Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Role of Liquidity, Risk and Economic Activity in the Global Transmission of the Financial Crisis

The paper analyses and compares the role that the tightening in liquidity conditions, the collapse in risk appetite and the severe contraction in economic activity played for the global transmission of the financial crisis. Dealing with identification and the large dimensionality of the empirical exercise with a Global VAR approach, the findings highlight the diversity of the transmission process. While liquidity shocks have had a more severe impact on advanced economies, it was mainly the decline in risk appetite and the collapse in economic activity that affected emerging market economies. The tightening of financial conditions was a key transmission channel for advanced economies, whereas for emerging markets it was mainly the real side of the economy that suffered. Moreover, there are some striking differences also within types of economies, with Europe being more adversely affected by the fall in risk appetite than other advanced economies. Finally, the findings of the paper suggest that what made countries more vulnerable to liquidity shocks and risk shocks was not only the external real or financial exposure, but rather the weakness of domestic macroeconomic fundamentals and institutions. JEL Classification: E44, F3, C5.
Imitation-Projected Programmatic Reinforcement Learning

We study the problem of programmatic reinforcement learning, in which policies are represented as short programs in a symbolic language. Programmatic policies can be more interpretable, generalizable, and amenable to formal verification than neural policies; however, designing rigorous learning approaches for such policies remains a challenge. Our approach to this challenge -- a meta-algorithm called PROPEL -- is based on three insights. First, we view our learning task as optimization in policy space, modulo the constraint that the desired policy has a programmatic representation, and solve this optimization problem using a form of mirror descent that takes a gradient step into the unconstrained policy space and then projects back onto the constrained space. Second, we view the unconstrained policy space as mixing neural and programmatic representations, which enables employing state-of-the-art deep policy gradient approaches. Third, we cast the projection step as program synthesis via imitation learning, and exploit contemporary combinatorial methods for this task. We present theoretical convergence results for PROPEL and empirically evaluate the approach in three continuous control domains. The experiments show that PROPEL can significantly outperform state-of-the-art approaches for learning programmatic policies.
The ARDL Method in the Energy-Growth Nexus Field; Best Implementation Strategies

A vast number of the energy-growth nexus researchers, as well as other “X-variable-growth nexus” studies, such as for example the tourism-growth nexus, the environment-growth nexus or the food-growth nexus have used the autoregressive distributed lag model (ARDL) bounds test approach for cointegration testing. Their research papers rarely include all the ARDL procedure steps in a detailed way and thus they leave other researchers confused with the series of steps that must be followed and the best implementation paradigms so that they not allow any obscure aspects. This paper is a comprehensive review that suggests the steps that need to be taken before the ARDL procedure takes place as well as the steps that should be taken afterward with respect to causality investigation and robust analysis.
A Primer on Kidney Transplantation: Anatomy of the Shortage

Kidneys are unique among the solid organs due to the combination of the low risk of living donation, the feasibility of sustaining life on dialysis for several years following kidney failure, and Medicare coverage of dialysis and transplantation for kidney patients. Despite these advantages, thousands of Americans die each year while waiting for a kidney transplant, and the waiting list grows each year. In this kidney transplantation primer, we provide a quantitative description of the kidney shortage and discuss future trends and possible solutions. We demonstrate that the current system provides only about half as many kidneys as are needed for transplantation and the gap cannot be eliminated through an increase in deceased donation alone, because most kidneys from suitable deceased donors are already procured. The prospects for increasing living donations under the current system are also dim. Donations from living kidney donors have declined from their 2003 peak and nearly all living kidney donations are directed by the donor, usually to family members, rendering the current account of living kidney donation as “altruistic” somewhat misleading. For all of these reasons, we believe the time is ripe to reconsider financial incentives for kidney donation. Needless to say, a system that provided financial rewards for living donors could produce unsavory consequences, and would have to be carefully designed and managed. But without such a system, the most likely version of the future is a continuation of unnecessarily high rates of death and disability from kidney failure.
The digital divide and single-gender undergraduate education in the UAE

Research on gender differences in perceived ICT competency, frequency of its use and attitudes over its value in higher education, while not conclusive, has indicated that males and females differ in areas of competency and frequency of use, and that females tend to feel more insecure than males in their perceived competency. However, since most of these studies were conducted in co-educational settings, single-gender tertiary education settings need to be explored for evidence of this “gender digital divide”. Zayed University has campuses in both Abu Dhabi and the Dubai (United Arab Emirates), and is gender segregated for the undergraduate population. During the fall 2011 semester, a student ICT profile questionnaire was distributed to students in the ‘Colloquy on Integrated Learning’ program of the University College. Four hundred eighty (480) students, 404 female (84%) and 76 male (16%), completed the questionnaire, and non-parametric tests and discriminant function analysis showed statistically significant differences between the gender groups. This Paper explores the strengths and weaknesses of each gender group, and examines the implications of the findings in order to best select teaching and learning strategies that address competency and confidence in areas that have been identified as weak.
Cyber Metaphors and Cyber Goals: Lessons from “Flatland”

Reasoning about complex and abstract ideas is greatly influenced by the choice of metaphors through which they are represented. In this paper we consider the framing effect in military doctrine of considering cyberspace as a domain of action, parallel to the traditional domains of land, sea, air, and space. By means of the well-known Victorian science-fiction novella Flatland, we offer a critique of this dominant cyber metaphor. In Flatland, the problems of lower-dimensional beings comprehending additional dimensions are explored at some length. Inspired by Flatland, our suggested alternate metaphor for cyber is an additional (fourth) dimension. We then propose three common characteristics between the world of Spaceland as experienced by Flatland natives and that of Cyberland as experienced by humans, and finally explore some possible new insights suggested by the Flatland dimensional metaphor.
Power in the Classroom and Pupil’s Achievement in S econdary Schools: the Case of Masvingo District, Zimbabwe

Abstract: The study sought to examine power dynamics that are used regularly in secondary schools by teachers and the relationship between te acher power use and academic achievement. This study adopted the descriptive survey design wh ich employs qualitative approach. A sample size of 35 subjects was drawn. Questionnaire, inter view and focus group discussion methods were used to collect data from respondents. It was found that pupil learning suffers due to oppressive and restrictive power atmospheres in sec ondary schools. Findings of the study further revealed that, shifting of power in favour of pupil s is a strategy for pupil achievement. This study recommends a reciprocal power relationship with pup ils in the classroom, in which pupils and teachers share control of the learning environment and that teachers should employ a number of strategies that help pupils to gain power in the cl assroom.
Campaign Contributions, Advertising and Electoral Success

This paper estimates a model of political competition using data from U.S House races for the years 2010-2016. In particular this paper asks three questions: (i) What is the impact of campaign contributions on electoral success, measured as votes? (ii) What is the impact of advertising expenditure by candidates, after controlling for contributions? and (iii) How do the effects for advertising expenditure by third party interest groups both in support of a candidate and against a candidate (negative advertising) differ from advertising made against by the candidate themselves? Based on analysis suggestive of strategic complementarity of advertising spending, I develop and estimate a model of political competition in which candidates simultaneously choose advertising expenditures from a fixed endowment of contributions in order to maximize their expected vote share. Estimation results suggest a small positive effect of campaign contributions on vote share and advertising made by candidate. There is also a significant negative impact of negative advertising on Republicans and incumbent Democrats, but no corresponding impact on non incumbent Democrats. The effect of third party advertising in support of candidates has no significant impact. There is moreover a strong incumbency advantage for both types Democrats and Republicans. Counter-factual simulations based on the estimated model show that efficiency gains can be made by banning third party advertising. † ∗Department of Economics Johns Hopkins University (okhan16@jhu.edu) †I am greatly indebted to Robert Moffitt, for his consistent feedback and guidance, and his persevering support through graduate school. I would also like to thank Adam Sheingate for sharing his data set on campaign expenditures. A special thanks is due to Ying Chen for her guidance on the theoretical model. An incredible debt of gratitude is owed to Richard Spady, whose interest in this project pushed it far beyond its early stages, as well as his support on computational issues. I also thank participants of the Johns Hopkins Applied Micro seminars for their valuable comments, as well as those of the North American Econometric Society Summer meeting 2019, where an earlier version of this paper was presented.
Insomnia symptoms in elderly persons - assessment, associated factors and non-pharmacological nursing interventions

The aim of this thesis was to test a tool for assessing insomnia symptoms in elderly persons and to investigate late-life insomnia in terms of associated factors and evidence of non-pharmacological interventions in healthcare settings. Data were collected by means of a systematic literature search (Study I), questionnaires (Studies II-III), interviews and observations (Study IV). The results from Study I are based on nine studies and six non-pharmacological interventions were found. Evidence for the interventions was limited. However, massage, acupunctural stimulation and listening to music/natural sounds or watching an instrumental music video showed a moderate to large effect on several sleep outcomes. In Study II, the measurement properties of the Minimal Insomnia Symptom scale (MISS) were tested on 497 elderly pesons. Corrected item-total correlations were 0.64-0.70, floor/ceiling effects were 6.6/0.6% and reliability 0.81. Using a cut-off score of ≥7 points, sensitivity and specificity were 93/84%. MISS was found to be feasible as a screening tool for insomnia in the elderly. An investigation of associations between leisure activities and sleep disturbances (Study III) showed that gardening, strolling in the country, home maintenance, repairing cars/machines and playing chess/cards were associated with fewer sleep disturbances in elderly persons. Adjusting for age, gender, general health, functional ability and mood, only playing chess/cards remained statistically significant. After interactions between gender and leisure activities were added to the model, only home maintenance was statistically significant. The ability to pursue home maintenance seemed to be particularly important for women. Investigating sleep and everyday activities at residential care facilities (RCFs) revealed that the punctual scheduling of meals and coffee times helped to maintain a regular rhythm and limit daytime sleep (Study IV). Several residents perceived their sleep to be longer and more regular since moving in. Less mobile residents would spend most of the day in the day room, with less activity and without the possibility of withdrawing. Slumbering in the day room was common. Residents who were mobile spent more time in the privacy of their apartments, pursuing activities on their own. In conclusion, evidence for non-pharmacological sleep interventions is limited. Socio-intellectual activities, such as playing chess/cards or doing home maintenance, were associated with fewer sleep disturbances. Less dependent pesons benefitted from the structured day at the RCF, they performed solitary activities to a large extent and they felt their sleep had improved. MISS was found to be a reliable tool for initial screening of insomnia in the elderly, and could be useful in clinical practice.
How well do micro-economic factors explain obesity rates? Assessing the influence of income and cost of diet on dietary intake and body mass index in a representative UK sample

Rates of obesity are predicted to increase, which is worrying given the association with adverse health outcomes. Cost of food or diet is one proposed contributor to an ‘obesogenic environment’. The “food price-obesity hypothesis” supposes that, with limited purchasing power, consumers may purchase energy-dense foods to obtain the maximum calories, resulting in excess energy intake. This thesis attempts to gauge whether obesity may be attributed to food prices. Firstly, the published literature was synthesised. Secondly, the study examined how income and cost of diet are implicated in excess energy intake, as implied by the body mass index (BMI) and dietary energy density (DED), of adults in the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS). The literature review revealed a heterogeneous body of studies that was generally supportive of the food price-obesity theory, but not conclusive. Studies of diet costs and DED overwhelmingly report a negative association. A limited number of studies investigating diet costs and BMI reported contradictory findings. The evidence linking income and DED was not strong. In the NDNS sample, income was found to be negatively associated with DED, BMI, and overweight/obesity. In addition, a negative association was observed between diet costs and DED. There was no association between whole diet costs and BMI. In contrast, using proportional food group costs revealed some significant associations. This suggests that measuring how people apportion their food budget, rather than how much the whole diet is worth, may be insightful. The thesis also addresses some methodological issues. Firstly, analyses demonstrate how equivalizing household income to take into account household composition can impact on findings. Secondly, a comparison of diet costing methods is presented. Despite methodological challenges, the findings presented in the thesis suggest there is merit in pursuing research into diet costs, with many unexplored opportunities in this emerging field.
Rational Learning and Term Structures∗

We study the impact of information processing and rational learning on the term structures of equity risk, risk premia, and bond yields. In contrast with the full information economy, learning gives rise to an upward-sloping term structure of bond yields and downward-sloping term structures of equity risk and risk premia. Moreover, learning generates lower interest rates and a larger risk premium than in an otherwise identical economy with full information. Therefore, information processing and learning help explain jointly the observed level and timing of both equity return moments and interest rates. Economic growth forecast data lends support to the model. ∗We would like to thank Daniel Andrei, Adem Atmaz, Patrick Augustin, Andrea Buffa, Alexandre Corhay, Julien Cujean, Olivier Dessaint, Alexandre Jeanneret, Holger Kraft, Johannes Muhle-Karbe, Chayawat Ornthanalai, Marcel Rindisbacher, Scott Robertson, Christian Schlag, Mike Simutin, Julian Thimme, and seminar/conference participants at the Collegio Carlo Alberto, Goethe University Frankfurt, and the University of Toronto for their insightful comments. Research support from Long-Term Investors@UniTo (LTI@UniTO), the University of Texas at Dallas, and the University of Toronto is gratefully acknowledged. †Naveen Jindal School of Management, University of Texas at Dallas, 800 W Campbell Rd, Richardson, TX 75080, USA; michael.hasler5@gmail.com; https://sites.google. com/michaelhasler ‡University of Toronto, 1095 Military Trail, Toronto, ON, M1C 1A4, Canada, Mariana.Khapko@utoronto.ca; www.marianakhapko. ca §Collegio Carlo Alberto, Piazza Vincenzo Arbarello, 8, 10122 Torino, Italy, roberto.marfe@carloalberto.org; http://robertomarfe.altervista. org/
Part I Fiber Fuse Generation Mechanism 1 Fiber Fuse Phenomenon

The fiber fuse phenomenon was discovered by British researchers in 1987– 1988 [1]–[5]. Kashyap and Blow injected continuous-wave (CW) mode-locked Nd:YAG light from the end of an input-side optical fiber with a metal-deposited glass plate in close contact with the core of a 3 dB coupler, and a pale flash was generated at the 3 dB coupler [1]. It was found that the flash of light traveled along the optical fiber towards the light source relatively slowly (at about 1 m/s) [1], [2] (see Fig. 1). When the power of the light source was lowered, this
Contribution to numerical study of 2 D free-surface waveless flow

The numerical two-dimensional free-surface steady flow of an incompressible inviscid fluid, over an obstacle lying on the bottom of a channel, is examined. The first numerical model presented uses quadrangular finite elements P1. For a supercritical regime, the Finite Volume Method is also used. The obtained results agree quite well, even for highly nonlinear configurations, with those of other authors. Key-Words: free surface – finite element method – finite volume method –hydraulic channel – hydraulic jump – supercritical regime.
Originals A transcranial Doppler method in the evaluation of cerebroYascular spasm

ease of peripheral arteries. Horvever, s'. rch information is normally not available in the cerebral circulation. The increase in flow velocity through the stenosed or spastic segment is related to the loss of flow energy; but the geometrical complexity and the variable length of peripheral arterial narrowing do not permit a calculation of pressure loss from the Doppler shifts as described for stenosis of cardiac valves [7]. Howeveq clinical studies have shown that the increase in Doppler shift through stenosed carotid segments is a useful parameter for the evaluation of the severity of the lesion [12]. We have previously described a method for recording Doppler signals from basal cerebral arteries through the intact cranium l2l.ln a recent report [1] we found that patients with clear angiographic evidence of vasospasm in the middle cerebral arteries (MCA's) also had Doppler shifts corresponding to flow velocities in excess of 720 cm,/s. This is 4 standard deviations from the mean value (62cm,/s in normal subjects [2]. One case even reached 240 cm/s. There was an inverse relationship between diameter as measured from angiograms and the flow velocity found in the Doppler recordings. The present study reports the resulti of transcrfhial Doppler for monitoring the natural course o"f-vasospasm after SAH.
Influence of antioxidants from date and fenugreek seeds on shelf life of coconut biscuits

Shelf stability of coconut biscuits is a major problem during storage due to their high content of unsaturated fatty acids. The objective of this study was to evaluate comparative antioxidants potential of date and fenugreek seeds phenolics used to enhance the shelf life of coconut biscuits. Coconut biscuits were prepared by adding seed extracts at different percentages into coconut biscuits and stored for 60 days at an ambient temperature. Results revealed that moisture, fat, protein, ash, fiber and NFE of biscuits were affected non-significantly as a result of antioxidants. The effects on TPC, DPPH, peroxide value, physical and sensory properties were evaluated during the storage study of 60 days. The effect of antioxidants during storage on TPC, DPPH and water activity was highly significant, while on peroxide value, color, and texture, the effect was non-significant. Sensory evaluation based on color, flavor, taste, texture and overall acceptability was also affected non-significantly. All treatments remained acceptable during 60 days of storage. However, coconut biscuits with 0.03% date seeds phenolics (T3) gained maximum scores during storage.
BOOK OF PROCEEDINGS

There are numerous factors affecting pollen germination in plants. Plant growth regulators have produced different results on pollen germination both in vivo and in vitro. In this research, pollen viability using IKI test and effects of three different growth regulators (epibrassinolide, homobrassinolide and gibberellic acid) added into growth medium on the in vitro pollen germination of two wine grape cultivars (Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot) were investigated. Pollen viability results showed that Cabernet Sauvignon contained more viable pollens (63.12% that Merlot (59.06%). Pollens collected from fresh flowers were sown on medium containing 1% agar and 20% sucrose using ‘agar in petri dish’ method. Results revealed that growth regulators did not affect germination in the cultivars, but the treatments had an overall increasing influence (about 25%). Although, in general, treatments produced similar ratios with the control group, 100 mgL -1 GA3, alone, and in combination with 0.01 and 0.001 mgL -1 epibrassinolide were found to cause significant increase. In addition, applying the lowest GA3 concentration (25 mgL -1 ) with 0.1 mgL -1 epibrassinolide provided the highest germination (23.54%). Only 0.001 mgL -1 homobrassinolide resulted in the almost the same ratio with the control group. Information obtained here show that effects of growth regulators change with the genotype, type of the hormones and composition of the basal growth medium.