Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Fiscal Policy in the DSGE-VAR Framework

In this paper we explore the potential of the DSGE-VAR modelling approach to examine the effects of fiscal policy. The combination of VAR and DSGE frameworks leads theoretically to more accurate estimates of impulse responses and consequently of fiscal multipliers. Moreover, the framework allows discussion about the differences of the effects of fiscal shocks in DSGE and VAR models and the extent of misspecification in fiscal DSGE models. The DSGE-VAR model is estimated on Czech data covering the period from 1996 to 2011 at quarterly frequency. The results suggest that misspecification of a standard fiscal DSGE model is present. Overall, the DSGE-VAR model leads to larger fiscal multipliers compared to those from the DSGE counterpart. The difference is particularly pronounced in the case of government consumption multipliers, which are about twice larger in the DSGE-VAR (0.80– 0.92) as compared to the DSGE (0.42–0.47). JEL Codes: C11, E62, F41, H30.
Total OH Reactivity Changes Over the Amazon Rainforest During an El Niño Event

The 2015/16 El Nino event caused unprecedented drought and warming in the Amazon basin. How tropical forests react to such extreme events in terms of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions is of interest as the frequency of these events is predicted to increase through climate change. The diverse VOCs emitted can be significant for plants’ carbon budgets, influence ozone and particle production, and through their reactivity impact OH concentrations. Total OH reactivity is a directly measureable quantity that gives the reaction frequency of OH radicals with all reactive species in the atmosphere in s-1. Here we present a comparison of the OH reactivity diel cycle from November 2015, i.e. extreme drought and elevated temperatures associated with strong El Nino conditions, with November 2012, a “normal” El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO)-neutral period. Interestingly, the diel maximum of OH reactivity during the El Nino event occurred at sunset instead of, under normal conditions, early afternoon. The absolute total diel OH reactivity, however, did not change significantly. Daytime OH reactivity averages were 24.3 ± 14.5 s-1 in 2012 and 24.6 ± 11.9 s-1 in 2015, respectively. Our findings suggest that a combination of stronger turbulent transport above the canopy with stress-related monoterpene and, possibly, other biogenic volatile organic compound (BVOC) emissions were responsible for this increased reactivity at sunset.
Fine-tuning a Convolutional Network for Cultural Even Recognition

Participation in the challenge "Cultural event classification" from ChaLearn. Teh description of teh challenge is the following: More than 10,000 images corresponding to 50 different cultural event categories will be considered. In all the categories, garments, human poses, objects and context will be possible cues to be exploited for recognizing the events, while preserving the inherent inter- and intra-class variability of this type of images. Examples of cultural events will be Carnival, Oktoberfest, San Fermin, Maha-Kumbh-Mela and Aoi-Matsuri, among others. More
Why Do Employees Negotiate Idiosyncratic Deals? an Exploration of the Process of I-Deal Negotiation

This study investigated why employees negotiate idiosyncratic deals with their organizations, and interviews with 31 employees who successfully negotiated i-deals showed that three main themes could be identified in the i-deal negotiation process: motives for negotiating (i.e., earned and problem solving), enablers (i.e., relationships and flexibility), and inhibitors (i.e., secrecy, and culture and structure). The study shows that people may have different motives for negotiating i-deals, and subsequently also experience different enabling and inhibiting factors in the process of obtaining i-deals.
Radiocarbon Age Anomalies in Pre- and Post-Bomb Land Snails from the Coastal Mediterranean Basin

The shell carbonate of pre- and post-bomb samples of 2 species of terrestrial gastropods (Theba pisana and Cernuella virgata) sampled along the coast of Apulia, southern Italy, were dated using accelerator mass spectrometry and carbon stable isotopes were analyzed. The analyses show, for both species, significant anomalies in the radiocarbon age due to the possible presence of a 14C-depleted source of carbon in the formation of the shell aragonite. The magnitude of the age anomaly was quantified in the studied area to ∼1000 14C yr.
Female Participation in South Korean Traditional Music: Late Chosŏn to the Present Day

While individual aspects of gender in South Korean traditional music have been previously explored, a general examination of the subject has yet to be undertaken. Through the analysis of fieldwork and previous research, this thesis looks at the gender shift of musicians from predominantly male in the last dynasty to predominantly female today. This shift is considered in relation to the changing function of traditional music from popular entertainment to cultural preservation during Korea’s rapid modernisation process. My fieldwork includes interviews with performers, students, teachers and scholars of traditional music, lessons on stringed, percussion and wind instruments and the observation of concerts and rehearsals in various genres of traditional music. Through this fieldwork, several gender issues became evident. While the majority of traditional musicians are presently female, a significant number of men participate in ritual and aristocratic music and on wind or percussion instruments. Women, on the other hand, greatly outnumber men in newly-created national music, in fusion music, vocal music and on stringed instruments, particularly the kayagŭm and haegŭm. While a larger gender issue concerning the role of women in preservation can be seen in the greater numbers of women in traditional music, this division within traditional music society reflects the historic split between the male upper-class scholar and the female kisaeng artist. The associations between women and the body, nature and the artist exist in contrast to those linking men with the mind, power over nature and the scholar. The consequences of these associations can be seen in the early acceptance of women as singers and dancers with male accompaniment across classes. While the role of traditional music in society has changed through the events of the past century, many aspects of traditional culture can still be seen within Korean musical society.
Fixed points for Kannan type contractions in uniform spaces endowed with a graph

In this paper, we give two sufficient conditions for the existence of a fixed point for a Kannan type contraction in a p-complete separated uniform space endowed with a graph and equipped with an A- or an E-distance p. We also discuss the uniqueness of the fixed point and show that Banach and Kannan type contractions are independent.
Exploring Proverb Recognition Skill among Adolescents

Proverbs are figurative expressions capturing values and wisdom of our society. Literature suggests that proverb development begins during adolescence and continues throughout adulthood. Thus, the main purpose of the study was to check awareness of proverbs among adolescents in comparison to adults. For this study, proverb recognition task consisting of 20 proverbs and 20 non-proverbs were presented visually using DmDx software to participants of Group I (10-14 years) and Group II (18-24 years). A key press reaction time involving two alternate forced choice response format was adopted. Results of this cross sectional study design revealed that Group II had faster reaction time and higher accuracy rate compared to Group I and was statistically significant at 95% confidence level. The results documented are attributed to the meta-semantic hypothesis, which suggests Group I may have been less exposed to the proverbs hence processing it as an unfamiliar expression. This leads to active analysis of each word in the phrase, which is in contrast to how a familiar expression is processed by Group II subjects because of frequent exposure. In addition, the difference in lifestyle followed by the participants is also another contributing factor. Overall, the results give us valuable insight on the age related differences in strategies used for proverb recognition.
Lean Construction: Prospects for the German construction industry

There is little, if any, information available about the range and dissemination of lean concepts among construction companies in Germany. Building on the methodologies and conceptual frameworks used in earlier work in the UK (Common et al., 2000) and the Netherlands (Johansen et al., 2002) this study carried out a similar survey among German construction companies to discover the current understanding of lean principles, perceptions of lean and trends in lean development. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of an email questionnaire sent to large German construction companies indicates that there is little awareness of lean in the German construction industry and that hardly any company uses lean concepts on a company wide basis despite evidence that procedures and techniques that are used on German construction sites are generally consistent with lean construction practice. There appears to be cultural resistance to a manufacturing derived, production-system-view of construction.
XMM-Newton observations of the small magellanic cloud: long term evolution of frequently observed Be/X-ray binaries

Aims. To follow the long term evolution of Be/X-ray binaries in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) we analyzed twenty-two XMM-Newton observations towards the calibration target 1E 0102.2-7218 and seven observations towards the neighboring region around the eclipsing binary HD 5980. Methods. The data from the European Photon Imaging Cameras (EPIC) were used to produce images, X-ray spectra and light curves in different energy bands. We performed a detailed spectral and temporal analysis on the data of all known Be/X-ray binary pulsars that have been detected with a sufficiently high number of counts. Fast Fourier Transformation (FFT) power spectra were produced to search for X-ray pulsations and to determine their significance. To derive accurate values for the pulse periods we utilized the Bayesian method. To identify or confirm the optical counterparts we derived the X-ray positions of the pulsars using maximum likelihood source detection techniques and correlated them with optical catalogues. Results. There are ten known Be/X-ray binaries located in the observed fields. In addition to the previously published results for three of these sources, we present long term X-ray light curves and pulse period histories for the following six pulsars: CXOU J005736.2-721934 (565 s), RX J0057.8-7207 (152 s), RX J0059.3-7223 (201 s), CXOU J010102.7-720658 (304 s), RX J0101.3-7211 (455 s), SAX J0103.2-7209 (345 s) and RX J0103.6-7201 (1323 s). We do not agree with the identification of the ROSAT source RX J0105.1-7211 = XMMU J010509.7-721146 as the 3.34 s ASCA pulsar AX J0105-722 and suggest that RX J0105.1-7211 is more likely a background AGN. We find soft excess emission around 1 keV in the X-ray spectra of two pulsars (SAX J0103.2-7209 and RX J0103.6-7201). The spin history in combination with the long term X-ray light-curve indicate a type II outburst of CXOU J010102.7-720658 at the end of 2005 and a reversal in the accretion disc torque in SAX J0103.2-7209 in May 2002. An X-ray ephemeris for the binary orbit was only available in the literature for CXOU J005736.2-721934 and is in good agreement with the observed XMM-Newton light-curve.
Differentiability of perturbed semigroups and delay semigroups

Suppose that A generates a C0-semigroup T on a Banach space X. In 1953 R. S. Phillips showed that, for each bounded operator B on X, the perturbation A+B of A generates a C0-semigroup on X, and he considered whether certain classes of semigroups are stable under such perturbations. This study was extended in 1968 by A. Pazy who identified a condition on the resolvent of A which is sufficient for the perturbed semigroups to be immediately differentiable. However, M. Renardy showed in 1995 that immediate differentiability is not stable under bounded perturbations. We give a survey account of the partial answers already given to the question of differentiability of perturbed semigroups. Furthermore, we show that Pazy’s condition is necessary, as well as sufficient, if one adds a natural requirement of uniformity for the differentiability of the perturbed semigroups. We also present an account of the corresponding theory for delay semigroups associated with A, based on an earlier paper of ours but with improved formulation. The necessary and sufficient condition for eventual differentiability of the delay semigroups is that the resolvent of A should have polynomial decay on vertical lines. We also give a brief account of the consequences for asymptotics of individual mild solutions of abstract Cauchy problems and delay differential equations. 1. Background. Let A be the generator of a C0-semigroup T = {T (t) : t ≥ 0} on a complex Banach space X, and let B be a bounded linear operator on X. Phillips [21] showed that A + B generates a C0-semigroup SB on X (see [1], [13] or [20] for general background information on C0-semigroups and this result in particular). He raised the question which properties of semigroups are “stable” in the sense that if T has the property then SB also has it for all B ∈ B(X). He argued that the stable properties are more significant, on both practical and mathematical grounds, than other properties. 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification: Primary 47D06; Secondary 34K12, 47A10, 93C15.
Uteroglobin levels at day 6 of gestation in two lines of rabbits divergently selected for uterine capacity.

The aim of this work was to study the expression of uteroglobin in uterine fluid from two lines of rabbits divergently selected for uterine capacity during ten generations. In addition, the relation between embryo survival and uteroglobin expression and between progesterone levels in uterine flushings and uteroglobin expression were studied. Females from the 12 generation were used. Nineteen females from High line and fifteen females from Low line were slaughtered at day 6 of gestation. The genital tracts were removed and uterine flushings were obtained to measure uteroglobin expression and progesterone concentration. Number of recovered embryos (RE), ovulation rate (OR) and embryo survival (ES=RE/OR) were counted. The uteroglobin expression and progesterone concentration in uterine fluid was 2.44±1.29 and 15.48±5.88 ng/ml, respectively. Progesterone concentration and uteroglobin expression in uterine fluid were similar in both lines. Uteroglobin was slightly correlated with levels of progesterone in uterine fluid (r=0.29; P 0.05) or to embryo survival (r=-0.13; P>0.05). Thus, differences in embryo survival between lines do not seem to be caused by differences in uteroglobin expression at day 6 of gestation.
Association between Indoor PM10, PM2.5 and NO2 with Airway Inflammation among Preschool Children at Industrial and Sub-Urban Areas

of indoor PM10 [87.00 (59.00) µg/m3], PM2.5 [75.0 (47.0) µg/m3] and NO2 [0.14 (0.14) ppm] in preschools at the industrial area were significantly higher than the preschools at the sub-urban area (Z=-8.517, p=0.001). A significant difference (p<0.05) was found in measurements between the two areas. Indoor PM10, PM2.5 and NO2 were found to be significantly associated with the concentration levels of Fractional exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO) measured in both areas (p<0.05). Preschool children living near an industrial area are highly exposed to indoor air pollutants as compared to those in the sub-urban area. Exposure to indoor PM10, PM2.5 and NO2 were associated with concentration levels of Fractional exhaled Nitric Oxide in both areas. Therefore, it was suggested that greater exposure to PM10, PM2.5 and NO2 may increase the chances of airway inflammation occurrences among those exposed.
Development of Superior Sorbents for Separation of CO2 from Flue Gas at a Wide Temperature Range During Coal Combustion

For this part of the project the studies focused on the development of novel sorbents for reducing the carbon dioxide emissions at high temperatures. Our studies focused on cesium doped CaO sorbents with respect to other major flue gas compounds in a wide temperature range. The thermo-gravimetric analysis of sorbents with loadings of CaO doped on 20 wt% cesium demonstrated high CO{sub 2} sorption uptakes (up to 66 wt% CO{sub 2}/sorbent). It is remarkable to note that zero adsorption affinity for N{sub 2}, O{sub 2}, H{sub 2}O and NO at temperatures as high as 600 C was observed. For water vapor and nitrogen oxide we observed a positive effect for CO{sub 2} adsorption. In the presence of steam, the CO{sub 2} adsorption increased to the highest adsorption capacity of 77 wt% CO{sub 2}/sorbent. In the presence of nitrogen oxide, the final CO{sub 2} uptake remained same, but the rate of adsorption was higher at the initial stages (10%) than the case where no nitrogen oxide was fed.
Changing Students' Conceptions of Mathematics through the Int roduction of Variation 1

Some 400 Secondary One (i.e. seventh-grade) students from 10 schools were provided with non-routine mathematical problems in their normal mathematics classes as exercises for one academic year. Their attitudes toward mathematics, their conceptions of mathematics and their problem-solving performance were measured both in the beginning and at the end of the year. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that the introduction of an appropriate dose of non-routine problems would generate some effects on the students' conceptions of mathematics. A medium dose of non-routine problems (as reported by the teachers) would result in a change of the students' conception of mathematics to perceiving mathematics as less of "a subject of calculables. " On the other hand, a high dose would lead students to perceive mathematics as more useful and more as a discipline involving thinking. However, with a low dose of non-routine problems, students found mathematics more "friendly" (free from fear). It is therefore proposed that the use of non-routine mathematical problems to an appropriate extent can induce changes in students' "lived space" of mathematics learning and broaden their conceptions of mathematics and mathematics learning.
Approach to the 4/5 law in homogeneous isotropic turbulence

Kolmogorov's similarity hypotheses and his 4/5 law are valid at very large Reynolds numbers. For flows encountered in the laboratory, the effect of a finite Reynolds number and of the non-stationarity or inhomogeneity associated with the large scales can affect the behaviour of the scales in the inertial range significantly. This paper focuses on the source of inhomogeneity in two types of flows, those dominated mainly by a decay of energy in the streamwise direction and those which are forced, through a continuous injection of energy at large scales. Results based on a parameterization of the second-order velocity structure function indicate that the normalized third-order structure function approaches 4/5 much more rapidly for forced than for decaying turbulence. This trend is supported by grid turbulence measurements and numerical data in a periodic box.
Upregulation of Hedgehog Pathway is Associated with Cellular Permissiveness for Hepatitis C Virus Replication

Studies of the Hepatitis C virus (HCV) life-cycle rely heavily upon Huh7.5 cells, but the reasons why these cells are exceptionally permissive for HCV replication are not clear. Based on recent clinical observations, we hypothesized that the Hedgehog (Hh) pathway, which has not been previously associated with HCV replication, may be involved in the Huh7.5 phenotype of increased permissiveness. We tested this hypothesis by comparing levels of a variety of Hh related cellular markers in Huh7.5 cells with the parental Huh7 cells, which are far less permissive. Here, we demonstrate that Huh7.5 cells, when compared to Huh7 cells, have substantially decreased expression of epithelial markers, increased levels of mesenchymal markers and markedly upregulated Hh pathway activity: Shh, >100 fold, Gli1, >30 fold, Ptc, 2 fold. In Huh7.5 cells, we found that cyclopamine, a Hh pathway antagonist, reduced HCV RNA levels by 50% compared to vehicle and inactive isomer controls. Moreover, in Huh7 cells, treatment with recombinant Shh ligand and SAG, both Hh pathway agonists, stimulated HCV replication by 2 fold and 4 fold, respectively. These effects were observed with both viral infections and a subgenomic replicon. Finally, we demonstrated that GDC-0449 decreased HCV RNA levels in a dose response manner. Conclusions—We have identified a relationship between HCV and Hh signaling where upregulated pathway activity during infection promotes an environment conducive to replication. Given that Hh activity is very low in most hepatocytes, these findings may serve to further shift the model of HCV liver infection from modest widespread replication in hepatocytes to one where a subset of cells support high level replication. These findings also introduce Hh pathway inhibitors as potential anti-HCV therapeutics. Corresponding Author: Ravi Jhaveri M.D., Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Duke University Medical Center, DUMC 3499, Durham, NC 27710, Tel: 919-681-8799, Fax: 919-668-4859. *These authors contributed equally to this manuscript NIH Public Access
The Entrepreneurial Orientation of Micro Enterprises in the Retail Sector in South Africa

Abstract This study investigated the entrepreneurial orientation of micro enterprises in the retail sector in South Africa. Data was collected through the use of self-administered questionnaires in a survey. Data analysis included descriptive statistics and factor analysis. The Cronbach’s alpha was used to measure reliability. The results indicated that micro enterprises are adept in introducing new product lines and also making changes to the product line. However, micro enterprises are weak in the area of research and development. The results also showed that micro enterprises are on the average weak in the area of proactiveness. Micro enterprises are followers rather than leaders and are not risk lovers. Recommendations on how micro enterprises can improve entrepreneurial orientation are suggested.
Determinants and consequences of age of primiparity in bighorn ewes

Because variation in age of first reproduction can have major effects on individual fitness and population dynamics, it is important to understand what maintains that variability. Although early primiparity is assumed to be costly, it is sometimes associated with high lifetime reproductive success. We used a long-term study on bighorn sheep Ovis canadensis to determine what variables affect age at first reproduction, investigate the impact of primiparity on body resources and quantify the reproductive performance of primiparous ewes. We then examined the consequences of delayed primiparity on adult body mass, longevity and lifetime reproductive success. Environmental conditions during early development, body mass as a yearling, genotype and maternal effects affected age of primiparity. Primiparous ewes lost more mass in winter and gained less mass in summer than multiparous ewes. Small yearling ewes that postponed reproduction attained similar adult mass than heavy yearling ewes who reproduced at a younger age. Early primiparity did not reduce longevity and was positively associated with lifetime reproductive success. Starting to reproduce as soon as possible appears to maximize fitness of females. When early life conditions are unfavorable, however, delayed primiparity allows greater body growth and likely maximizes survival. The combination of a conservative reproductive strategy and maternal effects on age of primiparity may partly delay population recovery following density-dependent declines.