Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF TRADE LIBERALISATION: A Framework and Application to Pakistan

Trade policy reform, in the form of liberalisation or removal of restrictions on trade, has been a predominant feature of World Bank: Structural Adjustment Programmes (SAPs) undertaken, to various degrees, by some 60 developing countries since 1980. The early Iiterature of SAPs concentrated on the types of economic reforms required, and more recent literature addresses the political and institutional dimensions of economic policy reform. This paper addresses the latter issues and presents a framework for analysing the role of institutional change, encompassing the building of both political consensus and administrative capacity, in implementing trade policy reform, and how this relates to domestic political considerations. Pakistan's current trade liberalisation proposals are discussed to illustrate how the framework can be applied. A number of general conclusions are drawn regarding the design of trade liberalisation programmes so as to accommodate political considerations and enhance institutional capacity.
Mathematics Teachers' Pedagogical Beliefs and Practices: Does being 'Conventional or Constructivist matter?'

This study explored the pedagogical beliefs and classroom practices of mathematics teachers and determined whether their beliefs system and practices lean towards the conventional or constructivist pedagogy. It employed the mixed method design and stratified-purposive sampling procedure to identify the 20 participating schools that provided the 96 mathematics teacher-participants. Overall, math teachers held beliefs system and teaching practices that are combinations of both conventional and constructivist perspectives. However, when grouped accordingly, high school math teachers demonstrated classroom practices that leaned more to conventional approaches and are inconsistent with their pedagogical beliefs. Result suggests that math teachers' preparation for K to12 implementation through training seemed not enough to shift their pedagogical perspective to lean more towards constructivism view. Such would likely strain if not impede the effective implementation of K to12 program. Hence, continuous and periodic teacher trainings on how to design a constructivist learning environment are deemed essential.
Bounded rationality, blame avoidance, and political accountability: how performance information influences management quality

ABSTRACT We examine performance impact on management by investigating whether information on past organizational performance (‘performance feedback’) influences future managerial quality. We employ a regression discontinuity design to analyse the performance and managerial quality of Korean metropolitan governments’ utility services. We find that (1) providing performance feedback improves managerial quality, but this impact is observed only among low-performing organizations, and (2) the impact of performance feedback is greater if organizations operate in electorally competitive jurisdictions. To explain these findings, we propose a bounded rationality model of organizational decision-making.
Audit report lag and client industry homogeneity

Purpose This study aims to examine the association between audit report lag (ARL), the length of time between the fiscal year end and the date the auditors’ report is signed, and client industry homogeneity, a measure of the similarity of operations of members of an industry. Design/methodology/approach Regression models are used to test the significance of industry homogeneity on the ARL, of specialists in homogenous industries on the ARL, and the completion of the audits of homogenous industry clients in the year of tightening Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing deadlines. Findings The evidence suggests that auditors complete audits of clients more quickly in more homogenous industries. The association between ARL and homogeneity is negative, which indicates that auditors are more efficient in audits in homogenous industries. The association between ARL and specialist audits in homogenous industries is also negative. Finally, homogenous industry audits are better able to be completed by the compressed filing dates imposed by the SEC on accelerated and large accelerated filers in 2003 and 2006. Originality/value This study extends recent research on industry homogeneity’s influence on the audit market. By reporting an association between the homogeneity of a company’s industry and the ARL, investors and regulators have additional information to better evaluate the timing and monitor trends in the timing of the audit report dates.
Mathematics Learning Model of Open Problem Solving to Develop Students’ Creativity

The purpose of this research is to produce an open problem solving mathematics learning model to help students develop their creativity which meets the criteria of validity, practicality, and effectiveness. The components of instruction model used adopt Joyce and Weil. The quality of the developed products was evaluated based on the product development evaluation developed by Neeven, which includes validity by validators, practicality, and the effectiveness of field experiment by observers. The syntax realization of model consisted of five phases, namely: (1) Introduction, (2) Concept tracking, (3) Open problem presentation, (4) Work presentation, and (5) Closing. The model that had been declared valid by the validator was then tested to see the practicality and effectiveness. The practicality and effectiveness of the model were obtained after three trials. The process of model development is based on the theory of development of Plomp, which consists of three phases, namely: (1) preliminary research, (2) prototyping phase, and (3) assessment phase. The development result of this study is an open problem solving math learning model that can develop students’ creativity (PMT Model), which meets valid, practical, and effective criteria.
A Tale of Two Charitable Campaigns

In light of the current economic conditions and the subsequent increased pressure on nonprofit organizations to collaborate, many nonprofit organizations are developing and conducting cross-sector workplace giving campaigns to increase philanthropic activity. Although some scholars have focused on the implications of such activities for for-profit organizations, little research has been conducted to better understand employee-level giving behaviors in charitable workplace campaigns. This longitudinal study focuses on workplace givers and the impact of individual-level factors on actual donation amounts in two annual workplace campaigns at a large public university from 2001 to 2008. Results show that salary consistently predicts giving amounts across campaigns; length of service, however, only predicts giving amounts in one campaign. Being promoted and receiving tenure led to employees donating less, whereas being promoted while already tenured led to employees donating more. We close the article with a discussion of the managerial implications of our findings.
Effect of Trypsin/EDTA Conditioning on Marginal Microleakage of Class V Composite Restorations Bonded With a One-Step Selfetch Adhesive

Background: Sodium hypochlorite and EDTA solutions are used in the preparation of dentin surfaces, which may increase the bond strength of the composite restorations and decrease their microleakage scores. This in-vitro experimental study aimed to assess the effect of dentin surface conditioning with EDTA/trypsin solution prior to bonding procedure with Clearfil S3 Bond on the microleakage of class V composite restorations. Methods: Class V cavities were prepared on the buccal and lingual surfaces of 18 human premolars (n=18) and randomly assigned into two groups. In the control group, Clearfil S3 Bond was applied on the dentin surfaces. While in the experimental group, before applying Clearfil S3 Bond, the surfaces were conditioned with EDTA/trypsin solution. The cavities on the teeth were then incrementally filled with Filtek Z250 light-cure composite. Afterward, all the samples were thermocycled for 500 cycles. Next, the specimens were immersed in methylene blue solution for 72 hours. The restorations were sectioned buccolingually through the center of the restorations with a diamond disk. Then, microleakage at the tooth- restoration interface was evaluated in the enamel and dentin margins blindly using dye penetration under a stereomicroscope at ×40 magnification. Finally, data were statistically analyzed by Mann-Whitney U test. Results: The results showed no significant differences between two groups regarding the microleakage scores of the enamel and dentin edges. In addition, in all sections and edges of the experimental group, decreased microleakage scores were attained compared to the control specimens (P<0.03). Conclusions: Regarding the limitations of the present study, the preparation of dentin surfaces with EDTA/trypsin solution before applying Clearfil S3 Bond resulted in the decreased microleakage scores compared to unprepared surfaces.
Video Viewing Patterns Using Different Teaching Treatments: A Case Study Using YouTube Analytics

This study explores the viewing patterns of 17 instructional videos in both a traditional and flipped classroom environment by 732 business students taking an IT-related module. While previous work has concentrated mainly on outputs(e.g. student satisfaction/results), this study focuses on how the nature of students’ interactions with videos can be determined through a deep analysis of analytics data. The main findings show that there were less interactions with the instructional videos in the flipped classroom environment compared to the traditional environment, and that videos were used more as a revision aid prior to exams (in both environments) than as an ongoing support to develop skills during term. Implications of this study include the need for regular monitoring of how instructional videos are being used during termand the importance of undertaking a deeper analysis of analytics data as the initial summary data may be misleading.
Evaluating Performance of Missing Data Imputation Methods in IRT Analyses

Missing data is a common problem in datasets that are obtained by administration of educational and psychological tests. It is widely known that existence of missing observations in data can lead to serious problems such as biased parameter estimates and inflation of standard errors. Most of the missing data imputation methods are focused on datasets containing continuous variables. However, it is very common to work with datasets that are made of dichotomous responses of individuals to a set of test items to which IRT models are fitted. This study compared the performances of missing data imputation methods that are IRT model-based imputation (MBI), Expectation-Maximization (EM), Multiple Imputation (MI), and Regression Imputation (RI). Parameter recoveries were evaluated by repetitive analyses that were conducted on samples that were drawn from an empirical large-scale dataset. Results showed that MBI outperformed other imputation methods in recovering item difficulty and mean of the ability parameters, especially with higher sample sizes. However, MI produced the best results in recovery of item discrimination parameters.
Limiting Currency Volatility to Stimulate Goods Market Integration: A Price Based Approach

This paper empirically studies the effect of instrumental and institutional stabilization of the exchange rate on the integration of goods markets. An instrumental stabilization of the exchange rate is accomplished through intervention in the foreign exchange market, or by monetary policies. An institutional stabilization, is an adoption a currency board or a common currency. In contrast to the literature that employs data on the volume of trade, an important novelty of this paper is the use of a 3-dimensional panel of prices of 95 very disaggregated goods (e.g., light bulbs) in 83 cities from around the world from 1990 to 2000. We find that goods market integration is increasing over time and is inversely related to distance, exchange rate variability, and tariff barriers. In addition, the impact of an institutional stabilization of the exchange rate provides a stimulus to goods market integration that goes far beyond an instrumental stabilization. Among the institutional arrangements, long-term currency unions demonstrate greater integration than more recent currency boards. All of them can improve their integration further relative to a U.S. benchmark.
The German Statutory Minimum Wage and Its Effects on Regional Employment and Unemployment

Abstract This paper studies the effects of the introduction of Germany’s statutory minimum wage in 2015 on employment and unemployment on the level of regional labor markets. Using variation in the regional exposure to the new wage floor, we employ a difference-in-differences approach that compares the evolution of employment and unemployment between regions with varying minimum wage bites. Overall, we find no statistically significant effect of the introduction of the German minimum wage on regular employment subject to social insurance, but a statistically significant negative effect on marginal employment. The reduction is not accompanied by a proportional increase in unemployment.
Dynamics of nanoscale systems probed by time-resolved STM-induced luminescence

The efficiency and peculiarities of processes such as surface adsorption or electron-to-photon energy conversion in organic and inorganic structures are determined by the dynamics at the scale of individual molecules, atoms and charges. The timescales of such effects reach down to the ps regime, which can be routinely probed using ultrafast optics methods. However, these far-field techniques suffer from ensemble-averaging that obscures the information encoded at the atomic level. These limits can be overcome by combining scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) with time-resolved light detection so that pm and ps scales can be reached simultaneously. STM-induced luminescence (STML) methodologies are employed in this thesis to explore the nanoscale dynamics of different systems: light emitting defects in C60 thin films, H2 molecules weakly physisorbed on Au(111), metal-metal tunnel junctions and single atom contacts. First, we study the dynamics associated with the radiative decay of single excitons at defectrelated emission centres localized in the C60 molecular film. Such emission centres serve as the smallest possible model of an organic light emitting diode where a single electron and hole recombine producing a photon. Using time-resolved STML (TR-STML) excited by voltage pulses, we follow the formation of an individual exciton and map this process in real space with ns resolution. Besides the excitonic emission, on C60 thin films we observe luminescence due to the radiative decay of plasmons. We study the interplay of these two processes and create a nanoscale bimodal source whose emission can be dynamically tuned by controlling the charge injection rate. A kinetic model is employed to thoroughly describe the charge and exciton dynamics in this system. The developed kinetic model can be also used to analyse the motion of hydrogen molecules adsorbed on an Au(111) crystal. The weak interaction with the metal and the continuous charge injection by the tip leads to recurrent excursions of the molecule inside and outside from the tunnelling junction, which chop the plasmonic luminescence intensity. These dynamical changes in the light intensity can be followed by correlation spectroscopy and allow extraction of the molecule’s residence and excursion times. In the next step, we probe the dynamics of a generic metal-metal tunnel junction. Interestingly, when a high bias is applied, the emission from the junction exhibits photon bunching on a time scale below 50 ps as evidenced by Hanbury Brown-Twiss interferometry. Such a process is a result of a distribution of the energy of one electron between two photons, which may possibly be entangled. The opposite process may occur as well, under conditions where two electrons interact supplying energy to one photon. This overbias emission is a feature of single
Complementary Effect of Knowledge Management Strategy on Firm Performance: Evidence from Chinese Firms

This study investigated the complementary effect of three orientations of knowledge management (KM) strategy on firm performance: external and internal, explicit and tacit, and exploratory and exploitive. We propose a theoretical framework for examining the synergistic effects of KM strategy on firm performance, and the moderating effect of organizational structure. The complementary effect among these orientations of KM strategy was studied. To test our framework, we conducted a survey with a sample of 345 Chinese firms that had applied a KM strategy. The empirical results show that: (1) different KM strategy orientations complement each other, and this complementarity is an essential link in the relationship between KM strategy and firm performance; (2) the direct effect of each orientation of KM strategy on firm performance is not significant; (3) a centralized organizational structure moderates the relationship between KM strategy and firm performance, thus the more centralized is the organizational structure, the stronger is the positive impact of the complementary effect of KM strategy on firm performance; and (4) the moderating effect of formalized organizational structure in the relationship between KM strategy and firm performance is not significant.
Exploring the Kaggle European Soccer database with Bayesian Networks: the case of the Italian League Serie A

In the last decade, the application of statistical techniques to the sport field significantly increased. One of the most famous sports is the football and the present work deals with it. The data used come from the Kaggle European Soccer database. Players' performance indicators and their aggregation on the basis of the players' position or role (forward, midfielder, defender and goalkeeper) joined to the result of the match, are the variables taken into account. The statistical tool applied to these variables to predict the final result of a match is the Bayesian networks. Seasons from 2009/2010 to 2015/2016 and the Italian League Serie A constitute the data over which the statistical tool is trained.
Experimental study of interfacial long waves in a two-layer shear flow

Interfacial stability of two-layer Couette flow was investigated experimentally in a channel bent into an annular ring. This paper is focused on the supercritical long-wave instability which arises for a broad range of flow parameters. Above the critical upper plate velocity, a slowly growing long wave appears with wavelength equal to the perimeter of the channel. Transients of this wave were studied within the theoretical frame of amplitude equations obtained from the long-wave interface equation. Near the onset of instability, the unstable fundamental harmonic is described by the Landau–Stuart equation, and the nonlinear dynamics of the harmonics closely follows the central and slaved modes analysis. For the higher upper plate velocity, harmonics gain some autonomy but they eventually are enslaved by the fundamental, through remarkable collapses of amplitudes and phase jumps leading to wave velocity and frequency locking. Dispersive effects play a crucial role in the nonlinear dynamics. Far from the threshold, the second harmonic becomes unstable and bistability appears: the saturated wave is dominated either by the fundamental harmonic, or by the even harmonics, after periodic energy exchange.
Source separation analysis of visual cortical dynamics revealed by voltage sensitive dye imaging

The work presented in this thesis consists of a statistical source separation analysis of VSD imaging recordings in order to 1) separate the neural-related signal from the artefacts, and 2) investigate the dynamics of the spatio-temporal patterns of activity created by populations of cells that share common statistics. For this purpose, we performed VSD imaging of areas 17 and 18 in the anaesthetized and paralyzed cat. Full field sinusoidal luminance grating stimulations whose orientation was chosen among 4 or 6 cardinal values were presented moving each at two opposite directions. We developed an analysis method for VSD imaging that separates the neural response from the artefacts on single trials, and extracts the spatio-temporal patterns of activity that are related to functionally differentiable populations. Our denoising method permits to perform single trial analysis, for instance to study trial-to-trial variability of signal-to-noise ratio in neuronal population activity. Furthermore, we could also separate neuronal populations that show different response profiles to orientation and/or to direction of the drifting grating stimuli by using PCA and ICA. The compression and projection of V1 maps in response to drifting gratings on three spatiotemporally structured components allowed us to investigate cortical state dynamics and demonstrate the separation of state trajectories as a function of orientation. The sensitivity of our method appears much higher than that gained with conventional analysis of time courses of individual pixels. We hope in the future to provide a measurement framework to quantify and interpret the responses to more naturalistic stimuli
STRATEGIES IN IMPROVING READING COMPREHENSION THROUGH VOCABULARY ACQUISITION

Vocabulary acquisition concerns on how people expand the numbers of words they understand when learning a new language. Knowing words in a second or foreign language is vitally important because the reader will be able to understand the written text well and the speaker will be able to communicate basic ideas through vocabulary even if the person does not understand how to create a grammatically correct sentence. As Madsen argued, "mastering vocabulary is the primary thing that every student should acquire in learning English" (Harold, 1983). Therefore, acquiring a sufficiently large vocabulary is one of the important tasks faced by L2 learners in order to comprehend the written texts in reading as one of the four basic features of language learning.
Ground‐rupturing earthquakes on the northern Big Bend of the San Andreas Fault, California, 800 A.D. to Present

Paleoseismic data on the timing of ground‐rupturing earthquakes constrain the recurrence behavior of active faults and can provide insight on the rupture history of a fault if earthquakes dated at neighboring sites overlap in age and are considered correlative. This study presents the evidence and ages for 11 earthquakes that occurred along the Big Bend section of the southern San Andreas Fault at the Frazier Mountain paleoseismic site. The most recent earthquake to rupture the site was the Mw7.7–7.9 Fort Tejon earthquake of 1857. We use over 30 trench excavations to document the structural and sedimentological evolution of a small pull‐apart basin that has been repeatedly faulted and folded by ground‐rupturing earthquakes. A sedimentation rate of 0.4 cm/yr and abundant organic material for radiocarbon dating contribute to a record that is considered complete since 800 A.D. and includes 10 paleoearthquakes. Earthquakes have ruptured this location on average every ~100 years over the last 1200 years, but individual intervals range from ~22 to 186 years. The coefficient of variation of the length of time between earthquakes (0.7) indicates quasiperiodic behavior, similar to other sites along the southern San Andreas Fault. Comparison with the earthquake chronology at neighboring sites along the fault indicates that only one other 1857‐size earthquake could have occurred since 1350 A.D., and since 800 A.D., the Big Bend and Mojave sections have ruptured together at most 50% of the time in Mw ≥ 7.3 earthquakes.