Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Irritation Due to Direct Mailings from Charities

Direct mailing is the main tool that charities employ for fundraising. With increasing amounts of soliciting mailings and with the best donators receiving more mailings as a result of target selection, irritation might increase. As a result, such irritation could cause individuals to donate less, and hence reduce revenues for charities. We develop a conceptual model, which relates donating behavior to irritation and to mailing frequencies. We consider mailing frequencies relative to a reference point, which we call the maximum acceptance level. Furthermore, we allow for asymmetric effects of positive and negative differences with this maximum acceptance level, and hence we consider the effects of receiving excessive and acceptable amounts of mailings. To test our model empirically, we conduct a survey on charitable direct mailings and donating behavior among 213 respondents. We find that too many mailings do indeed lead to irritation, and that such irritation reduces annual donations.
Family Firms and Tax Aggressiveness in Brazil

This article investigates whether family firms are more aggressive in terms of tax planning than non-family firms in Brazil, based on a sample of firms listed on the BMF&Bovespa from 2001 to 2012. Chen, Chen, Cheng, & Shevlin (2010) define tax aggressiveness as management to reduce taxable income through tax planning activities. Of the sample of companies, 23% are considered to be family firms. We found a significant relationship between classification as a family firm and tax aggressiveness, based on two metrics. The first, effective tax rate (ETR), captures the actual taxes paid in relation to pre-tax earnings, while the second, book-tax differences (BTD), reflects the differences between accounting income and taxable income. The family firms in the sample were more tax aggressive than the non-family firms. For the variable BTD, family firms presented a positive sign, indicating a tendency for higher BTD. In turn, ETR had a negative sign, identifying a tendency for family firms to pay lower taxes.
An Injury to One is an Injury to All: Terrorism's Spillover Effects on Bilateral Trade

In this paper we investigate whether the effects of terrorism in one country spillover to affect trade in neighboring nations. Using a sample of more than 160 countries from 1976 to 2014, we report robust evidence that terrorist attacks in a nation's contiguous neighbors significantly reduce bilateral trade. Each additional terrorist attack in a neighboring country reduces bilateral trade by nearly 0.013% on average, which translates into a reduction of about $6.4 million USD in total trade. Trade effects from terrorist incidents are higher in sub-Sahara. Adverse trade effects hold for different flow and stock measures of terrorism, and even for terrorist incidents with zero casualties. Spillovers from terrorism are relatively long-lived, depressing bilateral trade up to five years after a terrorist event. Our findings are consistent with terrorism adversely impacting bilateral trade through several channels: psychological distress, higher trade costs arising from increased trade insecurity and regulatory burden, and adverse effects on income and trade reform.
A PARTIAL EQUILIBRIUM MODEL OF THE BEEF AND DAIRY SECTOR IN ITALY UNDER IMPERFECT COMPETITION /доклад на 10 конгрессе ЕААЕ, Exploring Diversity in the European Agri-Food System, Zaragoza, Spain, 28-31 August 2002

In this paper we present a partial equilibrium model for the bovine sector (beef and dairy) in Italy, which can be used for simulation and forecasting. The structure of the model follows the vertical chain of the beef and dairy sector, allowing trade of both agricultural raw materials and final products. Since the processing and retailing stage is characterised by an imperfectly competitive structure, the model accounts for market power in modeling the price transmission mechanism. This provides further insights on the vertical transmission of shocks, both at the final level (i.e. the BSE crisis) and at the farm level (i.e. agricultural policy reform).
Information Systems Are Only as Good as the People Behind Them Information systems and their impact on logistics performance in a multinational manufacturing company

Over the past years, information and information systems (IS) have become increasingly important for manufacturing companies’ overall logistics performance. Information and value-added data runs throughout the company and with IS as an enabler, the company’s efficiency increases. IS has received its expected share of rewarding critique, although its presence may not always be solely advantageous. This study therefore aims to investigate under which conditions the concept of IS has a negative impact on a manufacturing company’s logistics performance, a context that previously has been somewhat neglected. In this research, a multiple case study has been carried out where 17 semi-structured interviews in Europe and Latin America have been conducted as well as observations. The result indicates that IS is a resource that cannot contribute to enhanced logistics performance without the complementing aspects of high system quality, high information quality, internal communication and adequate human behaviour. Moreover, the study shows that system quality is in fact not the most severe influencer to poor logistics performance, but rather the impact from information quality, communication, and human behaviour.
The impact of retirement on physical activity

Most adults do not achieve the levels of physical activity currently recommended for a healthy lifestyle. Population surveys suggest that there is a linear decline of activity levels with age, yet physical activity has many health benefits for older adults. If these are to be more widely adopted among older people, health policy and promotion require an understanding of the factors that influence decreasing activity with age. This study examined the patterns of physical activity of 699 participants in the West of Scotland Twenty-07 Study who were aged 60 years when interviewed in 1991 and followed up four to five years later. It examined the factors that influenced whether or not the subjects achieved currently recommended levels of activity, by applying random effects models with a seasonal adjustment. It was found that higher levels of physical activity associated with a healthier lifestyle, and that socio-economic factors played a minor role in determining the level of physical activity. A substantial amount of physical activity occurred at work but was lost by those who had retired, for while those who were not working were more physically active at home or at leisure than those in work, the majority of the sample did too little physical activity outside work to compensate for the loss of work-based activity. One conclusion is that health promotion initiatives that encourage people to become more physically active should be targeted at those who are about to retire.
BCS superconductivity near the band edge: Exact results for one and several bands

We revisit the problem of a BCS superconductor in the regime where the Fermi energy is smaller than the Debye energy. This regime is relevant for low-density superconductors such as SrTiO3 that are not in the BEC limit, as well as in the problem of “shape resonances” associated with the confinement of a three-dimensional superconductor. While the problem is not new, exact results were lacking in the low-density limit. In two dimensions, we find that the initial rise of the pairing temperature Tc at low density n is nonanalytic and faster than any power of n. In three dimensions, we also find that Tc is nonanalytic, but starts with zero slope at weak coupling and infinite slope at strong coupling. Self-consistent treatment of the chemical potential and energy dependence of the density of states are crucial ingredients to obtain these results. We also present exact results for multiband systems and confirm our analytical expressions by numerical simulations.
Frequency and seasonality of flash floods in Slovenia

The purpose of this paper is to assess and analyse the dynamics of flash flooding events in Slovenia. The paper examines in particular the frequency of flash floods and their seasonal distribution. The methodology is based on the analysis of historical records and modern flood data. The results of a long-term frequency analysis of 138 flash floods that occurred between 1550 and 2015 are presented. Because of the lack of adequate historical flood data prior to 1950 the main analysis is based on data for the periodbetween1951 and2015, while the analysis of data for the period between1550 and1950 is added as a supplement to the main analysis. Analysis of data for the period after 1950 shows that on average 1.3 flash floods occur each year in Slovenia. The linear trend for the number of flash floods is increasing but is not statistically significant. Despite the fact that the majority of Slovenian rivers have one of the peaks in spring and one of the lows in summer, 90% of flash floods actually occur during meteorological summer or autumn – i.e. between June and November, which shows that discharge regimes and flood regimes are not necessarily related. Because of the lack of flood records from the more distant past as well as the large variability of flash flood events in the last several decades, we cannot provide a definitive answer to the question about possible changes in their frequency and seasonality by relying solely on the detected trends. Nevertheless, considering the results of analysis and future climate change scenarios the frequency of flash floods in Slovenia could increase while the period of flash flood occurrence could be extended.
Validation evidence for the Work Domain Satisfaction Scale in two languages

We used the samples of six studies to validate the Work Domain Satisfaction Scale (WDSS), a global, five-item and mid-level measure of work domain well-being. English and French versions of the scale were included in the studies to assess the stability of the instrument across these languages. Confirmatory factor analysis yielded a one-factor structure, which was shown invariant across languages and samples. Test-retest reliability of the scale was high, indicating that it measures a stable construct over time. Confirmatory factor analysis also provided evidence that satisfaction with work, measured with the WDSS, is related, but conceptually and empirically distinct from both life satisfaction and job satisfaction. The WDSS was also correlated in predictable ways with affective organizational commitment, a measure of how attached people are to their organizations. Work domain satisfaction also explained a significant amount of variance in affective organizational commitment, beyond job satisfaction. Moreover, the WDSS was positively related to inclusion of work into the self, a psychological variable that reflects the importance of work in the lives of individuals. The results indicate that the WDSS is a reliable, stable, and valid mid-level measure of satisfaction with work as a domain within people’s lives.
A Study of the problems associated with ICT adaptability in Developing Countries in the context of Distance Education

Communication technologies have come to play a vibrant role in democratizing Education not only in the Developed but also in the Developing Countries. However, in spreading the use of Information and communication technology some major difficulties are felt by the policy makers as well as the implementers. These difficulties are felt both at the growth and application stages of communication technology. Yaverbaum and Reisman highlight the importance of three aspects in the application of new information and communication technology. They are People, software and hardware. Different permutations and combinations with regard to the three variables create different implications for the growth and application of Information and communication Technology (James C Taylor, “Computer assisted Distance Education: A pedagogic and professional Development Perspective”). Among these, they stated that the most difficult aspect to address would invariably be the human element. Pete Thomas and Dean Taylor state that as access to Information and communication technologies become more extensive, their use is extended from the activities related to internal administrative aspects towards more of interaction with students (James C Taylor, “Computer assisted Distance Education: A pedagogic and professional Development Perspective”). Such a scenario throws up new challenges before technologists in terms of both technical and human aspects. Hidetoshi Kato states that in the years to come communication technologies will play a major role in deciding learning outcomes. (Kato, Hidetoshi (1995) “Technology and Distance education”, Indian Journal Of Open Learning, pp.11-14) The problems associated with the growth of ICT that have been focused upon in this paper are Political factors, Economic factors, Cultural factors and technological factors. Among the major problems associated with application of ICTs the focus will be laid on Socio-political factors, Human and Administrative factors, Economic factors and Technical factors. Further, the paper based on various case studies derives important conclusions and also provides pertinent suggestions to ensure the smooth growth and effective application of ICT in the Third World.
Carbon Exchanges between Bone Apatite and Fuels during Cremation: Impact on Radiocarbon Dates

An important advance in the radiocarbon dating of archaeological material occurred in the late 1990s, with direct dating of cremated human remains. A crucial part of the argument was the demonstration that comparable results could be obtained from paired dates of charcoal and calcined bone from the same contexts. Recent studies, however, have noted the influence of carbon from the fuel sources, raising a question over the interpretation of the paired charcoal/bone dates. Here, fleshed modern animal joints were burned with “old” fuel of known age, providing experimental evidence under natural conditions, demonstrating a clear effect of the fuel source on the carbon isotopic composition of calcined bone. In most situations in which branchwood was used as fuel, dates on calcined bone should not show any significant offset, as the wood will be of a similar age to the cadaver. For cases in which old wood, coal, or peat are used as fuel, we expect an offset of some decades/centuries, potentially up to millennia. We observed, however, that the amount of 14C intake from the fuel is extremely variable (from 39 to 95%). A strong correlation between age offset and δ13C values suggests that the latter might be useful in identifying large inputs from 14C-depleted fuels. A level of caution is recommended when 14C dating calcined bone in cases where fuels with an inbuilt age may have been used in the cremation process.
Quantitative and Qualitative Aspects of Influence of the Investments on Economic Growth

The problem of ensuring a steady economic growth is critical for successful development of the economy, and inflow of investments is one of the most important indicators of the economic advance. The modern conditions of development of economic systems have necessitated more precise directions of investment process for the economic growth to accelerate. With regard to this, the relevance of a comprehensive analysis and evaluation of connection between the investment activity and the economic growth increases. This paper presents a comparative analysis of notions and approaches to evaluation of the role of investments in achieving a steady economic advance. In order to evaluate the quantitative and qualitative factors of the investment activity influencing the buoyancy of economy, index methods and correlation and regression analysis ones were used. The authors suggest applying the indices of "input" and "return" of the investments. The quality of investments is characterized by directions of the investment activity. The quantitative aspect is characterized by a "quick" and "deferred" return of investments. The dependence of economic growth on the indices elaborated was studied on the basis of indices of the economic development of Russia. The suggested approach of quantitative and qualitative evaluation of investment activity and the elaborated indices can be used as an auxiliary tool for forming the investment policy both at the level of the country and at that of regions. Keywords: economic growth, gross domestic product, investments, investment activity. JEL Classifications: С54; С01; Е22
A Spatially Resolved Study of Cold Dust, Molecular Gas, H ii Regions, and Stars in the z = 2.12 Submillimeter Galaxy ALESS67.1

We present detailed studies of a z = 2.12 submillimeter galaxy, ALESS67.1, using sub-arcsecond resolution ALMA, adaptive optics-aided VLT/SINFONI, and Hubble Space Telescope (HST)/CANDELS data to investigate the kinematics and spatial distributions of dust emission (870 μm continuum), 12CO(J = 3–2), strong optical emission lines, and visible stars. Dynamical modeling of the optical emission lines suggests that ALESS67.1 is not a pure rotating disk but a merger, consistent with the apparent tidal features revealed in the HST imaging. Our sub-arcsecond resolution data set allows us to measure half-light radii for all the tracers, and we find a factor of 4–6 smaller sizes in dust continuum compared to all the other tracers, including 12CO; also, ultraviolet (UV) and Hα emission are significantly offset from the dust continuum. The spatial mismatch between the UV continuum and the cold dust and gas reservoir supports the explanation that geometrical effects are responsible for the offset of the dusty galaxy on the IRX–β diagram. Using a dynamical method we derive an , consistent with other submillimeter galaxies (SMGs) that also have resolved CO and dust measurements. Assuming a single value we also derive resolved gas and star formation rate surface densities, and find that the core region of the galaxy ( kpc) follows the trend of mergers on the Schmidt–Kennicutt relationship, whereas the outskirts ( kpc) lie on the locus of normal star-forming galaxies, suggesting different star formation efficiencies within one galaxy. Our results caution against using single size or morphology for different tracers of the star formation activity and gas content of galaxies, and therefore argue the need to use spatially resolved, multi-wavelength observations to interpret the properties of SMGs, and perhaps even for galaxies in general.
Marriage is like a groundnut, you must crack it to see what is inside: Examining romantic relationship rules in Akan proverbs

Proverbs are a valuable part of African culture. They transmit messages of shared, communal values about different facets of life inter-generationally. In an exploration of one West-African ethnic group, the Akan, the present study investigates messages that proverbs communicate about interpersonal relationships. A total of 79 Akan proverbs that addressed romantic relationships were examined using thematic analysis. The main components of advocated values as captured in the proverbs were identified. The thematic analysis determined that Akan romantic relationships tend to lean towards a “work-it-out” approach as opposed to the “soul mate” approach typical of Western romantic relationship norms. Overall, this study demonstrates that analyzing cultural artifacts such as proverbs can teach us about cultural rules that define relationships.
The Validity of 21 cm Spin Temperature as a Kinetic Temperature Indicator in Atomic and Molecular Gas

The gas kinetic temperature (TK) of various interstellar environments is often inferred from observations that can deduce level populations of atoms, ions, or molecules using spectral line observations; H i 21 cm is perhaps the most widely used, and has a long history. Usually the H i 21 cm line is assumed to be in thermal equilibrium and the populations are given by the Boltzmann distribution. A variety of processes, many involving Lyα, can affect the 21 cm line. Here we show how this is treated in the spectral simulation code Cloudy, and present numerical simulations of environments where this temperature indicator is used, with a detailed treatment of the physical processes that determine level populations within H0. We discuss situations where this temperature indicator traces TK, cases where it fails, as well as the effects of Lyα pumping on the 21 cm spin temperature. We also show that the Lyα excitation temperature rarely traces the gas kinetic temperature.
Functional heterogeneity arising due to electrical and mechanical interactions between cardial myocytes in mathematical model of homogeneous myocardial fiber

We developed a mathematical model describing heart muscle strand as a one-dimensional continuous medium of cardiomyocytes, through which electrical excitation propagates and excites the cells for contraction. Intracellular excitationcontraction coupling is presented by means of our earlier published model describing mechanical function of the cardiomyocyte evoked by action potential development and calcium activation of cross-bridge formation. The whole strand model simulates also mechanical interaction between the cardiomyocytes in the tissue and accounts for both intracellular and intercellular electro-mechanical coupling and mechano-electric feedback mechanisms. Numerical experiments with the strand formed of initially identical cardiomyocytes revealed that electrical and mechanical interaction between the cells, as well as intracellular mechano-electric feedbacks caused pronounced nonuniformity of their behavior. Model analysis suggests that cooperative mechanisms of myofilament calcium activation play the key role in dynamic adjustment of electrical and mechanical activity of the interacting cardiomyocytes in the tissue.
Contrast sources for the infrared images taken by the Venus mission AKATSUKI

A feasibility study has been carried out to look for the source of contrast that will be seen in the infrared images of Venus taken by the cameras on board AKATSUKI. This procedure used a cloud model based on the measurements of previous entry probes and radiative transfer calculations. The source of the small contrast expected in the 0.90-/xm dayside image was found to be due to inhomogeneity in the cloud optical thickness, with the variations in cloud altitude and temperature having little effect. The source of the large contrast expected in the 2.26-μm nightside image was also found to be due to inhomogeneity in the cloud optical thickness. We attempted to determine the representative altitude of the cloud layers, but this could not be specified to one particular layer. The brightness expected in the 2.02-μm dayside image was found to be affected by the cloud altitude, as expected since the 2.02-μm is in a moderate CO2 absorption band; however, it is also affected by the cloud optical thickness. The brightness expected in the 10-μm image was found to be affected mostly by temperature; however, the effects due to cloud optical thickness and cloud altitude are also important. It is necessary to use all of the information obtained at various wavelengths to gain a correct understanding of the brightness distribution of the Venus images taken by AKATSUKI.
Interactions and turnover of the muscular dystrophy protein myotilin

9 Review of the literature 11 1. The cytoskeleton 11 1.2 The actin cytoskeleton 11 2. The muscle cell 13 2.1. Striated muscle 14 2.2. Sarcomere structure and function 16 2.3. Myotilin/palladin/myopalladin protein family 18