Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Finite Difference Method for Solving the Three-Dimensional EEG Forward Problem

A finite difference method (FDM) has been implemented to solve the electroencephalogram (EEG) forward problem. This method has been evaluated by means of computer simulations, by comparing with analytic solutions in a three-sphere concentric head model. The effects of dipole eccentricity, spacing of finite difference model and number of grid nodes on solution accuracy are also addressed in the simulations. The simulation results suggest that the FDM can achieve satisfactory forward solution due to a dipole source
The Distribution of the Instrumental Variables Estimator and its T-Ratiowhen the Instrument is a Poor One

When the instrumental variable is a poor one, in the sense of being weakly correlated with the variable it proxies, the small sample distribution of the IV estimator is concentrated around a value that is inversely related to the feedback in the system and which is often further from the true value than is the plim of OLS. The sample variance of residuals similarly becomes concentrated around a value which reflects feedback and not the variance of the disturbance. The distribution of the t-ratio reflects both of these effects, stronger feedback producing larger t-ratios. Thus, in situations where OLS is badly biased, a poor instrument will lead to spurious inferences under IV estimation with high probability, and generally perform worse than OLS.
On the Past and Future of Policy Transfer Research: Benson and Jordan Revisited

David Benson and Andrew Jordan's article ‘What Have We Learned from Policy Transfer Research? Dolowitz and Marsh Revisited’ provides a timely and interesting assessment on the state of the art. However, it is also a debatable one for at least two reasons: because it more or less assumes that Dolowitz and Marsh's works have provided the intellectual foundations of the policy transfer approach; and because Benson and Jordan use a rather restrictive understanding of what counts as ‘policy transfer’ studies. This article will challenge these assumptions and will argue that we can find conceptualisations and questions about policy transfer in earlier works by other scholars; that Dolowitz and Marsh's definition of ‘policy transfer’ is widely used, but has been subject to more criticisms than Benson and Jordan acknowledge; that a thorough assessment of our knowledge about policy transfer requires the use of a less restrictive approach; and that developments in policy transfer and associated research areas should be further integrated to improve our understanding of how and why governments use foreign experiences in devising their own policies.
A comparison of adoption models for new mobile media services between high- and low-motive groups

This study aimed to explore what factors influence mobile media users' adoption of new services and whether the adoption models differ depending on users' motives to use mobile media. The decomposed Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) and uses and gratifications theory were used as theoretical frameworks. Methodologically, an online survey was conducted with 400 Korean mobile users and structural equation modelling was employed. As a result, the proposed model explained well users' adoption intention for new mobile services. Especially, high- and low-motive groups showed significant differences in terms of the influence of subjective norms and Perceived Behavioural Control (PBC).
Expat-Friendly Public Policy for Istanbul: From Discourse to Action

In the developed countries there is a growing discourse about attracting human capital as one of the key tools to strengthen the economic competitiveness. This phenomenon is also visible at local level, notably through increasing focus on city branding and emphasis on attraction of talents and investors, and increased involvement of local/regional governments in this field. Turkey also steadily adopts similar discourse in its policy documents such as the national and local plans and strategy papers; these documents emphasize the goal of becoming “center of attraction” and gaining qualified labor force. Istanbul plays an important role as a major experimentation site for the success of such policy. In this framework Turkey transforms and modernizes its migration policy, and the officials call for various policies and practices that would create favorable living and working conditions for foreigners or expats. However this approach is not yet translated into concrete actions that would have tangible impact on public sector policies and institutions in Istanbul, whether central or local/metropolitan government units, and that would be visible to the expats themselves. The analysis of the findings of the survey realized by the authors in order to measure the perception of public services in Istanbul by the expats, combined with other resources, suggests that, despite the higher level discourse, public institutions lack concrete policies on the ground. The article therefore formulates several recommendations to raise the awareness of decision-makers and to develop expat-friendly public policy in Istanbul
Tax Performance: A Comparative Study

This paper seeks to analyse tax performance across countries, utilizing what Musgrave (1969) referred to as the stochastic approach, where tax performance is analysed by comparisons with the average performance. The regression approach to tax performance assessment is used and a tax effort index is constructed. Among the variables that are identified to be important determinants of tax shares is a measure of tax evasion. The tax effort indices obtained show that generally the upper middle-income and high-income OECD groups are making better use of their tax bases to increase revenue. There are also economies of scale with respect to population density. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Lessons Lost in Linearity: A Critical Assessment of the General Usefulness of LEN Models in Compensation Research

As the Linear‐Exponential‐Normal (LEN) Principal‐Agent model has gained in popularity, it has also increasingly been applied to problems inherently inconsistent with the assumptions underpinning this fragile framework. Concerns regarding LEN analysis in such cases are generally countered by appealing to the results' intuitive nature. When consistent with economic intuition, it is argued, the constraints the LEN framework imposes on such problems are likely non‐consequential. This paper demonstrates in two simple cases that even seemingly intuitive results of non‐optimal LEN analysis can be fundamentally different from the results that obtain from analysis of the unrestricted programs. Accordingly the paper makes a case for limiting LEN‐type analysis to settings that are actually compatible with this framework.
Intra-Industry Effects of Earnings Restatements Due to Accounting Irregularities

This paper investigates the intra-industry effects of earnings restatements due to accounting irregularities. We detect a significant contagion effect for rival firms whose cash flow characteristics are similar to those of the restating firm. The restatement doesn't seem to influence all the firms in the industry or firms that have a high probability of involving the same type of accounting irregularity as the restating firm does. We do not detect any competitive effect; nor do we find a significant change in the implied cost of equity capital of the rival firms, suggesting that the contagion effect is due to the revision in the expected short-run future earnings of the rival firms.
SIMPLE SEPARATION OF CHICKEN GONADAL PRIMORDIAL GERM CELLS WITH AND WITHOUT FOREIGN GENES

Simplicity is the key element of an inexpensive technique described that is superior in performance to previous methods. It can make it the rapid method of choice to obtain reasonable yields of purified primordial germ cells (PGCs) for immediate production of germline chimeric chickens with integrated foreign genes. After Ficoll centrifugation, the purity of PGCs from gonads was 80.9±0.08% (mechanical) compared with 86.1±0.19% (enzymatic). GFP gene and lacZ‐transduced chicken gonadal primordial germ cells (gPGCs) examined 72h after transduction had a transfection efficiency of ∼61% and ∼64%, respectively. After 10 days of G418 selection, approximately 90 and 92% of pure gPGCs did not contain other cells following this Ficoll gradient centrifugation method of preparation.
The Changing Structure of Communist Party Membership in Urban China, 1988–2002

This paper examines changes in the membership structure of the Communist Party of China during the 1990s. It concentrates on urban China to investigate the relationship between socioeconomic characteristics of the region (city) and the age, educational, and occupational structures of the regional party. The major findings are as follows. First, the development of marketization has widened opportunities for the younger generation to achieve socioeconomic success outside party membership. Second, the younger generation's incentives for joining the party have consequently been increasingly important determinants of the party's membership structure. Third, the subsequent technocratic reorganization of the urban party seems to have progressed through the conventional bureaucratic-elite path in the government and publicly owned sectors rather than through the newly emerging qualified professional-elite path.
Climate change adaptation cost in the US: what do we know?

Researchers and policy makers increasingly recognize the need to adapt to future changes in climate, given that past emissions of greenhouse gases have already committed the world to some level of climate change. However, the current understanding of the costs and benefits of adaptation measures is still fairly rudimentary, and far from comprehensive. An assessment is presented of the current state of knowledge on the magnitude of adaptation costs in the United States. While incomplete, the studies suggest that adaptation cost could be as high as tens or hundreds of billions of dollars per year by the middle of this century. Key studies are identified in each sector, and the cost estimates and approaches to cost estimation are surveyed. Methodological issues are highlighted in interpreting, comparing, and aggregating adaptation cost estimates. Policy recommendations are made along with appropriate steps to make future adaptation cost studies more comparable within and across sectors and more accessible and relevant to policy and decision makers. Policy relevance Designing and implementing climate change adaptation policy requires good information about the effectiveness and cost of available adaptive options. The current state of knowledge on adaptation costs in the United States is assessed and significant gaps in the literature are highlighted – particularly in terms of sectoral and geographic coverage – as well as inconsistencies in methodologies and assumptions that hamper comparison across studies. Critical steps are identified that can be taken to make adaptation cost studies more accessible and useful to decision makers. The findings and recommendations are relevant to adaptation cost studies globally, not just in the United States.
Cash Flow Management: Assessing Its Impact on the Operational Performance of Small and Medium Size Enterprises at the Mafikeng Local Municipality in South Africa Prior to the Global Financial Crisis

Aims: This study propped up as a result of the repeated complaints from both electronic mails and customers’ about the underperformance of Mafikeng Small and Medium-Size enterprises after the global financial crisis. The authors were on the view that, poor operational performance experienced by Mafikeng SMEs was as a result of the negative effects on the cash flow of these businesses due to volatilities in the business environment in general prior to the global crisis. Thus, the paper was mainly aimed at determining the shortcomings experienced by these SMEs with regards to cash flow management. It was also aimed at suggesting possible measures to improve cash flow management of these SMEs in this tough time. Methods: A case study was conducted on 3 beverage suppliers, 27 bottle stores, 3 largest fast consumer goods super markets and 7 automobiles enterprises in the Mafikeng local municipality. The study made use of a mixed method approach. A purposive sampling was used in selecting SMEs that participated. Views and experiences of participants of the paper were captured through in-depth interviews. Data from the empirical investigation were interpreted using open coding and a simple percentage formula. Results: Findings from the empirical research reflected that majority of Mafikeng SMEs suffer poor operational performance prior to the global financial crisis primarily as a result of poor cash flow management. However, the empirical outcome also indicted other secondary factors contributing to this poor operational performance. Conclusion: Finally, the authors proposed possible measures that could be used to improve cash flow management and to solve other factors affecting operational performance in Mafikeng bottle stores in other to achieve better business performance. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014. v5n27p226
Does employee remuneration dispersion in the South African economy enhance labour productivity? The Gauteng manufacturing industry as a case study : original research

Orientation : The paper dealt with the application of a suitable econometric estimation model or procedure to measure the relation between employee-remuneration gaps and labour productivity in the Gauteng manufacturing industry. Research purpose : The aim of the article was to estimate the sign and magnitude of the relation between employee-remuneration gaps and labour productivity econometrically. The Gauteng manufacturing sector was used as a case study. Motivation for the study : The empirical research was deemed necessary given the current important debate on the perceived impact and fairness of expanding employee-remuneration gaps in the South African workplace. International studies have been conducted on this particular topic but very limited empirical research has been published regarding the South African situation. Research design, approach and method : A log-linear two-step OLS estimation was used to estimate the sign and magnitude of the relation between employee-remuneration gaps and labour productivity. Employee remuneration gap-labour productivity (ERGLP) indicator coefficients were estimated, taking into consideration employee characteristics, skill levels and business or economic uncertainty. Main findings : The signs of the ERGLP indicator coefficients were positive in terms of all the categories, indicating a positive relation between employment-remuneration gaps and labour productivity (at varying magnitudes). The squared ERGLP indicator coefficients confirmed the existence of diminishing marginal productivity characteristics after an optimal employee remuneration gap level. Practical / managerial implications :It is recommended that, given the unionised nature of the lower-skilled employee segment in South Africa, greater labour-productivity gains for organisations would stem from a more dispersed employee-remuneration regime for the higher-skilled employee segment (albeit in a less uncertain business or economic environment). Contribution / value-add : An econometric estimation procedure that can be applied to the measurement of the productivity gains of employee-remuneration gaps for different industries in the South African economy was established.
Administrative Reform and the Egyptian Ministry of Education.

The difference between developed and less developed countries resides to a great extent in the effectiveness of their administrative systems. The objective of this study is to identify and analyse the organisational constraints acting upon and within the Egyptian Ministry of Education that deter its capacity for administrative reform. Critical management processes are examined, such as policy formation, promotion procedures, planning, resource distribution, and local level decision making. Field visits to several regional school systems, as well as interviews with most of the senior ministry officials, were carried out by a team of American and Egyptian researchers. The research is significant because it provides a close examination of a system closed to most Western researchers. The administrative structure of the Ministry will be of interest to scholars because, even though it is highly bureaucratic, it operates with relative efficiency. However, what it cannot do with any degree of effectiveness is cha.
Consistency of the Proteome in Primary Human Keratinocytes With Respect to Gender, Age, and Skin Localization*

Keratinocytes account for 95% of all cells of the epidermis, the stratified squamous epithelium forming the outer layer of the skin, in which a significant number of skin diseases takes root. Immortalized keratinocyte cell lines are often used as research model systems providing standardized, reproducible, and homogenous biological material. Apart from that, primary human keratinocytes are frequently used for medical studies because the skin provides an important route for drug administration and is readily accessible for biopsies. However, comparability of these cell systems is not known. Cell lines may undergo phenotypic shifts and may differ from the in vivo situation in important aspects. Primary cells, on the other hand, may vary in biological functions depending on gender and age of the donor and localization of the biopsy specimen. Here we employed metabolic labeling in combination with quantitative mass spectrometry-based proteomics to assess A431 and HaCaT cell lines for their suitability as model systems. Compared with cell lines, comprehensive profiling of the primary human keratinocyte proteome with respect to gender, age, and skin localization identified an unexpected high proteomic consistency. The data were analyzed by an improved ontology enrichment analysis workflow designed for the study of global proteomics experiments. It enables a quick, comprehensive and unbiased overview of altered biological phenomena and links experimental data to literature. We guide through our workflow, point out its advantages compared with other methods and apply it to visualize differences of cell lines compared with primary human keratinocytes.
Foreign direct investment in developing countries : patterns, policies, and prospects

This study provides a summary of patterns, policies, and prospects concerning the foreign direct investment (FDI) in developing countries. The focus of the study is on host country policies, but the policies of home governments and international institutions are also analyzed. The emphasis of the study is on the factors that affect the patterns and trends of FDI in developing countries. Implicit to the study is the theme that FDI can make significant contributions to the long-term development process and that policy reforms that contribute to greater FDI are consequently desirable. The analysis of FDI presented here is based in substantial part on the findings of 11 country studies. The author found that the public policy environment for FDI has improved in recent years. There is more appreciation of FDI's contributions (such as transfer of technology and managerial skills, export market development, stimulation of local entrepreneurship, competition and innovation) and greater appreciation of the role of the private sector and private investment in development. The study concludes with a projection of the prospects for FDI flows to developing countries.
The usefulness of accounting information; evidence from the Egyptian market

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to ascertain financial analysts' views regarding the usefulness of a number of items of accounting information via a postal survey. This usefulness is explored in the context of the Egyptian capital market. In addition the usefulness of different types of information is researched, namely: historical vs forward-looking information; mandatory vs voluntary information; and quantitative vs non-quantitative information. Design/methodology/approach - This paper uses descriptive analysis to investigate the views of a sample of 23 financial analysts regarding a number of items of accounting information. Analysts' ratings are obtained via a postal questionnaire, most of which are collected by hand. Fifteen out of 23 responses are collected in person, which offer the opportunity to ask follow-up questions about the information which the analysts see as valuable. Findings - The findings indicate that different items of information are valued differently. In the context of the Egyptian market, financial analysts tend to value: mandatory disclosure more than voluntary disclosure; quantitative information more than non-quantitative information; and historic information more than forward-looking information. This type of preference reflects the information environment in Egypt, where mandatory disclosure is comprehensive and detailed based on International Accounting Standards but where compliance is an issue. Voluntary disclosure is limited and other sources of information are less common. Since mandatory information in Egypt tends to be historic and quantitative in nature, this may explain the preference for these types of disclosures. Research limitations/implications - The findings suggest that the importance of different types of information may be affected by the degree of maturity of the market and how rich the information environment is. Practical implications - The results should be useful in informing companies and market regulators about the types of information that financial analysts find useful for investment decision making and the areas of disclosure where financial analysts suggest that improvement is needed. Originality/value - This paper contributes to the literature by investigating the views of a sample of financial analysts regarding the usefulness of accounting information and different types of disclosure in the context of an emerging capital market where a dearth of studies exist.