Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Combining Factor Models and External Instruments to Identify Uncertainty Shocks

The empirical structural VAR literature which aims at recovering the effect of movements in macroeconomic uncertainty on the economy relies on two prerequisites: (i) An informationally sufficient model, which is a necessary condition for being able to recover structural from reduced form shocks, and (ii) a valid identification strategy. Commonly-used small-scale recursively identified VAR models are likely to fail both these conditions. I propose a Dynamic Factor Model (DFM) identified via an External Instrument (EI) to address both issues jointly. First, I find that, contrary to recursively identified models, the EI identification suggests an abrupt decline an rebound of the stock market. Second, contrary to small-scale models, the DFM suggests an increase in nominal quantities following an uncertainty shocks. Third, I show evidence that small-scale models are, indeed, informationally deficient, which could explain the differences in findings.
THE ACQUISITION OF RHYTHMIC PATTERNS IN ENGLISH AND FRENCH

Although rhythm may provide a basic grid for the acquisition of language, experimental studies investigating its development are scarce. In this paper, we examine the rhythmic patterns produced by 4-year-old French and English children and their mothers. In utterances of minimally four syllables, vowel durations were measured, and a rhythm index was calculated which expresses the degree of variability between successive vowel durations. The results show (1) that successive vowel durations produced by French mothers are more nearly equal than those produced by English mothers, and (2) that the rhythmic patterns of English mothers and children differ, but those of French mothers and children do not. Our findings are in accord with traditional descriptions of French and English as syllableand stress-timed respectively, and show that 4-year-old French children appear to have acquired the syllable-timed rhythm of French, but 4-year-old English children have not acquired the stress-timed rhythm of English.
RESPONSE TO ADLER ( 2014 ) REVIEW OF “ MEASURING THE IMPACTS OF TEACHERS ”

In a recent National Education Policy Center (NEPC) report, Moshe Adler (2014) raises several potential concerns about the validity of Chetty, Friedman, and Rockoff’s two papers (forthcoming in the American Economic Review) on measuring the impacts of teachers. After considering Adler’s critiques carefully, our interpretation of the results is entirely unchanged. All of the concerns reflect a misunderstanding of statistical methods and the data we analyze, and we respond to each of them below.
Heart rate response comparison of young soccer plyers in “ cage ” small-sided and 8 vs 8 games

Aim: Small-sided games are widely used training methods because they permit the trainer to focus on technical/tactical and physical aspects at the same time. The study also aims to investigate and compare the cardiac responses assessed during 3 vs. 3 games played in a “cage” compared with 8 vs. 8 games played with goal keepers and to understand the correlation between the values of aerobic power and heart rate measured during small-sided games. Methods: 16 young soccer players. Results: The assessment of aerobic power, measured by means of the Leger test, revealed a mean VO2max value equal to 54.23 ± 3.89 ml/kg/min. The results showed statistically significant differences between 3vs3 cage and 8vs8 for % mean heart rate (88±2,7 vs 77±3,8, p<0.0005) and % max heart rate (94,6±1,5 vs 88,6±2,9, p<0.0005). A significant negative correlation emerged between the VO2max and % mean heart rate during the first period (r=-0.873, p<0.01), the second period (r=-0.678, p<0.05) and the third period (r=-0.615, p<0.05). Conclusion: This study is the first to describe and quantify the internal load imposed by a specific playing modality (i.e. a cage-enclosed pitch) on a small-sided games format (i.e. 3 vs. 3) that demands that play is continuous and without any interruption (for example, due to balls going out of play) using young football players. The results also show that physiological responses in young players are greater in small-sided games involving a smaller number of players (i.e. 3 vs. 3 compared with 8 vs. 8).
Environmental drivers of fire severity in a large forest fire in SE Spain

Fire severity, understood as a measure of biomass consumption, is a function of dynamical interactions between fuel loads and fire propagation conditions (i.e., fire velocity, wind speed and topography, among other). To understand the factors that control fire severity, accurate methods for estimating pre-fire vegetation structure and composition as well as fire propagation conditions are required. Here we analyzed the spatial variability of fire severity in a large fire having different fuel loads (structure and composition), fire propagation conditions and fire history. The study site was a large and mixed severity fire (3.217 ha) occurred in southeast Spain (Yeste, Albacete) from 27th July to 1th August 2017 that reburned part of an old fire occurred in 1994. Fire severity was estimated using RBR (Relativized Burn Ratio) derived from Sentinel 2A images, which were validated with Composite Burnt Index (CBI) field plots (n=18). Pre-fire vegetation conditions were derived from: 1) LiDAR metrics at 10 and 30 m pixel size and, 2) other auxiliary data derived from Sentinel 2A, the 4th National Forest Inventory (NFI) and National Forest Map (NFM). Fire propagation conditions for different burning periods were estimated based on a fire progression map. In addition, weather conditions for each burning period were obtained from a nearby automated weather station. Moreover, directional (i.e., in the sense of the propagating front along the fire perimeter) slope and wind speed were calculated for each burning period. Regression models between fire severity and its driving factors were obtained applying Boosted Regression Trees (BRTs). Fire severity was best explained by burning conditions (cross-validation correlation [CVC] 0.70), followed by prefire stand structure derived from Lidar at 30 m and other auxiliary variables (CVC 0.48 for both models). Combining those sets of variables, CVC increased to 0.80. Yet, the variables that most contributed to the model was fire rate of spread (14.6%) and LAI (12.5%). Higher fire severity occurred in elevated areas, burning uphill, with high fire rate of spread, with dominant winds (mainly from the West) blowing windwards of the fire-front and under extreme weather conditions. Moreover, fire severity was high in shrublands and Pinus forests (P. pinaster and P.halepensis) with small trees and abundant understory. Based on the dominant winds and topography fuel management practices could be carried out in a way to limit fire severity, thus allowing a better control of fire.
Excess Energy and Nuclear Products “ Excess Heat ” Measurement in Gas-loading D / Pd System

A gas-loading D P d system has been designed to measure the “excess heat”. The prehinary result has shown that the calorimetric feature of the D P d system is distinct fiom that of its twin WPd system. The difference between these twin systems can be attributed to the “excess heat” of the order of watts per cubic centimeter of palladium.
Body Condition and Feeding Ecology of Kuskokwim River Chum Salmon ( Oncorhynchus keta ) During Freshwater Outmigration

The marine environment has been identified as the primary influence to salmon survival, however, freshwater and estuarine habitat use during early life history are also considered critical stages influencing ocean survival. Research on the freshwater early life history of chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) in the Kuskokwim watershed is currently nonexistent. We explored capture methods of under-ice sampling before and during spring break-up to evaluate ways to estimate outmigration timing of chum salmon fry in the Kuskokwim watershed. Spawning populations of summer chum salmon have been documented at over 900 km in the Kuskokwim drainage, as well as populations spawning close to the ocean. Investigations into the feeding ecology and energy reserves of chum salmon fry originating from the upper Kuskokwim River (> 900 km from estuary) and the Kwethluk River (< 200 km from estuary) may help scientists gain an understanding of the factors relating to migration distance that can influence survival during the smolt transition from freshwater to estuarine life history stages.
WDM, ‘NATURAL RESOURCE RECONSTRUCTION’ AND ‘ADAPTIVE CAPACITY’: A SYNOPSIS OF SOME KEY FINDINGS

• Fresh water is a finite and valuable resource, essential to sustain life, development and the environment. • Water development and management should be based on a participatory approach, involving users, planners and policy-makers at all levels. • Women play a central role in the provision, management and safeguarding of water resources. • Water has an economic value in all its competing uses and should be recognized as an economic good.
Assessment of Maxillary Premolar Region in Relation to Maxillary Sinus Floor and Buccal Bone Plate: A Cone Beam Computed Tomography Study

The maxillary sinus floor location and the buccal bone plate are factors to be considered in the long-term success with implant treatments mainly in the premolar region. the aim of this study was to establish morphometric characteristics of t he buccal cortical bone (BCB) thickness of maxillary premolars and its relation to maxillary sinus floor through CBCT. In this study 350 first and second maxillary premolars were analyzed from 110 CBCT images and the buccal cortical bone (BCB) was measured in a coronal view at the major axis level of each premolar. In addition, in 200 first and second maxillary premolars CBCT images were measured th e distance from premolar apex to maxillary sinus floor (MSF) in both frontal and sagittal plane. The type of relationship between th ap x and MSF was classified according to Ok et al. (2014). The second premolar was observed with higher values of BCB (p<0.001). In first premolar, higher values were observed in the male sex (p>0.05). In second premolar, only significantly higher values were obser ved in the male sex in MA-MB-MC (p>0.05). Regarding to MSF and its relation to premolar roots, it was observed that 10 % of the sample wa classified as type I, 19 % as type II, 5 5. % as type III and 15.5 % as type IV. The BCB of the upper premolar region is thicker in the apical region and decreases toward the coronal region. Almost 50 % of apex of second premolars are closely and risky related MSF (Type I and II).
Mental Health, Schooling Attainment and Polygenic Scores: Are There Significant Gene-Environment Associations?

It is well-established that (1) there is a large genetic component to mental health, and (2) higher schooling attainment is associated with better mental health. Given these two observations, we test the hypothesis that schooling may attenuate the genetic predisposition to poor mental health. Specifically, we estimate associations between a polygenic score (PGS) for depressive symptoms, schooling attainment and gene-environment (GxE) interactions with mental health (depressive symptoms and depression), in two distinct United States datasets at different adult ages-29 years old in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) and 54 years old in the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study (WLS). OLS results indicate that the association of the PGS with mental health is similar in Add Health and the WLS, but the association of schooling attainment is much larger in Add Health than in the WLS. There is some suggestive evidence that the association of the PGS with mental health is lower for more-schooled older individuals in the WLS, but there is no evidence of any significant GxE associations in Add Health. Quantile regression estimates also show that in the WLS the GxE associations are statistically significant only in the upper parts of the conditional depressive symptoms score distribution. We assess the robustness of the OLS results to omitted variable bias by using the siblings samples in both datasets to estimate sibling fixed-effect regressions. The sibling fixed-effect results must be qualified, in part due to low statistical power. However, the sibling fixed-effect estimates show that college education is associated with fewer depressive symptoms in both datasets.
New data sources for statistics : Experiences at Statistics Netherlands

Apart from the traditional sources used by National Statistical Institutes, like sample surveys and administrative sources, nowadays more and more electronic sources of information are available that potentially can be used for the production of statistics. At Statistics Netherlands we studied four ‘new’ secondary data sources for this purpose: i) Product prices on the internet, ii) Mobile phone location data, iii) Twitter text messages, and iv) Global Positioning System (GPS) data and traffic loop information. In this paper, for each of these data source an overview is given of the usability of the collected information, as well as the practical and methodological challenges that lay ahead. Some of these sources could be used immediately in the traditional statistical process and for some this is clearly more of a future topic. As for the methodological challenges: these were found to be remarkably similar.
Assessment of Undergraduates ’ usage of Academic Library for Learning and Research in Afe

This study examines the usage of academic library by undergraduates of Afe Babalola University, Nigeria. Four research questions were considered to gather data. Purposive sampling technique was used to obtain data from 500 students of the university who participated in the study. The findings revealed that 56% of the students visited the library daily. 99.6% of the students sampled only visited the library to read for test and examination while 96.8% visited the library to browse the internet. Also, 79.4% were not satisfied with the seating capacity and availability of computers in the library. The study recommended that lecturers should give reading assignments to students that will require that they visit the library to read even before test and examinations. Also, the library should organize a “library week” every session to sensitize students on the available resources in the library. In addition to college libraries, a more spacious central library should be made available to serve the teaming population of the users.
Development and Validation Assessment for Persian Inpatient Satisfaction Questionnaire

Healthcare research recognizes that satisfaction is an important health outcome of the medical encounter. As a result, many healthcare professions have paused the development and validation of instruments for measuring patient satisfaction. The present descriptive study was carried out through cross-sectional method. A sample of 400 patients was chosen randomly from seven hospitalsaffiliated to Arak University of Medical Sciences of which a total of 305 responded to the questionnaire during November and December 2011, giving a relatively high response rate (76.3 %). To confirm the reliability of inter-item correlations and construct validity, factor analysis was carried out, and items belonging to each factor and Cronbach’s Alpha Coefficient were calculated. Seven dimensions were identified, including: doctor's communication, nursing care, convenience, visitors, cleanliness, costs and general satisfaction, explaining 60% of the variance. All items, except one, revealed loadings above 0.4. Cronbach’s Alpha exceeded 0.8 for all dimensions, except for the area of visitors (0.66). Results must be interpreted with some caution due to the high level of satisfaction and not be considered comprehensible evidence of high performance of services or programs without substantial additional information. It is advised to use a qualitative study to complement such studies. In the light of the results, the designed hospital services satisfaction questionnaire strives to be a valid and reliable instrument for assessing inpatient satisfaction with hospital services. [Mehri Mohammadi, Magid Taheri, Siamak Mohebi, Yaser Tabaraie. Development and Validation Assessment for Persian Inpatient Satisfaction Questionnaire. Life Sci J 2013;10(6s):375-381] (ISSN:1097-8135). http://www.lifesciencesite. com. 58
The Transition of Welfare in Africa in the 2000 s : Evidence from Synthetic Panel Data

Absent actual panel household survey data, we construct for the first time synthetic panel data for more than twenty countries accounting for two-thirds of the population in Sub-Saharan Africa. We employ in this process repeated cross sections that span, on average, a six-year period for each country. Our analysis suggests that all these countries as a whole have had pro-poor growth. In particular, one third of the poor population escaped poverty during the studied period, which is larger than the proportion of the population that fell into poverty in the same period. The region also saw a nine-percent reduction in poverty and a 28-percent increase in the size of the middle class. Chronic poverty, however, remains high and a considerable proportion of the population are vulnerable to falling into poverty. JEL: C15, D31, I31, O10, O57
ASSESSMENT OF INNOVATION IN MAINE ’ S LOGGING INDUSTRY

Innovation is widely recognized as a critical component to a successful business. The study of innovation in the forest industry is well documented for forest product companies, but there has been very little research conducted on innovation in the logging industry in North America – let alone Maine. In fact, a recent report concerning the future of Maine’s forest products industry highlights the importance of innovation to the long-term sustainability of the industry as a whole, but the lack of attention to the logging industry is noticeable. Innovation in the logging industry can be defined as the adoption of a new product, process, marketing strategy, or organization method by a contract logging firm. Currently very little is known about the overall innovation system in Maine’s logging industry, nor the criteria contractors use to assess specific innovations. This paper presents qualitative findings from 10 case studies of logging innovators in Maine. The findings presented here focus on 1) innovations engaged in by logging innovators and 2) the development of mechanized logging systems among the cases studied and how this relates to the available literature. Results show that logging innovators can engage in multiple types of innovation and that logging system development is much more complex that previous studies show with a diverse set of factors and the innovation system influencing development patterns. Results also show a divergent rather than convergent developmental pattern resulting in a wide variety of systems being employed by the cases. In addition this project has outlined a methodological framework for studying innovation that is grounded in a blended innovation model approach collecting both qualitative data through case studies (presented here) and quantitative data through surveys (to be presented in future publications). This study fills a gap in the knowledge and literature on innovation in the forest products industry
Industrial Dynamics and Co-Evolution in a Planned Economy : A Case Study of the Chinese Automotive Industry

Co-evolution is already a key concept in social science research. In the field of management it is only starting to gain awareness, but has proven to be a powerful tool in explaining the developments of industries, firms and economies as a whole. Previous research has conceptualized and measured the co-evolution process in Western capitalist economies. In contrast our goal is to conceptualize and measure the co-evolution process in a planned economy. By applying the co-evolution theory to a planned economy we try to identify where traditional co-evolution theory does and does not explain developments in planned economies. These exceptions will allow us to develop additional pre conditions for co-evolution in planned economies. We ground our analysis on the developments in the formal market governing institutions, industry and technology. We use these dimensions to empirically analyze the developments in the Chinese automotive industry to illustrate the additional pre-conditions we deem necessary when applying co-evolution theory to planned economies.
An Analysis of Collegiate ClubSport Female Lacrosse Players : Sport-Specific Field Test Performance and the Influence of Stick Carry on Speed

International Journal of Exercise Science 11(4): 269-280, 2018. Lacrosse is a field-based, intermittent sport that requires players to use a stick with a shaft and mesh pocket to manipulate the ball. However, there has been limited analysis of the characteristics of collegiate club-sport players, and whether stick carry influences the sprinting speed of lacrosse players. As a result, this study investigated the field test characteristics of collegiate club-sport female lacrosse players, and the effects of stick carry on linear and change-of-direction speed. Nine players (seven field players, two goalkeepers) volunteered for this study and completed: vertical jump and standing broad jump; 30-meter (m) sprint (0-5, 0-10, and 0-30 m intervals) and modified T-test without and with a stick; and the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test. Magnitude-based inference analyses via effect sizes (d) compared the field players and goalkeepers. Data was pooled for the 30-m sprint and modified T-test to examine the effect of stick carry via paired samples t-tests (p<0.05) and effect sizes. Field players performed better in most field tests (d=0.93-2.45), although goalkeepers generated greater vertical jump power (d=2.01). With regards to the effects of stick carry, there was a significant difference between the faster 0-5 m sprint interval without a stick compared to with a stick (p=0.02), but this had a small effect (d=0.25). There were no differences between the other sprint intervals and modified T-test (p=0.08-0.39; d=0.06-0.19). When contextualized with comparisons to other female collegiate athletes, the results indicated limitations in training exposure for collegiate club-sport lacrosse players. Furthermore, stick carry generally did not affect speed.
Heavy Metal Levels in Cabbage , Carrots and Tomatoes Sampled at Marian Market , Calabar , Nigeria

Zn, Cr, Ni and Pb concentrations in cabbage, carrot and tomatoes were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The order of concentrations of each heavy metals were Zn; tomato (0.20 + 0.009mg/kg) > carrot (0.197+ 0.03mg/kg) > cabbage (0.174 +0.03mg/kg), all well below WHO permissible limit of 50mg/kg. Cr; carrot (0.187 + 0.005mg/kg) > cabbage (0.0613 + 0.002mg/kg) > tomato (0.0517 + 0.008mg/kg), all below WHO limit of 1.3mg/kg. Ni; Carrot (0.112+ 0.005mg/kg) > cabbage (0.1023+ 0.03mg/kg) tomato, below detectable limit (BDL), all less than WHO limit of 10mg/kg. Pb; cabbage (0.06+0.004 mg/kg) > tomato (0.045+ 0.005 mg/kg) > carrot (BDL), all below WHO limit of 2mg/kg. Since concentrations of all the heavy metals studied in cabbage, carrot and tomatoes were below WHO permissible limits for plants, consumers in Calabar are not at risk of Zn, Cr, Ni or Pb toxicity. We recommend that; (i) Soils be tested for the presence and levels of heavy metals, if high, bioremediation carried out before cultivation of vegetables (ii) Fruits and vegetables be properly covered during transportation from farm to market, to avoid contamination with heavy metals from the exhausts of vehicles. (iii) Fruits and vegetables should be thoroughly washed before consumption.