency. Democracy and sound money, do not have a direct impact on technical efficiency. However, their interactions with human capital are statistically significant. It points out the possibility that a minimum level of human capital matters for these two aspects of institutions to have any impact on technical efficiency. Regulation, on the other hand, shows a threshold effect. That said, after reaching a threshold level of regulation, excessive regulation leads to technical inefficienc

Progress in integrated-circuit horn antennas for receiver applications. Part 1: Antenna design

The purpose of this work is to present a systematic method for the design of multimode quasi-integrated horn antennas. The design methodology is based on the Gaussian beam approach and the structures are optimized for achieving maximum fundamental Gaussian coupling efficiency. For this purpose, a hybrid technique is employed in which the integrated part of the antennas is treated using full-wave analysis, whereas the machined part is treated using an approximate method. This results in a simple and efficient design process. The developed design procedure has been applied for the design of a 20, a 23, and a 25 dB quasi-integrated horn antennas, all with a Gaussian coupling efficiency exceeding 97 percent. The designed antennas have been tested and characterized using both full-wave analysis and 90 GHz/370 GHz measurements

Progress in integrated-circuit horn antennas for receiver applications. Part 2: A 90 GHz quasi-integrated horn antenna receiver

A receiver belonging to the family of integrated planar receivers has been developed at 90 GHz. It consists of a planar Schottky-diode placed at the feed of a dipole-probe suspended inside an integrated horn antenna. The measured planar mixer single-sideband conversion loss at 91.2 GHz (LO) with a 200 MHz IF frequency is 8.3dB plus or minus 0.3dB. The low cost of fabrication and simplicity of this design makes it ideal for millimeter and submillimeter-wave receivers

‘Tenderstem’ Broccoli for Export Markets: an Analysis Study on the AgroFood Company

Decision case, horticulture, agriculture economics, broccoli production, protected vegetable production, Agricultural Finance, Crop Production/Industries, Production Economics,

The Dark Side of Cross-Listing: A New Perspective from China

An interesting phenomenon for Chinese firms that list their stock both in China and abroad is that the overwhelming majority had gone public, and listed, abroad first. We find that when these companies return to China to issue stock and list, they experience poorer post-issuance stock and operating performance in comparison to purely domestic issuers. Also, they raise more funds relative to their sales, leave less money on the table for investors, and incur lower direct flotation costs. Among returning firms, those which raise higher proceeds relative to sales experience poorer long-run stock performance and lower Tobin’s q post issuance. Our results offer a new perspective on cross-listing, which we term “dressing-up-for-premium”. Firms from less-developed markets take advantage of the enhanced visibility and prestige associated with the foreign listing to issue shares domestically at inflated prices and favorable terms, and to raise greater proceeds than they can efficiently use

Investigation of High-Velocity Projectile Penetrating Concrete Blocks Reinforced by Layers of High Toughness and Energy Absorption Materials

Recently, the need to protect people and structures against attacks of terrorists are of a high increase. The main objective of this paper is to enhance the concrete resistance against ballistic impact of high velocity projectile by using different combination layers from different materials as reinforcement for concrete and investigate their effect on the penetration depth of projectile and the resulted damage of concrete. The investigation presents the development of a finite element accurate models using AUTODYN 3D. The Lagrangian formulation numerical techniques is used to model the projectile and concrete target. The investigated models are reinforced using different layers combinations of several materials such as ceramics, fiber composite, polymer and metal: (AL2O3 - 99.7% and Kevlar- epoxy, Teflon and aluminum alloy 6061-T6) .Those materials were chosen because of their high thermal shock resistance or their great capability in energy absorption. The main findings showed a significant enhancement in the reduction of penetration depth compared to the concrete resistance without reinforcement, which demonstrate the great performance of the used combinations in the shock wave propagation. Hence from the findings of this work we can say that the concrete reinforced by ceramics or aluminum alloy with fiber composite or polymer can be used for several applications as it represents a successful anti-penetration composite structure

The Contribution of Education to Economic Development

Education is a comprehensive term for academic studies and developing talents and skills. It's an essential factor in Human capital development. Human capital investment is a fundamental issue for countries to sustainable economic development achievement; furthermore, it sang the community members to grasp themselves and the surrounding circumstances and the impact of the global variants. Education improves the quality of living, benefits society; productivity and innovation; subsequently promotes entrepreneurship. Education helps the poor and improves their food intake by increasing families' incomes and spending on health and food, to raise their standard of living and make them better healthier choices

Solution Strategies of Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium (DSGE) models

DSGE models are the main tool for analysing various questions in problems of monetary, business cycle theory and fiscal policy problems, growth and other fields in international macroeconomics and macroeconomics. Many macroeconomic publications use the DSGE framework. A consensus has been reached on the methodology for using such kind of model. The resolution of DSGE models remains an area of ongoing interest. This paper provides an overview of the available solution techniques. Linear approximation methods and perturbation methods have been explored in detail. Solving strategies such as the eigenvalue auto-decomposition of Blanchard and Kahn (1980) or the method of indefinite coefficients are explained. A Bayesian estimate is drawn shortly. The evaluation methods are briefly described. Finally, the paper provides some useful resources for practical implementation