Search results for "Degree"
showing 10 items of 875 documents
Should all microfinance institutions mobilize microsavings? Evidence from economies of scope
2014
Published version of an article from the journal: Empirical Economics. Also available from the publisher on SpringetLink: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00181-014-0861-3 We extend a recently developed generalized local polynomial estimator into a semiparametric smooth coefficient framework to estimate a generalized cost function. The advantage of the generalized local polynomial approach is that we can simultaneously choose the degree of polynomial for each continuous nonparametric regressor and the bandwidths via data-driven methods. We provide estimates of scope economies from the joint production of microloans and microdeposits for a dataset of Microfinance Institutions from over 50 countrie…
A spatial analysis of new business formation: Replicative vs innovative behaviour
2017
Abstract Using spatial econometric tools, the paper examines the spatial structure of new business formation of Italian regions during the period 2004–2007. In particular, the study empirically investigates whether new business formation in a given geographical area may be explained in terms of replicative and/or innovative entrepreneurial behaviour in each area as well as in the neighbouring areas. Additionally, the analysis focuses on the influence of urbanization on the birth of new firms. From the estimation of a Spatial Durbin Model, we find a significant degree of spatial dependence among Italian regions not only in new business formation but also in some of its determinants. We also …
Differential geometric least angle regression: a differential geometric approach to sparse generalized linear models
2013
Summary Sparsity is an essential feature of many contemporary data problems. Remote sensing, various forms of automated screening and other high throughput measurement devices collect a large amount of information, typically about few independent statistical subjects or units. In certain cases it is reasonable to assume that the underlying process generating the data is itself sparse, in the sense that only a few of the measured variables are involved in the process. We propose an explicit method of monotonically decreasing sparsity for outcomes that can be modelled by an exponential family. In our approach we generalize the equiangular condition in a generalized linear model. Although the …
Immune networks: multitasking capabilities near saturation
2013
Pattern-diluted associative networks were introduced recently as models for the immune system, with nodes representing T-lymphocytes and stored patterns representing signalling protocols between T- and B-lymphocytes. It was shown earlier that in the regime of extreme pattern dilution, a system with $N_T$ T-lymphocytes can manage a number $N_B!=!\order(N_T^\delta)$ of B-lymphocytes simultaneously, with $\delta!<!1$. Here we study this model in the extensive load regime $N_B!=!\alpha N_T$, with also a high degree of pattern dilution, in agreement with immunological findings. We use graph theory and statistical mechanical analysis based on replica methods to show that in the finite-connectivit…
Decomposable multiphase entropic descriptor
2013
To quantify degree of spatial inhomogeneity for multiphase materials we adapt the entropic descriptor (ED) of a pillar model developed to greyscale images. To uncover the contribution of each phase we introduce the suitable 'phase splitting' of the adapted descriptor. As a result, each of the phase descriptors (PDs) describes the spatial inhomogeneity attributed to each phase-component. Obviously, their sum equals to the value of the overall spatial inhomogeneity. We apply this approach to three-phase synthetic patterns. The black and grey components are aggregated or clustered while the white phase is the background one. The examples show how the valuable microstuctural information related…
Degree course change and student performance: a mixed-effect approach
2015
This paper focuses on students credits earning speed over time and its determinants, dealing with the huge percentage of students who do not take the degree within the legal duration in the Italian University System. A new indicator for the performance of the student career is proposed on real data, concerning the cohort of students enrolled at a Faculty of the University of Palermo (followed for 7 years). The new indicator highlights a typical zero-inflated distribution and suggests to investigate the effect of the degree course (DC) change on the student career. A mixed-effect model for overdispersed data is considered, with the aim of taking into account the individual variability as wel…
Immune networks: Multi-tasking capabilities at medium load
2013
Associative network models featuring multi-tasking properties have been introduced recently and studied in the low load regime, where the number $P$ of simultaneously retrievable patterns scales with the number $N$ of nodes as $P\sim \log N$. In addition to their relevance in artificial intelligence, these models are increasingly important in immunology, where stored patterns represent strategies to fight pathogens and nodes represent lymphocyte clones. They allow us to understand the crucial ability of the immune system to respond simultaneously to multiple distinct antigen invasions. Here we develop further the statistical mechanical analysis of such systems, by studying the medium load r…
A Hooke's law-based approach to protein folding rate
2014
Kinetics is a key aspect of the renowned protein folding problem. Here, we propose a comprehensive approach to folding kinetics where a polypeptide chain is assumed to behave as an elastic material described by the Hooke[U+05F3]s law. A novel parameter called elastic-folding constant results from our model and is suggested to distinguish between protein with two-state and multi-state folding pathways. A contact-free descriptor, named folding degree, is introduced as a suitable structural feature to study protein-folding kinetics. This approach generalizes the observed correlations between varieties of structural descriptors with the folding rate constant. Additionally several comparisons am…
Quantum correlations in generalized spin star system
2006
The problem of detecting quantum signatures in the correlations formed in dynamical evolution of quantum bipartite systems receives a lot of attention in current literature. Generally speaking, the occurrence of correlations between two observables of a system does not necessarily reflect nonclassical behaviour. In this paper, the exact dynamics of a pair of uncoupled spins 1/2 interacting with a common spin 1/2 bath is investigated. Starting from a separable initial condition, the ability of the system to develop purely quantum correlations is brought to light. Physical interpretation of the concurrence function as well as a suggestion on how to measure it are given.
Spectrum emitted by a trapped electron
2007
We study the behaviour of a homonuclear molecule driven by an intense laser field. Newton's laws are used to describe the dynamics of nuclei while the quantal approach is reserved to the study of the electron. It is observed that the nuclei can oscillate or dissociate according to the degree of ionization of the molecule. In case of low ionization rate it is shown that great amount of information can be obtained by using the simplified approaches of fixed nuclei and of two-state approximation. Under suitable conditions the electron wave function spends a long time localized around one nucleus. The harmonic generation of the molecule is studied and seen to contain even harmonics.