Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Enhancing sustainable mobility through a multimodal platform: would travellers pay for it?

Building a multimodal information platform constitutes a disruptive innovation, which can enhance the use of sustainable travel modes and reduce the negative externalities of car use. This eco-innovation will change the structures of the market and induce changes in behaviour. From a web-based survey conducted in the Plateau de Saclay - an area located 20 km south of Paris, very affected by congestion - travellers' willingness to pay (WTP) for such a platform was investigated. In particular, a multinomial logit with unobserved heterogeneity in general WTP was estimated to determine marginal WTP for the potential services that could be provided by the platform. The results show that the price of access to the information platform and its various services is an important variable but cannot be considered the only determinant of the intention to use it. We present a new research model of user acceptance of an eco-innovation. Based on a use behaviour analysis, we highlight several aspects to consider such as the facilitating conditions and moderator variables, the performance expectancy of the platform measured in spheres of activity and travel time, effort expectancy and social influence.
Trustee Reputation in Securitization: When Does it Matter?

We consider the role of trustees – who are nominated to protect the interests of investors – in securitization pricing and whether investors rely on them to mitigate risks. In particular, we examine the effect of trustee reputation on initial yield spreads of European mortgage-backed security (MBS) issuances between 1999 and the first half of 2007. We find that engaging reputable trustees led to lower spreads during the credit boom period prior to the 2007-2009 financial crisis. Our findings suggest that trustees’ reputation was deemed more important when information asymmetries in credit markets were larger and risk assessment became more challenging.
Labour Market Characteristics and Surviving Import Shocks

This paper investigates whether different labour market characteristics amplify or dampen the local labour market impacts from Chinese import competition exposure. I exploit state‐level variation in initial, pre‐shock labour market characteristics and regional variation across local labour markets in exposure to Chinese imports for identification. I find that local labour markets in states with higher union density experience more severe adverse consequences as a result of increased import exposure. Conversely, higher initial minimum wages help mute the negative impacts of the China shock. I also provide some evidence that exceptions to employment‐at‐will legislation can affect employment responses to increased Chinese imports. Finally, examining all policies together in an index, I show that higher levels of policies intended to benefit and protect workers can actually magnify the extent of the damage inflicted by import competition. My results suggest that initial labour market characteristics and policies can play an important role in understanding why local labour markets react differently to trade shocks.
Common Risk Factors in the Cross-Section of Corporate Bond Returns

We investigate the cross-sectional determinants of corporate bond returns and find that downside risk is the strongest predictor of future bond returns. We also introduce common risk factors based on the prevalent risk characteristics of corporate bonds—downside risk, credit risk, and liquidity risk—and find that these novel bond factors have economically and statistically significant risk premiums that cannot be explained by long-established stock and bond market factors. We show that the newly proposed risk factors outperform all other models considered in the literature in explaining the returns of the industry- and size/maturity-sorted portfolios of corporate bonds.
Probing the Neutrino Mass Hierarchy via Atmospheric $\nu_\mu + \bar \nu_\mu$ Survival Rates in Megaton Water Cerenkov Detectors

The neutrino mass hierarchy, presently unknown, is a powerful discriminator among various classes of unification theories. We show that the $\nu_{\mu} + \bar{\nu}_\mu$ survival rate in atmospheric events can provide a novel method of determining the hierarchy in megaton water Cerenkov detectors. For pathlength and energy ranges relevant to atmospheric neutrinos,this rate obtains significant matter sensitive variations not only from resonant matter effects in $P_{\mu e}$ but also from those in $P_{\mu\tau}$. We calculate the expected muon event rates in the case of matter oscillations with both natural and inverted hierarchy.We identify the energy and pathlength ranges for which resonant matter effects can lead to observable differences between the above two cases. We also estimate the exposure time required to observe this difference and determine the sign of $\Delta_{31}$ in a statistically significant manner.
Company-Specific Characteristics and the Choice of Hedge Accounting for Derivatives Reporting: Malaysian Case

This study investigates the choice of applying hedge accounting among Malaysian listed companies in reporting their use of derivatives for hedging activities. Based on a sample of 300 Malaysian listed companies, we found that only 162 companies (54%) use derivatives to hedge their financial risk exposure and only 30% of those companies choose to apply hedge accounting. In addition, this study examines the relationship between company-specific characteristics and the choice to apply hedge accounting. The logistic regression results show that the decision to apply hedge accounting by Malaysian companies is positively influenced by company size and leverage. The implications of the findings are discussed and some conclusions are drawn.
Pengaruh Makroekonomi Terhadap Non Performing Loan (NPL) Perbankan

Salah satu industri yang memiliki keterkaitan dengan makroekonomi adalah industri perbankan, hal ini dikarenakan industri perbankan sangat peka dengan kondisi perekonomian suatu negara. Jika suatu perekonomian suatu negara sedang berkembang, maka industri perbankan juga dapat berkembang. Namun kondisi sebaliknya ketika perekonomian sedang mengalami krisis, maka hal ini dapat mengakibatkan dampak terhadap industri perbankan. Oleh karena itu kondisi makroekonomi Indonesia menjadi suatu hal yang harus diperhatikan bagi penyaluran kredit perbankan. Studi ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui perkembangan kredit dan kredit macet (NPL) perbankan di Indonesia dan mengetahui pengaruh variabel makroekonomi terhadap NPL perbankan di Indonesia. Studi ini menggunakan metode kualitatif dan kuantitatif. Pendekatan kuantitatif menggunakan metode dynamic panel data yang menggunakan data dari tahun 2006-2014. Hasil studi ini menunjukkan bahwa perkembangan kredit dalam periode tersebut mengalami tren meningkat, peningkatan kredit yang disalurkan oleh perbankan diikuti oleh peningkatan NPL perbankan. Studi ini juga menemukan bahwa ternyata kondisi makroekonomi, terutama GDP, memiliki pengaruh yang negatif terhadap NPL. Artinya jika semakin membaiknya perekonomian yang ditandai dengan semakin meningkatnya pertumbuhan ekonomi akan semakin mengurangi NPL dan memiliki pengaruh yang positif dengan variabel tingkat suku bunga pinjaman serta inflasi. Berdasarkan temuan tersebut maka diperlukan sinergitas antara pemerintah sebagai otoritas fiskal dengan Bank Indonesia untuk menciptakan kondisi makroekonomi yang baik yang dapat mengurangi kredit macet perbankan di Indonesia.
Black Hole Growth and Activity in a Λ Cold Dark Matter Universe

The observed properties of supermassive black holes suggest a fundamental link between their assembly and the formation of their host spheroids. We model the growth and activity of black holes in galaxies using Λ cold dark matter cosmological hydrodynamic simulations by following the evolution of the baryonic mass component in galaxy potential wells. We find that the observed steep relation between black hole mass and spheroid velocity dispersion, MBH ∝ σ4, is reproduced if the gas mass in bulges is linearly proportional to the black hole mass. To a good approximation, this is equivalent to assuming the conversion of a fixed fraction of gas mass into black hole mass. In this model, star formation and supernova feedback in the gas are sufficient for regulating and limiting the growth of the central black hole and of its gas supply. Black hole growth saturates because of the competition with star formation and, in particular, feedback, both of which determine the gas fraction available for accretion. Unless other processes also operate, we predict that the MBH-σ relation is not set in primordial structures but is fully established at low redshifts, z ≲ 2, and is shallower at earlier times. Once this relation is established, we find that central black hole masses are related to their dark matter halos simply via MBH ≈∝ M. We assume that galaxies undergo a quasar phase with a typical lifetime, tQ ~ 2 × 107 yr, the only free parameter of the model, and show that star formation-regulated depletion of gas in spheroids is sufficient to explain, for the most part, the decrease of the quasar population at redshift z < 3 in the optical blue band. However, with the simplest assumption of a redshift-independent quasar lifetime, the model slightly overpredicts optical quasar numbers at high redshifts, although it yields the observed evolution of number density of X-ray-faint quasars over the whole redshift range 1 < z < 6. Finally, we find that the majority of black hole mass is assembled in galaxies by z ~ 3 and that the black hole accretion rate density peaks in rough correspondence to the star formation rate density at z ~ 4-5.
Maximum Withdrawal Rates: An Empirical and Global Perspective

Standard analysis of retirement strategies involves evaluating their failure rate. One of the shortcomings of this approach is that a strategy may have a low failure rate and at the same time leave a large unintended bequest. Maximum withdrawal rates, by definition, exhaust a portfolio by the end of the retirement period, thus leaving no bequest; they can be used both to assess the likelihood of sustaining any chosen level of inflation-adjusted withdrawals, and more generally to evaluate retirement strategies. This article provides a comprehensive historical perspective on maximum withdrawal rates in 21 countries over 115 years with 11 asset allocations ranging from 100% stocks to 100% bonds.
Peroral Extrusion of Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt: An Unusual Complication and Review of Literature

Abstract Several case reports regarding complications of ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt have been published, but peroral extrusion of shunt tube is unusual and reported less frequently. A 4-year-old male child with previous history of VP shunt insertion for congenital hydrocephalus along with shunt revisions twice presented with peritoneal end of shunt tube protruding through the mouth following an acute episode of vomiting. He was conscious without any signs of infection or neurologic deficits. The distal portion of the tube was removed uneventfully with the help of upper GI endoscope that, in addition to removal, provided better views for the identification of site and size of perforation. Peroral extrusion of the shunt tube needs immediate treatment that includes removal of extruded shunt tube, treatment of underlying infection, and attention to perforated viscus. We review the possible pathogenesis of this entity and various treatment options.
Preventing Coups dâ€™Ã©tat

Although coups remain a pressing concern for rulers across the globe, the mechanisms through which common coup-prevention strategies operate have not been well theorized or rigorously tested. This article analyzes how â€œcounterbalancingâ€ the military with other security forces prevents coups. Using new cross-national time-series data on state security forces along with evidence from sixteen case studies, the article demonstrates that counterbalancing reduces the likelihood that coup attempts will succeed and that it does so primarily by creating incentives for some soldiers to resist the coup, rather than by creating barriers to coordination between forces. However, counterbalancing is not associated with fewer coup attempts. In fact, the creation of a new security force increases the odds of a coup attempt in the following year. These findings highlight potential costs associated with counterbalancing and explain why it is not more widespread.
A Lottery Demand-Based Explanation of the Beta Anomaly

The low (high) abnormal returns of stocks with high (low) beta, which we refer to as the beta anomaly, is one of the most persistent anomalies in empirical asset pricing research. This article demonstrates that investorsâ€™ demand for lottery-like stocks is an important driver of the beta anomaly. The beta anomaly is no longer detected when beta-sorted portfolios are neutralized to lottery demand, regression specifications control for lottery demand, or factor models include a lottery demand factor. The beta anomaly is concentrated in stocks with low levels of institutional ownership and it exists only when the price impact of lottery demand is concentrated in high-beta stocks.
60Fe in core-collapse supernovae and prospects for X-ray and gamma-ray detection in supernova remnants

We investigate 60Fe in massive stars and core-collapse supernovae focussing on uncertainties that influence its production in 15, 20, and 25 M$\odot$ stars at solar metallicity. We find that the 60Fe yield is a monotonic increasing function of the uncertain 59Fe(n, γ)60Fe cross-section and that a factor of 10 reduction in the reaction rate results in a factor of 8–10 reduction in the 60Fe yield, while a factor of 10 increase in the rate increases the yield by a factor of 4–7. We find that none of the 189 simulations we have performed are consistent with a core-collapse supernova triggering the formation of the Solar system, and that only models using 59Fe(n, γ)60Fe cross-section that is less than or equal to that from NON-SMOKER can reproduce the observed 60Fe/26Al line flux ratio in the diffuse interstellar medium. We examine the prospects of detecting old core-collapse supernova remnants (SNRs) in the Milky Way from their gamma-ray emission from the decay of 60Fe, finding that the next generation of gamma-ray missions could be able to discover up to ∼100 such old SNRs as well as measure the 60Fe yields of a handful of known Galactic SNRs. We also predict the X-ray spectrum that is produced by atomic transitions in 60Co following its ionization by internal conversion and give theoretical X-ray line fluxes as a function of remnant age as well as the Doppler and fine-structure line broadening effects. The X-ray emission presents an interesting prospect for addressing the missing SNR problem with future X-ray missions.
Sticky costs: evidence from Croatian food and beverage industry

Understanding the theory and practice of costs behaviour is important for managers, economist and investors since they relay on cost information in decision making process. Traditional literature on costs behaviour assumes symmetric relation between cost and volume regardless of whether the volume increases or decreases. Alternative view, tested in this research and known as sticky costs theory, assume that costs increase more when activity rises than they decrease when activity falls by an equivalent amount. Such behaviour of costs occurs because managers deliberately adjust the resources in response to the changes in the volume. In order to test sticky costs theory, we conducted analysis on a sample of Croatian companies that operated in the food and beverage industry during the period from 2003 to 2010. The results of the analysis allowed us to accept the sticky costs hypothesis since the results revealed that material costs and costs of employees (M&E costs) increase 0.85% for every 1% increase in sales and decrease 0.68% per 1% decrease in sales.
Comparing the Impacts of Financial Regulation in Australia and the United States via Simulation with Country-Specific Financial CGE Models

Abstract Beginning with [Johansen (1960)], computable general equilibrium (CGE) models have been widely applied to study the impact of a variety of economic policy issues. These include changes in macroeconomic or regional economic policies such as tariff reductions, changes in labour force demographics and skill levels, the impact of epidemics and terrorist attacks, the impact of drought and water policy reform, and the economic costs of climate change mitigation (Dixon and Parmenter (1996); Dixon and Rimmer (2002); Adams (2007); Giesecke et al. (2015); Wittwer and Dixon (2015)). Despite the efficacy of CGE models as tools in policy analysis, key linkages between the real and financial economies are often treated implicitly; for example, the current account deficit is assumed to be financed in full by a foreign agent, e.g., via a small country assumption. In an explicit sense we may ask how the foreign investor chooses to finance a deficit, e.g., do they prefer to purchase domestic agent bonds, equity or a combination of the two instruments? What are the associated implications for relative rates-of-return across the suite of domestic financial instruments, and how do changes in relative returns impact domestic agent investment decisions, nominal exchange rates, and the real economy? This paper seeks to address such questions via the development of a theory of the financial sector for a traditional dynamic CGE model of the U.S. (USAGE 2.0). We begin with a brief synopsis of the construction of a financial database for the United States (U.S.), which documents the stocks and transactional flows of 5 financial and nonfinancial instruments across 11 distinct agents. The financial database derived herein and the approach documented in Dixon et al. (2015), are then used to develop a new financial CGE model of the U.S. called USAGE2F. Explicit recognition of financial stocks and flows broadens the scope of CGE analyses to include the effects of changes in capital adequacy requirements of key financial agents, e.g., the commercial banks, as we illustrate with an example. The results are subsequently compared to findings of a similar policy scenario in Australia, which are outlined in Giesecke et al. (2016). This analysis serves to illustrate how the impacts of regulatory change (in this case, a rise in capital adequacy ratios) can be affected by jurisdiction-specific differences in the structure of the financial sector.
Ro-vibrational excitation of SiS by He

Modelling of the astrophysical spectra requires accurate radiative and collisional rates for species of astrophysical interest. The present paper focuses on the calculation of ro-vibrational excitation rate coefficients of SiS by He, useful for studies of high-temperature interstellar environments. A new accurate three-dimensional potential energy surface for the SiS–He system, which explicitly takes into account the r-dependence of the SiS vibration, was determined from ab initio calculations. The dynamic calculations were performed using the vibrational close-coupling rotational infinite order sudden (VCC-IOS) method. Cross sections among the first 100 rotational levels of v = 0–4 are calculated for total energies up to 12 000 cm−1. Rate coefficients between the ro-vibrational levels are calculated for temperatures from 300 K to 1500 K.
A 3-dimensional approach to assessing end-user quality of service

Due to the increasing popularity of applications such as media streaming and videoconferencing, multimedia traffic dominates the Internet today. So far, research into Quality of Service (QoS) for networked multimedia has focused on technical performance at the network level, rather than the quality experienced by the end-user. With a more service-oriented culture, however, the notion of user-centered QoS is gaining hold; this raises the question of how to measure quality experienced by end-users in meaningful terms. This paper introduces a 3-dimensional approach to assessing audio and video quality in networked multimedia applications: measuring task performance, user satisfaction and user cost (in terms of physiological impact). We argue that - for any given application - the relative importance of each dimension needs to be determined, and assessment techniques selected accordingly.
Towards an automatic wind speed and direction profiler for Wide Field adaptive optics systems

Wide Field Adaptive Optics (WFAO) systems are among the most sophisticated AO systems available today on large telescopes. The knowledge of the vertical spatio-temporal distribution of the wind speed (WS) and direction (WD) are fundamental to optimize the performance of such systems. Previous studies already proved that the Gemini Multi-Conjugated AO system (GeMS) is able to retrieve measurements of the WS and WD stratification using the SLODAR technique and to store measurements in the telemetry data. In order to assess the reliability of these estimates and of the SLODAR technique applied to such a kind of complex AO systems, in this study we compared WS and WD retrieved from GeMS with those obtained with the atmospherical model Meso-Nh on a rich statistical sample of nights. It has been previously proved that, the latter technique, provided an excellent agreement with a large sample of radiosoundings both, in statistical terms and on individual flights. It can be considered, therefore, as an independent reference. The excellent agreement between GeMS measurements and the model that we find in this study, proves the robustness of the SLODAR approach. To by-pass the complex procedures necessary to achieve automatic measurements of the wind with GeMS, we propose a simple automatic method to monitor nightly WS and WD using the Meso-Nh model estimates. Such a method can be applied to whatever present or new generation facilities supported by WFAO systems. The interest of this study is, therefore, well beyond the optimization of GeMS performance.
Neutron-Capture Elements in the Very Metal Poor Star HD 122563

We obtained high-resolution, high signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) spectroscopy for the very metal poor star HD 122563 with the Subaru Telescope High Dispersion Spectrograph. Previous studies have shown that this object has excesses of light neutron-capture elements, while its abundances of heavy ones are very low. In our spectrum, which covers 3070-4780 Å of this object, 19 neutron-capture elements have been detected, including seven for the first time in this star (Nb, Mo, Ru, Pd, Ag, Pr, and Sm). Upper limits are given for five other elements including Th. The abundance pattern shows a gradually decreasing trend, as a function of atomic number, from Sr to Yb, which is quite different from those in stars with excesses of r-process elements. This abundance pattern of neutron-capture elements provides new strong constraints on the models of nucleosynthesis responsible for the very metal poor stars with excesses of light neutron-capture elements but without enhancement of heavy ones.
Islamic Populism in Indonesia and the Middle East

1. Introduction 2. Islamic politics and the emergence of a new Islamic populism 3. The genesis of Islamic populism: historical legacies 4. Modernisation and the Cold War: paving the way 5. Pathways of political failure: dissent from the fringe 6. A study in political marginality: the Indonesian Darul Islam Movement and its heirs 7. Navigating through democracy: a pathway to power? 8. Navigating through neoliberalism: a pathway to power? 9. Conclusion Bibliography Index.