Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Does Regulation of Built-In Security Reduce Crime? Evidence from a Natural Experiment

As of 1999, all new-built homes in the Netherlands have to have burglary-proof windows and doors. We provide evidence that this large-scale government intervention in the use of self-protective measures lowers crime and improves social welfare. We find the regulatory change to have reduced burglary in new-built homes from 1.1 to 0.8 percent annually, a reduction of 26 percent. The findings suggest that burglars avoid old, less-protected homes that are located in the direct vicinity of the new, better-protected homes. The presence of a negative externality on older homes is ambiguous. We find no evidence for displacement to other property crimes including theft from cars and bicycle theft. Even though the regulation of built-in security does not target preventative measures at homes that are most at risk, the social benefits of the regulation are likely to exceed the social costs.
Equity Issues and Return Volatility

We show that the repurchaser--issuer return spread is stronger among stocks with high return volatility. Rational and behavioral theories predict that this finding is the product of risk volatility and sentiment volatility, respectively. However, our results are inconsistent with these theories as they currently stand. Loadings on standard risk factors do not follow the dynamics that would explain the return predictability related to issuance decisions. If we sort on a stock's beta with respect to the aggregate sentiment index of Baker and Wurgler (2006, J. Finance, 61, 1645--1680), which proxies for sentiment volatility, the results are weaker--economically and statistically--than when sorting on return volatility. Copyright 2013, Oxford University Press.
A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE FACTORS AFFECTING THE MALE AND FEMALE STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN HIGHER EDUCATION (A CASE OF GOVERNMENT COLLEGE UNIVERSITY, LAHORE)

The gender differences can never be ignored in any society or community in all fields of life. Similarly, Academic performance in higher education may also be influenced by gender according to the demographic behaviour and personal attitude of the students towards studies. The objective of this study is to investigate the possible differences in gender wise academic performance in higher education. A sample of 285 students was selected from Government College University, Lahore and the requisite information was collected through a questionnaire which was developed for this purpose. The reliability of the instrument/questionnaire was measured by Cronbach Alpha. Descriptive and inferential measures were used to explain the factors affecting the students‘ academic performance. Furthermore, the levene’s and t-tests are used for inferential analysis. The software SPSS (Version-16) was used for the data analysis. The Levene's test suggested that the variances of both male and female students’ performance were equal with F = 2.16 at p-value=0.143 and pooled t-test analysis has suggested that the average percentage marks of male and female students’ are significantly different with t = 2.206 having p-value= 0.028. The averages of the performance of male and female students were 72.12 and 74.54, respectively.
Nunduva, a new marine genus of Rivulariaceae (Nostocales, Cyanobacteria) from marine rocky shores

Several populations of a non-tapering and tapering, fasciculated, single and geminate false branching heterocytous cyanobacterium were collected from rocky shores in the Pacific Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. The populations were provisionally placed in Brasilonema based on morphology, but upon sequencing of both environmental and culture material it was discovered that the populations/cultures belonged to the Rivulariaceae, in a marine subclade of the family containing Kyrtuthrix huatulcensis. In culture, the taxon exhibited tapering in isopolar filaments, providing further evidence that it was a member of the rivulariacean clade. Based on molecular data for other cyanobacteria within the rivulariacean clade, we identified at least three more species morphologically distinguishable from the Brasilonema-like material, all of which show more pronounced tapering. These cyanobacteria include not only tropical marine strains, but also a strain isolated from the English coastline in the Atlantic Ocean. We propose a new genus and four species for members of this distinctive clade, Nunduva fasciculata gen. nov., sp. nov., N. kania sp. nov., N. biania sp. nov., and N. britannica sp. nov. Other strains that others and we have isolated are sister to Nunduva and may eventually be placed within this genus, but at present, we consider the evidence for inclusion in Nunduva to be insufficient.
EKUITAS MEREK PENGARUHNYA TERHADAP KEPUTUSAN PEMBELIAN PRODUK DONAT J.CO DONUTS & COFFEE DI MANADO TOWN SQUARE

ABSTRAK Persaingan antar perusahaan saat ini semakin ketat, dimana merek memiliki peran penting dan menjadi aset perusahaan yang paling bernilai. Merek diduga dapat memberikan kontribusi dalam menciptakan dan menjaga daya saing sebuah produk, dimana merek biasanya dihubungkan dengan citra khusus yang mampu memberikan asosiasi tertentu dalam benak konsumen. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh secara simultan dan parsial ekuitas merek yang terdiri dari; kesadaran merek, asosiasi merek, persepsi kualitas, dan loyalitas merek terhadap keputusan pembelian konsumen. Penelitian menggunakan survey, dengan metode penelitian asosiatif. Tehnik analisis menggunakan regresi linear berganda, mengingat model tersusun atas sejumlah hubungan kausal antar variabel laten. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan secara simultan dan parsial kesadaran merek, asosiasi merek, persepsi kualitas, dan loyalitas merek berpengaruh positif dan signifikan terhadap keputusan pembelian konsumen. Manajemen J.CO Donuts & Coffee sebaiknya meningkatkan kesadaran merek, asosiasi merek, persepsi kualitas, dan loyalitas merek bagi para konsumennya, mengingat koefisien regresinya masih rendah atau masih dibawah satu. Hal ini dapat dilakukan dengan cara melakukan peningkatan kualitas produk dan layanan gerai bagi para konsumen serta mengadakan kegiatan-kegiatan marketing untuk meningkatkan brand awarness konsumennya. Kata kunci: ekuitas merek, keputusan pembelian.
Flow regulation reduces native plant cover and facilitates exotic invasion in riparian wetlands

Summary 1. River regulation and exotic plant invasion threaten riverine ecosystems, and the two often co-occur. By altering water regimes, flow regulation can facilitate plant invasion by providing conditions that directly benefit invading species, or by reducing competition from native species unsuited to the modified conditions. Integrating water and weed management has the potential to limit riparian plant invasion and maximize the ecological benefit of environmental flows. 2. We surveyed plant communities and modelled flood histories of 24 riparian wetlands along the regulated River Murray, south-eastern Australia. There were no suitable control rivers, so we compared modelled pre- and post-regulation hydrological data to quantify hydrological change in the study wetlands. Regression analyses revealed relationships between hydrological modification and cover of native non-weed, native weed and exotic weed groups and 10 individual species. 3. Exotic cover was highest and native non-weed cover lowest in wetlands that had experienced the greatest change in hydrology – a reduction in peak flow. Native weeds did not respond to hydrological modification indicating that exotic species’ success was not reliant on their generalist characteristics. 4. By altering habitat filters, hydrological modification caused a decline in amphibious native non-weed species cover and simultaneously provided drier conditions that directly favoured the exotic species group dominated by terrestrial species. Exotic species were potentially further assisted by human-mediated dispersal. 5. Species and functional diversity was inversely related to exotic cover. By shifting the balance between native and exotic taxa and changing community functional composition, flow regulation may disrupt the ecological function and ecosystem services of floodplain wetlands. 6. Synthesis and applications. Worldwide, flow regulation has led to riverine ecosystems becoming more terrestrial. The success of most introduced plants relies on minimal inundation. In this study, flood magnitude was more important than frequency, timing, or duration for wetland flora because it reflects spatial extent and depth of flooding. Augmenting natural spring floods with environmental flows will kill terrestrial weeds and facilitate native macrophyte growth. Combined with strategies for managing particular amphibious weeds, we recommend flows of 117 000–147 000 ML day−1 for at least 2 days every 10 years for River Murray wetland weed management.
Reservoir characterization of the Upper Jurassic geothermal target formations (Molasse Basin, Germany): role of thermofacies as exploration tool

Abstract. The Upper Jurassic carbonates of the southern German Molasse Basin are the target of numerous geothermal combined heat and power production projects since the year 2000. A production-orientated reservoir characterization is therefore of high economic interest. Outcrop analogue studies enable reservoir property prediction by determination and correlation of lithofacies-related thermo- and petrophysical parameters. A thermofacies classification of the carbonate formations serves to identify heterogeneities and production zones. The hydraulic conductivity is mainly controlled by tectonic structures and karstification, whilst the type and grade of karstification is facies related. The rock permeability has only a minor effect on the reservoir's sustainability. Physical parameters determined on oven-dried samples have to be corrected, applying reservoir transfer models to water-saturated reservoir conditions. To validate these calculated parameters, a Thermo-Triaxial-Cell simulating the temperature and pressure conditions of the reservoir is used and calorimetric and thermal conductivity measurements under elevated temperature conditions are performed. Additionally, core and cutting material from a 1600 m deep research drilling and a 4850 m (total vertical depth, measured depth: 6020 m) deep well is used to validate the reservoir property predictions. Under reservoir conditions a decrease in permeability of 2–3 magnitudes is observed due to the thermal expansion of the rock matrix. For tight carbonates the matrix permeability is temperature-controlled; the thermophysical matrix parameters are density-controlled. Density increases typically with depth and especially with higher dolomite content. Therefore, thermal conductivity increases; however the dominant factor temperature also decreases the thermal conductivity. Specific heat capacity typically increases with increasing depth and temperature. The lithofacies-related characterization and prediction of reservoir properties based on outcrop and drilling data demonstrates that this approach is a powerful tool for exploration and operation of geothermal reservoirs.
A Study of the Mental Wellbeing of Imprisoned Women in Iran

The study investigates the mental well-being of 35 women prisoners (mean age = 28.7, SD = 7.6) who all had received the capital punishment, in the Gorgan jail, northeastern Iran. Most of them had received their sentence for killing their husband. A control sample of 35 women of the same age from Gorgan was included. The respondents filled in a paper-and-pencil questionnaire. The imprisoned women scored higher than the controls on aggression, anxiety, and hostility; the controls scored higher than the imprisoned women on social support and emotional self-efficacy. The imprisoned women had, to a greater extent than the controls, a family history with addiction problems and suicidality.
Characteristics Of Poisoning Cases In Ankara, Turkey

Introduction: Poisonings are important causes of emergency department visits. It is especially very common in youths and women. In this study we aimed to define clinical and demographic features of poisoning cases admitted to our hospital. Material and Methods: Poisoning cases admitted to emergency department of Ankara Ataturk Hospital between the dates of January 2006 and January 2007 were evaluated prospectively. Demographic features of patients, poisoning agents, aim of intake of poisonous agent, admission times, treatment methods, consultations, durations of emergency department treatment and outcomes were recorded. Data were expressed as Mean ± Standard deviation, median and percentage. Results: Between these dates, 0.5% of emergency department visits was poisonings. 412 patients were included in the study. Mean age of the patients was 28.6±11.5 years. %33.5 of the patients was male (n=138), 66.5% was female (n=274). Mean admission time to the hospital was 175.0±228.2 minutes. It was detected that 65% of the patients were poisoned with a single agent and 72.1% took the agent orally. The most common poisoning agents are tablets (59,5% n=245), carbon monoxide (CO) (20,6%, n=85) and alcohol (8.7%, n=36). 75.7% of the patients were discharged from the hospital, 2.9% were hospitalized and 21.4% were sent to another hospital. No death was observed Conclusion: It was seen that poisoning cases are mostly seen in young females, occur mostly with single agents, and clinically require good care. This article was presented as a poster presentation on September 16-19, 2007 in the “4th Mediterranean Emergency Medicine Congress (MEMC IV), in Sorrento, Italy.
A study of co-movements between U.S. and Latin American stock markets: A cross-bicorrelations perspective

In this paper we use the Brooks and Hinich cross-bicorrelation test in order to uncover nonlinear dependence periods between USA Standard and Poor 500 (SP500), used as benchmark, and six Latin American stock markets indexes: Mexico (BMV), Brazil (BOVESPA), Chile (IPSA), Colombia (COLCAP), Peru (IGBVL) and Argentina (MERVAL). We have found windows of nonlinear dependence and co-movement between the SP500 and the Latin American stock markets, some of which coincide with periods of crisis, giving way to a possible contagion or interdependence interpretation.
Virtual Education : Guidelines for Using Games Technology

Advanced three-dimensional virtual environment technology, similar to that used by the film and computer games industry, can allow educational developers to rapidly create realistic online virtual environments. This technology has been used to generate a range of interactive Virtual Reality (VR) learning environments across a spectrum of industries and educational application areas. This idea is not new; flight simulators have been used for decades to train pilots for both commercial and military aviation. These systems have advanced to a point that they are integral to both the design and the operation of modern aircraft (Adams, Klowden, & Hannaford, 2001; Mastaglio & Callahan, 1995). There are a number of lessons that can be learned from the industries that have successfully utilised virtual training and learning systems. Generic rules of thumb regarding the specification, development, application, and operation of these learning environments can be garnered from these industrial training systems and examined in an educational context (Grunwald & Corsbie-Massay, 2006; Schofield, Lester, & Wilson, 2004; Tromp & Schofield, 2004). This paper introduces a virtual learning environment ViRILE (Virtual Reality Interactive Learning Environment) developed by the author. ViRILE is designed for use by undergraduate chemical engineers to simulate the configuration and operation of a polymerisation plant. During the implementation of this, and other, visual learning environments a number of complex operational problems were encountered; these have required a number of innovative solutions and management procedures to be developed. This paper will also discuss the implementation of this and other similar systems and extrapolate the lessons learnt into general pedagogical guidelines to be considered for the development of VR based online educational learning resources.
Factors Influencing the Intention to Purchase Real Estate in Saudi Arabia Role of Location

Factors affecting the real estate market are of great importance worldwide. This study will investigate the factors influencing Saudis to purchase real estate. The study examine the effect of attitude, subjective norm perceived behavior control and location on the intention to purchase real estate. A total of 450 questionnaires were distributed to respondents in Jeddah. Based on 322 questionnaires collected, the results show that there is a positive significant relationship between Attitude, and Subjective Norm toward the intention to purchase real estate, while the Perceived Behavior Control and Location had not effect on Norm toward the customers' intention to purchase real estate.
Measures of Implicit Attitudes May Conceal Differences in Implicit Associations

Performance on implicit attitude measures is influenced both by the nature of activated evaluative associations and by people’s ability to regulate those associations as they respond. One consequence is that identical implicit attitude scores may conceal different underlying processes. This study demonstrated this phenomenon and also shed light on the nature of age differences in antiaging bias on implicit attitude measures. Although younger and older participants demonstrated equivalent levels of antiaging bias on an Implicit Association Test (IAT), application of the Quad model showed that antiold associations were less activated among older than younger adults, but that older adults were less able to overcome these associations in performing the task. Thus, the lack of age differences in IAT performance concealed differences in both underlying evaluative associations and the ability to control those associations. These findings have important implications for the measurement and interpretation of implicit attitudes.
Firing Tax vs. Severance Payment - An Unequal Comparison

The effects of firing costs crucially depend on the extend to which the additional costs can be shifted to the worker, which refers to the so called "bonding critique". In the recent literature about firing costs, these costs are assumed to be a wasteful tax, such that they can not be shifted to the worker. In this paper, we analyze the eects from respecting and non-respecting the bonding critique. We consistently show, that firing costs have to be introduced in a different way as severance payments. If they are introduced in a similar way, results are likely to be different, in particular for fluctuations of vacancies, unemployment and wages.
The Determinants of University Participation in Canada (1977-2003)

The decision to attend university is influenced by the balance of the expected returns and costs of attending university, by liquidity constraints and capital market imperfections that may modify these calculations and, hence, by the family income of prospective students. Family circumstances also play a role. We examine the secular increase in the propensity of children from Canadian families, evident in annual surveys spanning two and a half decades, to attend university. We quantify the importance of these factors taking account of the greater propensity by young women than men to attend university and controlling for secular trends in socioeconomic norms that impinge on these decisions.
Diel vertical migration of decapod larvae in the Portuguese coastal upwelling ecosystem: implications for offshore transport

The vertical distribution of decapod larvae off the northwest Portuguese coast was analysed in relation to associated environmental conditions from sampling during a 69 h period around a current meter mooring located on the shelf, approximately 21 km off the coast. Plankton samples were collected every 2 h at the surface with a neuston net and through the water column with a Longhurst Hardy Plankton Recorder (Pro-LHPR), allowing a very detailed resolution of larval vertical distribution. Environmental data (temperature, salinity, and chlorophyll a) were obtained every hour. To investigate the horizontal distribution of decapod larvae in relation to the coast, a plankton-sampling grid was carried out before the 69 h fixed station. Larvae of shelf decapod species were widely distributed over the shelf, while those of inshore species were found much closer to the coast. Decapod larvae (zoeae and megalopae) showed clear diel vertical migrations, only appearing in the upper 20 m at night, a migration that did not appear to be affected by physical conditions in the water column. Larval densities were highly variable, 0.01 to 215 ind. m super(-3) for zoeae and 0 to 93 ind. m super(-3) for megalopae, the zoeae being generally more abundant. The results indicated that during the day larvae accumulate very close to the bottom. The diel vertical migration behaviour is discussed as one of the contributing mechanisms for larval retention over the shelf, even with offshore transport conditions promoted by coastal upwelling, and is hence of major relevance for the recruitment success of decapod species that inhabit inshore and shelf zones of coastal upwelling systems.
A path towards understanding the rotation-activity relation of M dwarfs with K2 mission, X-ray and UV data

We would especially like to thank A. Vanderburg for his public release of the analysed K2 light curves, upon which much of the present work is based. We thank the anonymous referee for a very careful reading of our manuscript. This research has made use of the VizieR catalogue access tool, and the ‘Aladin sky atlas’, both developed at CDS, Strasbourg Observatory, France.
Implications for the Conceptual Framework Arising from Accounting for Financial Instruments

This article describes some of the issues faced by standard setters in developing guidance on accounting for financial instruments and the implications these issues have for the conceptual framework (CF). The objective is to outline issues, not necessarily to resolve them, and to consider the implications they have for further developing the conceptual framework. Given the current trend of harmonization and convergence of accounting practice towards international standards, it seems reasonable to assume that any policy implications will be most relevant to the CF inherited by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). 1 Unless otherwise stated, references will be made to International Accounting Standards (IAS).
The Euro and the Intensive and Extensive Margins of Trade: Evidence from French Firm Level Data

We improve the study of the effects of a Currency Union on trade. Using data on French exports at the firm level, we compute an intensive and extensive margins of French exports - with a variety dimension - over the period 1998-2003. Estimation results indicate that nominal exchange rate volatility has a negative effect, which translates into the intensive and extensive margins. We also provide some evidence that the euro had an additional positive effect on the extensive margin; this effect is not related to the reduced nominal exchange rate volatility. This suggests a new varieties effect of the euro.