Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
How's Your Government? International Evidence Linking Good Government and Well-Being

This article employs World Values Survey measures of life satisfaction as though they were direct measures of utility, and uses them to evaluate alternative features and forms of government in large international samples. Life satisfaction is found to be more closely linked to several World Bank measures of the quality of government than to real per capita incomes, in simple correlations and more fully specified models explaining international differences in life satisfaction. Differences in the relative importance of different aspects of good government are tested for, and a hierarchy of preferences that depends on the level of development is found. The ability of governments to provide a trustworthy environment, and to deliver services honestly and efficiently, appears to be of paramount importance for countries with worse governance and lower incomes. The balance changes once acceptable levels of efficiency, trust and incomes are achieved, when more value is attached to building and maintaining the institutions of electoral democracy.
MulRan: Multimodal Range Dataset for Urban Place Recognition

This paper introduces a multimodal range dataset namely for radio detection and ranging (radar) and light detection and ranging (LiDAR) specifically targeting the urban environment. By extending our workshop paper [1] to a larger scale, this dataset focuses on the range sensor-based place recognition and provides 6D baseline trajectories of a vehicle for place recognition ground truth. Provided radar data support both raw-level and image-format data, including a set of time-stamped 1D intensity arrays and 360◦ polar images, respectively. In doing so, we provide flexibility between raw data and image data depending on the purpose of the research. Unlike existing datasets, our focus is at capturing both temporal and structural diversities for range-based place recognition research. For evaluation, we applied and validated that our previous location descriptor and its search algorithm [2] are highly effective for radar place recognition method. Furthermore, the result shows that radar-based place recognition outperforms LiDAR-based one exploiting its longer-range measurements. The dataset is available from https://sites.google. com/view/mulran-pr
Fit or nothing! University students’ exercise addiction, eating disorders and mediator effect of sports supplement use

Researches have revealed that most of the university age male individuals are not satisfied with their body image and prefer a more muscular body. This has revealed the accepted phenomena in mental illness classifications such as exercise dependence and eating disorder. In line with this information, the main purpose of the research is to examine the mediating effect of the use of sports supplements on the relationship between exercise addiction and eating disorder. 372 male university students participated in the research. Validity and reliability analyze were applied to the obtained data within the scope of the measurement model. The steps expressed by Baron and Kenny (1986) were followed in order to determine the mediation effect. As a result of the analysis, it has been empirically proved that the use of sports supplements mediates the relationship between exercise addiction and eating disorder. The results of the research have contributed significantly to the ongoing discussions as one of the leading researches in the literature. In addition, it provided clues to the researchers and practitioners who obtained the results in the detection and treatment of such important mental disorders.
Performance Sensor Noise and Ecological Interface Design : Effects of Increasing Noise Magnitude on Operators '

can be found at: Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting Additional services and information for http://pro.sagepub. com/cgi/alerts Email Alerts: http://pro.sagepub. com/subscriptions Subscriptions: http://www.sagepub. com/journalsReprints.nav Reprints: http://www.sagepub. com/journalsPermissions.nav Permissions: http://pro.sagepub. com/content/49/3/417.refs.html Citations:
Final response to referee comments

In this paper we present the latest refinements brought to the DARDAR-CLOUD product, which contains ice cloud microphysical properties retrieved from the cloud radar and lidar measurements from the A-Train mission. Based on a large dataset of in-situ ice cloud measurements collected during several campaigns performed between 2000 and 2007 in different regions of the globe, the parameterizations used in the microphysical model of the algorithm – i.e. the normalized particle size distribution, the mass-size relationship, and the parameterization of the a priori of the normalized number concentration as a 5 function of temperature – were assessed and refined to better fit the measurements, keeping the same formalism as proposed in DARDAR basis papers. Additionally, in regions where lidar measurements are available, the lidar ratio retrieved for ice clouds is shown to be well constrained by lidar-radar combination or molecular signal detected below thin semi-transparent cirrus. Using this information, the parameterization of the lidar ratio was also refined, and the new retrieval equals on average 35 sr +/10 sr in the temperature range between 60 C and 20 C. The impact of those changes on the retrieved ice cloud 10 properties is presented in terms of IWC and effective radius. Overall, IWC values from the new DARDAR-CLOUD product are in average 20% smaller than the previous version. In parallel, the retrieved effective radii increase between 5% and 40%, depending on temperature and the availability of the instruments, with an average difference of +20%. Modifications of the microphysical model strongly affect the ice water content retrievals with differences that were found to range from -50% to +40%, depending on temperature and the availability of the instruments. Larger IWC values are found with the new version 15 in the cold regions detected by the lidar. On the contrary, in warmer regions, where only the radar measurement is available, a reduction of the retrieved IWC is found. The largest differences are found for the warmest temperatures (between 20 C and 0 C) in regions where the cloud microphysical processes are more complex and where the retrieval is almost exclusively based on radar-only measurements. The new lidar ratio values lead to a reduction of IWC at cold temperatures, the difference between the two versions increasing from around 0% at 30 C to 70% below 80 C. Effective radii are not impacted. At 20 cold temperatures, the impact of the new lidar ratio on the retrieved IWC is larger than that of the new microphysical model, hence a reduction of IWC values for the new DARDAR-CLOUD product, for all temperatures.
Why Do Parents Socialize Their Children to Behave Pro-Socially? An Information-Based Theory

We present a model of intergenerational transmission of pro-social values in which parents have information about relevant characteristics of society that is not directly available to their children. Differently from existing models of cultural transmission of values (such as Bisin and Verdier, 2001, and Tabellini, 2008) we assume that parents are exclusively concerned with their children's material welfare. If parents coordinate their educational choices, a child would look at her system of values to predict the values of her contemporaries, with whom she may interact. A parent may thus choose to instil pro-social values into his child in order to signal to her that others can generally be trusted. This implies that parents may optimally decide to endow their children with values that stand in contrast with maximization of material welfare, even if their children's material welfare is all they care about.
Characterizations of the Beta Distributions via Some Regression Assumptions

Let X and Y be two independent non-degenerate random variables. Also let (U, V ) be a bijective map of (X, Y ). It is desired to use certain regression assumptions between U and V to characterize the distributions of X and Y , and consequently, the distribution of (U, V ). In most of the previous investigations, U and V turn out to be independent too. Recently, for X, Y valued in (0, 1), Seshadri and Weso lowski (2003) characterize X and Y to be beta distributed based on two constancy of regression assumptions between U and V , where (U, V ) is a particular bijective map of (X, Y ). In this work, first we will generalize the results in Seshadri and Weso lowski (2003). It will be proved that for the bijective map given in Seshadri and Weso lowski (2003), X and Y are beta distributed under some more general regression assumptions. Next we illustrate that for some other special bijective maps (U, V ), under certain regression assumptions between U and V , X and Y can also be characterized to be beta distributed, yet U and V may not be independent. AMS (2000) subject classification. Primary 60E05; secondary 62E10.
Thermal Stability of Poly (vinyl chloride) Formulations Containing Iron Additives as a Replacement for Antimony Oxide

Poly (vinyl chloride) [PVC] is a widely used commodity polymer with particular application for wire and cable coating, and for pipe and profile extrusion. For processing, PVC must be heavily plasticized. In addition, a number of other additives are usually introduced to promote thermal stability, to enhance processability and to inhibit flammability. Antimony oxide is often used in PVC formulations. However, the growing concern about the negative health and environmental impacts of antimony oxide has stimulated efforts to find suitable replacements. Iron compounds have been examined as suitable replacements for antimony oxide. PVC formulations containing 45 phr of Pevalen plasticizer, 50 phr of magnesium hydroxide and 2 or 10 phr of an iron additive were processed using a two-roll mill at 180°C. The thermal degradation and flammability of these materials have been evaluated utilizing thermogravimetry (TGA) and limiting oxygen index (LOI) measurements. All of the iron additives are effective in increasing LOI for combustion of the blends and in promoting char formation. The impact of the presence of all the iron additives is comparable and independent of the oxidation level of iron. Based on considerations of cost and availability, simple iron oxide may be the additive of choice. Keywords: PVC additives; Antimony oxide replacements; Combustibility of formulated PVC; Impact of additives on the thermal stability of PVC;
Atmospheric effects on the mapping of Martian thermal inertia and thermally derived albedo

We examine the effects of a dusty CO2 atmosphere on the thermal inertia and thermally derived albedo of Mars and we present a new map of thermal inertias. This new map was produced using a coupled surface atmosphere (CSA) model, dust opacities from Viking infrared thermal mapper (IRTM) data, and CO2 columns based on topography. The CSA model thermal inertias are smaller than the 2% model thermal inertias, with the difference largest at large thermal inertia. Although the difference between the thermal inertias obtained with the two models is moderate for much of the region studied, it is largest in regions of either high dust opacity or of topographic lows, including the Viking Lander 1 site and some geologically interesting regions. The CSA model thermally derived albedos do not accurately predict the IRTM measured albedos and are very similar to the thermally derived albedos obtained with models making the 2% assumption.
Sustainable consumption and population dynamics in Brazil

This paper analyses sustainable consumption in Brazil, highlighting the consumption profile of sustainable products by income level and household composition. Preference data collected in 2012 by the Brazilian Ministry of the Environment, and expenditure data from the 2008-2009 Brazilian Household Budget Survey were used in a Computable General Equilibrium model to project scenarios of demand for sustainable products and its implication for production, employment, and household income. Household income growth, economic growth, population dynamics, productivity, and energy efficiency gains were explicitly modelled. A dynamic path for consumption preferences towards organic products was also included. Our simulation assumes that preference for organic consumption increases from 2016 to 2050, varying among income deciles. By 2050, Brazil would experience an overall increase in organic consumption, despite differences between poor and rich households regarding preference and share of income spent in organic products. This result is the consequence of the combined effect of income growth (faster for poorer households) and preference change (faster for richer households). The projected consumption path suggests that increase in organic consumption may generate positive effects for all households, including the poor, by increasing production, employment demand in sectors were the poor are more likely to be employed, and family income.
Sim2Real Predictivity: Does Evaluation in Simulation Predict Real-World Performance?

Does progress in simulation translate to progress on robots? If one method outperforms another in simulation, how likely is that trend to hold in reality on a robot? We examine this question for embodied PointGoal navigation – developing engineering tools and a research paradigm for evaluating a simulator by its sim2real predictivity. First, we develop Habitat-PyRobot Bridge (HaPy), a library for seamless execution of identical code on simulated agents and robots – transferring simulation-trained agents to a LoCoBot platform with a one-line code change. Second, we investigate the sim2real predictivity of Habitat-Sim M. Savva et al., for PointGoal navigation. We 3D-scan a physical lab space to create a virtualized replica, and run parallel tests of 9 different models in reality and simulation. We present a new metric called Sim-vs-Real Correlation Coefficient (SRCC) to quantify predictivity. We find that SRCC for Habitat as used for the CVPR19 challenge is low (0.18 for the success metric), suggesting that performance differences in this simulator-based challenge do not persist after physical deployment. This gap is largely due to AI agents learning to exploit simulator imperfections – abusing collision dynamics to ‘slide’ along walls, leading to shortcuts through otherwise non-navigable space. Naturally, such exploits do not work in the real world. Our experiments show that it is possible to tune simulation parameters to improve sim2real predictivity (e.g. improving SRCC$_{\text{Succ}}$ from 0.18 to 0.844) – increasing confidence that in-simulation comparisons will translate to deployed systems in reality.
Determinants of Bank Competitiveness in Digital Era A Case Study of South Korea

Technical innovations in Digital Era provide the incentives for banks to redesign their business operations to enhance their competitiveness. Prior studies use financial indicator as factors that affect bank competitiveness, however, with the technology advancement, Information Communication Technology (ICT) become major factors in assessing banks’ competitiveness. The aim of this study is to analyze specific ICT factors, as well as financial factors, affecting bank competitiveness. This study examines all 17 commercial banks in South Korea. The ICT factors are measured by IT center operation and IT scandal released in news or mass media while the bank competitiveness is proxied by market share of each bank both in the borrowing and lending market. In addition, the study tests to retrospect financial indicators in comparison with ICT factors. Using OLS regression models, this study finds that, in the case of Korean commercial banks, ICT factors plays an importance role in bank competitiveness, however, the financial factors still have greater influences on market share than ICT factors. The implication is that banks should leverage the ICT innovation since there is a surge of ICT based non-bank financial service providers that have started to assume roles that have been traditionally played by banks. Furthermore, this study raises implications for policy makers to consider ICT security regulations in the banking market. This study contributes to the literatures by supporting the fact that the positive relationship between IT scandals and market share suggests implications to concentrated banking sectors and provides alarming with authority’s monitoring system. JEL Classification: G21, M15
The inner structure of pyramid and capital structure: Evidence from China

This paper examines the effects of the pyramid inner ownership structure of companies on capital structure in an emerging market economy country. The author uses firm-level panel data of Chinese listed companies to analyze the effects of the inner structure of pyramid on capital structure, and the differences in those effects between regions with different institutional environments. The results indicate that the longer the layers of a pyramid structure, the stronger its ‘leverage effect’, as well as the ultimate owner’s motivation to expand debt financing. Thus the layers of pyramid structure have a significantly positive effect on capital structure. However, the chains within a pyramid structure have no significant effect on capital structure. Compared with regions with poor institutional environment, in regions with a better institutional environment the effect of the layers of pyramid structure on capital structure becomes smaller. JEL G32 G38 M48
A hierarchical perspective can help scientists understand spatial patterns

A terrestrial landscape is a mosaic of heterogeneous land forms, vegetation types, and land uses. The study of landscape-its spatial patterns and how they develop-is presently emerging as a new discipline in the field of ecology (Forman 1981, 1983, Forman and Godron 1981, 1986, Naveh and Lieberman 1984, Noss 1983, Risser et al. 1984). Landscape ecology is motivated by a need to understand the development and dynamics of pattern in ecological phenomena (Clark et al. 1978, Levin 1976a,b, 1978, Whittaker and Levin 1977, Wiens 1976), the role of disturbance in ecosystems (Mooney and Godron 1983, Pickett and White 1985, Sousa 1984, White 1979), and characteristic spatial and temporal scales of ecological events (Allen and Starr 1982, O'Neill et al.
On hyperparameter tuning in general clustering problemsm

Tuning hyperparameters for unsupervised learning problems is difficult in general due to the lack of ground truth for validation. However, the success of most clustering methods depends heavily on the correct choice of the involved hyperparameters. Take for example the Lagrange multipliers of penalty terms in semidefinite programming (SDP) relaxations of community detection in networks, or the bandwidth parameter needed in the Gaussian kernel used to construct similarity matrices for spectral clustering. Despite the popularity of these clustering algorithms, there are not many provable methods for tuning these hyperparameters. In this paper, we provide an overarching framework with provable guarantees for tuning hyperparameters in the above class of problems under two different models. Our framework can be augmented with a cross validation procedure to do model selection as well. In a variety of simulation and real data experiments, we show that our framework outperforms other widely used tuning procedures in a broad range of parameter settings.
Running title: Inter-joint coordination following ankle sprain

Title Inter-joint coordination strategies during unilateral stance 6-months following first-time lateral ankle sprain Authors(s) Doherty, Cailbhe; Bleakley, Chris J.; Hertel, Jay; Ryan, John; Sweeney, Kevin T. ; Delahunt, Eamonn Publication date 2015-02 Publication information Clinical Biomechanics, 30 (2): 129-135 Publisher Elsevier Item record/more information http://hdl.handle. net/10197/8441 Publisher's statement þÿ T h i s i s t h e a u t h o r s v e r s i o n o f a w o r k t h a t w a s a c c e p t e d f o r p u b l i c a t i o n i n C l i n i c a l Biomechanics. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Clinical Biomechanics (VOL 30, ISSUE 2, (2015)) DOI: 10.1016/j.clinbiomech. 2014.12. 011. Publisher's version (DOI) 10.1016/j.clinbiomech. 2014.12. 011
Mutual Fund Performance and Flows during the COVID-19 Crisis

Abstract We present a comprehensive analysis of the performance and flows of U.S. actively managed equity mutual funds during the 2020 COVID-19 crisis. We find that most active funds underperform passive benchmarks during the crisis, contradicting a popular hypothesis. Funds with high sustainability ratings perform well, as do funds with high star ratings. Fund outflows surpass precrisis trends, but not dramatically. Investors favor funds that apply exclusion criteria and funds with high sustainability ratings, especially environmental ones. Our finding that investors remain focused on sustainability during this major crisis suggests they view sustainability as a necessity rather than a luxury good.
Possible solutions to the failure of agri-environmental measures. Could increasing collaboration and knowledge save biodiversity?

The common agricultural policy (CAP) has been stated as one of the most important policies within the European Union (EU), and is the fundament for agricultural development in the member states. However, the CAP has been stated to effect biodiversity in a negative way. To handle the decreasing biodiversity in agricultural landscapes within the EU, the CAP has been developed to include measures to maintain biodiversity in agricultural landscapes, two of them being the mandatory “Ecological Focus Areas” (EFA) and the voluntary Agri-Environmental Schemes (AES). In this study, I investigate the differences in farmers’ preferences towards these different measures, and how collaboration between farmers could be increased. The results are obtained through a systematised literature review. One reason for farmers having a negative preference towards collaboration regarding environmental measures could be the risk of lost farmland productivity, which could have an even more negative effect if there is a high probability of farm-takeover. Collaboration between farmers regarding AES could be increased by actively offer information on why collaboration could increase farm productivity, as well as giving information on why this could lead to increased biodiversity. Even if economical determinants have a great impact on farmers’ preferences towards, other determinants such as administrative restrictions and farmers’ perceptions and knowledge play a crucial role when explaining farmers’ preferences towards both AES and EFA. Generally, farmers are most willing to take on environmental measures that are easily implemented and cheap to maintain. This means that when developing agri-environmental policies, policy makers must take a holistic approach to design a policy that motivates farmers to choose measures with high environmental impact. (Less)