Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
African Military Coups d'État and Underdevelopment: a Quantitative Historical Analysis

The August 1983 overthrow of Major Jean-Baptiste Ouedraogo by Captain Thomas Sankara in Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso), the New Year's Eve abrupt termination in Nigeria of Black Africa's largest multi-party democracy, and the decision by the Guinean army in April 1984 to remove their party leaders after the death of President Sékou Touré, illustrate two of the most salient realities of contemporary African politics: (1) military coups d'état are the principal form of régime change, and (2) they can happen under any type of political system–a functioning democracy, a personalistic civilian dictatorship, or an already existing military junta.1
Non‐Linear Predictability in G7 Stock Index Returns

This paper re‐examines the persistence and source of non‐linear predictability in the stock markets of G7 countries. Applying the Brock–Dechert–Scheinkman (BDS) test on autoregression (AR)‐filtered returns in rolling estimation windows, we find evidence of local non‐linear predictability in all the sampled stock markets. To identify the source, we apply the BDS test on AR‐generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (GARCH)‐filtered returns in rolling windows. After accounting for conditional heteroskedasticity, we still find brief time periods with non‐linear predictability in all markets, contradicting the weak‐form efficient markets hypothesis.
Timecourse of development of the wallaby trigeminal pathway. I. Periphery to brainstem

The development of the vibrissae and their innervation and the maturation of the brainstem trigeminal sensory nuclei have been studied in the wallaby, Macropus eugenii, from birth to adulthood. At birth, developing vibrissal follicles consist of solid epidermal pegs surrounded by dermal condensations. The developing follicles and adjacent skin are innervated by trigeminal afferents. Ten days after birth the follicle contains a dermal papilla and the deep vibrissal nerve can be recognised. A hair cone is present at postnatal day (P) 30 and hairs are apparent on the skin surface by P35. By P63 the deep vibrissal nerve can be seen innervating Merkel cells in the outer root sheath; in addition, the first signs of the blood sinus can be recognised. Innervation of the inner conical body and lanceolate and lamellated receptors supplying the mesenchymal sheath and waist region are not seen until P119, when the follicle resembles that seen in the adult.
The Small World of Corporate Boards

We demonstrate the importance of graph theory for understanding boards of directors. Specifically, we focus on the 'small world' phenomenon. Our empirical results show that a random graph model is remarkably good at explaining board structure and connectedness in the United States, the United Kingdom and Germany. Although there are small-world traits such as 'clustering' and 'short-paths' in the corporate world, they are no more pronounced than would be expected by chance in a statistically similar, but randomly assembled corporate universe. In short, boards of directors, especially in the United States, are no more 'clubby' than expected. Finally, our results show the existence of positive degree correlation: directors who sit on many boards do so in the company of other directors who sit on many boards. Board members whose services are in high demand, serve on boards with similar directors. Copyright 2006 The Authors Journal compilation (c) 2006 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
The Role of Expectations in U.S. Inflation Dynamics

A growing body of literature examines alternatives to the rational expectations hypothesis in applied macroeconomics. This paper continues this strand of research by examining the role survey expectations play in the inflation process and reports three principal findings. One, short-run inflation expectations appear to play a significant role in explaining U.S. inflation over the past 20–25 years. Two, long-run expectations generally do not appear to have a direct influence on U.S. inflation over the same period, although these longer expectations enter indirectly as a key determinant of the short-run expectations. The restrictions implied by “trend inflation” models of inflation are generally rejected in the data. Three, by employing a “survey operator,” this paper develops a first pass at a structural model that incorporates the features discussed above and assesses its performance in explaining inflation in the postwar period.
Antibody and Cytokine Responses of Koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) Vaccinated with Recombinant Chlamydial Major Outer Membrane Protein (MOMP) with Two Different Adjuvants

Developing a vaccine against Chlamydia is key to combating widespread mortalities and morbidities associated with this infection in koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus). In previous studies, we have shown that two or three doses of a Recombinant Major Outer Membrane Protein (rMOMP) antigen-based vaccine, combined with immune stimulating complex (ISC) adjuvant, results in strong cellular and humoral immune responses in koalas. We have also separately evaluated a single dose vaccine, utilising a tri-adjuvant formula that comprises polyphosphazine based poly I: C and host defense peptides, with the same antigen. This formulation also produced strong cellular and humoral immune responses in captive koalas. In this current study, we directly compared the host immune responses of two sub-groups of wild Chlamydia negative koalas in one population vaccinated with the rMOMP protein antigen and adjuvanted with either the ISC or tri-adjuvant formula. Overall, both adjuvants produced strong Chlamydia-specific cellular (IFN-γ and IL-17A) responses in circulating PBMCs as well as MOMP-specific and functional, in vitro neutralising antibodies. While the immune responses were similar, there were adjuvant-specific immune differences between the two adjuvants, particularly in relation to the specificity of the MOMP epitope antibody responses.
Was Fisher a Practicing Quantity Theorist?

The equation of exchange is identified with the name Irving Fisher. Although it is not the quantity theory, a point often made by him, it is the core organizing ingredient for his subsequent quantity theoretic analyses. It has in fact been argued that the quantity theory was central to Fisher's work, that “his fundamental premise and basis for all other analysis and policy prescription was this: money matters and matters most, [that he indeed was] the first of the modern ‘monetarists’” (Allen 1977, p. 563).
Main schools of TQM: “the big five”

The early development of the total quality movement was substantially influenced by only a few quality “pioneers”: Deming, Juran, Feigenbaum, Crosby and Ishikawa. This article discusses their key contributions about quality. Argues that these US and Japanese quality “gurus” contributed a number of important ideas to today’s understanding of total quality management (TQM). Points out, however, that TQM is not merely a set of statistical tools and methods for improving the company’s product and service quality level and a quality management system like BS 5750 and ISO 9000, as suggested by these quality pioneers. TQM rather comprises a business strategy for harnessing the full capacity of all the company’s resources – not only technical – in order to achieve world‐class quality at minimum costs. Comes to the conclusion that the role of the human resource issue and the importance of the individual employee were hardly recognised by these classical quality “gurus”.
Pathway analysis of whole exome sequence data provides further support for the involvement of histone modification in the aetiology of schizophrenia

Weighted burden pathway analysis was applied to whole exome sequence data for 2045 schizophrenic patients and 2045 controls. Overall, there was a statistically significant excess of pathways with more rare, functional variants in cases than in controls. Among the highest ranked were pathways relating to histone modification, as well as neuron differentiation and membrane and vesicle function. This bolsters the evidence from previous studies that histone modification pathways may be important in the aetiology of schizophrenia.
Reading Between the Lies

The widespread supposition that aspects of facial communication are uncontrollable and can betray a deceiver's true emotion has received little empirical attention. We examined the presence of inconsistent emotional expressions and “microexpressions” (1/25–1/5 of a second) in genuine and deceptive facial expressions. Participants viewed disgusting, sad, frightening, happy, and neutral images, responding to each with a genuine or deceptive (simulated, neutralized, or masked) expression. Each 1/30-s frame (104,550 frames in 697 expressions) was analyzed for the presence and duration of universal expressions, microexpressions, and blink rate. Relative to genuine emotions, masked emotions were associated with more inconsistent expressions and an elevated blink rate; neutralized emotions showed a decreased blink rate. Negative emotions were more difficult to falsify than happiness. Although untrained observers performed only slightly above chance at detecting deception, inconsistent emotional leakage occurred in 100% of participants at least once and lasted longer than the current definition of a microexpression suggests. Microexpressions were exhibited by 21.95% of participants in 2% of all expressions, and in the upper or lower face only.
Integrating A- and B-Share Markets in China: The Effects of Regulatory Policy Changes on Market Efficiency

We investigate the effectiveness of two recent regulatory policy changes on market efficiency in the Chinese A- and B-share markets. Overall, the opening of the B-share market to domestic Chinese investors and the limited opening of the A-share market to foreign investors increase market efficiency. The opening of the B-share market significantly reduces the price differential between A- and B-shares. Furthermore, there is no longer feedback in returns between the two markets in recent years. Our results provide evidence that there is no detrimental effect to market efficiency by integrating Chinese investors to international markets and foreign investors to the Chinese stock markets.
Financial statement comparability and audit efficiency: evidence from South Korea

In this study, we examine the effect of financial statement comparability on audit hours, which we use as a proxy for audit efficiency. We examine the hours worked by auditors in completing 2322 audits in Korea between 2006 and 2010. Audit efficiency can be determined by the total audit effort required to achieve a successful audit. Using a sample consisting of firms maintaining a certain level of audit quality, we investigate whether financial statement comparability reduces audit hours. We find that comparability is negatively associated with audit hours. In addition, we find that the effect of comparability on audit hours is attenuated for firms that are ‘highly followed’ by financial analysts. This study contributes to the literature by proposing a possible way to improve audit efficiency from a unique perspective. While prior studies show that a client’s inherent risk and control risk lower audit efficiency, the results of this study show that comparability between financial statements facilitates audit efficiency. Improvements in audit efficiency reduce the opportunity costs associated with audit effort and thereby enable auditors to spend more time and effort focusing on high-risk engagements. Comparability is one of four qualitative characteristics of accounting information included in accounting conceptual frameworks. Despite the importance of comparability, there is very little research on its benefits. This study makes a unique contribution by measuring audit effort using a large database of audit hours worked by auditors in Korean firms.
Women, Migration, and Care: Explorations of Diversity and Dynamism in the Global South

The conceptualization and models of migration, gendered labor, and care have been developed with the primacy of South to North migrations in mind and have only incorporated Southern countries’ experiences selectively. Using the examples of selected countries in the South, especially middle-income countries, this article aims to unsettle some of the assumptions that underlie this analysis and to lay out some questions that might need to be addressed to make questions of care reflect the diversity and dynamic of migratory systems, gender regimes, and welfare arrangements in the South. In particular, the middle-income countries, such as Argentina and South Africa, pose interesting questions as they are tied into global circuits of care in distinctive ways and have different kinds of care provisioning and histories of gendered migrations.
The Role of Demand in Macroeconomics

I argue that the standard approach represented by real business cycle theory is misguided, and that a fundamentally different approach is necessary. The new approach, based on the method of statistical mechanics, leads us to a new concept of “equilibrium”. In equilibrium we must have a distribution of productivities rather than a unique level of productivity. We then find that demand plays a crucial role in the determination of the aggregate output, as the old Keynesian economics claims. I show that the demand constraint is important not only in short-run but also in long-run economic growth.
The Economics of Sustainable Agriculture Alternatives on the Semiarid Canadian Prairies: The Case for Legumes and Organic Amendments

ABSTRACT The economic performance of rotations with reduced summerfallow frequency, legume crop alternatives, and manure applications was evaluated using data from a rotation experiment established in 1992 on Brown Chernozemic soil at Bow Island, Alberta (Alberta Crop Diversification Center South). Net returns and variability were calculated for each of the six rotations under test and for different fertilizer treatments, including manure (a total of 20 rotation and fertilizer treatment combinations). A farm-level economic risk model was formulated to simulate optimal rotation selection under uncertainty and risk aversion. The six rotations included continuous wheat (W), fallow-wheat (FW), fallow-wheat-wheat (FWW), flax-wheat-fallow (FxWF), legume-Allan wheat (LW), and grass (G). The wheat and flax phases of the fertilized rotations were fertilized with 0, 20 or 40 kg N ha−1 (0, 17.9 or 35.7 1bs N ac−1) and with 0 or 8.6 kg P ha−1 (7.7 lbs P ac−1). The W and FW rotations also had a manure treatment. Of the traditional cropping systems, the FWW and FW rotations (with applications of 40 kg ha−1 N: 8.6 kg ha−1P (35.7 1bs ac−1N: 7.7 1bs ac−1 P)and 20 kg ha−1N: 8.6kg ha−1P(17.81bs ac−1 N: 7.7 1bs ac −1 P), respectively), exhibited the highest returns and the FW(20,8.6) rotation experienced less variability. The simulation revealed that increases in net returns could be attained through the introduction of a LW rotation because of its ability to fix N and thus reduce the input costs. Risk averse producers would be expected to plant a combination of LW(0,0) and FW(40,8.6). W and FW rotations with manure treatments were not as profitable as those with chemical fertilizer treatments.
Faidherbia albida on the Tonga Plateau of southern Zambia: an agroecological analysis

Faidherbia albida is a tree species indigenous to semi-arid regions of Africa that reportedly substantially increases maize (Zea mays) yields in its immediate vicinity. In southern Zambia, F. albida is widely used in indigenous maize farming systems and this has apparently increased over the past two decades. Using a combination of interviews, group meetings, and observations, this study sought to understand why this species seems to have recently been embraced, while other technological innovations apparently have not. We observed a bimodal age distribution of the trees in agricultural fields and posit that the missing cohorts were removed as weeds as a result of evolving notions of what constituted modern farming practices in the emerging maize economy. With subsequent research and social promotion of the beneficial effects of F. albida, farmers now allow the trees to grow in their fields. A holonic analysis points to the important relationship of F. albida to contexts that shaped past and current uses of the tree by farmers on the Tonga Plateau: information, maize, cattle, land tenure, and government policy. Advice promulgated by social promotion activities took root in farmer knowledge contexts because of positive regard for F. albida and timeless injunctions against cutting mature specimens. Furthermore, cultivation of the tree was highly compatible with other important contexts in which farmers operate. However, our research also revealed the potential for adoption of the tree to create new tensions arising from the strong gendering of work and crops in the region.
TEACHER CHARACTERISTICS RELATED TO THE ADOPTION OF AGRISCIENCE CURRICULUM IN VIRGINIA MIDDLE SCHOOL AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS

Middle school programs in agricultural education are unique educational experiences that provide 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students in Virginia with a basic understanding of agriculture and its applied sciences. Curriculum innovations such as the one for Virginia middle schools provide guidance for teachers in the field and offer a base from which programs can operate. However, the benefits of educational innovations are never fully realized until the teacher in the classroom adopts and implements the changes. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between teacher characteristics and the adoption of agriscience curriculum in Virginia middle school agricultural education programs. The study was conducted in the fall of 1993. The population for this study consisted of the 57 middle school teachers of agricultural education in Virginia. All of the teachers were surveyed with an 81% response rate obtained.
Export-oriented FDI in the UK

It is well known that the performance of foreign firms compared to domestic companies is superior with respect to employment, wages, and productivity. In this paper we detail the export behaviour of foreign affiliates in the United Kingdom relative to indigenous firms. Our findings show that foreign firms are more likely to export, and when they do so they are more export intensive and overall contribute disproportionately to total manufacturing exports from the UK. While firm-level advantages explain some of these differences in export behaviour, strategic considerations dominate, where these include the differential in costs, productivity, and market size between the UK and foreign countries. That is, both horizontal and vertical motives can be found for the use of the UK as an export platform by foreign firms. Copyright 2004, Oxford University Press.
Development, foreign aid and post-development in Timor-Leste

Abstract Post-development theories have successfully challenged many of the ways in which we think about development but have yet to substantially influence development practice. In this paper I explore what opportunities exist for applying post-development ideas within the current development apparatus of Timor-Leste. Four types of community-focused programmes are analysed: sectoral project-based initiatives, institutional capacity-building programmes, community partnerships and small grants programmes. While alternative opportunities are clearly shown to be present, it is argued that they are rarely realised because of the overwhelming priority to produce better agents of development, rather than those able to pursue ‘alternatives-to-development’. The paper concludes by suggesting that the development apparatus itself may not be inherently faulted; instead this apparatus could be usefully utilised by those inspired by alternative imaginaries to pursue post-development goals.
Judicial Culture and the Politicolegal Opportunity Structure: Explaining Bill of Rights Legal Impact in New Zealand

This article argues that the cultural self‐understandings of the judiciary can exert a profound effect on legal outcomes under a bill of rights. Utilizing the case of New Zealand, it demonstrates that confinement of expansive case law under the New Zealand Bill of Rights (NZBOR) to the criminal law and freedom of expression arenas is most significantly explained by a British‐descended judicial culture that prioritizes, first, those civil liberty values already cognizable by the common law and, second, rights connected with the policing of parliamentary and legal processes. Nevertheless, judicial culture does not operate in a vacuum. Rather, the opportunity structure facing potential public interest litigants under NZBOR depends also on their politicolegal resource set including the attitude of the political branches (legislature and executive) to the claim being forwarded.
Functional Plasticity of Th17 Cells: Implications in Gastrointestinal Tract Function

The gastrointestinal tract is an active player of the human immune system, participating in the innate and adaptive immune responses, keeping the homeostasis of the human being in a healthy status. However, most intestinal conditions are associated with an altered immune response, which implies the activation of CD4+ T helper (Th) cells. Based on their cytokine secretion, transcription factor expression and immunological functions, the differentiated Th cells were initially subdivided into different lineages: Th1 (that express the transcription factor T-box (T-bet), secrete interferon (IFN)-γ and protect the host against intracellular infections) and Th2 (that express GATA binding protein 3 (GATA-3), secrete interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5 and IL-13, and mediate host defense against helminths). Later, a new subset was identified, the Th17, which selectively produces IL-17A and is crucial for host defense against extracellular pathogens. More recently, a functional plasticity between the Th1 and Th17 lineages has been described, a process sometimes controversial that seems to play a key role in different inflammatory conditions, including those affecting the gastrointestinal system. This review will summarize the current knowledge regarding the regulation and functional role of Th17 cells in the gut, focusing on these newly identified features of this T cell subset, including plasticity, their relationship with regulatory T cells and their heterogeneity in the inflammatory microenvironment. A better understanding of these issues is critical to elucidate the role of Th17 cells in intestine immunity, and so for the design of novel therapeutic approaches for intestinal diseases specifically targeting Th17 cells.
Testing the Expectations Hypothesis of the Term Structure Using Instrumental Variables

This paper demonstrates, by means of Monte Carlo experimentation, that tests of the expectations hypothesis of the term structure based on instrumental variables regressions of the change in the short rate on the relevant lagged yield spread are prone to severe over-rejection when the term premium is time-varying. In contrast, tests based on regressions of the yield spread on the first-difference of the short rate are found to reject at the correct rate in moderately sized samples. Copyright @ 1998 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. All rights reserved.