Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
On the Effects of GATT/WTO Membership on Trade: They are Positive and Large after All

We capitalize on the latest developments in the empirical structural gravity literature to revisit the question of whether and how much does GATT/WTO membership affect international trade. We are the first to capture the non-discriminatory nature of GATT/WTO commitments by measuring the effects of GATT/WTO membership on international trade relative to domestic sales. These unilateral effects of GATT/WTO membership are found to be large, positive, and statistically significant. We also obtain bilateral GATT/WTO estimates, which are larger than those reported in the literature. In particular, our results imply that, on average, joining GATT and/or WTO has increased trade between members by 171% and trade between member and non-member countries by about 88%. We also find that although both GATT/WTO has been effective in promoting trade between members, the WTO has been more effective in promoting trade with non-members than GATT. A battery of sensitivity experiments confirms the effectiveness of our methods and robustness of our main findings.
Antarctic ice shelf thickness change from multimission lidar mapping

Abstract. We calculate rates of ice thickness change and bottom melt for ice shelves in West Antarctica and the Antarctic Peninsula from a combination of elevation measurements from NASA–CECS Antarctic ice mapping campaigns and NASA Operation IceBridge corrected for oceanic processes from measurements and models, surface velocity measurements from synthetic aperture radar, and high-resolution outputs from regional climate models. The ice thickness change rates are calculated in a Lagrangian reference frame to reduce the effects from advection of sharp vertical features, such as cracks and crevasses, that can saturate Eulerian-derived estimates. We use our method over different ice shelves in Antarctica, which vary in terms of size, repeat coverage from airborne altimetry, and dominant processes governing their recent changes. We find that the Larsen-C Ice Shelf is close to steady state over our observation period with spatial variations in ice thickness largely due to the flux divergence of the shelf. Firn and surface processes are responsible for some short-term variability in ice thickness of the Larsen-C Ice Shelf over the time period. The Wilkins Ice Shelf is sensitive to short-timescale coastal and upper-ocean processes, and basal melt is the dominant contributor to the ice thickness change over the period. At the Pine Island Ice Shelf in the critical region near the grounding zone, we find that ice shelf thickness change rates exceed 40 m yr−1, with the change dominated by strong submarine melting. Regions near the grounding zones of the Dotson and Crosson ice shelves are decreasing in thickness at rates greater than 40 m yr−1, also due to intense basal melt. NASA–CECS Antarctic ice mapping and NASA Operation IceBridge campaigns provide validation datasets for floating ice shelves at moderately high resolution when coregistered using Lagrangian methods.
Institutional Ownership and Insider Trading: Quasi-Experimental Evidence

We examine the causal effect of institutional ownership on insider trading using a regression discontinuity design to analyze exogenous differences in institutional ownership around Russell Index reconstitutions. Our findings indicate institutional investors influence insider trading behavior. Higher institutional ownership leads to fewer insider trades overall (both buys and sells) and less profitable sell trades. Further analyses indicate the reductions in trading frequency are concentrated in opportunistic, as opposed to routine, insider trades. Our findings differ from those in prior literature, which likely suffers from endogeneity issues. We also provide evidence on one potential mechanism through which institutions’ preferences on insider trading are instituted. We find firms with higher levels of institutional ownership are significantly more likely to have and/or more strictly enforce blackout policies, which limit trades by insiders to certain periods. These findings provide new insights on how institutional investors function as external monitors. Overall, our results suggest institutions generally view privately informed insider trading as undesirable and use their influence to mitigate it.
Authenticated key exchange protocols in three parties. (Étude des protocoles d'authentification et de dérivation de clefs en 3 parties)

In this thesis, we study the security of authentication and key exchange protocols when they are proxied through a semi-trusted third party is required. We begin by focusing on the security of the UMTS/LTE AKA protocol, when the different versions of this protocol are used to establish a secure channel across a radio access link in 3G and 4G mobile networks. We first describe some security and privacy weaknesses during the execution of the EPS- and UMTS-AKA protocols. Then, several practical solutions are proposed, guaranteeing better security and privacy for this protocol in both 3G and 4G scenarios. Secondly, we focus on computer networks, more precisely on the use of the Keyless SSL in proxying over HTTPS. A security model including the different various, specific security requirements from the web delivery context has been established. We also identify and discuss various weaknesses in the structure of Keyless SSL. Finally, we propose an improvement of Keyless SSL over TLS 1.2, and describe how Keyless SSL could work securely for the new TLS 1.3 protocol version.
An Enquiry-Based Approach to Develop Language Skills in Mobile-Supported Classrooms

This article investigates the pedagogical impact of both the mobile-testing system PeLe and an enquiry-based approach to language skills development in the context of mobile-assisted language learning. The study aims to work out a methodological framework for PeLe implementation into a language classroom through immediate feedback and formative assessment. The framework was developed and pilot tested in a joint research project, MobiLL, by EFL teachers at Lomonosov Moscow State University (Russia) and University College HiST (Norway). The analysis based on quantitative research data demonstrated that PeLe-supported language classes resulted in language skill gains. The qualitative data analysis highlighted the positive effect of mobile formative assessment and of post-test activities on learner motivation and collaboration skills. This study suggests that the use of technology was effective in engaging students in enquiry-based tasks to cultivate collaboration.
Impact of Cultural Heterogeneity on Purchase Heuristics – An Empirical Cross-cultural Study in Kolkata

The culture consists of shared values, beliefs, attitudes, motivation, view towards life and interpretations of behaviors. The influences of culturally based experiences begin to influence and permeate our psychological natures at a very early age so that we become psychosocial individuals very early in life. Subsequently, the purchase behavior is influenced by cultural orientations like linguistic ethnicity and religion in terms of rituals, occasions, amount of purchase, purchase decision-making pattern, information procession, comprehension of marketing communication and so on. Hence, for a company that wants to do business in Indian subcontinent, which is vibrant with so many different cultural profiles, has to understand the diversity of these profiles and design marketing-mix strategies accordingly. Keywords: Purchase Heuristics; Cultural Heterogeneity; Cross-cultural Study; Information Sharing Pattern
Economic integration and CO2 emissions: evidence from emerging economies

ABSTRACT The study investigates the influences of FDI inflows and trade openness on CO2 emissions by using a theoretical framework composed by the STIRPAT model and the EKC hypothesis for 33 emerging economies over the period 1996-2014. Our empirical results show interesting findings. Firstly, there is strong evidence on the existence of the EKC hypothesis for emerging economies. Secondly, FDI inflows significantly contribute to the CO2 emissions in the short and long term confirming the pollution haven hypothesis according to which foreign investment is made in polluting industries. Trade openness has a positive impact on CO2 emissions, especially in the short run; however, this variable has a negative impact on the CO2 emissions in the long run. These observations have also been discussed by components of CO2 emissions, and they suggest policy-makers to develop an environmentally friendly strategy by adopting a strategy promoting conjointly trade openness and FDI inflows in flexible sectors that can easily integrate the international environmental standards rather FDIs invested in manufacturing\producing sectors - according to our study, such long-term strategy appears to be the best choice for an emerging country to benefit from a 'pollution-halo' (i.e. FDI inflows contribute to reducing the CO2 emissions).
The Impact of Digital Storytelling on ESL Narrative Writing Skill

This paper presents a part of a study on the teaching of narrative writing by incorporating Digital Storytelling. Writing skill is an essential component in mastering English because it incorporates all elements in English. By integrating technology in the learning process, students would be able to improve their writing skill. In Malaysia, students’ performance in examination has declined in recent years since the marks are based mostly on students’ writing. This research aims to know the impact of Digital Storytelling towards Malaysian secondary school students by investigating its impact on content, grammar, vocabulary and overall performance. It also explores students' perception of Digital Storytelling. This quasi-experimental study involved 52 Form four students from a fully-residential school in Melaka who were chosen using convenient sampling as part of the controlled and experimental groups. Data were collected from pre-tests, post-tests and a semi-structured interview. The quantitative data were analyzed using mean analysis, Wilcoxon Signed Tank Test and Independent t-Test while qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings show that there is a significant difference in the score before and after the intervention but there is no significant difference between the score of the experimental group and the controlled group. Participants stated that DS motivates them to write and improves their writing. It is hoped that this study would provide an alternative to teaching narrative writing and adds to the current pool of literature. It is suggested for future researchers to conduct purposive sampling which could yield different results.
A conceptual framework to implement gamification on online courses of computer programming learning: implementation

Piteira, M. , Costa, C. J., & Aparicio, M. (2017). A conceptual framework to implement gamification on online courses of computer programming learning: implementation . In 10th International Conference of Education, Research and Innovation (ICERI2017) (pp. 7022-7031). (ICERI2015 Proceedings). IATED Academy.
ADOPTION OF MOBILE APPLICATIONS FOR IDENTIFYING TOURISM DESTINATIONS BY TRAVELLERS: AN INTEGRATIVE APPROACH

The purpose of the study is to provide an assessment of both how consumers adopt mobile tourism apps and how consumers use those apps to orient customer intentions to visit tourism destinations. The technology acceptance model (TAM) is used to explore customer intentions to adopt tourism apps. A survey of 630 tourism respondents found that the e-servicescape environment and e-word-of-mouth communication play major roles in determining intentions to adopt tourism apps and to visit tourism destinations. Perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness tend to be moderators of the effects of the e-servicescape environment and e-word-of-mouth communication on attitudes towards using apps. The results may be important references to conduct further validations, and critical for marketing managers when designing specific criteria to enhance mobile apps and their adoption. The different managerial implications – including apps to differential marketing tools, improving attitudes towards using tourism apps, and segmenting customers in order to design marketing strategies – are considered.
The Experiences of a Multi-ethnic Group of Participants Engaging in Health and Wellness Coaching: results from the PREVENTS Study

Globally, stroke is the second largest cause of death. Stroke can also lead to permenant disability. Stroke can impact individuals in various ways including an individual’s physical, psychological, emotional, functional and cognitive domain. However, stroke is a preventable illness with associated risk factors (such as hypertension, diet and physical activity) that can be targeted in prevention. In terms of prevention, a combined high risk and population-wide strategies are recommended. Strategies can be implemented at an individual level, such as targeted health behaviour change via referrals to useful programs, and strategies can be implemented to the whole population (for example, smoking cessation programs; Feigin et al., 2016a). HWC is widely utilized for the management of chronic disease. HWC focuses on the client and aims to elicit motivation for health behaviour change. Health coaching has been reported to be effective for CVD health in participants with coronary heart disease, in diabetes management; and in leading to better LDL cholesterol levels, fruit and vegetable intake and reducing tobacco use in participants. Although the efficacy of health coaching has been explored in ethnic minority communities, there is still limited supported for utilizing HWC for primary prevention in a multi-ethnic community. The PREVENTS study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of HWC in a NZ multi-ethnic community for cardiovascular disease and stroke prevention. This was a randomized controlled trial (n=320) where HWC was implemented on participants in the intervention group versus a usual care group. The current study is a qualitative study which aimed to explore participant experiences of HWC and whether the experiences differed by ethnicity. The current study recruited participants (n=8) from the intervention group of PREVENTS. Semi-structured, face-toface interviews were conducted. An interpretive descriptive approach was utilized; and thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Six final themes emerged from the current study: 1) Ethnicity/culture not directly relevant to health and wellbeing; 2) The importance of the coaching relationship; 3) Awareness of health; 4) Person-centered nature of coaching; 5) HWC was beneficial at a personal level; and 6) Practical strategies in HWC. The findings highlight that a culturally sensitive HWC intervention is essential when working within a multi-ethnic community in NZ.
“Doing Well” by “Doing Good”? Evidence from Tourism-Related Firms in Four South Asia Countries

ABSTRACT This study explores the corporate giving and financial performance nexus in tourism-related firms from four South Asia countries. Specifically, this study investigates if there exists an inverse U-shaped link between corporate giving and financial performance and assesses the potential bi-directional relationship between these two variables. Results generated from system-GMM estimator reveal that the effects of corporate giving on both ROA and Tobin’s Q are curvilinear. In particular, an inverse U-shaped relationship is observed, implying that firms are rewarded for their corporate giving engagement, which denotes “doing-good” leads to “doing well”, within a certain limit. Interestingly, this study also finds evidence that the firms which perform well financially are shown to engage less in corporate giving. Specifically, “doing-well” firms are shown to lead to lower level of “doing good”, supporting the management opportunity hypothesis. This study has policy implications in pushing for further CSR initiatives in other industries and emerging markets. Keywords: Corporate giving; firm performance; bi-directional relation; system GMM ABSTRAK Kajian ini meninjau hubung-kait pemberian korporat dan prestasi kewangan firma berkaitan pelancongan di empat negara Asia Selantan. Khususnya, kajian ini menyiasat samada hubungan bentuk-U songsang wujud di antara pemberian korporat dan prestasi kewangan dan menilai potensi hubungan dua hala di antara kedua-dua pembolehubah ini. Hasil dapatan yang di terbitkan daripada penganggar sistem GMM memperlihatkan bahawa kesan terhadap pemberian korporat terhadap kedua-dua ROA dan Tobin Q adalah garis melengkung. Terutamanya, kewujudan hubungan bentuk-U songsang membayangkan bahawa firma mendapat ganjaran apabila berurusan dengan pemberian korporat, yang mana bermaksud “melakukan kebaikan” membawa kepada “memperoleh kejayaan” sehingga kesatu tahap tertentu. Menariknya, hasil kajian ini juga mendapati bahawa firma yang menunjukkan prestasi yang baik dari segi kewangan di dapati kurang melakukan pemberian korporat. Terutamanya, firma yang “memperoleh kejayaan” di dapati menjurus kepada “melakukan kebaikan” pada tahap yang rendah, yakni, menyokong hipotesis peluang pengurusan. Implikasi polisi kajian ini menyarankan penekanan seterusnya untuk initiatif CSR dalam industri lain dan di pasaran baru. Kata kunci: Sumbangan korporat; prestasi firma; hubungan dua hala; sistem GMM
The Garbage Can Model of Organizational Choice: Looking Forward at Forty

The papers collected in this volume celebrate the 40th anniversary of “A Garbage Can Model of Organizational Choice” – one of the most influential and sustained attempts to represent organizational decision-making processes in a way that accounts for generally recognized but hard to accept features of organizational life. In our overview of the volume we emphasize ways in which the garbage can model (GCM) differs from more generally accepted models of organizational decision making. We suggest that future progress in linking the GCM to specific empirical settings might be facilitated by attempts to model explicitly the interdependencies connecting participants, problems, solutions, and decision opportunities in organizations. We discuss examples of current work in which this strategy is followed in a way that is consistent with the original spirit of the model. We present the overall organization of the volume and discuss how the various chapters contribute to the further development of organizational research inspired by ideas contained in the original GCM and in some of its more recent variants and critiques.
PENGARUH PENGUNGKAPAN GOOD CORPORATE GOVERNANCE DAN CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY TERHADAP KINERJA PERUSAHAAN PERBANKAN

This study aimed to examine the effect of GCG disclosures and CSR disclosures on banking compan y performance that listed on the Stock Exchange 2005-2010. Measurement of GCG disclosures using IGCG and CSR disclosure s measured using ICSR. Banking company performance measured using ROA and ROE. Hypothesis testing is done using multiple regression analysis. The results showed that each GCG and CSR disclosures has significant influence on banking company performance . Percentage of GCG disclosures was tends to increase and CSR disclosure s fluctuated . Thes e mean that banking companies have started realizing the benefits of the implementing GCG and CSR. In the long term, it i s expected to continue to increase the banking compan y performance, enjoy a good market performance that will be enjoyed by the general public.
Palm Leaves as Potential Natural-fibre Source for a Tropical Island Developing State

ABSTRACT The mechanical and chemical properties of fibers, extracted from four Mascarene endemic palm species, were determined in the untreated and mercerized states. Tensile strength of the fibers increased by 26% for the Hurricane fibers and to 92% for Bottle palm. Fibers from the Blue Latan gave the highest strength of 208 MPa. TCI index suggests that increase in strength is due to the transformation of cellulose I to II. FTIR and DSC tests confirm that hemicellulose was not completely removed during mercerization; its complete removal will yield stronger fiber, making the Blue Latan fiber a potential candidate for composites manufacture.
Physical, Mechanical and Chemical Properties of Dewatered Sewage Sludge and Red Gypsum Mix as a Potential Recycling Product

This paper aims to present the characteristic of dewatered sewage sludge (SS) and red gypsum (RG) to determine their recycling potentials into a valuable product. The materials were characterized based on their physical-mechanical-chemical properties and morphology. The results showed that dewatered sewage sludge and red gypsum could complement each other when used together to form a new material the merits of which will be investigated in subsequent studies. RG has a better performance in term of plasticity and strength than SS due to fines content in the former and therefore its ability to retain moisture that contributes to cohesion between particles. Fine prisms and closer packing particles add strength in RG leading to higher resistance in compression. Unlike RG, SS has coarser particle and more voids causing it to lose the moisture content and becomes easily disintegrated. Chemical compositions of RG and SS as determined by XRF demonstrated a significant amount of CaO in the former and SiO2 in the latter; the formation of hydrated products in the form of CSH and CAH gel from hydration or pozzolanic reaction contributes to strength improvement of the SS.
Hymenoptera (Insecta) telomerase RNAs switched to plant/ciliate-like biogenesis

In contrast to the catalytic subunit of telomerase, its RNA subunit (TR) is highly divergent in size, sequence and biogenesis pathways across eukaryotes. Current views on TR evolution assume a common origin of TRs transcribed with RNA polymerase II in Opisthokonta (the supergroup including Animalia and Fungi) and Trypanosomida on one hand, and TRs transcribed with RNA polymerase III under the control of type 3 promoter, found in TSAR and Archaeplastida supergroups (including e.g., ciliates and Viridiplantae taxa, respectively). Here we focus on unknown TRs in one of the largest Animalia order - Hymenoptera (Arthropoda) with more than 300 available representative genomes. Using a combination of bioinformatic and experimental approaches, we identify their TRs. In contrast to the presumed type of TRs (H/ACA box snoRNAs transcribed with RNA Polymerase II) corresponding to their phylogenetic position, we find here short TRs of the snRNA type, likely transcribed with RNA polymerase III under the control of the type 3 promoter. The newly described insect TRs thus question the hitherto assumed monophyletic origin of TRs across Animalia and point to an evolutionary switch in TR type and biogenesis that was associated with the divergence of Arthropods. Graphical abstract
Detecting Ambiguity in Requirements Analysis Using Mamdani Fuzzy Inference

Natural language is the most common way to specify requirements during elicitation of requirements as stakeholders can better specify the services they want from a particular system. However, it is arguable that requirements gathered in natural language is free from error especially ambiguity. Ambiguity in requirements can cause requirement engineers or system analysts to perceive the requirements according to their understanding instead of stakeholders understanding. This study attempts to detect ambiguity mainly vagueness as early as possible using Mamdani fuzzy inference when analyzing requirements. Dataset used in this study comprises raw requirements that are still in natural language form. In order to create fuzzy rules, the analysis of the requirements in natural language involves the process of capturing the text patterns of the requirements. The results show that it is possible to use Mamdani fuzzy inference that can detect ambiguity in requirements analysis phase.