Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Avoiding Debt Traps: Financial Backstops and Structural Reforms

In this paper we develop a simple analytical framework to analyze “good” and “bad equilibria” in public-debt and growth dynamics. The “bad equilibrium” is characterised by the simultaneous occurrence, and adverse feedbacks between, high and growing fiscal deficits and debt, high risk premia on sovereign debt, slumping economic activity and plummeting confidence, whereas a “good equilibrium” is characterized by stable growth and debt and low risk premia. We use this framework to identify – both theoretically and empirically – the good and bad equilibrium levels of debt and policies that can help a country caught in a bad equilibrium to recover. The analysis shows that despite some output loss in the short run fiscal consolidation can help countries escape from the bad equilibrium trap. More broadly, we find that a combination of financial backstops, structural reform and fiscal consolidation is most effective in helping countries getting onto a sustainable path. Eviter les pieges de l'endettement : Assistance financiere et reformes structurelles Dans ce document, nous elaborons un cadre d'analyse simple pour etudier les situations de « bon equilibre » et de « mauvais equilibre » dans le contexte de la dynamique de la dette publique et de la croissance. Un « mauvais equilibre » se caracterise par la conjonction des elements suivants, et l'existence d'effets de retroaction negatifs entre eux : un deficit budgetaire et une dette volumineux et croissants, des primes de risque elevees sur la dette souveraine, une chute de l'activite economique et un effondrement de la confiance. Inversement, un « bon equilibre » se caracterise par une croissance et une dette stables, conjuguees a des primes de risque faibles. Nous utilisons ce cadre pour cerner – tant sur le plan theorique qu'empirique – les niveaux d'endettement correspondant a ces situations de bon et de mauvais equilibre, ainsi que les mesures qui peuvent aider un pays ayant bascule dans un mauvais equilibre a redresser la situation. Nos analyses montrent que, malgre des pertes de production a court terme, l'assainissement des finances publiques peut aider les pays pris au piege d'une situation de mauvais equilibre a en sortir. De maniere plus generale, nous parvenons a la conclusion que des mecanismes d'assistance financiere conjugues a des reformes structurelles et a des mesures d'assainissement budgetaire constituent l'approche la plus efficace pour aider les pays a retrouver une trajectoire viable.
Inferring marine distribution of Canadian and Irish Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) in the North Atlantic from tissue concentrations of bio-accumulated Caesium 137

This is a pre-copy-editing, author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication in ICES Journal of Marine Science following peer review. The definitive publisher-authenticated version “Spares A.D., Reader J.M. , Stokesbury M.J.W. , McDermott T. , Zikovsky L. , Avery T.S. , Dadswell M.J. Inferring marine distribution of Canadian and Irish Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) in the North Atlantic from tissue concentrations of bio-accumulated caesium 137. (2007) ICES Journal of Marine Science, 64 (2), pp. 394–404” is available online at: http://icesjms.oxfordjournals. org/content/64/2/394
Combining Abilities and Inheritance of Yield Components in Influential Upland Cotton Varieties

Influential cotton lines are those that contributed a larger proportion of genes to modern cotton cultivars than any other germplasm lines. The most influential cultivars from 16 cotton breeding programs were identified based on the analysis of the pedigree of 260 cultivars released between 1970 and 1990 in USA. Ten most influential cultivars were selected for a diallel analysis using the procedure in Griffing’s Method 2. The parental cultivars varied significantly for bolls per plant, boll weight, lint percentage, seed index, and lint index, and responded consistently to the two different environments. Mean squares of GCA effects were 39.1 for bolls per plant, 6.0 for boll weight, 108.4 for lint percentage, 56.3 for seed index, and 8.2 for lint index, respectively, all of which were highly significant (P < 0.01), indicating that additive effects played important roles in inheritance of the traits. SCA effects were highly significant (P < 0.01) for boll weight (0.5), lint percentage (3.2), seed index (1.3), and lint index (0.2), suggesting that these traits were also controlled by non-additive effects. The ratios of mean squares, 2GCA / (2GCA + SCA), for bolls per plant, boll weight, lint percentage, seed index, and lint index were 0.96, 0.96, 0.99, 0.99, and 0.99, respectively, indicating that additive effects were much more important in inheritance of the traits than non-additive effects. Narrow-sense heritability ranged from 0.15 to 0.79 and broad-sense heritability from 0.21 to 0.88 for the traits.
An update on pathological implications of enzymatic dysregulation in Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is the most prevalent non-reversible neurodegenerative disorder that affects the memory and cognitive centres of brain. It has been reported that, AD turns out to be prominent among the people aged~65 or above and is regarded as the most common cause of dementia. Moreover, AD stands among the leading causes of death in the first world nations, accounting more than 60% incidence of progressive cognitive impairment in elderly people. Amyloid beta and neurofibrillary tangles are two putative cytotoxic entities that have been identified, aggregation of which has been associated with the pathological signature of AD. Beta secretase-an amyloid precursor protein cleavage enzyme, plays a pivotal role in such pathogenic process of AD. Several other enzymatic dysregulations have also been linked with AD. Involvement of enzymatic dysregulation is the most discussed pathological implication in AD and therapeutic approaches have been postulated targeting such anomalies. Together, global consequences of enzymatic dysregulation and related therapeutic possibilities in AD remain the prime focus of present time. Therefore, research and study for the eloquent insight into the AD pathology from enzymatic perspective is essential and the same endeavour has been carried out in the present study.
The Nominating Committee As An Antecedent of Effective Corporate Governance

In this paper, we examine a possible antecedent to board effectiveness – the presence of a nominating committee. We argue that director cooptation by CEOs, and therefore ineffectual governance, may result from allowing CEOs to appoint sympathetic directors. Thus, because outside independent board members are more likely to be effective in their roles as monitors of the CEO, and because such members are more likely to have been selected by nominating committees, measures of board effectiveness should be positively associated with the presence of a nominating committee. Our results are largely consistent with our hypotheses, and are thus instructive in the design of optimal governance mechanisms. We find that firm profitability, frequency of compensation committee meetings, compensation committee size, and CEO experience of compensation committee members are all higher among firms with nominating committees.
Notes on autumn-winter stomach contents of the Stone Marten (Martes foina) in the Balkan Mountains, Central Bulgaria

We studied autumn-winter food (November-February, 1997-2003) of the Stone Marten in the Balkan Mountains, Central Bulgaria. A total of 26 stomachs (18 of males and eight of females) were examined, of which contents was expressed as the number of occurrence and relative frequency of occurrence. The result clearly showed that rodents are primary prey for the Stone Marten. Birds and insects were the following categories consumed. The edible dormouse was detected as a prey for the first time in Bulgaria. Besides, wild ungulates and domestic animals were occasionally scavenged, while neither fruits nor artificial materials were detected in the marten stomachs. Thus, our study showed that the Stone Marten in the Balkan Mountains tended to be more carnivorous in winter.
Sensible and latent heat flux from radiometric surface temperatures at the regional scale: methodology and validation

Abstract. The CarboEurope Regional Experiment Strategy (CERES) was designed to develop and test a range of methodologies to assess regional surface energy and mass exchange of a large study area in the South-Western part of France. This paper describes a methodology to estimate sensible and latent heat fluxes on the basis of net radiation, surface radiometric temperature measurements and information obtained from available products derived from the Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) geostationary meteorological satellite, weather stations and ground-based eddy covariance towers. It is based on a simplified bulk formulation of sensible heat flux that considers the degree of coupling between the vegetation and the atmosphere and estimates latent heat as the residual term of net radiation. Estimates of regional energy fluxes obtained in this way are validated at the regional scale by means of a comparison with direct flux measurements made by airborne eddy-covariance. The results show an overall good matching between airborne fluxes and estimates of sensible and latent heat flux obtained from radiometric surface temperatures that holds for different weather conditions and different land use types. The overall applicability of the proposed methodology to regional studies is discussed.
Feeding damage by onion thrips, Thrips tabaci Lindeman (Thysanoptera : Thripidae), on early white cabbage grown under insecticide-free conditions

The effects of cultivar choice and plant density on onion thrips (Thrips tabaci) damage to early white cabbage was studied on five varieties of early white cabbage grown at three different densities over two years. In the drier year the cabbage yield was smaller and greater thrips damage was recorded. The cabbage variety 'Vestri', which had on average the firmest head, showed itself to be the most resistant to Thrips tabaci attack and gave the highest yield. The 'Parel' variety, with the shortest growing period, was the most damaged by the thrips. Most densely planted cabbage had the lowest mean weight of heads and the lowest mean index of damage on the exterior leaves. Most of the economically important damage occurred between the third and sixth exterior leaf, although the damage extended to the fifteenth exterior leaf.
What Drives the Performance of Selected MENA Banks? A Meta-Frontier Analysis

This study examines the effect of financial-sector reform on bank performance in selected Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) countries in the period 1994-2008. We evaluate bank efficiency in Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Lebanon and Tunisia by means of Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and we employ a meta-frontier approach to calculate efficiency scores in a cross-country setting. We then employ a second-stage regression to investigate the impact of institutional, financial, and bank specific variables on bank efficiency. Overall, the analysis shows that, despite similarities in the process of financial reforms undertaken in the five MENA countries, the observed efficiency levels of banks vary substantially across markets, with Morocco consistently outperforming the rest of the region. Differences in technology seem to be crucial in explaining efficiency differences. To foster banking sector performance, policies should be aimed at giving banks incentives to improve their risk management and portfolio management techniques. Improvements in the legal system and in the regulatory and supervisory bodies would also help to reduce inefficiency.
Arboreal forage lichen response to partial cutting of high elevation mountain caribou range in the Quesnel Higland of east-central British Columbia

Group selection silvicultural systems have been recommended for managing mountain caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) habitat in high elevation Engelmann spruce – subalpine fir forests in east-central British Columbia. We measured the response of arboreal lichen (a key winter forage) to harvesting of 30% of the forested area using three partial cutting treatments, which created small (0.03 ha), medium (0.13 ha), and large (1.0 ha) openings, and a no-harvest treatment. Treatments were replicated on four sites, and monitored over a ten year post-harvest period. The short-term loss of lichen associated with removal of approximately one third of the trees was partially offset by a significant (P=0.01) increase in lichen abundance on trees in the caribou feeding zone (up to 4.5 m) in the three partial cutting treatments relative to trees in the uncut forest. Differences among treatments in the change in lichen composition, as measured by the percentage of Alectoria sarmentosa and Bryoria spp. , were marginally significant (P=0.10). The partial cutting treatments showing a greater likelihood of shifting towards more Bryoria spp. than no-harvest treatment (P=0.04). In the year of harvest (1993), larger trees were found to hold more lichen than smaller trees (P=0.04), and live trees supported more lichen than dead trees (P=0.01), but lichen loading was similar among tree species (P=0.51). Tree fall rates were similar among treatments, based on the ten year average (0.6–0.8% of sample trees per year). The results indicate that caribou foraging habitat is maintained in the residual forest when group selection systems that remove only 30% of the trees are applied. Information on the distribution of lichen is useful for developing stand level prescriptions. Providing lichen bearing habitat meets just one of the needs of caribou. A comprehensive approach that considers all factors and their interactions is essential to maintain and recover the threatened mountain caribou.
Crowding in Germany's national parks: the case of the low mountain range Saxon Switzerland National Park

Every year 1.7 million people visit the Saxon Switzerland National Park, resulting in a very high visitor density, especially in the western parts of the national park. This paper presents the results of a survey conducted in 2011 (n = 312), which investigated the perception of crowding, influencing factors and displacement effects. Overall, nearly one third of the visitors (31.3%) felt crowded, with a maximum of 74.4% at the Bastei rock, a popular spot within the park. Using a logistic regression, the number of perceived encounters, plus motives and expectations were found to be the key factors to influence the perception of crowding. Nearly half of the visitors (48.7%) already act or plan to act on crowding, choosing temporal and spatial displacement strategies in equal measure.
Effect of antenatal care on low birth weight prevention in Lao PDR: A case control study

Background: Low Birth Weight (LBW) is a worldwide public health problem, which subsequently may affect the health status of the child. Lao PDR has high incidence of LBW. Antenatal care (ANC) is provided to improve maternal and child health outcomes. The aim of this study was to identify the effect ANC on LBW prevention in Lao PDR. Methods: This case control study was conducted in tertiary hospitals of Lao PDR. The ratio of case: control was 1:3, of which there were 52 cases and 156 controls that passed the inclusion criteria included in the study. In our analysis information on pregnancy and ANC including height of mother, maternal weight gain during pregnancy, maternal gestational age at delivery, type of delivery, supplementary vitamins, and other covariates including age, marital status, educational attainment, occupation, family income, health insurance, family size and living condition were described and determine their association with LBW using multiple logistic regression analysis. Results: There were only 32.69 % of complete ANC among cases and 57.69% in control. Incomplete ANC (<4 times) were significant increased the odds of having LBW (adj. OR=2.97; 95%CI: 1.48 to 5.93; p-value =0.002). Other covariates which also influenced LBW were having maternal weight gain during pregnancy less than 10 kg. (adj.OR=2.28; 95%CI: 1.16 to 4.49; p-value = 0.017), maternal gestation age at delivery less than 40 weeks (adj. OR=3.33; 95%CI: 1.52 to 7.32; p-value =0.003). Conclusion: Complete ANC could help both mother and child in term of weight gain and full term delivery which may effect on LBW reduction.
Establishing an Appropriate Level of Detail (LoD) for a Building Information Model (BIM) – West Block, Parliament Hill, Ottawa, Canada

In 2011, Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) embarked on a comprehensive rehabilitation of the historically significant West Block of Canada’s Parliament Hill. With over 17 thousand square meters of floor space, the West Block is one of the largest projects of its kind in the world. As part of the rehabilitation, PWGSC is working with the Carleton Immersive Media Studio (CIMS) to develop a building information model (BIM) that can serve as maintenance and life-cycle management tool once construction is completed. The scale and complexity of the model have presented many challenges. One of these challenges is determining appropriate levels of detail (LoD). While still a matter of debate in the development of international BIM standards, LoD is further complicated in the context of heritage buildings because we must reconcile the LoD of the BIM with that used in the documentation process (terrestrial laser scan and photogrammetric survey data). In this paper, we will discuss our work to date on establishing appropriate LoD within the West Block BIM that will best serve the end use. To facilitate this, we have developed a single parametric model for gothic pointed arches that can be used for over seventy-five unique window types present in the West Block. Using the AEC (CAN) BIM as a reference, we have developed a workflow to test each of these window types at three distinct levels of detail. We have found that the parametric Gothic arch significantly reduces the amount of time necessary to develop scenarios to test appropriate LoD.
Comparison of the Accuracy of Digital Image -based and Patient Visit-based Diagnoses in an Iranian Dermatology Clinic

Teledermatology as one of the Telemedicine applications is used in the diagnosis and treatment of skin diseases. The accuracy of diagnosis made based on the images of skin lesions is among the most important issues in this field. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to compare the accuracy of dermatology diagnosis based on patient’s history and lesions’ images with that made in face to face visit as the gold standard and also to determine Kappa agreement coefficient between these two types of diagnosis. Method: A total of 91 patients were enrolled into the study. Patients’ identity features and medical history were recorded at admission and lesions’ images were taken with a standard method. Then patients were referred to a dermatologist to put his diagnosis on the disease. About two months later the same dermatologist was asked to put his diagnosis based on the patients’ recorded medical history and digital images of the lesions. Then the two diagnoses were compared and Kappa coefficient was calculated. Data analysis was performed through SPSS software package. Results: The correlation rate of diagnoses was 84.6 and kappa coefficient was calculated as 0.77 Conclusion: The diagnosis of dermatological disease based on just patient’s medical history and digital images of skin lesions has a high rate of accuracy and it can be confidently recommended for tele-dermatology purposes in Iran.
Optically Controlled Reconfigurable Antenna Array Based on E-Shaped Elements

This work presents the development of optically controlled reconfigurable antenna arrays. They are based on two patch elements with E-shaped slots, a printed probe, and a photoconductive switch made from an intrinsic silicon die. Numerical simulations and experiments have been shown to be in agreement, and both demonstrate that the frequency response of the antenna arrays can be efficiently reconfigured over two different frequency ISM bands, namely, 2.4 and 5 GHz. A measured gain of 12.5 dBi has been obtained through the use of two radiating elements printed in a low-cost substrate and a dihedral corner reflector.
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approved: Robert E. Gresswell Gary L. Larson Invasion by nonnative brook trout (Salvelinusfontinalis) often results in replacement of bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) in western North America, but the causal mechanisms are not well understood. Removal of brook trout from 1992 to 2000 from Sun Creek in southern Oregon, provided an opportunity to investigate the changes in distribution and abundance of bull trout. This study investigated bull trout distribution over from 1994 to 2003, during and following the extirpation of brook trout in 2000. In 2001 over, 8 km of contiguous stream habitat was examined to investigate bull trout habitat utilization. Bull trout abundance increased almost 300% after the removal of brook trout; however, bull trout distribution did not shift either upstream or downstream into habitat previously occupied by brook trout. This finding suggested that the occupied habitat was either critical for bull trout persistence or that factors restricted dispersal. Temperature did not appear to limit bull trout distribution remaining below 17°C with averages less than 10°C throughout Sun Creek. The downstream distribution of bull trout coincided with a point source increase of turbidity. In regions of the stream where turbidity was low bull trout abundance was positively associated with deep pools, higher average temperatures, and correlated with high Redacted for Privacy Redacted for Privacy densities of springs. The results of this study suggest that brook trout did not displace bull trout, underscoring the importance that point source disturbances (i.e. turbidity) can have on trout distributions. These findings reiterate the value of sampling contiguous streams as a means to identifying factors influencing trout distribution throughout a
Modelling of soil acidity and nitrogen availability in natural ecosystems in response to changes in acid deposition and hydrology

Changes in vegetation are often caused by changes in abiotic site factors. The SMART2 model has been developed to evaluate the effects of changes in ion inputs by atmospheric deposition and seepage on these site factors. Linkage with the Multiple Stress Model for Vegetation (MOVE) enables evaluation of the effects on the occurrence probability of vegetation species in response to deposition and seepage scenarios. Combinations of two deposition and two seepage scenarios were evaluated with SMART2. Results focused on pH, nitrogen availability and base saturation. Effects of changes in pH on the occurrence probability of forest understorey in a nutrient-poor deciduous forest were evaluated with MOVE.