Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Numerical simulation of capillary tubes. Application to domestic refrigeration with isobutane

This work presents the implementation and validation of a numerical model that simulates the thermal and fluiddynamic phenomena inside capillary tubes. The algorithm is based on a two-phase flow model where the governing equations (continuity, momentum, energy and entropy) are integrated over the discretized fluid domain and solved by means of a step-by-step scheme. The numerical procedure considers four different transitional regions (subcooled liquid region, metastable liquid region, metastable two-phase flow region and equilibrium two-phase flow region), allows the prediction of both critical and non-critical flow conditions, and evaluates the heat exchanged between the capillary tube and the compressor suction line. The model predictions have been compared against experimental data sets including adiabatic and non-adiabatic conditions. In addition, a parametric study on capillary tubes used in household refrigerators and working with isobutane has been carried out (different geometric conditions were considered).
Futures Price Response to Crop Reports in Grain Markets

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of crop reports from U.S. and Brazil on corn and soybean futures markets over the period 2004–2014. A TARCH model with dummy variables to measure the impact of crop reports is used. Results indicate that U.S. reports consistently affect corn and soybean futures price volatility, while Brazilian crop reports' impact on volatility is of smaller magnitude. Further, these impacts are generally found to be stronger when crop reports are released in the months preceding the beginning of harvest. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 36:923–942, 2016
Why Should Microfinance Organizations Invest in Clients’ Business Training? Empirical Results from the Haitian Microfinance Industry

Despite many critics and mitigated effects, microfinance continues to grow all over the world, and equally in Haiti. Beyond rapid expansion, to really contribute to local economic development, microfinance organizations (MFOs) need to help micro entrepreneurs to better manage their businesses. However, practitioners consider investment in training activities as non-productive. With a national sample, we study, in this article, some supportive reasons why MFO’s should provide business training to borrowers, particularly in low-educated context like Haiti. According to our empirical findings, implementation of business training sessions reduces negative perception of interest rate, and improves borrowers’ satisfaction. Such induced socioeconomic change reduced clients drop out and foster MFOs sustainability.
Depressive symptomatology in childhood and adolescence

Antecedents of depressive symptomatology in childhood and adolescence were examined in a prospective longitudinal study of at-risk youth (n = 168) from families of lower socioeconomic status. Relations between family context factors, maternal depressive symptoms, and depressive symptoms in childhood and adolescence were examined, with a focus on early family relationship factors rarely available for analysis in longitudinal data sets. Results suggest the possibility of etiological differences between depressive symptoms in childhood and in adolescence. Depressive symptomatology in childhood was predicted by the overall family context. Cumulative effects of maternal depressive symptomatology, early care lacking in emotional supportiveness, abuse, and family stressors were observed. Depressive symptomatology in adolescence, on the other hand, was specifically associated with maternal depression and early care lacking in emotional supportiveness. Moreover, an intriguing sex difference emerged: maternal depressive symptomatology was strongly associated with depressive symptomatology in adolescence for females, but for males supportive early care appeared more relevant.
On growth of homology torsion in amenable groups

Abstract Suppose an amenable group G is acting freely on a simply connected simplicial complex $\~{X}$ with compact quotient X. Fix n ≥ 1, assume $H_n(\~{X}, \mathbb{Z}) = 0$ and let (Hi ) be a Farber chain in G. We prove that the torsion of the integral homology in dimension n of $\~{X}/H_i$ grows subexponentially in [G : Hi ]. This fails if X is not compact. We provide the first examples of amenable groups for which torsion in homology grows faster than any given function. These examples include some solvable groups of derived length 3 which is the minimal possible.
EVALUATING THE CANDIDATE INCUMBENCY EFFECT IN JAPAN'S SINGLE-MEMBER DISTRICT ELECTIONS, 1996–2005

This article examines the issue of the candidate incumbency effect in Japan's single-member district (SMD) elections after the 1994 electoral reform. I argue that the candidate incumbency advantage deeply entrenched in the pre-reform lower house elections continues to be significant during the post-reform era. Furthermore, I argue that the pattern of candidate incumbency advantage is modified by national ruling party/coalition membership and urban–rural distinction. Finally, I study why the difference in the source of incumbent status has a huge impact on SMD elections and how. By using a new data set from Japan's SMD elections for the period of 1996–2005, I find empirical evidence to corroborate my theoretical arguments.
Assessing the Impact of Policy Interventions: The Influence of Evaluation Methodology

Using the case of the Prince's Trust, the preeminent UK youth enterprise programme, I investigate how different evaluation methodologies generate radically different evidence of the impact of the programme. The key result is that simpler forms of evaluation tend to provide positive support for this programme, whereas more sophisticated evaluations are not so positive. I discuss the implications of this for the way stakeholders should view evaluations. I urge caution about the claims made for programmes that receive only lighter forms of evaluation.
Are Multinationals' Retained Earnings a Capital Inflow? A Macroprudential view of FDI and local saving *

From a macroprudential standpoint Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is usually identified as a safer capital inflow. This paper qualifies this conventional wisdom remarking that there are meaningful differences depending on the type of FDI. We pay special attention to the saving made by foreign multinationals in the country, called Retained Earnings FDI (RE-FDI). If invested in fixed assets this saving arithmetically creates a current account deficit, despite no cash is crossing borders. Moreover, we argue that standard measures of Gross National and Domestic Saving are insensitive to foreign multinationals’ saving, so we propose a new indicator that treats RE-FDI in a way that is indistinguishable from national corporate saving. We call it Gross Local Saving (GLS). Empirically we show that, first, FDI is under some circumstances more procyclical than other flows, but mostly because of the locally generated RE-FDI. In many dimensions the cyclical behavior of RE-FDI is closest to the one of National Savings rather than to other types of capital inflows. While RE-FDI comoves positively with national savings, nonRE-FDI comoves against savings. Second we find that as countries become more financially open they increase their RE-FDI. The commodity boom is also a factor behind RE-FDI in commodity countries. Finally we explore the relation between capital flows and crises. While non-RE-FDI associates to a lower probability of sudden stops, RE-FDI is not statistically associated with these events. A large stock of RE-FDI, if hoard in liquid instruments, could increase the risk of bunching capital outflows, for example when commodity prices drop. Overall, our results suggest it is worthwhile for macro-prudential monitoring to unpack FDI and consider gross local saving.
Determinants of Tourist Behaviour in Coastal Environmental Protection

Abstract This study examines visitors’ willingness to support management policies regarding local environmental conservation issues. In particular, it explores the relative impacts of various antecedents on different types of specific behavioural intentions. Visitors to the Lulworth coastal area in England were studied using on-site questionnaire survey data. Results of the research highlight that most visitors had positive environmental attitudes and support for management policies related to specific responsible environmental behaviour, such as ‘not climbing the cliffs’ and ‘removing beach litter’. However, multiple regression analyses indicate that certain types of attitudes were not always the most important factor in explaining environmental behaviour. Other individual background factors, such as age, gender, environmental involvement and interpretative experiences, had different impacts on two types of specific behavioural intentions. This study suggests that management actions can be substantially improved by examining tourists’ perceptions of management policies and identifying which tourists are willing to engage in the types of conservation topic and the types of behaviour.
The Operating Performance of Firms Conducting Seasoned Equity Offerings

Recent studies have documented that firms conducting seasoned equity offerings have inordinately low stock returns during the five years after the offering, following a sharp run-up in the year prior to the offering. This article documents that the operating performance of issuing firms shows substantial improvement prior to the offering but then deteriorates. The multiples at the time of the offering, however, do not reflect an expectation of deteriorating performance. Issuing firms are disproportionately high-growth firms but issuers have much lower subsequent stock returns than nonissuers with the same growth rate. Copyright 1997 by American Finance Association.
Internet presence as knowledge capacity: The case of research in information and communication technology infrastructure reform

Knowledge is an important driver of development. As the production and dissemination of knowledge become increasingly mediated by the Internet, the Internet presence and connectivity of researchers are becoming more valid than the conventionally used publication-and citation-based indicators. This article presents a methodology that includes the use of the Google Scholar search engine to locate knowledgeable individuals in Asia in a policy-relevant field, paying particular attention to locating researchers in developing countries or in nonacademic settings in Asia. Internet presence is not a guarantee of quality. Increasingly sophisticaticated search engines offer viable means of assessing research quality and enable us to measure the connectivity of researchers on the Internet. Although the focus of the research is information and communication technology infrastructure reform in East, Southeast, and South Asia, the method can be used to assess knowledge capacity and locate knowledgeable individuals in any field.
PENGARUH LEVERAGE, SAHAM PUBLIK, SIZE DAN KOMITE AUDIT TERHADAP LUAS PENGUNGKAPAN SUKARELA

Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah memberikan bukti empiris mengenai efek leverage, saham publik, size, proporsi komite audit independen pada pengungkapan sukarela baik secara partial maupun simultan. 74 perusahaan telah dianalisis dengan menggunakan analisis multiple regression. Hasilnya menunjukkan bahwa leverage secara tidak signifikan mempunyai efek negatif pada pengungkapan sukarela begitu juga dengan saham publik, size dan proporsi komite audit independen yang tidak signifikan pada pengungkapan sukarela. The objective of this research is to give empirical evidence about the effects of leverage, public ownership, size, and independent audit committee proportion on voluntary disclosure both partially and simultaneously. Seventy four companies were analyzed by using multiple regression analysis. The results show that leverage insignificantly has negative effect on voluntary disclosure. Public ownership also insignificantly has negative effect on voluntary disclosure. But size significantly has positive effect on voluntary disclosure. Independent audit committee proportion insignificantly has negative effect on voluntary disclosure. The result also shows that leverage, public ownership, size and independent audit committee proportion simultaneously have insignificant effect on voluntary disclosure.
Historical Development of Social Studies in Nigeria

An attempt has been made in this paper to analyze the development of Social Studies education in Nigeria. It examines how Social Studies was introduced as an experimental subject and later as a compulsory one in the primary and junior secondary school. The paper identifies those organizations that were responsible for its introduction and growth. Social Studies has integrated population education, environmental education, peace education, human rights education, AIDS/STD education and family life education into its curriculum. Regardless of the giant strides made in the discipline since its introduction four decades ago, the subject is yet to be offered at the senior secondary school level. It is, therefore, suggested that the subject be upgraded to senior secondary school level. Social studies education has therefore contributed to the overall education development of Nigeria.
The Politics of Forecasting: Managing the Truth

Executives think a lot about the future; it drives much of what modern management is all about. The techniques of forecasting and modeling, by their very nature, are designed to reduce the inherent uncertainty of predicting the future. Unfortunately, motives other than "predicting" often politicize the forecasting and modeling process to the detriment of managerial decision quality and investor confidence. Many firms routinely manipulate elements of the forecasting process. Requests by senior management to purposely alter forecasts, backcast from previously established cost and revenue positions, or mis-specify models occur all too frequently. Better training, formalized forecasting procedures, codes of conduct, clearly defined consultants' roles, and punitive actions can improve the quality of forecasting.
The Great Retrenchment: International Capital Flows During the Global Financial Crisis

The current crisis saw an unprecedented collapse in international capital flows after years of rising financial globalization. We identify the stylized facts and main drivers of this development. The retrenchment in international capital flows is a highly heterogeneous phenomenon: first across time, being especially dramatic in the wake of the Lehman Brothers’ failure, second across types of flows, with banking flows being the hardest hit due to their sensitivity of risk perception, and third across regions, with emerging economies experiencing a shorter-lived retrenchment than developed economies. Our econometric analysis shows that the magnitude of the retrenchment in capital flows across countries is linked to the extent of international financial integration, its specific nature—with countries relying on bank flows being the hardest hit—as well as domestic macroeconomic conditions and their connection to world trade flows.
Same face, same place, different memory: manner of presentation modulates the associative deficit in older adults

ABSTRACT One of the more severe and consequential memory impairments experienced by older adults is the loss of the ability to form and remember associations. Although the associative deficit is often assumed to be unitary, memory episodes may contain different types of associations (e.g., item–item, item–context). Research in younger adults suggests that these different association types may involve different neural mechanisms. This raises the possibility that different association types are not equally affected by aging. In order to investigate this, the current study directly compared memory across item–item and item–context associations in younger and older adults by manipulating the manner of presentation of the associations. Results indicate that the associative deficit in aging is not uniform and that aging has a greater impact on item–context compared to item–item associations. The results have implications for theories of associative memory, age-related cognitive decline, and the functional organization of the medial temporal lobe in aging.
Uncertain Lifetimes, Pensions, and Individual Saving

Attempts to measure the impacts of pensions on household saving have occupied much of the literature in empirical public finance over the past decade. The emphasis here is on the annuity insurance aspects of social security and pensions. A simple life-cycle model is put forth to show that even anactuarially fair, fully funded social security system can reduce individual saving by more than the tax paid. Hence, previous partial equilibrium estimates of the impact of social security on saving drawn solely from consideration of the intergenerational wealth transfer at the introduction of the system are, if anything too small. The large partial equilibrium effects are mitigated when initial endowments are considered. To the extent that the introduction of social security reduces the size of unplanned bequests, its net effect on the consumption of subsequent generations is diminished. The final sections of the paper extend the approach to private pensions and address empirical issues. Using a model specification for individual wealth accumulation from the literature, potential offsets are interpreted according to the presence or absence of a bequest motive and according to the ability of individuals to adjust their participation in private pensions to counteract involuntary changes in social security.
Effect of Environmental Soundness on Consumers' Food Evaluation, and Willingness to Buy

ABSTRACT Our previous study shows that environmental soundness as an intangible product attribute for food products is a four dimensional concept. These dimensions are: nature friendly production process, animal friendly production process, additive free production process, and environmentally-sound packaging. Nature friendly production process refers to items related to access of pollutants to the waterways from industrial plants, farms, and as animal shelters (manure), access of pollutants to air, waste of fossil fuels energy in production of food, and use of pesticides and artificial fertilizers in production. Animal friendly production process refers to items such as large enough facilities for raising animals, taking into account the natural needs of animals, humane treatment, possibilities for being outside, natural feeding, and good health. Additive free production process addresses items concerning preservatives, additives, omission of hormones, and harmful microbes to human beings. Environmentally-sound packaging covers items related to packaging material, possibilities for recycling, and amount of packaging. In this study we examine how the four dimensions of environmental soundness as seen by consumers influence the intervening variables of perceived quality, perceived price, and perceived value of environmentally sound foods and willingness to buy food products. A conceptual model for an evaluation process of environmentally sound foodstuffs is presented. Empirical data from 826 Finnish consumers were collected by computers to test the proposed model. The sample was representative of the Finnish population in terms of age, sex, and region. We found the dimensions of environmental soundness have a significant association with perceived food quality, which means that environmental soundness increases perceived quality of food products. Animal friendly production practices and environmentally sound packaging were two most powerful dimensions in explaining perception of quality of two food products.
c‐Myb Is Required for Neural Progenitor Cell Proliferation and Maintenance of the Neural Stem Cell Niche in Adult Brain

Ongoing production of neurons in adult brain is restricted to specialized neurogenic niches. Deregulated expression of genes controlling homeostasis of neural progenitor cell division and/or their microenvironment underpins a spectrum of brain pathologies. Using conditional gene deletion, we show that the proto‐oncogene c‐myb regulates neural progenitor cell proliferation and maintains ependymal cell integrity in mice. These two cellular compartments constitute the neurogenic niche in the adult brain. Brains devoid of c‐Myb showed enlarged ventricular spaces, ependymal cell abnormalities, and reduced neurogenesis. Neural progenitor cells lacking c‐Myb showed a reduced intrinsic proliferative capacity and reduction of Sox‐2 and Pax‐6 expression. These data point to an important role for c‐Myb in the neurogenic niche of the adult brain.
Association of dietary patterns with cancer recurrence and survival in patients with stage III colon cancer.

CONTEXT Dietary factors have been associated with the risk of developing colon cancer but the influence of diet on patients with established disease is unknown. OBJECTIVE To determine the association of dietary patterns with cancer recurrences and mortality of colon cancer survivors. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS Prospective observational study of 1009 patients with stage III colon cancer who were enrolled in a randomized adjuvant chemotherapy trial (CALGB 89803) between April 1999 and May 2001. Patients reported on dietary intake using a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire during and 6 months after adjuvant chemotherapy. We identified 2 major dietary patterns, prudent and Western, by factor analysis. The prudent pattern was characterized by high intakes of fruits and vegetables, poultry, and fish; the Western pattern was characterized by high intakes of meat, fat, refined grains, and dessert. Patients were followed up for cancer recurrence or death. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Disease-free survival, recurrence-free survival, and overall survival by dietary pattern. RESULTS During a median follow-up of 5.3 years for the overall cohort, 324 patients had cancer recurrence, 223 patients died with cancer recurrence, and 28 died without documented cancer recurrence. A higher intake of a Western dietary pattern after cancer diagnosis was associated with a significantly worse disease-free survival (colon cancer recurrences or death). Compared with patients in the lowest quintile of Western dietary pattern, those in the highest quintile experienced an adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) for disease-free survival of 3.25 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.04-5.19; P for trend <.001). The Western dietary pattern was associated with a similar detriment in recurrence-free survival (AHR, 2.85; 95% CI, 1.75-4.63) and overall survival (AHR, 2.32; 95% CI, 1.36-3.96]), comparing highest to lowest quintiles (both with P for trend <.001). The reduction in disease-free survival with a Western dietary pattern was not significantly modified by sex, age, nodal stage, body mass index, physical activity level, baseline performance status, or treatment group. In contrast, the prudent dietary pattern was not significantly associated with cancer recurrence or mortality. CONCLUSIONS Higher intake of a Western dietary pattern may be associated with a higher risk of recurrence and mortality among patients with stage III colon cancer treated with surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy. Further studies are needed to delineate which components of such a diet show the strongest association.