Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Analysis of the Capitalisation of CAP Payments into Land Rental Rates in Ireland. Factor Markets Working Document No. 68, August 2013

EDITED VERSION SOON TO BE PUBLISHED In this paper the effect of decoupling on the capitalisation of agricultural subsidies into agricultural rents in Ireland are analysed using a dynamic rental equations estimated with a two step system GMM estimator that accounts for expectation error and endogenous regressors. The findings illustrate the importance of institutional details in determining the extent to which subsidies are capitalised. In the period prior to decoupling Pillar 1 subsidies were highly capitalised into Irish agricultural rents in both the short and the long run. Depending on the farm system considered between 58 to 80 cents per euro of subsidies were capitalised into agricultural rents. In the post decoupling period the rate at which Pillar 1 subsidies are capitalised into Irish agricultural rents is found to have declined. This change is likely due to short term character of the Irish agricultural land rental market, where 11 month rental periods predominate, and the freedom that the 2003 reform of the CAP offered farmers to consolidate entitlements established on rented land. The generally very short term nature of Irish agricultural rental contracts offered farmers an opportunity to consolidate entitlements that is unlikely to have arisen in other Member States with agricultural land rental markets characterised by long term contracts. The results in both the pre and post decoupling periods highlight the high degree of inertia of agricultural rents in Ireland, and the importance of accounting for dynamics when investigating the capitalisation of agricultural subsidies into land rents. The high degree of inertia in rents means that the impact of previously capitalised agricultural policy persists through time.
The effectiveness of zakat in alleviating poverty and inequalities: A measurement using a newly developed technique

Purpose - – The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of zakat (the Islamic tax) in alleviating poverty and inequality in Pakistan using a newly developed index, namely, the Basic Needs Deficiency Index (BNDI). Design/methodology/approach - – The study formulates an index (BNDI) to measure the deficiency and effectiveness of zakat as one of the different items of government expenditure/spending to alleviate poverty. In this paper, Pakistan is chosen as a case study for two reasons: the availability and accessibility of data required for computing BNDI; and, in the past, no index such as this had been used to measure poverty in Pakistan. Findings - – The results obtained from the computation of the BNDI have been able to explain the effectiveness of zakat in alleviating poverty and inequality in Pakistan. Practical implications - – The findings of the study can be used by policymakers to measure and improve the effectiveness of zakat in reducing poverty and inequality. Social implications - – As the ultimate beneficiaries of zakat are the poor people, the outcome of this study may help improve their quality of life. Originality/value - – The paper develops a new methodology to measure poverty alleviation in Pakistan, focusing on the poor households’ consumption/expenditure on basic needs, government spending in terms of zakat and the number of zakat recipients as the three main determinants. The index developed in the present study can be applied to measure the performance of all Muslim countries whose provision of zakat is embedded in the national agenda to alleviate poverty.
The determinants of Euro Zone Government credit spreads

This paper studies the determinants of the Euro Zone government credit spreads. We analyzed the sensitivity of credit spread changes to financial and macroeconomic variables. We used the popular parameterization of the zero-coupon yield curve introduced by Nelson and Siegel (1987) in order to estimate the term structure of interest rates for seven EMU countries from January 2000 to December 2005. Sovereign credit spreads are computed from each of the countries against Germany, which was considered as the EMU benchmark. Subsequent analysis is made following Van Landschoot (2004) and Dullmann et al. (2000). Results suggest that the level of spot interest rates and the slope of the yield curve are statistically significant explanatory variables of credit spread changes, whereas other macroeconomic and market related variables present mixed conclusions. Panel data analysis shows that there is no evidence of different responses to credit spread changes across countries.
System Dynamics Based Simulation for Airport Revenue Analysis

Under increasing competition and pressure for financial self-sufficiency, airports have adopted various strategies. This paper presents a System Dynamics simulation model exploring relationships between airport, airline, and passengers through fares and fees. The case study is a small to medium size international airport (Perth, WA), fully private and light-hand regulated and the model investigates two scenarios of airport charges for two routes where five airlines operate. The changes in airport fees affect differently the airlines and the cumulated aeronautical and non-aeronautical revenues confirm the two-sided view of airport operation.
No Counterpart of Visual Perceptual Echoes in the Auditory System

It has been previously demonstrated by our group that a visual stimulus made of dynamically changing luminance evokes an echo or reverberation at ∼10 Hz, lasting up to a second. In this study we aimed to reveal whether similar echoes also exist in the auditory modality. A dynamically changing auditory stimulus equivalent to the visual stimulus was designed and employed in two separate series of experiments, and the presence of reverberations was analyzed based on reverse correlations between stimulus sequences and EEG epochs. The first experiment directly compared visual and auditory stimuli: while previous findings of ∼10 Hz visual echoes were verified, no similar echo was found in the auditory modality regardless of frequency. In the second experiment, we tested if auditory sequences would influence the visual echoes when they were congruent or incongruent with the visual sequences. However, the results in that case similarly did not reveal any auditory echoes, nor any change in the characteristics of visual echoes as a function of audio-visual congruence. The negative findings from these experiments suggest that brain oscillations do not equivalently affect early sensory processes in the visual and auditory modalities, and that alpha (8–13 Hz) oscillations play a special role in vision.
Knowledge, attitudes and practice of general practitioners towards complementary and alternative medicine in Doha, Qatar.

A cross-sectional study of knowledge, attitudes and practice of general practitioners (GPs) towards complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) was conducted in Doha, Qatar. Out of 119 respondents, 39.1% reported poor knowledge about CAM. Self-reported knowledge was highest for counselling and psychotherapy (69.0%), diet and supplements (68.1%), acupuncture (45.2%), herbal medicine (47.3%) and massage (42.5%). While 83.8% described their attitude to CAM as welcoming and 97.5% were interested to learn more about it, fewer (30.1%) had practised it before, referred patients (24.8%) or asked patients' about their use of CAM (34.8%). Their own lack of knowledge and training in CAM was seen as a barrier to its use by 60.0% of the GPs.
Interdigitating dendritic cell sarcoma occured alone in axilla

Interdigitating dendritic cell sarcoma (IDCS) is a very rare disease around the world and its prognosis is known to be aggressive. This reports a case diagnosed as IDCS of the axillary region treated in Soonchunhyang University Hospital. A 57-year-old female visited Soonchunhyang University Hospital with a left axillary mass. The mass was hard and fixed. Computed tomography observed a 7 cm lymph node at the left axilla, and core biopsy suspected sarcoma. In another study, there was no specific finding except the axillary lesion. Left axillary lymph node dissection (level I, II) was conducted and the pathologic report finally showed IDCS. The patient was treated with only radiotherapy and followed up without recurrence for 13 months up to now. IDCS is a very rare sarcoma that is hard to diagnose and progresses fast. Thus, treatment is very difficult. Proper treatment can be better established after more experiences.
Leadership: Enhancing the Lessons of Experience

PART ONE LEADERSHIP IS A PROCESS, NOT A POSITION 1 Leadership is Everyone's Business 2 Leadership Involves an Interaction between the Leader, the Followers and the Situation 3 Leadership is Developed through Education and Experience 4 Assessing Leadership and Measuring Its Effects PART TWO FOCUS ON THE LEADER 5 Power and Influence 6 Leadership and Values 7 Leadership Traits 8 Leadership Behavior Part Two Leadership Skills * Learning from experience * Communication * Listening * Assertiveness * Guidelines for effective stress management * Building technical competence * Building effective relationships with superiors * Building effective relationships with peers * Building Credibility PART THREE FOCUS ON THE FOLLOWERS 9 Motivation, Satisfaction and Performance 10 Groups, Teams and Their Leadership Part Three Leadership Skills * Providing constructive feedback * Punishment * Delegating * Team building for work teams * Building high performance teams: the rocket model * Development planning * Coaching * Empowerment PART FOUR FOCUS ON THE SITUATION 11 Characteristics of the Situation 12 Contingency Theories of Leadership 13 Leadership and Change Part Four Leadership Skills * Setting Goals * Conducting Meetings * Managing Conflict * Negotiation * Problem Solving * Improving Creativity * Diagnosing Performance Problems in Individuals, Groups and Organizations * Team Building at the Top
The Effect of Lagged Regulation in an Averch-Johnson Model

The analysis seeks to determine the impact of lagged regulation on a profit-maximizing firm subject to a rate-of-return constraint. We are particularly interested in the effect of lag on the accomplishment of two regulatory goals: minimum-cost production, and an output greater than that of an unconstrained monopoly. The extend to which these goals are reached depends on whether the fair rate of return is equal to the cost of capital or somewhat higher. If the two are equal, lagged regulation accomplishes both goals; this contrasts sharply with continuous regulation, where the firm is indifferent among all methods of production or levels of output that let it break even in its operations. If the rate of return is above the cost of capital, it will not always pay for the firm to alter its resource allocation from the overcapitalized level indicated by Averch and Johnson. There will, however, be some length of the lag interval above which the firm will overcapitalize by successively smaller amounts, with attendant increases in output from the Averch-Johnson level.
Comparison of Chemical Approaches for Assessing Bioavailability of Sediment-Associated Contaminants

Two chemical approaches, Tenax extraction and matrix solid-phase microextraction (matrix-SPME), were compared to assess the bioavailability of hydrophobic contaminants from sediment. Hexachlorobiphenyl, DDE, permethrin, chlorpyrifos, and phenanthrene were individually spiked into two sediments differing in physical characteristics. Bioaccumulation was determined by exposing the oligochaete, Lumbriculus variegatus, to the spiked sediments. The rapidly desorbing fraction from Tenax extraction at 6 h and fiber concentration at 14 d from the matrix-SPME were compared for predicting bioaccumulation. Further, a comparison between laboratory-spiked and fieldcontaminated sediments was conducted. A regression between the rapidly desorbed sediment concentration at 6 h and the amount bioaccumulated across compounds and sediments described 94% of the variation in the data when phenanthrene was excluded. Phenanthrene was excluded because of complications due to a combination of biotransformation and rapid elimination during the sampling process. Contaminant accumulation by L. variegatus also correlated well with matrix-SPME fiber concentrations, accounting for 92% of the variation in the data, again excluding phenanthrene. Both chemical methods provided matrixand chemical-independent estimations of bioaccumulation for hydrophobic contaminants without extensive biotransformation.
Sounds of the neighborhood: False memories and the structure of the phonological lexicon

The development of a well-formulated view of the memory storage systems (lexicons) involved in word recognition is a central goal of research on language processes. Assumptions about the organizing characteristics and structures of these memory systems are found in various discussions of lexical neighborhoods (Coltheart, Davelaar, Jonasson, & Besner, 1977) or cohorts (Johnson & Pugh, 1994; Marslen-Wilson, 1990). The focus of neighborhood research in visual word recognition has been primarily at the orthographic level. Several articles have discussed how orthographic neighborhood effects provide insight into the manner by which visual words are translated into sound and meaning during reading. In this article, we move the investigation to the phonological lexicon in an attempt to establish the word characteristics that best reflect phonological lexical organization. We describe two phonological false memory experiments that demonstrate that the initial two phonemes of phonological CVC words play a central role in predicting false memories for unpresented items. We also provide evidence of sustained and complementary activation when lists of items provide converging information about the unpresented critical lure.
An exploratory study of Hispanic officer recruiting in the Mexican-American community of South-Central Los Angeles: implications for the officer corps of the future

Abstract : This thesis examines factors relating to youth interest in joining the Navy among the Hispanic population in South-Central Los Angeles, California. The study begins with a comprehensive review of literature on Hispanics of Mexican origin. Information on youth interest in the Navy is gleaned from personal interviews with teachers, counselors, JROTC instructors, military recruiters, and local clergy. The results suggest that Hispanic youths are limited from pursuing higher education because of poor academic preparation, underdeveloped English-language skills, poverty, and crime. The population also faces unique cultural and regional challenges that stem from historical influences and the close proximity of Mexico to the U.S. Additionally, evidence suggests that high school teachers and administrators are often barriers to youth awareness of military service. It is recommended that the Navy or Department of Defense form partnerships with schools and community organizations in largely Hispanic regions to identify and overcome the various obstacles that limit youth from pursuing higher education, learning about opportunities for military service, and qualifying for the Navy's officer programs.
Test collection recycling for semantic text similarity

Semantic text similarity (STS) uses specific test collections as its performance evaluation measurement. The test collections consist of text pairs with the same meaning even though in different text form. The existence is scarce compared with information retrieval (IR) test collections. This paper investigates the possibility to reuse IR test collections for STS tasks. Text pairs are derived from the relevant pair of IR test collections. Latent semantic analysis (LSA) and explicit semantic analysis (ESA) evaluate Glasgow's test collections, which are provided by ACM SIGIR community. Jaccard index measures the lexical similarity. Recall metric measures retrievability of recycling test collection with two existing test collections, Microsoft research paraphrase corpus and Microsoft research video description corpus, as evaluation baselines. Evaluation yields a promising outcome; the evaluated test collections have low Jaccard index and their recall values between the two baselines.
The rat ventromedial thalamic nucleus and motor control: role of N- methyl-D-aspartate-mediated excitation, GABAergic inhibition, and muscarinic transmission

The rat ventromedial thalamic nucleus (VM) is a point of convergence of several pathways that are supposed to be involved in motor control. Cortical fibers terminating within this nucleus use an excitatory amino acid, possibly L-glutamate, as their transmitter. Excitatory amino acids are known to interact with N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), kainate, and quisqualate receptors, the presence of which has been demonstrated within the thalamus, gamma-Amino-butyrate (GABA) has been identified as the transmitter of the basal ganglia afferents to the VM, whereas cerebellar afferents to the VM are supposed to release ACh acting on muscarinic receptors. The present study investigates the behavioral and motor consequences of local injections of drugs into the VM, which specifically interact with NMDA, GABA, and muscarine receptors. Both the NMDA antagonist (-)2-amino-7-phosphonoheptanoate [(-)AP7], and the GABA agonist muscimol, but not the muscarinic antagonist scopolamine, induced catalepsy and limb rigidity. Both the (-)AP7- and muscimol- induced catalepsy were antagonized by coadministration of NMDA and the GABA antagonist bicuculline. The (-)AP7-induced catalepsy was characterized as an akinetic-rigid syndrome, in which the ability to induce a phasic activation of a set of muscles is lost and replaced by exaggerated tonic muscular responses. NMDA, bicuculline, and the muscarinic agonist bethanechol induced an increase in locomotor activity. The present study provides evidence that an imbalance between NMDA-mediated excitation and GABAergic inhibition within the rat VM leads to disturbances of motility, whereas muscarinic transmission within this nucleus appears to be of minor importance.
An Analysis of the Relationships Between the Perceived Organizational Climate and Professional Burnout in Libraries and Computing Centers in West Virginia Public Higher Education Institutions

An Analysis of the Relationships Between the Perceived Organizational Climate and Professional Burnout in Libraries and Computing Centers in West Virginia Public Higher Education Institutions Arnold R. Miller The purpose of this study was to determine the relationships between the perceived organizational climate and professional burnout in libraries and computing services units in West Virginia higher education. Research questions were defined to investigate the differences between libraries and computing services units in the perceived organizational climate, professional burnout, organizational climate vs. burnout, demographics vs. organizational climate, demographics vs. burnout, and the combined effects of demographics and organizational climate upon burnout. The Work Environment Scale (WES) Form R, third edition, the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) HSS, third edition, and a demographic questionnaire measured the organizational climate, burnout, and demographics. Standard research methods were used to collect, analyze, and report on the data. The research population was the 521 library and computing services staff and faculty employees of the West Virginia public higher education institutions. Correlation and ANOVA techniques were used. Findings included: (a) significant differences in gender distribution, percentage of supervisors, marital status, and faculty classification, but not in occurrence of direct client contact, age, education, or years in their profession or position, (b) significant divergences from the published norms for each measure of the WES or MBI toward a positive environment, except a significantly lower level of personal accomplishment compared to the postsecondary education norms (c) significant differences in the organizational climate measures of Work Pressure, Clarity, and the Work Stressors Index, (d) no significant differences in burnout measures, (e) a significant relationship between positive environmental characteristics and lowered burnout indicators in both groups, (f) consistent relationships between demographics and organizational climate with other reported studies, (g) consistent relationships between demographics and burnout measures with other studies except no relationship with gender and a positive relationship between education and burnout, and (h) the Relationships dimension of the WES was the most important factor related to lower burnout measures for both units, however the WES Personal Growth dimension and general experience seemed to have a larger relationship with decreased burnout in computing services and the WES System Maintenance and Change dimension and being married have a larger relationship with decreased burnout in libraries
Thalamic Gap Junctions Control Local Neuronal Synchrony and Influence Macroscopic Oscillation Amplitude during EEG Alpha Rhythms

Although EEG alpha (α; 8–13 Hz) rhythms are often considered to reflect an “idling” brain state, numerous studies indicate that they are also related to many aspects of perception. Recently, we outlined a potential cellular substrate by which such aspects of perception might be linked to basic α rhythm mechanisms. This scheme relies on a specialized subset of rhythmically bursting thalamocortical (TC) neurons (high-threshold bursting cells) in the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) which are interconnected by gap junctions (GJs). By engaging GABAergic interneurons, that in turn inhibit conventional relay-mode TC neurons, these cells can lead to an effective temporal framing of thalamic relay-mode output. Although the role of GJs is pivotal in this scheme, evidence for their involvement in thalamic α rhythms has thus far mainly derived from experiments in in vitro slice preparations. In addition, direct anatomical evidence of neuronal GJs in the LGN is currently lacking. To address the first of these issues we tested the effects of the GJ inhibitors, carbenoxolone (CBX), and 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid (18β-GA), given directly to the LGN via reverse microdialysis, on spontaneous LGN and EEG α rhythms in behaving cats. We also examined the effect of CBX on α rhythm-related LGN unit activity. Indicative of a role for thalamic GJs in these activities, 18β-GA and CBX reversibly suppressed both LGN and EEG α rhythms, with CBX also decreasing neuronal synchrony. To address the second point, we used electron microscopy to obtain definitive ultrastructural evidence for the presence of GJs between neurons in the cat LGN. As interneurons show no phenotypic evidence of GJ coupling (i.e., dye-coupling and spikelets) we conclude that these GJs must belong to TC neurons. The potential significance of these findings for relating macroscopic changes in α rhythms to basic cellular processes is discussed.
Interactive comment on “ simpleGAMMA – a reduced model of secondary organic aerosol formation in the aqueous aerosol phase ( aaSOA ) ”

’aaSOA’ has not been defined. Introduction: 2nd sentence: (i) The study by Hodzic et al., ACP (2010) should be cited here that shows that total SOA mass can be predicted. I do agree with the fact that this might be for wrong reasons as individual properties (e.g. oxygenation state) are still biased. (ii) ’oxidation state’ usually refers to a single atom within a molecule (e.g. +4 for C in CO2). If the bulk OA is characterized, ’oxygenation state’ might be more appropriate. p. 465, l. 23: It is not clear what is meant by ’bulk aqueous uptake’. The study by Schwartz describes the kinetic uptake of trace gases and can be applied to bulk phases or individual droplets.