Tax Policy Impact on Consumption of Tobacco Products in Croatia

This paper analyses the influence of excises increase and various non-price related measures on tobacco consumption. Therefore various regression models with different dependent and independent variables will be built, with the purpose of showing both their individual and cumulative impact. In all the models the price is definitely the most significant variable, but there are differences in price influence on consumption, depending on which series of cigarettes it relates to. That is logical because of the large difference in excises on different series of cigarettes. From other countries’ experience and the results of regression models used in this paper the most important conclusion is that the impact of excise duty is significant, however for building more representative models detailed data over a longer period of time is needed. Unfortunately in Croatia such data are not collected systematically.excises, price, tobacco, regression model, consumption, cigarettes, Croatia

Integration of radar altimeter, precision navigation, and digital terrain data for low-altitude flight

Avionic systems that depend on digitized terrain elevation data for guidance generation or navigational reference require accurate absolute and relative distance measurements to the terrain, especially as they approach lower altitudes. This is particularly exacting in low-altitude helicopter missions, where aggressive terrain hugging maneuvers create minimal horizontal and vertical clearances and demand precise terrain positioning. Sole reliance on airborne precision navigation and stored terrain elevation data for above-ground-level (AGL) positioning severely limits the operational altitude of such systems. A Kalman filter is presented which blends radar altimeter returns, precision navigation, and stored terrain elevation data for AGL positioning. The filter is evaluated using low-altitude helicopter flight test data acquired over moderately rugged terrain. The proposed Kalman filter is found to remove large disparities in predicted AGL altitude (i.e., from airborne navigation and terrain elevation data) in the presence of measurement anomalies and dropouts. Previous work suggested a minimum clearance altitude of 220 ft AGL for a near-terrain guidance system; integration of a radar altimeter allows for operation of that system below 50 ft, subject to obstacle-avoidance limitations

Appraisal of digital terrain elevation data for low-altitude flight

The use of terrain elevation databases in advanced guidance and navigation systems has greatly expanded. However, the limitations and accuracies of these databases must be considered and established prior to safe system flight evaluation. A simple approach to quantify reasonable flight limits is presented and evaluated for a helicopter guidance system dependent on a terrain database. The flight test evaluated involved a helicopter equipped with a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver and radar altimeter, and a ground station GPS receiver which provided improved helicopter positioning. The precision navigation and radar altimeter data was acquired while flying low-altitude missions in south-central Pennsylvania. The aircraft-determined terrain elevations were compared with the terrain predicted by the Defense Mapping Agency (DMA) Level 1 terrain elevation data for the same area. The results suggest a safe set clearance altitude of 220 ft for flight testing of a DMA-based guidance avionic in the same area

Tax Policy Impact on Consumption of Tobacco Products in Croatia

This paper analyses the influence of excises increase and various non-price related measures on tobacco consumption. Therefore various regression models with different dependent and independent variables will be built, with the purpose of showing both their individual and cumulative impact. In all the models the price is definitely the most significant variable, but there are differences in price influence on consumption, depending on which series of cigarettes it relates to. That is logical because of the large difference in excises on different series of cigarettes. From other countries’ experience and the results of regression models used in this paper the most important conclusion is that the impact of excise duty is significant, however for building more representative models detailed data over a longer period of time is needed. Unfortunately in Croatia such data are not collected systematically

Utjecaj porezne politike na potrošnju duhanskih proizvoda u Hrvatskoj

U ovom radu obrađuje se utjecaj povećanja trošarina, te utjecaj različitih necjenovnih mjera na potrošnju duhanskih proizvoda u Hrvatskoj. Za tu namjenu bit će napravljeni regresijski modeli s različitim zavisnim i nezavisnim varijablama, kako bi se što bolje mogao prikazati utjecaj pojedinačnih varijabli, a i svih zajedno. Cijena će se pokazati najznačajnijom varijablom iako će njezin utjecaj na potrošnju biti različit, ovisno o seriji cigareta na koju se potrošnja odnosi. Rezultat je logičan jer su, ovisno o serijama cigareta, i razlike u trošarinama velike. Iz iskustva drugih zemalja te iz rezultata provedene regresijske analize najvažniji je zaključak da primjena detaljnijih podataka za dulje vremensko razdoblje daje bolje rezultate. U Hrvatskoj se takvi podaci, nažalost, sustavno ne prikupljaju

Tax Policy Impact on Consumption of Tobacco Products in Croatia

This paper analyses the influence of excises increase and various non-price related measures on tobacco consumption. Therefore various regression models with different dependent and independent variables will be built, with the purpose of showing both their individual and cumulative impact. In all the models the price is definitely the most significant variable, but there are differences in price influence on consumption, depending on which series of cigarettes it relates to. That is logical because of the large difference in excises on different series of cigarettes. From other countries’ experience and the results of regression models used in this paper the most important conclusion is that the impact of excise duty is significant, however for building more representative models detailed data over a longer period of time is needed. Unfortunately in Croatia such data are not collected systematically

Applications of machine learning to gravitational waves

Gravitational waves, predicted by Albert Einstein in 1916 and first directly observed in 2015, are a powerful window into the universe, and its past. Currently, multiple detectors around the globe are in operation. While the technology has matured to a point where detections are common, there are still unsolved problems. Traditional search algorithms are only optimal under assumptions which do not hold in contemporary detectors. In addition, high data rates and latency requirements can be challenging. In this thesis, we use new methods based on recent advancements in machine learning to tackle these issues. We develop search algorithms competitive with conventional methods in a realistic setting. In doing so, we cover a mock data challenge which we have organized, and which served as a framework to obtain some of these results. Finally, we demonstrate the power of our search algorithms by applying them to data from the second half of LIGO's third observing run. We find that the events targeted by our searches are identified reliably