Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Achieving environmental sustainability and growth in Africa: the role of science, technology and innovation

African economies are closely linked to natural resources and rely heavily on agriculture, largely rain fed. Agricultural development has long being considered of secondary importance in African economic development. As the current food crisis shows, it is important as this article argues to rethink not only agricultural policies, but also agricultural practices, and particularly the role science and innovation can play to address development and sustainability challenges. It is predicted that Africa will be particularly vulnerable to climate change and climate variability associated with biodiversity loss, food insecurity, water scarcity and an increase in drought frequency. This article examines pressing environmental challenges Africa is facing and discusses the role of science and technology solutions in meeting these challenges. An environmental performance country methodology is used to identify areas of best practice in achieving environmental policy targets, such as clean water or biodiversity conservation, as well as areas of action. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.
How Has the Financial Crisis Affected the Eurozone Accession Outlook in Central and Eastern Europe?

This paper analyses how the financial crisis has affected task of meeting the Maastricht Criteria for the eight Central and Eastern European Countries which have yet to join the euro. It identifies the channels by which the crisis has fed through to deficits, debt, interest rates and inflation and seeks to provide numerical estimates of these factors. Deficits have worsened, but for most countries the problem is still primarily structural rather than cyclical. Debts have risen, but only in the cases of Latvia and Poland has the crisis changed the outlook for meeting the criterion. Inflation has fallen, particularly in the Baltic states on account of large output gap declines. The depth of the recession is likely to depress inflation rates for several years. Lastly, the interest rate criterion is more challenging because of the rise in spreads since the crisis.
Risks to Price Stability, the Zero Lower Bound and Forward Guidance: A Real-Time Assessment

This paper employs stochastic simulations of the New Area- Wide Model—a microfounded open-economy model developed at the ECB—to investigate the consequences of the zero lower bound on nominal interest rates for the evolution of risks to price stability in the euro area during the recent financial crisis. Using a formal measure of the balance of risks, which is derived from policymakers’ preferences about inflation outcomes, we first show that downside risks to price stability were considerably greater than upside risks during the first half of 2009, followed by a gradual rebalancing of these risks until mid-2011 and a renewed deterioration thereafter. We find that the lower bound has induced a noticeable downward bias in the risk balance throughout our evaluation period because of the implied amplification of deflation risks. We then illustrate that, with nominal interest rates close to zero, forward guidance in the form of a time-based conditional commitment to keep interest rates low for longer can be successful in mitigating downside risks to price stability. However, we find that the provision of time-based forward guidance may give rise to upside risks over the medium term if extended too far into the future. By contrast, time-based forward guidance complemented with a threshold condition concerning tolerable future inflation can provide insurance against the materialization of such upside risks.
Demographic and temporal trends in out of hospital sudden cardiac death in Belfast

Objective: To determine the epidemiology of out of hospital sudden cardiac death (OHSCD) in Belfast from 1 August 2003 to 31 July 2004. Design: Prospective examination of out of hospital cardiac arrests by using the Utstein style and necropsy reports. World Health Organization criteria were applied to determine the number of sudden cardiac deaths. Results: Of 300 OHSCDs, 197 (66%) in men, mean age (SD) 68 (14) years, 234 (78%) occurred at home. The emergency medical services (EMS) attended 279 (93%). Rhythm on EMS arrival was ventricular fibrillation (VF) in 75 (27%). The call to response interval (CRI) was mean (SD) 8 (3) minutes. Among patients attended by the EMS, 9.7% were resuscitated and 7.2% survived to leave hospital alive. The CRI for survivors was mean (SD) 5 (2) minutes and for non-survivors, 8 (3) minutes (p < 0.001). Ninety one (30%) OHSCDs were witnessed; of these 91 patients 48 (53%) had VF on EMS arrival. The survival rate for witnessed VF arrests was 20 of 48 (41.7%): all 20 survivors had VF as the presenting rhythm and CRI ⩽ 7 minutes. The European age standardised incidence for OHSCD was 122/100 000 (95% confidence interval 111 to 133) for men and 41/100 000 (95% confidence interval 36 to 46) for women. Conclusion: Despite a 37% reduction in heart attack mortality in Ireland over the past 20 years, the incidence of OHSCD in Belfast has not fallen. In this study, 78% of OHSCDs occurred at home.
Alcohol, Unemployment Rates, and Advertising Bans: International Panel Evidence, 1975-2000

This paper presents empirical evidence on the relationship between alcohol consumption and unemployment for an international panel of countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). I find a significant negative or pro-cyclical relationship between unemployment and alcohol consumption, which agrees closely with prior estimates for the United States. This finding indicates that economic factors tend to dominate possible stress-induced changes in alcohol use. Model specifications control for non-stationary panel data and for a variety of other economic and cultural factors, including prices, income, wine sentiment, tourism, population aging, and restrictive policies pertaining to alcohol use and marketing. The effects of advertising bans are statistically insignificant or have contrary coefficient signs, while a composite index for other alcohol control policies is negative.
An Empirical Study on Impact of College Carve-Out Education on Entrepreneur Intention

Carve-out education is becoming increasingly important in current days since the business set up by college students produce a significant effect on the economic growth. Entrepreneur intention, part of carve-out education, is receiving more and more attention. Based on educational systems over the world and the datum of Chinese college students, the article studies the impact of the college carve-out education on students’ entrepreneur intention with the structure equation modeling (SEM). The research shows that carve-out education can enhance entrepreneur intention indirectly by updating students’ knowledge, cultivating their entrepreneurial abilities and reinforcing their determination. The colleges and other educational organizations should also provide plenty of training projects and encourage students to participate in company operation. In addition, some successful entrepreneurs should be invited to give lectures in colleges.
Study on the Function of Translation Initiation Factor IF1

Translation initiation factor IF1 is an indispensable protein for translation in prokaryotes. No clear function has been assigned to this factor so far. In this study we demonstrate an RNA chaperone activity of this protein both in vivo and in vitro. The chaperone assays are based on in vivo or in vitro splicing of the group I intron in the thymidylate synthase gene (td) from phage T4 and an in vitro RNA annealing assay. IF1 wild-type and mutant variants with single amino acid substitutions have been analyzed for RNA chaperone activity. Some of the IF1 mutant variants are more active as RNA chaperones than the wild-type. Furthermore, both wild-type IF1 and mutant variants bind with high affinity to RNA in a band-shift assay. It is suggested that the RNA chaperone activity of IF1 contributes to RNA rearrangements during the early phase of translation initiation.
Establishment of an anesthetic protocol for semen collection by electroejaculation in six-banded armadillos ( Euphractus sexcinctus Linnaeus , 1758 )

The aim was to verify the effects of different anesthetic protocols used during electroejaculation (EEJ) in sixbanded armadillos (Euphractus sexcinctus). Four sexually matured animals were physically restrained and subjected to semen collection by the EEJ following three treatments: The control group consisted of no use of anesthesia; in the others, the anesthetic combinations xylazine/ketamine/propofol or butorphanol/ ketamine/propofol were administered. For each group, twelve procedures were conducted for EEJ. Semen was evaluated for volume, color, aspect, motility, sperm concentration, morphology, viability, and functional membrane integrity. The highest efficiency (100% ejaculates) was achieved when the control group was used; the xylazine/ketamine/propofol association provided only 11 ejaculates from a total of 12 attempts (91.6% efficiency), while only 4 ejaculates (33% efficiency) were obtained with butorphanol/ketamine/propofol (P<0.05). Both protocols provided rapid induction and relaxation enough to perform the EEJ. In the use of butorphanol/ketamine/propofol, the animals recovered at 16.5±1.5min, a time shorter than in the use of xylazine/ketamine/propofol protocol, 20.7±1.0min (P>0.05). The semen volume and sperm concentration obtained in the use of xylazine/ketamine/propofol association were significantly higher than those verified for butorphanol/ketamine/propofol protocol. In conclusion, the xylazine/ketamine/propofol association is indicated for anesthesia of six-banded armadillos submitted to EEJ.
Finessing the Political System: The Cigarette Advertising Ban

Success in various competitive venues-athletics, card games, politics, war-often comes not from one's direct actions, but from the induced behavior of one's opponent. In bridge, for example, a finesse cannot work unless the opponent falls for the ruse. But when successful, the finesse adroitly turns the opponent into an unwitting partner. In this vein, consider recent proposals in Congress concerning cigarette advertising. Bills such as the "Health Protection Act of 1986" seek to complete the ban on the advertising of tobacco that began with the removal of such ads from TV and radio in 1970. The proponents of the legislation apparently believe that the total banishment of cigarette advertising will lessen the demand for tobacco, thereby improving the health of the citizenry.2 Using developments from modern regulation theory, we posit instead that the current proposals to broaden the advertising restrictions are prime evidence of finesse within the regulatory system. Constraints on advertising can be expected to limit brand entry in the cigarette industry.3 The ultimate result of the cards currently being played by the anti-smoking activists, therefore, will be higher profits for their opponents, the tobacco companies. To test our position, we analyze the stock returns of the major tobacco firms. Our finding of positive, abnormal returns around the period of the 1970 TV and radio advertising ban is consistent with the view that the ban limited brand entry and decreased competition in the industry.
Effects of Executive Compensation Complexity on Investor Behaviour in an Experimental Stock Market†

Abstract This study experimentally investigates whether shareholders correctly anticipate the incentive effects of increasingly complex compensation packages given to managers, and whether potential biases in individual shareholder beliefs carry over to price and volume effects in a stock market. In the experiment, a manager makes a decision about the stochastic dividend process generating the firm's fundamental value, and shareholders make estimations about fundamental value and trade shares in a stock market. The manager's action is either known or hidden and, nested in the hidden-action condition, compensation is either simple or complex. We hypothesise that hidden action gives rise to perceived behavioural uncertainty, and that this uncertainty has valuation relevance in that it affects both individual estimations of fundamental firm value and stock prices. Furthermore, we hypothesise that perceived behavioural uncertainty increases with the complexity of compensation, and that compensation complexity also affects trading volume. We find supporting evidence for our conjectures. Both estimations and market prices are biased when the manager's action is hidden, and biases are stronger when compensation is complex. We further find that trading volume decreases when compensation is complex, even though the heterogeneity of investors' individual beliefs increases.
Two-year study of endemic enteric pathogens associated with acute diarrhea in New Caledonia

A longitudinal study of diarrheal disease among patients of all ages with acute diarrhea was carried out in New Caledonia from January 1990 to December 1991. Stool samples from 2,088 diarrheal patients were examined for parasites, rotavirus, and bacterial pathogens. Potential sources of contamination (drinking water, seawater and bovine and porcine feces) were investigated. One or more enteric pathogens were identified in 41.8 and 40.6% of the persons with diarrhea, in 1990 and 1991, respectively. Salmonella spp. , Shigella spp. , HEp-2 cell adherent Escherichia coli (diffuse adherent and enteroaggregative), enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) (EPEC adherence factor-positive strains belonging to classical serotypes), localized adherent E. coli (non-EPEC), and enterotoxigenic E. coli were the frequently identified enteropathogenic bacteria. Other major enteropathogens were Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia lamblia. Campylobacter jejuni, Clostridium difficile, Clostridium perfringens, Yersinia enterocolitica, and rotavirus were isolated from only a few patients. No Vibrio spp. , Aeromonas spp. , Plesiomonas spp. , Shiga-like-toxin-producing E. coli, enterohemorrhagic E. coli, or enteroinvasive E. coli were identified. Shiga-like toxin I-producing E. coli were present in adult bovines and calves, and heat-stable enterotoxin II-producing enterotoxigenic E. coli were found in pigs.
Indispensable Railroads in a Backward Economy: The Case of Mexico

The contribution of railroads to economic growth in the nineteenth century depended on two critical variables: unit savings in transport costs the railroads made possible and the quantity of passengers and freight the railroads attracted. Unit savings depended mainly on geography; either cheap water transport existed before the railroads or it did not. Unit savings depended secondarily on the value of the time the railroads saved and on the flexibility in selection of routes made possible by the new technology. The quantities of passengers and freight actually transported depended on two interrelated factors: the prior development of the economy and its responsiveness to cheaper transport.
Endogeneity of Brazilian corporate governance quality determinants

Purpose – This paper aims to investigate the determinants and the evolution of voluntarily adopted firm‐level corporate governance practices in Brazil from 1998 to 2004 using broad corporate governance scores.Design/methodology/approach – The authors employ a robust panel‐data procedure that accounts for the main sources of endogeneity to a very representative panel of Brazilian firms over a six‐year period. They address the endogeneity that arises from the simultaneous determination of the quality of corporate governance practices, the dependent variable, and possibly several firm attributes that are commonly employed as the determinants of such practices and are supposedly independent. Specifically, theoretical arguments and empirical evidence strongly suggest that the quality of corporate governance practices may influence some of the variables commonly used as its determinants just as much as they may be influenced by them.Findings – The paper finds that firm‐level corporate governance practices are s.
Critical Citizens and Submissive Subjects: Election Losers and Winners in Africa

Elections are thought to bolster legitimacy by providing fair mechanisms for selecting leaders. Survey data from more than 20,000 respondents in twelve African countries demonstrate that in Africa losers of elections are less inclined to trust their political institutions, consent to government authority or feel that voting matters. Contrary to initial expectations, however, losers are more willing than winners to defend their institutions against manipulation by elected officials. Losers in Africa seem critical of their institutions, but nonetheless willing to protect them, while winners seem submissive subjects, granting unconditional support to their current leaders. Finally, losers are much more likely than winners to denounce flawed elections, but losers have additional reasons to doubt the legitimacy of their current institutions.
Decentralization and Corruption: New Cross-Country Evidence

We attempt to improve the understanding and measurement of decentralization and its relationship with corruption in a worldwide context. This is done by presenting the conceptual underpinnings of such a relationship as well as using more defensible measures of both decentralization in its various dimensions as well as corruption for a sample of 158 countries. It is the first paper that treats various tiers of local governments (below the intermediate order of government) as the unit of comparative analysis. By pursuing rigorous econometric analysis we demonstrate that decentralization, when properly measured to mean moving government closer to people by empowering local governments, is shown to have a significant negative effect on the incidence of corruption regardless of the choice of the estimation procedures or the measures of corruption used. In terms of various dimensions of decentralized local governance, political decentralization matters even when we control for fiscal decentralization. Further voice (political accountability) is empirically shown to be more important in combating corruption than exit options made available though competition among jurisdictions.
Clinical features of usual interstitial pneumonia with anti‐neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody in comparison with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Myeloperoxidase anti‐neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (MPO‐ANCA) is occasionally positive in patients with usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP). However, the differences from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF/UIP) have not been well documented. We aimed to clarify the clinical, radiological and pathological features of UIP associated with MPO‐ANCA (ANCA/UIP).
The welfare effects of pre-arrangements in matching markets

We study the welfare effects of different types of pre-arrangements (as identified in Sönmez in J Econ Theory 86:148–156, 1999) under the intern-optimal and hospital-optimal stable mechanisms in matching markets. First, both mechanisms are manipulable via Type-2 pre-arrangements. Regarding the welfare consequences, they might cause inefficient outcomes to arise, and the welfare effects on each side are ambiguous in the sense that there might be agents from each side, apart from pre-arranging ones, being better and worse off. Then, for Type-1 pre-arrangements, due to Kojima and Pathak (Am Econ Rev 99(3):608–627, 2009), we know that the intern-optimal stable mechanism is immune to this type of manipulations. In contrast to this result, the hospital-optimal stable mechanism turns out to be manipulable. More interestingly, they do not result in inefficient outcomes, and the welfare effects on each side are unambiguous: All hospitals (interns) are better (worse) off.
Wirelength and memory optimized rectilinear steiner minimum tree routing

RectilinearSteiner minimal tree (RSMT) construction is a fundamental issue in designing very large scale integrated Integration (VLSI). FLUTE (Fast Look-Up table) based approach presented a fast and accurate RSMT construction for both smaller and higher degree nets. The model reduces the time complexity for RSMT construction for smaller nets, however for larger nets there exists memory overhead. Since flute basedmodel did not consider the memory requirement in constructing RSMT, the proposed work presents a memory optimized RSMT (MORSMT) construction in order to address the memory overhead for larger nets. Experiments are conducted to evaluate the performance of proposed approach over existing model for varied benchmarks in terms of computation time, memory overhead and wire length. The experimentalresults showthat the proposed model is scalable and efficient.
Effect of Nutritional Status on Response to Treatment with Artemisinin-Based Combination Therapy in Young Ugandan Children with Malaria

ABSTRACT The relationship between malnutrition and malaria in young children is under debate, and no studies evaluating the association between malnutrition and response to artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) have been published. We evaluated the association between malnutrition and response to antimalarial therapy in Ugandan children treated with ACTs for repeated episodes of malaria. Children aged 4 to 12 months diagnosed with uncomplicated malaria were randomized to dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DP) or artemether-lumefantrine (AL) and followed for up to 2 years. All HIV-exposed and HIV-infected children received trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole prophylaxis (TS). The primary exposure variables included height-for-age and weight-for-age z scores. Outcomes included parasite clearance at days 2 and 3 and risk of recurrent parasitemia after 42 days of follow-up. Two hundred ninety-two children were randomized to DP or AL, resulting in 2,013 malaria treatments. Fewer than 1% of patients had a positive blood smear by day 3 (DP, 0.2%; AL, 0.6% [P = 0.18]). There was no significant association between height-for-age or weight-for-age z scores and a positive blood smear 2 days following treatment. For children treated with DP but not on TS, decreasing height-for-age z scores of <−1 were associated with a higher risk of recurrent parasitemia than a height-for-age z score of >0 (hazard ratio [HR] for height-for-age z score of <−1 and ≥−2 = 2.89 [P = 0.039]; HR for height-for-age z score of <−2 = 3.18 [P = 0.022]). DP and AL are effective antimalarial therapies in chronically malnourished children in a high-transmission setting. However, children with mild to moderate chronic malnutrition not taking TS are at higher risk for recurrent parasitemia and may be considered a target for chemoprevention.