Self-employment in Brazil and its determinants: a spatial analysis

In this paper, we intend to identify some factors underlying the different rates of participation of self-employed workers in Brazilian municipalities. In contrast with previous analysis, our study is sensitive to the spatial dimension of self-employment in Brazil. Relying on geo-referenced data from areal units, our approach avoids the restrictive assumptions of independence between area effects. Two different approaches to spatial analysis are exploited, Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis (ESDA) and Spatial Econometrics. We show that substantial geographical heterogeneity in rates of self-employment exists within Brazil. The results point to the presence of clusters of municipalities with similar rates of participation of self-employment in the economy. The fitting of a spatial lag model to the data demonstrates that significant part of variation in self-employment is explained by spatial dependence. In addition, the municipality's degree of urbanization, rate of employment in the secondary sector as well as GDP per capita among others, indeed influences its rate of self-employment. We conclude that spatial analysis can provide useful insights in analyzing self-employment in Brazil.Brazil; self-employment

Enzymatic evaluation of changes in processed grain

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1968 S85Master of Scienc

Modifications of Steepest Descent Method and Conjugate Gradient Method Against Noise for Ill-posed Linear Systems

It is well known that the numerical algorithms of the steepest descent method (SDM), and the conjugate gradient method (CGM) are effective for solving well-posed linear systems. However, they are vulnerable to noisy disturbance for solving ill-posed linear systems. We propose the modifications of SDM and CGM, namely the modified steepest descent method (MSDM), and the modified conjugate gradient method (MCGM). The starting point is an invariant manifold defined in terms of a minimum functional and a fictitious time-like variable; however, in the final stage we can derive a purely iterative algorithm including an acceleration parameter. Through the Hopf bifurcation, this parameter indeed plays a major role to switch the situation of slow convergence to a new situation that the functional is stepwisely decreased very fast. Several numerical examples are examined and compared with exact solutions, revealing that the new algorithms of MSDM and MCGM have good computational efficiency and accuracy, even for the highly ill-conditioned linear equations system with a large noise being imposed on the given data

Exploring High Resolution Test Pattern To Improve The Cache Failure Analysis

Typically, only pass/fail basis test algorithm is being used to test the cache array in silicon devices. But the pass/fail basis test algorithm is insufficient to identify the failing characteristic of the cache array when it comes to the failure analysis (FA) and debug stage to find out the root cause of the failing mechanism. The resolution of test algorithm plays an important role in helping FA process to identify every single failing bits in cache array. In this dissertation, the concept of bringing up the Memory Build in Self-Test (MBIST) high resolution test pattern is discussed. The utilization of MBIST engine by insertion of the Capture Test Vector (CTV) element into the test algorithm is the main concept in increasing the resolution test pattern. At the same time, the importance of high resolution test pattern in FA process is being shown in a real case study. The generated high resolution test pattern is integrated for Automated Test Equipment (ATE) usage so that the test pattern can be applied in real silicon device testing. Then, a silicon device is edited using Focused Ion Beam (FIB) to destroy the memory bits in cache array for proving the test pattern is functioning properly. Finally, the high resolution test pattern is being used in real case application for proving the high resolution test pattern have the capability in improving FA efficiency in identifying the failing bits. The FA technique and application of using high resolution test pattern in debugging the cache failure are shown from the testing stage until the destructive FA stage. The finding in real case FA proved the concept of bring up the MBIST high resolution test pattern is working properly. It is able to increase the effectiveness of failure analysis and failure isolation process which indirectly increase the success rate for finding the root cause

Love motels : oriental phenomenon or emergent sector?

This study explores the 'Love Motel' concept by examining the changing attitude of consumers in Taiwan. This will increase knowledge of the sector and define love motels. The literature review charts the development of Taiwanese love motels from a duel origin; American Motels and Japanese 'Love Hotels.' This is followed by an empirical qualitative study consisting of a two-stage collection strategy: focus groups of hospitality and tourism professionals to gather a wide range of opinions on the subject area followed by semi-structured interviews with consumers. The findings split into three interrelated areas: growth of Taiwanese love motels due to more liberal attitudes towards sexual practice; a change in the public perception of motels due to increased standards and an increased satisfaction with the personal consumption experience; these hotels are designed for couples. The empirical element of this study is an exploration of consumer experience in Taiwanese love hotels. Due to the sensitive nature of some of the data that was gathered a qualitative approach has been adopted. The sexual associations with this product appear almost coincidental. If the love motel product is considered in its purest form it is simply a hotel product that provides complete anonymity for its guests. Therefore, despite its application in South East Asia, this hospitality concept has potential to be applied in a variety of guises. The phenomenon of 'Love Hotels' is absent from hospitality management literature; this paper begins to fill that gap by beginning a discussion on this possibly controversial sector

Pueblo, masas, escritores y estado en el período de constitución del campo literario argentino (1880−1920). La historia literaria desde la perspetiva de un materialismo cultural latinoamericano

La perspectiva dominante sobre la historia de la literatura argentina tiende a reducir el nacionalismo criollista de fines del siglo XIX y comienzos del XX a una de sus múltiples facetas: la reacción de la oligarquía argentina contra las luchas obreras introducidas por la inmigración. Esta reducción oscurece las complejas relaciones entre escritores, estado y sectores populares en este período. Diferentes estudios abren camino hacia una perspectiva alternativa. Éste artículo pretende realizar un aporte más para articular esta nueva posición. La argumentación se desarrolla en dos planos: a- una discusión de historia literaria: la apertura hacia la complejidad y ambivalencia de las relaciones entre el nacionalismo criollista y la literatura en las décadas de constitución del campo intelectual nacional en la capital federal (1880-1920); b- una discusión teórica: la necesidad de renovar nuestra mirada sobre lo popular-masivo para poder aprehenderlo como proceso de articulación radicalmente político e histórico; es en la cultura como proceso social donde esta articulación se realiza.Fil: Chein, Diego Jose. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucuman. Instituto de Investigaciones Sobre El Lenguaje y la Cultura. Universidad Nacional de Tucuman. Facultad de Filosofía y Letras. Cátedra de Literatura Argentina. Instituto de Investigaciones Sobre El Lenguaje y la Cultura; Argentin

Microsatellite genotyping clarified conspicuous accumulation of Candida parapsilosis at a cardiothoracic surgery intensive care unit.

Contains fulltext : 124291.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)Candida parapsilosis has become a significant cause of invasive fungal infections in seriously ill patients. Nosocomial outbreaks through direct and indirect contact have been described. The aim of this study was the molecular characterization of what appeared to be an ongoing C. parapsilosis outbreak at the cardiothoracic intensive care unit of the University Hospital of Vienna between January 2007 and December 2008. Using two different molecular typing methods-automated repetitive sequence-based PCR (DiversiLab; bioMerieux) and microsatellite genotyping-we investigated the genetic relationship of 99 C. parapsilosis isolates. Eighty-three isolates originated from the cardiothoracic intensive care unit, while 16 isolates were random control isolates from other intensive care units and a different Austrian hospital. The 99 C. parapsilosis isolates analyzed by repetitive-element PCR all showed identical genotypes, suggesting an ongoing outbreak. In contrast, microsatellite genotyping showed a total of 56 different genotypes. Two major genotypes were observed in 10 and 15 isolates, respectively, whereas another 13 genotypes were observed in 2 to 4 isolates each. Forty-one genotypes were observed only once. Closely related genotypes that differed in only a single microsatellite marker were grouped into clonal complexes. When it comes to C. parapsilosis, microsatellite genotyping is a more discriminative method than repetitive-element PCR genotyping to investigate outbreaks.1 november 201

Semi-supervised linear spectral unmixing using a hierarchical Bayesian model for hyperspectral imagery

This paper proposes a hierarchical Bayesian model that can be used for semi-supervised hyperspectral image unmixing. The model assumes that the pixel reflectances result from linear combinations of pure component spectra contaminated by an additive Gaussian noise. The abundance parameters appearing in this model satisfy positivity and additivity constraints. These constraints are naturally expressed in a Bayesian context by using appropriate abundance prior distributions. The posterior distributions of the unknown model parameters are then derived. A Gibbs sampler allows one to draw samples distributed according to the posteriors of interest and to estimate the unknown abundances. An extension of the algorithm is finally studied for mixtures with unknown numbers of spectral components belonging to a know library. The performance of the different unmixing strategies is evaluated via simulations conducted on synthetic and real data

Loops and the Lagrange property

Let \cF be a family of finite loops closed under subloops and factor loops. Then every loop in \cF has the strong Lagrange property if and only if every simple loop in \cF has the weak Lagrange property. We exhibit several such families, and indicate how the Lagrange property enters into the problem of existence of finite simple loops.Comment: 4 pages, LaTeX2e, uses natbib.sty, submitted to Results in Mathematic