Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Determinants of Public Deficit Volatility

This paper empirically analyzes the political, institutional and economic sources of public deficit volatility. Using the system-GMM estimator for linear dynamic panel data models and a sample of 125 countries analyzed from 1980 to 2006, we show that higher public deficit volatility is typically associated with higher levels of political instability and less democracy. In addition, public deficit volatility tends to be magnified for small countries, in the outcome of hyper-inflation episodes and for countries with a high degree of openness.
An alternative reconsideration of macroeconomic convergence criteria for West African Monetary Zone

This study presents an alternative reconsideration of traditional Optimum Currency Areas (OCA) macroeconomic convergence criteria as options for West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ) commencement, in the light of recent advancements in monetary theory. It presents micro-founded models, rooted in New Keynesian traditions to show that tests confirming widespread divergence from ideal macroeconomic benchmarks with unsustainable independent monetary and exchange rates pursuits and trade gravity models offer a more appropriate evaluating criterion for WAMZ than the current one, if the ultimate objective is a merger with West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU). Using econometrics methods, especially pooled single equation models applied to national macroeconomic data which span 1991Q1 to 2007Q4, I evaluate the roles of past unsustainable independent national monetary and exchange rates policy pursuits as determinants of macroeconomic stabilizations (reflected by the inflation differential and output gaps/performance vis-a-vis the WAMZ area targets) and inter/intra-regional export performance. This was accompanied by the estimation of a trade gravity model. The strong convergence of aggregate output/demand pattern between WAMZ countries based on trade gravity models thus emerges as a possible positive attribute of countries participating in efficient currency areas
Parity and Maternal Illness and the Incidence of Imminent Abortion

Imminent abortion is the first stage abortion and a threat of abortion. Most of the studies stated that the incidence of abortion is 15-20% of all pregnancies. Complication in imminent abortion is bleeding or infection which can cause mortality. The objective of this research was to analyze the relationship of parity and maternal illness with the incidence of imminent abortion. The research used observational analytic study with case-control design. The samples were 100 participants. The data were analyzed by using univariate analysis and bivariate analysis with chi square test. The result of the bivariate analysis with chi square test showed that there was significant association of parity (p=0.0001) and maternal illness (p=0.0001) on the incidence of imminent abortion. It is recommended that health care providers can detect abortion earlier and also provide counseling for pregnant women about imminent abortion.
Net community production and gross primary production rates in the western equatorial Pacific

Net community production (NCP) and gross primary production (GPP) are two key metrics for quantifying the biological carbon cycle. In this study, we present a detailed characterization of NCP and GPP in the western equatorial Pacific during August and September 2006. We use continuous measurements of dissolved gases (O2 and Ar) in the surface water in order to quantify NCP at subkilometer scale resolution. We constrain GPP in discrete samples using the triple isotopic composition of O2. We find the average NCP in the western equatorial Pacific is 5.9 ± 0.9 mmol O2 m−2 d−1 (equivalent to 1.5 ± 0.2 mol C m−2 yr−1 with error estimates reflecting 1σ confidence levels) and the average GPP is 121 ± 34 mmol O2 m−2 d−1 (equivalent to 32 ± 9 mol C m−2 yr−1). The measurements reveal significant spatial variability on length scales as small as 50 km. The NCP/GPP ratio is 5.7% ± 1.8%. We also present results for NCP and GPP in the coastal area off Papua New Guinea and for GPP in the central Pacific along the equator.
A comparison of large-scale influences on tropical cyclogenesis in the Eastern Pacific

In a given hurricane season, several tropical disturbances propagate across environments favorable for development; however, only a few disturbances actually strengthen into tropical cyclones. The lack of a consolidated theory on tropical cyclogenesis makes it difficult for forecasters to predict a storm’s development. Previous studies have approached this problem by comparing large-scale influences on storms that developed into tropical cyclones and on those that did not. This study used a similar approach to characterize the environmental influences on cyclogenesis in the 2005 Eastern Pacific Hurricane season. Data for each storm were taken from the NCEP/NCAR Final Analysis model and analyzed over a 48-hour period during the development stage. The non-developing storms were selected based on certain atmospheric parameters to resemble the developing storms prior to cyclogenesis. Composites and spatial averaging were used to compare 12 developing storms and 11 non-developing storms during this season. The results showed that the environments of the developing storms had large regions of increased moisture above the boundary layer and greater temperatures in the upper troposphere. Regions of increased potential vorticity penetrated deeper into the troposphere for the developing storms. Lastly, the storms that developed were in environments with relatively strong wind shear to the south of the vortex. The results suggest that the moisture, temperature, and wind shear fields preceded development, while the vorticity fields were more of an indicator of development. Identifying these large-scale characteristics as possible determining influences can lead to a better understanding of tropical cyclogenesis. The Significant Opportunities in Atmospheric Research and Science (SOARS) Program is managed by the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) with support from participating universities. SOARS is funded by the National Science Foundation, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Climate Program Office, the NOAA Oceans and Human Health Initiative, and the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences. SOARS also receives funding from the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Biogeosciences Initiative and the NCAR Earth Observing Laboratory. SOARS is a partner project with Research Experience in Solid Earth Science for Student (RESESS).
Orientation of Bi3.2La0.8Ti3O12 ferroelectric thin films with different annealing schedules

Fatigue-free Bi3.2La0. 8Ti3O12 Ferroelectric thin films were successfully prepared on p-Si(100) substrates using metalorganic solution deposition process. The orientation and formation of 5-layers thin films were studied under different technologic condition using XRD. Experiment results indicated that increase in annealing time at 700C after preannealing for 10min at 400C can remarkably increased (200)orientation of the films either at high content of citric acid or at low content of citric acid in the precursor solution, and high content of citric acid increased the film thickness and was conducive to the a-orientation of the films with the preannealing, low concentration of the solution was conducive to the c-orientation of the films without the preannealing.
A Fog Event off the Coast of the Hangzhou Bay during Meiyu Period in June 2013

A dense fog with the visibility less than 100 m over 6 hours occurred around the Hangzhou Bay off the coast of the western part of the East China Sea on 24–25 June 2013 during Meiyu period. This study focuses on the physical mechanism involved in the fog process by using in-situ observations and model. The analysis indicates that the land-sea thermal contrast played an essential role in the fog episode, while a weak low-pressure wedge associated with the Meiyu front and the diurnal variation in temperature provided background conditions. Induced by the strong land-sea thermal contrast, a secondary circulation formed in the lower levels of the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) over the coast. The southeasterly wind and subsiding motion associated with the secondary circulation contributed to the moisture supply and the lowering of the boundary layer, favoring fog formation and maintenance. The fog maintained until the weakening of the temperature gradient between land and sea, when the downward flow was replaced by upward motion controlled by the approaching of a low-pressure center. These results are helpful for improving coastal fog forecast in Meiyu period and for our understanding of mechanisms involved in coastal fog processes.
Effects of UV-C Light Exposure and Refrigeration on Phenolic and Antioxidant Profiles of Subtropical Fruits (Litchi, Longan, and Rambutan) in Different Fruit Forms

The objectives of this study were to investigate how UV-C irradiation and refrigeration affect shelf-life and antioxidant level of litchi, longan, and rambutan. Three forms (whole, dehulled, and destoned) of fresh fruits were treated by refrigeration and UV-C irradiations. After processing, deterioration rate, phenolics compounds, and antioxidant capacity were quantified. The deterioration rate was recorded as decay index. The results showed that both refrigeration and UV-C exposure extended the shelf-life of the fruits. The refrigeration enriched antioxidant levels of litchi but caused nutritional degradation in longan and rambutan; UV-C radiation enriched litchi antioxidant contents but was related to reduction of antioxidant capacity in longan and rambutan. Removing hulls and stones was associated with the decrease of antioxidants in litchi. The effects on antioxidant levels varied from fruit to fruit, resulting from hormesis phenomenon. The change of phytochemical levels was hypothesized as an accumulative process. The effects of fruit forms were not consistent in different fruits, which could be multifactorially influenced.
The structure of the lexicon in the task of automatic lexical acquisition

In the task of automatic lexical acquisition, i.e. the induction of lexical information from texts, there have been no attempts to exploit theoretically-based models of the structure of the lexicon. Works like those of Bybee (1988) and Langacker (1987) propose a highly structured lexicon where words are related paradigmatically by phonological similarity and where lexical features are an emergent characteristic of the resulting structure. If so, a machine learning algorithm such as a Decision Tree (DT, Quinlan, 1945) should be able to learn the correlation between particular lexical features and the formal characteristics of words. In our experiment, the machine learner should be able to find a correlation between characters that form the words used for training it and the nominal feature /mass/. The ability of the trained learner to predict correctly whether nouns that it has not been shown in the training phase are mass nouns or not is proof that such a correlation exists and that it can be considered an emergent feature of the paradigmatic relations that relate words in the lexicon. The obtained results prove that a structured lexicon can provide information on lexical features.
Leader Group Prototypicality and Job Satisfaction: The Moderating Role of Job Stress and Team Identification

The authors examined the relationship between leader group prototypicality (the extent to which a leader is representative of the collective identity) and job satisfaction as an indicator of leadership effectiveness. Leader group prototypicality was expected to interact with job stress and team identification, such that leader group protototypicality is more strongly related to job satisfaction for followers with higher job stress and team identification. Two cross-sectional surveys (N = 329 and N = 89) conducted with the employees of 4 Italian organizations provided support for this hypothesis. The authors discuss how these findings extend our understanding of leadership effectiveness within the social identity model of leadership.
Characterization of Patients Assessed in Community Mental Health Clinics in a North- Western Canadian Municipal Region: Patient Profile, Sex Differences, and Follow-Up Referral

Aims: To characterize the sex-specific differences in the demographic and clinical profile as well as psychiatric antecedents, and follow-up referral for new outpatient psychiatric patients in Fort McMurray. Methods: Information on a new patient data assessment tool was compiled as part of a clinical audit process between 1st January 2014 and 31st December 2014. Results: Overall, 677 patients were assessed over the 12 month period, comprising 261 (38.6%) males. The mean age for all the patients was 35.67 (SD=13.02). There were statistically significant differences between male and female patients in respect of all the demographic and social characteristics as well as psychiatric antecedents. 249 (36.8%) patients had primary Depressive disorders. With odds ratios ranging between 4.02 and 7.11, outpatients diagnosed with substance related disorders, personality disorders and trauma/stressor related disorders were about 4.5, 5.5, and 7 times respectively less likely to be offered follow-up appointments after their initial assessments compared to patients who had a primary depressive disorder controlling for other variables in a logistic regression model. Conclusion: By better understanding the outpatient profile and their clinical background, we are able to better understand the potential antecedents associated with greater need for quality psychiatric services.
Enhancing Education for Sustainable Development in Environmental University Programmes: A Co-Creation Approach

The purpose of this study is to analyse co-creation approach as a strategy at HE as a prerequisite for a successful implementation of sustainable development (HESD), while considering student collaboration in university processes. A questionnaire was handed in to 395 undergraduate environmental students from twelve Ecuadorian universities to test a structural equation model that included four variables—participation, co-creation, satisfaction, and trust. It is worth noting that these topics are increasingly relevant in competitive and innovative universities when promoting management in HESD. The results verify that student participation, as one of the key ESD skills, has a significant and positive influence on co-creation as a generator of student satisfaction and trust, especially in this context. Co-creation, from a higher education perspective, from the premise that students are the centre of the learning process, reinforces the education quality principles in an innovative way, and promotes the HESD perspectives.
Ranking of 11 coastal halophytes from salt marshes in northwest Turkey according their salt tolerance

Salt-affected soils with high electrolyte contents limit the development of the majority of plants and serve as a habitat only for such species (halophytes) that can survive the conditions. To date, there is still much that is unknown about the physiological mechanisms, including ion relationships, that make plants salt-resistant. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate a method of ranking plants for their salt tolerance. A total of 11 coastal halophytes of the Kavak Delta were evaluated for their ability to cope with different soil salinities. For this, electrical conductivities of soils (of up to 135 dS m-1) were recorded and a total of 100 plant samples, including plant roots, were taken from a depth of 0-15 cm in the soil. The halophytes were ranked in the following order from highest to moderate salt tolerance: Halocnemum strobilaceum >= Salicornia fragilis >= Arthrocnemum fruticosum = Suaeda prostrata >= Salsola kali = Petrosimonia brachiata >= Juncus maritimus = Aeluropus littoralis >= Halimione portulacoides = Limonium graecum >= Artemisia santonicum. The Na+/K+ ratios of leaves perfectly reflected the salinity tolerance ranking of all halophytic species examined. It proved possible to rank the salt tolerance of halophytes by assessment of the electrical conductivity of the soil in which they grew naturally; tolerance was well predicted by the Na+/K+ ratio in the shoots.
Constrained Delegation

We examine the influence of competitive spillovers among subsidiaries on the design of headquarters-subsidiary relationships. We focus on multi-industry firms and competitive spillovers across markets, hypothesizing that these firms delegate most business-level decisions to subsidiaries but adapt to multimarket competition by limiting their subsidiaries’ incentive and ability to make resource commitments by constraining the scope of decision rights and the available resources, a phenomenon that we refer to as “constrained delegation. ” Accordingly, the extent of multimarket contact in a given market (1) is associated with lower subsidiary discretion in decisions pertaining to resource commitments and (2) counteracts the tendency of internal capital markets to provide financial resources to subsidiaries that have a low market share or operate in high-growth industries. Results of analyses, based on the population of majority-owned subsidiaries of groups operating in France between 1997 and 2004, support the predictions. We also found that multimarket contact is associated with a subsidiary’s being even less competitively aggressive when the organization’s design imposes more constraints on the subsidiary’s resource allocations. This study, one of the first to explore empirically the impact of negative spillovers within the firm on organization design in multiunit firms, suggests that organizational choices are endogenous to the competitive context.
The effect of requiring parental consent for contraception on adolescent pregnancy rates

iii Chapter I: Introduction Introduction . 1 Background and Significance . 3 Contraception . 3 Adolescents’ Perceptions and Attitudes.4 Statement of the Problem.7 Purpose . 7 Research Question.8 Conceptual Framework.8 Assumptions . 9 Limitations.9 Summary . 9 Chapter II: Literature Review Introduction . 10 Conceptual Framework . 11 Adolescent Pregnancy Trends . 12 Adolescent Pregnancy Perceptions and Attitudes.18 Evaluation of Pregnancy Prevention Programs.23 Summary . 32 Literature Review Table.34
The Influence of Internal Control System on the Financial Accountability of Elementary Schools in Bandung, Indonesia

This study aims to find out the effect of internal control components on financial accountability of schools. Using convenience sampling, the sample of this study is 168 respondents. Path analysis is used to test the effect of internal control on financial accountability. The result shows that, partially, control environment, control activity, and supervision significantly affect financial accountability. On the other hand, risk assessment, information and communication don't significantly affect financial accountability. Simultaneously, control environment, risk assessment, control activity, information and communication, and supervision significantly affect financial accountability. Keywords : control environment, risk assessment, control activity, information and communication, supervision, financial accountability.
Determinants in the Lay-Up Decision An empirical study on offshore support vessels

When a downturn hits the cyclical offshore service industry, shipowners attempt to improve their cash flow and the market balance by laying up vessels. The purpose of this master thesis is to evaluate how microand macro-level determinants affect the lay-up decision for platform supply vessels (PSV) and anchor handling tug supply vessels (AHTS) in the North Sea. This is done by investigating how vessel characteristics such as age, size, and technical specifications, along with market variables including the oil price, spot rates, and utilisation ratio, affect the probability of a vessel to be laid up and to stay in lay-up. For this analysis, panel logistic regressions and Cox proportional hazard models are specified. The results indicate that the market condition is the most important determinant in the lay-up decision for both PSVs and AHTS vessels. The lay-up probability for a vessel increases when spot day rates, the oil price, and the share of vessels that is chartered (utilisation) are lowered. However, some vessel characteristics also have a significant effect, most evidently for PSVs. In line with my expectations, older, smaller and less fuel efficient PSVs have a higher probability of being laid-up. For AHTSs, old vessels also seem to have a higher lay-up probability. Regarding size, the lay-up probability appears to be at the highest for vessels with around 20,000 brake horsepower, and then decrease for more powerful vessels. Other technical specifications, does not appear to substantially affect the lay-up decision on an aggregated level, for neither PSVs nor AHTSs. This thesis contributes to the limited research on offshore support vessels (OSV) in general, and specifically the lay-up decision. Most of the previous OSV studies concern rate formation and vessel routing, while the lay-up decision mainly has been studied for shipping in general and ignoring vessel-specific factors. The research in this thesis can also be of interest to market participants, investors and analysts to predict which vessels are most likely to be laid up.