Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fertility, Longevity, and Capital Flows

The neoclassical growth model predicts large capital flows towards fast-growing emerging countries. We show that incorporating fertility and longevity into a lifecycle model of savings changes the standard predictions when countries differ in their ability to borrow inter-temporally and across generations through social security. In this environment, global aging triggers capital flows from emerging to developed countries, and countries’ current account positions respond to growth adjusted by current and expected demographic composition. Data on international capital flows are broadly supportive of the theory. The fact that fast-growing emerging countries are also aging faster, while having less developed credit markets and pension systems, explains why they are more likely to export capital. Our quantitative multi-country overlapping-generations model explains a significant fraction of the patterns of capital flows, across time and across developed and emerging countries.
Compact stars as dark matter probes

We discuss the consequences of the accretion of dark matter (DM) particles on compact stars such as white dwarfs and neutron stars. We show that in large regions of the DM parameter space, these objects are sensitive probes of the presence of DM and can be used to set constraints both on the DM density and on the physical properties of DM particles.
Version : October 22 , 2004 Corporate Governance , Risk-Taking and Growth Kose

We examine theoretically the relationship between investor protection and valueenhancing risk taking by corporate managers, and test the predictions of our model. Managers choose their optimal level of perk consumption (“stealing”) taking into account the degree of investor protection in place in the embedding economy. Since perks represent a priority claim held by the managers, larger perks align their incentives more closely with that of debt holders in their choice of investment risk. Better investor protection lowers the optimal level of perks causing managers to be less risk-averse and better aligned with shareholders in their investment choices. Thus, managers residing in better-protected investor regimes will undertake more value-enhancing risky investment and achieve higher firm growth. We test the implications of our model in a large unbalanced Global Vantage panel of manufacturing companies. We find strong empirical confirmation that corporate risk-taking and firm growth rates are positively related to the quality of investor protection.
Noninvasive Ventilatory Support Modes

Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) refers to the provision of ventilatory assistance using techniques that do not bypass the upper airway. The theoretical advantages of NIV include avoiding the complications associated with endotracheal intubation, improving patient comfort, and preserving airway defense mechanisms. NIV may be delivered through various devices including negative and positive-pressure ventilators. During the first half of the 20th century, negative-pressure ventilation was the main means of providing mechanical ventilatory assistance outside the anesthesia suite. Because of several disadvantages relative to negative-pressure ventilation, including patient discomfort, restrictions on positioning, lack of airway protection, problems with correct fitting, time-consuming application, and lack of portability, negative-pressure ventilators have seen diminishing use in favor of positivepressure assistance modes since the early 1960s. Therefore, only positive-pressure support modes are discussed here. The following sections deal with the history and epidemiology of NIV, as well as currently available equipment and techniques, practical applications, appropriate indications, and possible adverse effects. In this chapter, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) delivered noninvasively is referred to as CPAP. The use of intermittent positive-pressure ventilation (IPPV) with or without positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) is referred to as NIV.
E-LEARNING EXPERIENCE WITH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE SUPPORTED SOFTWARE: An International Application on English Language Courses

Nowadays, artificial intelligence supported e-learning scenarios are widely employed by educational institutions in order to ensure better teaching and learning experiences along educational activities. In the context of performed scientific studies, positive results often encourage such institutions to apply their intelligent e-learning systems on different types of courses and report advantages of artificial intelligent in especially education field. It seems that the future of education will generally depend on important, multidisciplinary research areas like artificial intelligence. At this point, this study aims to report obtained findings regarding to usage of an artificial intelligence based e-learning software in English language courses. In this sense, the e-learning software has been used for one term in three different countries: Turkey, Italy, and Romania. As an international perspective for their intelligent, e-learning software and the approach, the authors are satisfied with the positive results.
Excessive Weight Loss Following Laparoscopic Gastric Mini Bypass or Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery

Background: More than 90 percent of obesity surgery is done using a laparoscope. This method is superior to open surgery and lead to fewer complications, shorter hospital stay and faster recovery. This study compared course of weight loss following laparoscopic Gastric Mini Bypass or Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass surgery, after one year of follow up. Materials and Methods: This randomized clinical trial was conducted among obese patients admitted to Rasoul Akram Hospital Obesity Clinic, Half underwent laparoscopic Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass and the rest were undergoing laparoscopic Mini Gastric Bypass. The amount of weight loss during the first year after surgery will be discussed. Results: In this study, 75 obese patients were studied. Most of the participants were female (82.7%). Participants aged between 18 and 59 years old (average = 36.8 ± 9.8 y/o). Before the surgery, there was no significant difference in weight between the two groups. Excessive weight loss after one month, six months nine months and one year between the two groups was significant and was more in Mini Gastric Bypass (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Respecting the benefits of Mini Gastric Bypass compared to the Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass technique, it is suggested for patients with morbid obesity.
Dynamics of Root Growth and Distribution in Maize from the Black Soil Region of NE China

Root growth is related to its water and mineral uptake. The structure and architecture of the root system is influenced by soil properties. Better understanding of root architecture and growth dynamics of maize grown on black soil may lead to more efficient use of applied nutrients and water by maize. Maize ( Zea mays L.), cultivar Yedan 13, was grown in a black soil field in large root boxes in 2007. Plants were regularly sampled and the following data were recorded: number of emerged roots per phytomer, mean length and maximal length of axile root per phytomer, maximum rooting depth of axile root per phytomer, and angle of axile root per phytomer by excavation methods. The distribution dynamics of root dry weight at different black soil depths, and vertical and horizontal distribution in large root boxes were measured. There were more axile roots on the upper phytomers than on lower phytomers. The number of roots on phytomers P8, P9 and P10 were 15.71%? 24.82%, and 25.86% of total number of per plant, respectively . Angles of the axile roots on lower phytomers were larger than those on upper phytomers. The angle of the axile root on P2 was the largest (81.51°), followed by P4 (69.33°), P3 (56.9°), and P5 (56.06°). The angles on phytomers from P6 to P10 were smaller, ranging from 30.13-40.72°. Mean length, maximal length, and maximum rooting depth of axile root on each phytomer all increased with day after seeding (DAS). Mean length, maximal length, and maximum rooting depth of axile roots on lower phytomers were larger than those on upper phytomers. Mean length, maximal length and maximum rooting depth of axile roots on P3 were the largest (2.37 m, 2.92 m and 2.12 m at 90 DAS, respectively ). Root dry weight in each soil layer increased with DAS; there was a rapid increase from 50 to 90 DAS. About 80 % of root dry weight was in the soil above 40 cm. The general trend of percentage of dry weight in total dry weight per plant decreased as the distance from the plant increased. Over 78 % of root dry weight in total dry weight per plant was within 20 cm in the horizontal direction from the plant, and less than 6% was in the 40 cm to 60 cm zone in the horizontal direction from the plant.
Interactions of energetic electrons with ULF waves triggered by interplanetary shock: Van Allen Probes observations in the magnetotail

We present in situ observations of a shock‐induced substorm‐like event on 13 April 2013 observed by the newly launched Van Allen twin probes. Substorm‐like electron injections with energy of 30–500 keV were observed in the region from L∼5.2 to 5.5 immediately after the shock arrival (followed by energetic electron drift echoes). Meanwhile, the electron flux was clearly and strongly varying on the ULF wave time scale. It is found that both toroidal and poloidal mode ULF waves with a period of 150 s emerged following the magnetotail magnetic field reconfiguration after the interplanetary (IP) shock passage. The poloidal mode is more intense than the toroidal mode. The 90° phase shift between the poloidal mode Br and Ea suggests the standing poloidal waves in the Northern Hemisphere. Furthermore, the energetic electron flux modulations indicate that the azimuthal wave number is ∼14. Direct evidence of drift resonance between the injected electrons and the excited poloidal ULF wave has been obtained. The resonant energy is estimated to be between 150 keV and 230 keV. Two possible scenaria on ULF wave triggering are discussed: vortex‐like flow structure‐driven field line resonance and ULF wave growth through drift resonance. It is found that the IP shock may trigger intense ULF wave and energetic electron behavior at L∼3 to 6 on the nightside, while the time profile of the wave is different from dayside cases.
Death of Paradox: The Killer Logic Beneath the Standards of Proof

The prevailing but contested view of proof standards is that factfinders should determine facts by probabilistic reasoning. Given imperfect evidence, they first should ask themselves what they think the chances are that the burdened party would be right were the truth to become known, and they then should compare those chances to the applicable standard of proof. I contend that for understanding the standards of proof, the modern versions of logic — in particular, fuzzy logic and belief functions — work better than classical probability. This modern logic suggests that factfinders first assess evidence of an imprecisely perceived and described reality to form a fuzzy degree of belief in a fact’s existence, and they then apply the standard of proof by comparing their belief in a fact’s existence to their belief in its negation. This understanding nicely explains how the standard of proof actually works in the law world. While conforming more closely to what we know of people’s cognition, the new understanding captures better how the law formulates and manipulates the standards and it also gives a superior mental image of the factfinders’ task. One virtue of this conceptualization is that it is not a radical reconception. Another virtue is that it nevertheless manages to resolve some stubborn problems of proof, including the infamous conjunction paradox.
Interactive comment on “ Carbon stocks and fluxes in the high latitudes : Using site-level data to evaluate Earth system models ” by Sarah Chadburn

This paper describes a study in which 3 land surface models are assessed against sitelevel evaluation data on some of the key indicators of carbon dynamics in high-latitude terrestrial ecosystems. The analysis and comparison of models were conducted such that the study identified particular, problematic issues for these models in capturing carbon cycling and related mechanisms important in simulating arctic ecosystem processes. From these, the authors recommend three issues as priority areas for model improvement in representing high-latitude components of earth system models. The paper presents a set of analyses that were well-designed to evaluate key processes in
A Positive Psychological Theory of Judging in Hindsight

Past events frequently seem inevitable and predictable after they unfold -- a tendency that cognitive psychologists have labeled the "hindsight bias. " This bias affects judgments of liability in the legal system. For example, by making adverse outcomes seem more predictable (and hence avoidable) than they really were, defendants can be held liable for adverse outcomes that hey could not have foreseen. In effect, judgments of liability made under a negligence standard resemble those made under a standard of strict liability. Courts, however, have historically shown an awareness of the hindsight bias. When possible, courtshave developed methods of making judgments that avoid reliance on the hindsight bias. These adaptations include barring after-acquired information from the decision-making process and carefully enforcing any ex ante understanding about liability that parties may have had. When no such mechanisms are available, the courts choose sensibly among second-best solutions. The legal system is thus shown to incorporate and adapt to this limitation on human judgment.
Athens Institute for Education and Research ATINER ATINER ' s Conference Paper Series MKT 2015-1705

The purpose of this study is to provide new insights into the relationship between “export market orientation” and “export performance”, by using empirical data from a sample of Italian coffee roasting companies, that are mostly small and medium sized firms. Coffee bean roasting is one of the most representative industries of the Made in Italy sector abroad and it controls a significant international market share. In a more and more competitive and turbulent market context (such as the international coffee market) having the capability to acquire market information and use it more effectively than the competitors do becomes fundamental for survival. Firms can use this information to adapt to market changes and deliver superior value in order to satisfy customers’ needs. In other words, it can be inferred that market orientation is a critical to a firm’s success. In the literature there are two major conceptualizations of market orientation; the first is the MKTOR model (Narver and Slater, 1990) which embraces a cultural perspective, and the second is the MARKOR model (Kohli and Jaworsky, 1990) which embraces a behavioral perspective. The performance implications of market orientation has received considerable empirical attention, but few studies examine this relationship in the international context. These few studies have shown that market orientation is a significant determinant of export performance. Given the aim of this study, which is to explore firms’ behavior in foreign markets, we follow the behavioral perspective and we adapt the measurement model of export market orientation developed by Cadogan et al. (2001); this is based on the following three components: 1) export market intelligence generation; 2) export market intelligence dissemination; 3) export market responsiveness. Each one of these components was examined and linked to export performance. Overall, the contribution of the study is twofold: to validate a measurement model of export market orientation in the Italian context of SMEs and to confirm/disconfirm the findings of the extant literature.
Benefits of Improving Trace Mineral Status of Dairy Replacement Heifers

Because dairy replacement heifers generally do not generate revenue until after first parturition, the management and nutritional needs of heifers receive lower priority than those of the lactating cows. However, minimizing health disorders of replacement heifers decreases mortality before first parturition and increases the likelihood that they will enter the milking herd (Warnick et al., 1995). Furthermore, lessening the incidence of calfhood respiratory diseases has been correlated with decreased age at first calving (Warnick et al., 1994) while minimizing incidence of claw lesions in heifers has been associated with increased milk production during first lactation (Drendel et al., 2005). Clearly, improving health, as well as performance, of dairy replacement heifers has a positive impact on dairy profitability. This paper will focus on one factor affecting health and performance of dairy replacements heifers, trace mineral status.
Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites and Associated Risk Factors in Schoolchildren of Aksum Town, Northern Ethiopia

A cross- sectional study was conducted from February to March 2013 to document prevalence and associated risk factors of intestinal parasites in children of the Abreha-Weatsibeha primary school, Aksum town Northern Ethiopia. Four hundered four randomly selected children were examined for intestinal protozoa and helminths by direct stool wet mount (For trophozoites of protozoa) and formalin-ether concentration technique (For cysts of protozoa or eggs of helminths). Semi-structured interview questionnaire was used to gather information about potential risk factors of infection with intestinal parasites in the study area. Nine species of intestinal parasites were identified in a total of 404 faecal samples examined. One hundred eighty (44.6%) of the children examined were found positive for at least one intestinal parasite species. The most common intestinal parasites identified were Entamoeba spp (17.%) followed by Giardia lambilia (14%) and Ascaris lumbricoides (9%). The prevalence rates of single and co-infections (Double or triple) were 37 and 7%, respectively. The prevalence of intestinal parasite was associated with low household income, absence of hand washing habit with soap after defecation and habit of eating raw unwashed vegetables (P<0.05). The high prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among children of Aksum primary school calls for integrated control and prevention measures.
Mixed Density Based Copula Likelihood

We consider a new copula method for mixed marginals of discrete and continuous random variables. Unlike the Bayesian methods in the literature, we use maximum likelihood estimation based on closed-form copula functions. We show with a simulation that our methodology performs similar to the method of Hoff (2007) for mixed data, but is considerably simpler to estimate. We extend to a time series setting, where the parameters are allowed to vary over time. In an empirical application using data from the 2013 Household Finance Survey, we show how the copula dependence between income (continuous) and discrete household characteristics varies across groups who were affected differently by the recent economic crisis.
The Liquidity of Bank Assets and Banking Stability

This paper shows that an increased liquidity of bank assets, paradoxically, increases banking instability and the externalities associated with banking failures. This is because even though higher asset liquidity directly benefits stability by encouraging banks to reduce the risks on their balance sheets and by facilitating the liquidation of assets in a crisis, it also makes crises less costly for banks. As a result, banks have an incentive to take on an amount of new risk that more than offsets the positive direct impact on stability.
VaR/CVaR Estimation Under Stochastic Volatility Models

This paper proposes an improved procedure for stochastic volatility model estimation with an application to Value-at-Risk (VaR) and Conditional Value-at-Risk (CVaR) estimation. This improved procedure is composed of the following instrumental components: Fourier transform method for volatility estimation, and importance sampling for extreme event probability estimation. The empirical analysis is based on several foreign exchange series and the S&P 500 index data. In comparison with empirical results by RiskMetrics, historical simulation, and the GARCH(1,1) model, our improved procedure outperforms on average.
Introduction : why is farm ‐ based intervention of interest to human health ?

Human health is a broad category that encompasses the entirety of the food produc‐ tion system. Livestock production practices have important effects on human health because livestock not only are a primary food source but also can be the source of pathogenic bacteria that may enter the food chain indirectly. As government regula‐ tion and public scrutiny restrict the prophylactic use of antibiotic and antimicrobial interventions, other techniques must be used to reduce the burden of animal‐borne pathogenic bacteria entering the food system. Prebiotics (isolated compounds that enhance natural microflora and thereby decrease pathogens) and probiotics (live microbes that are administered to livestock to enhance microbial diversity and crowd out pathogens) represent two unique opportunities for alternative measures in pathogen reduction. This review addresses the link between animal production and human health, the agricultural sources of pathogenic organisms, and the probiotic and prebiotic approaches that have been evaluated in an effort to reduce carriage of foodborne pathogenic bacteria by livestock.
Flow mechanisms in axial turbine rim sealing

This paper presents a review of research on turbine rim sealing with emphasis placed on the underlying flow physics and modelling capability. Rim seal flows play a crucial role in controlling engine disc temperatures but represent a loss from the main engine power cycle and are associated with spoiling losses in the turbine. Elementary models that rely on empirical validation and are currently used in design do not account for some of the known flow mechanisms, and prediction of sealing performance with computational fluid dynamics has proved challenging. Computational fluid dynamics and experimental studies have indicated important unsteady flow effects that explain some of the differences identified in comparing predicted and measure sealing effectiveness. This review reveals some consistency of investigations across a range of configurations, with inertial waves in the rotating flow apparently interacting with other flow mechanisms which include vane, blade and seal flow interactions; disc pumping and cavity flows; shear layer and other instabilities; and turbulent mixing.