Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Arguing Comparative Politics

Introduction: Reflections on 'Problem Selection' in Comparative Politics I. THE STATE AND SOCIETY 1. The New Professionalism of Internal Warfare and Military Role Expansion 2. Liberal-Pluralist, Classic Marxist, and 'Organic Statist' Approaches to the State 3. State Power and the Strength of Civil Society in the Southern Cone of Latin America 4. Military Politics in Three Polity Arenas: Civil Society, Political Society, and the State II. CONSTRUCTING AND DECONSTRUCTING POLITIES: CONTEXTS, CAPACITIES AND IDENTITIES 5. Paths Toward Redemocratization: Theoretical and Comparative Considerations 6. Political Crafting of Democratic Consolidation or Destruction: European and South American Comparisons (with Juan J. Linz) 7. On the Tasks of a Democratic Opposition 8. Democratic Opposition and Democratization Theory 9. Modern Multi-National Democracies: Transcending a Gellnerian Oxymoron 10. Political Identities and Electoral Sequences: Spain, the Soviet Union, and Yugoslavia (with Juan J. Linz) 11. The World s Religious Systems and Democracy: Crafting the Twin Tolerations III. THE META-FRAMEWORKS OF DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE AND DEMOCRATIC STATES 12. Constitutional Frameworks and Democratic Consolidation: Parliamentarianism versus Presidentialism (with Cindy Skach) 13. The French Fifth Republic: A Model for Import? Reflections on Poland and Brazil (with Ezra N. Suleiman) 14. Toward Consolidated Democracies (with Juan J. Linz) 15. Toward a New Comparative Analysis of Democracy and Federalism: 'Demos Constraining' and 'Demos Enabling' Federations
Value-at-Risk and Expected Stock Returns: Evidence from Pakistan

This study investigates whether exposure to downside risk, as measured by value-at-risk (VaR), explains expected returns in an emerging market, i.e., Pakistan. We find that portfolios with a higher VaR are associated with higher average returns. In order to explore the empirical performance of VaR at the portfolio level, we use a time series approach based on 25 size and book-to-market portfolios. Based on monthly portfolio data for October 1992 to June 2008, the results show that VaR has greater explanatory power than the market, size, and book-to-market factors.
Labor Market Consequences of State Mental Health Parity Mandates

This paper analyzes the effects of state mental health parity mandates on the labor and insurance markets. In particular, I investigate the effect of parity regulations along five margins: having employer provided health insurance coverage, employer contributions to health insurance premiums, the probability of full-time employment, working hours, and wages for a sample of private workers in firms with less than 100 employees using the Annual Demographic Surveys (March CPS) for the years 1999-2004 (and also in an extended sample of CPS 1992-2004). It is hypothesized that if parity mandates are costly they will have an impact on at least one of the above margins. I find no evidence for any of the most feared impact: a reduction in the probability of having employer-provided health insurance coverage or that state mental health parity mandates have decreased the generosity of employers' contributions to health insurance premiums. The results also lack any evidence of an impact on labor market composition or of costs having been passed onto workers in terms of lower wages.
The Heckman Correction for Sample Selection and Its Critique - A Short Survey

This paper gives a short overview of Monte Carlo studies on the usefulness of Heckman? s (1976, 1979) two? step estimator for estimating a selection model. It shows that exploratory work to check for collinearity problems is strongly recommended before deciding on which estimator to apply. In the absence of collinearity problems, the full? information maximum likelihood estimator is preferable to the limited? information two? step method of Heckman, although the latter also gives reasonable results. If, however, collinearity problems prevail, subsample OLS (or the Two? Part Model) is the most robust amongst the simple? to? calculate estimators.
Editorial: The Politics and Governance of Public Services in Developing Countries

Politics and governance have become central to explanations of the widespread under-provision of public services in developing countries. Political analysis offers an understanding of what might otherwise appear to be exclusively managerial or capacity problems. The articles in this special issue of PMR contribute to three main aspects of this new literature on the political economy of service provision: how the incentives of elites are formed and affect whether, to whom and how services are provided; how top–down and bottom–up systems of accountability may act and also interact to affect incentives; and the effect of service provision on state–society relations. The analysis in this and the following articles suggests that the politics of service provision should be understood as a cycle of causation: politics affect the policy, governance and implementation of services, but in turn service provision is a theatre of politics and affects citizen formation and the development of state capacity and.
Testing the Strategic Asset Allocation of Stabilization Sovereign Wealth Funds

None of the models that have been developed to determine the optimal strategic asset allocation (SAA) of stabilization sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) has received direct empirical validation, primarily because there is a lack of transparency regarding some of the key parameters that characterize the problem. In this paper, building on a mean-variance framework, we derive three sets of parsimonious statistical tests to compare the actual SAA of SWFs to a theoretical optimum. We apply these tests to the portfolio of the world's largest stabilization SWF (the Norwegian Government Pension Fund - Global or GPF) for the period between 2002 and 2005. The empirical analysis confirms that the static and dynamic deviations of the GPF's SAA from the market equity portfolio are consistent with the theoretical predictions.
A Component-Driven Model for Regime Switching and Its Empirical Evidence

In this paper we propose a general component-driven model to analyze economic data with different characteristics (or regimes) in different time periods. Motivated by empirical data characteristics, our discussion focuses on a simple model driven by a random walk component and a stationary ARMA component that are governed by a Markovian state variable. The proposed model is capable of describing both stationary and non-stationary behaviors of data and allows its random innovations to have both permanent and transitory effects. This model also permits a deterministic trend with or without breaks and hence constitutes intermediate cases between the trend-stationary model and a random walk with drift. We investigate properties of the proposed model and derive an estimation algorithm. A simulation-based test is also proposed to distinguish between the proposed model and an ARIMA model. In empirical application, we apply this model to U.S. quarterly real GDP and find that unit-root nonstationarity is likely to be the prevailing dynamic pattern in more than 80 percent of the sample periods. As nonstationarity (stationarity) periods match the NBER dating of expansions (recessions) closely, our result suggests that the innovations in expansions (recessions) are more likely to have a permanent (transitory) effect.
Comparison of the SFI peculiar velocities with the IRAS 1.2‐Jy gravity field

We present a comparison between the peculiar velocity fields measured from a recently completed l-band Tully–Fisher survey of field spirals (SFI) and that derived from the IRAS 1.2-Jy redshift survey galaxy distribution. The analysis is based on the expansion of these data in redshift space using smooth orthonormal functions, and is performed using low- and high-resolution expansions, with an effective smoothing scale which increases almost linearly with redshift. The effective smoothing scales at 3000 km s−1 are 1500 and 1000 km s−1 for the low- and high-resolution filters. The agreement between the high- and low-resolution SFI velocity maps is excellent. The general features in the filtered SFI and IRAS velocity fields agree remarkably well within 6000 km s−1. This good agreement between the fields allows us to determine the parameter β = Ω0.6 /b, where Ω is the cosmological density parameter, and b is the linear biasing factor. From a likelihood analysis on the SFI and IRAS modes we find that β = 0.6 ± 0.1, independently of the resolution of the modal expansion. For this value of β, the residual fields for the two filters show no systematic variations within 6000 km s−1. Most remarkable is the lack of any coherent, redshift-dependent dipole flow in the residual field.
Gravitational tidal effects on galactic open clusters

We have investigated the 2{D stellar distribution in the outer parts of three nearby open clusters: NGC 2287 (M 41), NGC 2516, and NGC 2548 (M 48). Wide-eld star counts have been performed in two colours on pairs of digitized ESO and SRC Schmidt plates, allowing us to select likely cluster members in the colour-magnitude diagrams. Cluster tidal extensions were emphasized using a wavelet transform. Taking into account observational biases, namely the galaxy clustering and dierential extinction in the Galaxy, we have associated these stellar overdensities with real open cluster structures stretched by the galactic gravitational eld. As predicted by theory and simulations, and despite observational limitations, we detected a general elongated (prolate) shape in a direction parallel to the galactic Plane, combined with tidal tails extended perpendicularly to it. This geometry is due both to the static galactic tidal eld and the heating up of the stellar system when crossing the Disk. The time varying tidal eld will deeply aect the cluster dynamical evolution, and we emphasize the importance of adiabatic heating during the Disk-shocking. In the case of NGC 2548, our dating of the last shocking with the Plane (based on a tidal clump) is consistent with its velocity. During the 10{20 Z-oscillations experienced by a cluster before its dissolution in the Galaxy, crossings through the galactic Disk contribute to at least 15% of the total mass loss. Using recent age estimations published for open clusters, we nd a destruction time-scale of about 600 Myr for clusters in the solar neighbourhood.
Long-term atmospheric nutrient inputs to the Eastern Mediterranean: sources, solubility and comparison with riverine inputs

and July 2007. Samples were analyzed for macronutrients of phosphate, silicate, nitrate and ammonium (PO3− 4 , Sidiss, NO − 3 and NH + 4 ). Phosphate and silicate in aerosol and rainwater showed higher and larger variation during the transitional period (March– May, September) when air flows predominantly originate from North Africa and Middle East/Arabian Peninsula. Deficiency of alkaline material were found to be the main 10
Subpixel Response Measurement of Near‐Infrared Detectors

Wide‐field survey instruments are used to efficiently observe extended regions of the sky. To achieve a large field of view and to provide a high signal‐to‐noise ratio for faint sources, many modern instruments are undersampled. However, in undersampled detectors, sensitivity variations across individual pixels can severely impact science programs that require high photometric precision. To address this, a near‐infrared spot projection system has been developed. With this system, 1.7 μm cutoff detectors were characterized, and the effect of subpixel nonuniformity was studied. The measurements demonstrate that for detectors with near 100% internal quantum efficiency, 1% photometry can be achieved with a point‐spread function (PSF) size of about half a pixel. For detectors with large subpixel nonuniformity, photometric errors become negligible only if the PSF size is more than about two pixels.
IMAGING ATOMIC AND HIGHLY EXCITED MOLECULAR GAS IN a z = 6.42 QUASAR HOST GALAXY: COPIOUS FUEL FOR AN EDDINGTON-LIMITED STARBURST AT THE END OF COSMIC REIONIZATION

We have imaged CO(J = 7 → 6) and C i(3P2 → 3P1) emission in the host galaxy of the z = 6.42 quasar SDSS J114816.64+525150.3 (hereafter J1148+5251) through observations with the Plateau de Bure Interferometer. The region showing CO(J = 7 → 6) emission is spatially resolved, and its size of 5 kpc is in good agreement with earlier CO(J = 3 → 2) observations. In combination with a revised model of the collisional line excitation in this source, this indicates that the highly excited molecular gas traced by the CO J = 7 → 6 line is subthermally excited (showing only 58% ± 8% of the CO J = 3 → 2 luminosity), but not more centrally concentrated. We also detect C i(3P2 → 3P1) emission in the host galaxy of J1148+5251, but the line is too faint to enable a reliable size measurement. From the C i(3P2 → 3P1) line flux, we derive a total atomic carbon mass of MC i = 1.1 ×107 M☉, which corresponds to ∼5 × 10−4 times the total molecular gas mass. We also searched for H2O( = 212 → 101) emission, and obtained a sensitive line luminosity limit of 4.4 × 109 K km s−1 pc2, i.e., <15% of the CO(J = 3 → 2) luminosity. The warm, highly excited molecular gas, atomic gas and dust in this quasar host at the end of cosmic reionization maintain an intense starburst that reaches surface densities as high as predicted by (dust opacity) Eddington limited star formation over kiloparsec scales.
Local approximation by certain spaces of exponential polynomials, approximation order of exponential box splines, and related interpolation problems

Local approximation order to smooth complex valued functions by a finite dimensional space #7B-H, spanned by certain products of exponentials by polynomials, is investigated. The results obtained, together with a suitable quasi-interpolation scheme, are used for the derivation of the approximation order attained by the linear span of translates of an exponential box spline. The analysis of a typical #7B-H is based here on the identification of its dual with a certain space #7B-P of multivariate polynomials. This point of view allows us to solve a class of multivariate interpolation problems by the polynomials from #7B-P
Methodological triangulation as a research strategy in educational innovation processes: case study of the b-learning methodology in the university context

Triangulation is an especially useful strategy for validation of information in comparative analysis in view of the problems surrounding the flexibility of measures and their suitability for particular contexts. And it is particularly useful as a methodological strategy in facilitating the reconciliation of data in different contexts without committing errors of interpretation. This is the case of the research that we present here, which focuses on verifying the convergence or overlap of results obtained after the application of different methods of information collection (questionnaire and interviews) on the same object of study: ascertaining the empirical validity of the b-learning model with regard to teaching in the university context and analysing to what degree it is possible to explain the process of adoption, use and dissemination of b-learning by university teachers in their regular teaching practice and the impact of these determinants in certain individual variables, taking as a reference the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) and Rogers's innovation-decision model. The results confirm the appropriateness of using multimethod strategies in educational research.
Robust filtering for uncertain linear systems with state-dependent noise

This paper deals with the problems of robust /spl Hscr//sub 2/ and /spl Hscr//sub /spl infin// filtering for a class of linear continuous-time systems subject to uncertain constant parameters and both additive and state-dependent noise signals. The uncertain parameters appear affinely in the matrices of the system state-space model and are assumed to belong to a given polytope. Linear matrix inequality approaches are proposed for designing linear stationary asymptotically stable filters which guarantee an upper-bound on the asymptotic estimation error variance, in the /spl Hscr//sub 2/ case, and an upper-bound on the /spl Lscr//sub 2/-gain from the additive noise to the estimation error, in the, /spl Hscr//sub /spl infin//case. The results are based on parametric Lyapunov functions.
Regulation of Financial Systems and Economic Growth

This paper examines whether regulation that is more conducive to competitive and efficient financial systems has a significant positive impact on sectoral output and productivity growth in a sample of 25 OECD countries. More specifically, following a methodology used by Rajan and Zingales (1998), the paper tests whether industries that depend more heavily on external sources of funding tend to grow faster in countries that have more competition-friendly regulation in markets for banking services and financial instruments. The regulatory indicators are assembled from surveys conducted by the World Bank on regulations in banking and securities markets. They point to substantial variations in the stance of regulation across countries, in particular with respect to the broad rules underpinning securities market transactions. The empirical analysis indicates that financial system regulation matters for output growth both in a statistical and economic sense.
Mechanisms of Oncolysis by Paramyxovirus Sendai

Some viral strains of the Paramyxoviridae family may be used as anti-tumor agents. Oncolytic paramyxoviruses include attenuated strains of the measles virus, Newcastle disease virus, and Sendai virus. These viral strains, and the Sendai virus in particular, can preferentially induce the death of malignant, rather than normal, cells. The death of cancer cells results from both direct killing by the virus and through virus-induced activation of anticancer immunity. Sialic-acid-containing glycoproteins that are overexpressed in cancer cells serve as receptors for some oncolytic paramyxoviruses and ensure preferential interaction of paramyxoviruses with malignant cells. Frequent genetic defects in interferon and apoptotic response systems that are common to cancer cells ensure better susceptibility of malignant cells to viruses. The Sendai virus as a Paramyxovirus is capable of inducing the formation of syncytia, multinuclear cell structures which promote viral infection spread within a tumor without virus exposure to host neutralizing antibodies. As a result, the Sendai virus can cause mass killing of malignant cells and tumor destruction. Oncolytic paramyxoviruses can also promote the immune-mediated elimination of malignant cells. In particular, they are powerful inducers of interferon and other cytokynes promoting antitumor activity of various cell components of the immune response, such as dendritic and natural killer cells, as well as cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Taken together these mechanisms explain the impressive oncolytic activity of paramyxoviruses that hold promise as future, efficient anticancer therapeutics.
Classification of radar returns from the ionosphere using neural networks

In ionospheric research, we must classify radar returns from the ionosphere as either suitable for further analysis or not. This time-consuming task has typically required human intervention. We tested several different feedforward neural networks to investigate the effects of network type (single-layer versus multilayer) and number of hidden nodes upon performance. As expected, the multilayer feedforward networks (MLFN'S) outperformed the single-layer networks, achieving 1000/0 accuracy on the training set and up to 980/0 accuracy on the testing set. Comparable figures for the single-layer networks were 94.50/0 and 92 0/0, respectively. When measures of sensitivity, specificity, and proportion of variance accounted for by the model are considered, the superiority of the MLFN'S over the single-layer networks is even more striking.
Lowering of glacial atmospheric CO2 in response to changes in oceanic circulation and marine biogeochemistry

[1] We use an Earth system model of intermediate complexity, CLIMBER-2, to investigate what recent improvements in the representation of the physics and biology of the glacial ocean imply for the atmospheric concentration. The coupled atmosphere-ocean model under the glacial boundary conditions is able to reproduce the deep, salty, stagnant water mass inferred from Antarctic deep pore water data and the changing temperature of the entire deep ocean. When carbonate compensation is included in the model, we find a CO2 drawdown of 43 ppmv associated mainly with the shoaling of the Atlantic thermohaline circulation and an increased fraction of water masses of southern origin in the deep Atlantic. Fertilizing the Atlantic and Indian sectors of the Southern Ocean north of the polar front leads to a further drawdown of 37 ppmv. Other changes to the glacial carbon cycle include a decrease in the amount of carbon stored in the terrestrial biosphere (540 Pg C), which increases atmospheric CO2 by 15 ppmv, and a change in ocean salinity resulting from a drop in sea level, which elevates CO2 by another 12 ppmv. A decrease in shallow water CaCO3 deposition draws down CO2 by 12 ppmv. In total, the model is able to explain more than two thirds (65 ppmv) of the glacial to interglacial CO2 change, based only on mechanisms that are clearly documented in the proxy data. A good match between simulated and reconstructed distribution of δ13C changes in the deep Atlantic suggests that the model captures the mechanisms of reorganization of biogeochemistry in the Atlantic Ocean reasonably well. Additional, poorly constrained mechanisms to explain the rest of the observed drawdown include changes in the organic carbon:CaCO3 ratio of sediment rain reaching the seafloor, iron fertilization in the subantarctic Pacific Ocean, and changes in terrestrial weathering.
Monthly rainfall-runoff models applied to arid and semiarid catchments for water resource estimation purposes

Abstract Problems associated with the application of monthly rainfall-runoff models to arid and semiarid areas for water resource estimation purposes are discussed with respect to the representation of hydrological processes and the model rainfall input. The problems are illustrated using a specific monthly model applied to catchments within the semiarid to arid parts of southern Africa. Some model improvements are suggested and briefly evaluated and the application of a daily model to one of the catchments is compared. The overall conclusion is that while a detailed examination of the available rainfall data can account for many of the inadequate simulation results on an individual month basis, it is difficult to make allowances for the lack of resolution in the normally available information. Other problems related to the structure of individual models can be surmounted by limited model developments, but very little can be done to bypass the rainfall quantification problem.
Forecasting Australian exchange rate volatility : a comparative study of alternate modelling techniques and the impact of power transformations

The modelling and forecasting of exchange rates and their volatility has important implications for many issues in economics and finance. This paper compares the ability of Autoregressive Conditional Heteroscedasticity, Autoregressive and Mean models to forecast the magnitude of change in 19 Australian bilateral exchange rate series. Further, the impact of power transformations on the accuracy of the AR models is considered. The results of this paper suggest that ARCH models generate superior forecasting performance when considering the squared returns of an exchange rate series. However, when one considers power terms other than a squared term, the forecasting accuracy of the AR models often exceeds that of the ARCH models. All models performed reasonably well in a conventional test of forecasting efficiency.