Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Estimating the UK's historical output gap

An important consideration for the assessment of the economic outlook is the size of the output gap the difference between the current level of output and the potential level consistent with stable inflationary pressures. The Office for Budget Responsibility's approach to estimating the output gap has been to combine a range of indicators of the cyclical position of the economy using two different methods, although to date the OBR has applied these techniques only back to 2007. This paper develops and extends these approaches to estimate a historical output gap series. The estimates produced by the cyclical indicator methods appear to give a plausible representation of UK business cycle history and are broadly in line with estimates based on alternative approaches. JEL references: C22, C38, E32
Compensation Policy and the Investment Opportunity Set

We analyze the proportions of executive pay derived from salary, bonus, long-term incentive compensation, and stock-based compensation for a sample of 321 Fortune 1,000 firms in 1992. We find that firms with abundant investment opportunities pay higher levels of total compensation to their executives. Executives of growth firms receive a larger portion of their compensation from long-term incentive compensation (such as performance awards, restricted stock grants, and stock option grants), while those of non-growth firms receive a larger portion of their pay from fixed salary. An implication is that long-term incentives contracts reduce agency costs associated with manager-shareholder information asymmetries in growth firms.
Simulation and design of integrated femtosecond passively mode-locked semiconductor ring lasers including integrated passive pulse shaping components

In this paper, a model is presented for the simulation of integrated passively mode-locked InP-InGaAsP ring laser systems that include active components such as an amplifier and saturable absorber, and passive components that can be frequency dispersive. These dispersive components can have a complex frequency dependence, such as arrayed waveguide gratings (AWGs). The model is a lumped-element model that is used as a design tool for developing integrated femtosecond pulse sources with internal dispersion control. Simulations based on an InP/InGaAsP amplifier and absorber show the possibility of laser designs that are able to generate pulses with pulse durations down to 300 fs in the 1550-nm wavelength range. The designs are based on femtosecond laser systems in bulk and fiber optics that are published in the literature. The femtosecond laser sources presented here can be realized using existing InP-InGaAsP active-passive integration technology.
Limiting Exchange Rate Flexibility: The European Monetary System

Events of recent years have exacerbated the dissatisfaction with the performance of flexible exchange rates, and prompted a number of proposals to limit exchange rate fluctuations among industrialized countries. This book provides the first in depth analysis of the European Monetary System (EMS), the only lasting experiment of this kind.The book's careful blend of theory and empirical analysis supports the view that, in Europe, nominal exchange rate targets have had significant real effects. Its detailed description of European economic institutions shows why exchange rate fluctuations are perceived as especially harmful.Giavazzi and Giovannini explain the institutional features of the EMS and describe how central banks run the system in practice. They offer an illuminating analysis of European capital controls and show how such regulations have guaranteed the survival of the EMS in a period characterized by unprecedented dollar fluctuations.The authors point out the lessons to be drawn from this experience with the EMS for the more general problem of reforming the international monetary system. Their forceful arguments are backed by analysis of such important issues as the determinants of international capital flows and international portfolio diversification, and the role of credibility and expectations in disinflation.Francesco Giavazzi is Professor of Economics at the University of Bologna. Alberto Giovannini is Associate Professor at the Columbia University Graduate School of Business.
Comprehensive Studies on the Carrier Transporting Property and Photo-Bias Instability of Sputtered Zinc Tin Oxide Thin Film Transistors

This study examined the effects of the chamber pressure, radio frequency power and oxygen flow ratio during channel deposition on the performance and photobias stability of zinc tin oxide (ZTO) thin film transistors (TFTs). The densification of the ZTO thin film allowed the improvement in the field-effect mobility and the suppression in the negative bias illumination stress (NBIS) instability of the resulting TFTs simultaneously, irrespective of the specific process condition. The porosity in the ZTO channel layer was shown to prevent the effective intercalation of the Sn 5s orbital and, thus, deteriorate the field-effect mobility. Furthermore, the increased effective surface area in the porous ZTO film adversely affected the NBIS stability of the resulting TFTs because the porosity-related surface states and oxygen vacancy defects provide the hole trapping centers and the delocalized electron free carrier, respectively. Therefore, the densification of ZTO channel layer is a key factor for the high mobility and good photobias stability of the TFTs. This concept can be applicable for any metal-oxide-TFTs.
Arc Movements in a Hollow Cathode of a High-Power Plasma Torch

Hollow-cathode arcs are used in industrial thermal-plasma applications like waste treatments or gas heater. The description of such kind of plasma torch is not easy to model due to three facts: vortex gas injection, the transient change of cathode root-attachment position, and the presence of an external magnetic coil to diminish the cathode erosion. This paper proposes a numerical 3-D modeling for representing the arc movement and studying the convection effects within the cathode.
The Effect of Critical Thinking Instruction on Graduates of a College of Business Administration

We conducted a quasi-experimental study of a pedagogical treatment in critical thinking in a college of business administration. Significant improvements were obtained in 6 of 7 measures of critical thinking using a validated assessment instrument. Subsequently, we taught this treatment for five years. We then conducted a qualitative/quantitative survey of the graduates of the college who had taken this treatment. Our quantitative results were validated by the qualitative responses of the graduates. The graduates confirmed they transferred the knowledge, skills and strategies they had learned from their undergraduate class in critical thinking into their post-graduation personal, academic, and professional lives.
A Theory of the Political 'Firm': A Multi-task Model of Bureaucratic Jurisdictions

One of the main questions economists have grappled with over the past forty years is why some transactions are performed through markets while others are performed within firms. Though rich theories of the firm have been developed for private organizations, there is no analogous theory of public organizations. This paper addresses this oft overlooked area in the study of political organizations: how do tasks, issues, and jurisdictions, get grouped or spread among organizational units? To answer this question, I adapt the formal technology of multi-task agency theory, initially proposed by Holmstrom and Milgrom (1991) and later developed by Itoh (1994). My model generates a number of predictions about when tasks will be combined in a single agency and when they will be segregated into two. The key determinants of the organizational choice are the location of the policies relative to the elected official's ideal point, the difference in costs between organizational forms and the extent to which the official has control over assigning incentives. Perhaps the most interesting of these results is that the elected official can use task assignment as a political tool. For example, suppose that a principal has an existing task to which he is opposed, that this task has an existing set of incentives, and that he cannot legislate the task away. Suppose further, that this official now has a new task that he prefers, behind which he can provide incentives. Then, for this environment, an elected official will choose to group the tasks together, providing high-powered incentives for the preferred task, so that the agent will not only exert effort on this new task, but will also largely ignore the original task.
Dementia three months after stroke. Baseline frequency and effect of different definitions of dementia in the Helsinki Stroke Aging Memory Study (SAM) cohort.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Vascular dementia is a common cause of dementia, and cerebrovascular disease is related to a higher risk of dementia. The frequency of dementia associated with ischemic stroke and the effects of different definitions of dementia in the diagnosis are still incompletely known. We evaluated the frequency of cognitive decline and dementia 3 months after ischemic stroke in a large stroke cohort. METHODS Our cohort consisted of consecutively admitted ischemic stroke patients (n = 486) aged 55 to 85 years in the Helsinki (Finland) Stroke Aging Memory Study (SAM). Subjects were assessed by structured medical, neurological, and radiological examinations and interview with a close informant, as well as by the Mini-Mental State Examination and detailed clinical mental status examination of defined cognitive domains. The criteria for dementia were those of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) (DSM-III, DSM-III-R, and DSM-IV), the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke-Association Internationale pour la Recherche et l'Enseignement en Neurosciences (NINDS-AIREN), and the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10). RESULTS We found that 451 (92.8%) of the patients were testable, 239 (49.2%) of the patients were women, and the mean age was 71.2 years. Any cognitive decline was present in 61.7%. In the groups aged 55 to 64, 65 to 74, and 75 to 85 years, the frequency of any cognitive decline was 45.7%, 53.8%, and 74.1% (P = .0008), respectively. The frequency of dementia was 25.5% by DSM-III, 20.0% by DSM-III-R, 18.4% by DSM-IV, 21.1% by NINDS-AIREN, and 6.0% by ICD-10 criteria. The frequency increased with increasing age: by the DSM-III definition, frequency in the aforementioned age groups was 19.3%, 23.7%, and 25.5%, respectively (P = .014). There was an overlap in the cases diagnosed as demented according to the different guidelines. Compared with standard diagnosis, the DSM-III was the most sensitive and ICD-10 the most specific. Concordance was moderate between the DSM criteria and NINDS-AIREN criteria but was poor between ICD-10 and the other criteria. CONCLUSIONS Cognitive decline and dementia were frequent in the cohort of ischemic stroke patients, and the frequency increased with increasing age. Different definitions gave different frequency estimates, and overlap in the cases was observed. Our findings question the validity of current criteria for dementia in the setting of cerebrovascular disease and emphasize the need for further debate and studies to refine the categories of cognitive impairment related to cerebrovascular disease.
Knowledge Networks in an Uncompetitive Region: SME Innovation and Growth

Knowledge networks are now recognised as a crucial element underlying the economic success and competitiveness of geographic locations, in particular regions. The aim of this paper is to assess the types of knowledge networks utilised and formed by knowledge-based small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the relatively uncompetitive regional setting of Yorkshire and Humberside in the UK. It explores the relationship between knowledge networking activity and the levels of innovation and growth achieved by these SMEs. It is found that SMEs tend to utilise and value more knowledge networks with actors outside the region. However, more innovative SMEs possess a balance of inside and outside the region knowledge networks. Knowledge networking activity is sometimes negatively associated with growth, suggesting that networks with certain actors, such as public sector support agencies, may be formed by SMEs when they are facing competitive pressures. In terms of policy implications, the paper recommends a shift from the cluster policies implemented by many regional authorities to a regional innovation systems approach, focusing equally on the regional and more global dimensions of knowledge networks. It is concluded that regional public policy makers need to renew their efforts to support SMEs in creating and sustaining their knowledge networks.
An Energy efficient CCM-UW security mechanism for Underwater Acoustic Networks

We propose a secured Media Access Control (MAC) protocol based on RTS/CTS mechanism for underwater acoustic networks. We use the CCM-UW mode by modifying CCM* (Counter with Cipher Block Chaining-Message Authentication Code (CBC-MAC)) mode for underwater acoustic communication, based on AES/ARIA block cipher algorithm. It provides three security services, they are data confidentiality, authenticity and replay attack protection. An advantage of CCM-UW mode is energy efficient comparing with CCM* mode by reducing data size. We offer the six security levels with different security strengths and energy consumption by comparing each security level.
Untwist and shout: a heavy metal-responsive transcriptional regulator

How do living systems deal with chemicals inherently toxic to their fundamental biochemical processes? Among chemicals deleterious to life, metals have an ancient history of use. Metal-containing compounds were among the earliest specifics for human maladies, especially contagious ones, and their effectiveness is still exploited in common antiseptics and disinfectants. The microbial targets of these agents have acquired resistances to them even as they acquired resistances to widely used antibiotics. Genes conferring genetically and biochemically distinct resistances to arsenic, antimony, bismuth, borate, cadmium, cobalt, copper, lead, mercury, nickel, silver, and zinc have been described in many genera of the eubacteria. Frequently these loci are encoded by plasmids and/or transposons, and there is ample evidence of their extensive dissemination in both pristine and chemically impacted environments (37). Presently, one of the best understood metal resistance loci is that conferring resistance to mercury compounds (mer) (37, 41). This system is of special interest because the resistance mechanism results in the transformation of mercury compounds from the toxic form (either ionic or organic) to the less toxic elemental form, Hg(O) (23). Exposure to mercury increases the incidence of mercury resistance in both soil and water eubacterial populations (4), as well as in the primate oral and intestinal flora (40). Current molecular studies emphasize the loci carried by two transposons of gram-negative bacteria, Tn21 and TnSOJ, and by an IncC plasmid, pDU1358, and a chromosomal locus occurring in a marine Bacillus species. The Tn2l mer operon lies just upstream of the integron locus within the large, multiple resistance aggregate of the IncFII plasmids prevalent in the genus Escherichia (39). Tn5Ol was originally isolated from a Pseudomonas plasmid (6). Mercury resistance loci resembling Tn501 mer and others less closely related to either Tn2l or Tn5Ol occur in both fermentative and nonfermentative gram-negative bacteria (11). The Bacillus chromosomal mer locus is related to one found on plasmids in the staphylococci (19), and these gram-positive mer loci are clearly, though distantly, related to those of gram-negative bacteria (42). The mercury resistance (mer) operon of gram-negative bacteria consists of the gene coding for the regulatory protein, merR, which controls its own transcription and that of the divergently transcribed structural genes (6, 17, 23, 41) (Fig. 1). The latter include genes encoding a Hg(II) transport
Impact of Human Resource Slacks on Firm Performance: Evidence from a Developing Country

Purpose of this paper is to investigate whether HR slack leads to improve firm performance, and what is the impact of HR slack in absolute and in relative terms on firm performance in a developing country. It also examines how ownership types moderate the HR slack-performance relationship. The longitudinal data-set of 11,985 firms-year observations from 2000-2009 were used and generalized linear models (GLMs) employed for analyzing data. The findings reveal that (1) absolute HR slack (AHRS) leads to enhance firm performance; (2) AHRS is positively and relative HR slack (RHRS) is negatively affected firm performance; (3) both AHRS and RHRS have inverse U-shaped effects on firm performance. (4) AHRS is positively influenced on performance of both state-owned enterprises (SOEs), and private owned enterprises (POEs). RHRS is negatively affect performance of SOEs. It can be concluded that both absolute and relative HR slacks lead to increase the firm performance up to a certain level, thereafter, firm performance is declined (Curvilinear relationship). The paper is original in its contribution to the organizational slack–firm performance literature by examining the relevance of absolute and relative HR slacks as indispensable sources.
Aurora Kinase Inhibition Induces PUMA via NF-κB to Kill Colon Cancer Cells

Aurora kinases play a key role in mitosis and are frequently overexpressed in a variety of tumor cells. Inhibition of aurora kinases results in mitotic arrest and death of cancer cells, and has been explored as an anticancer strategy. However, how aurora inhibition kills cancer cells is poorly understood. In this study, we found that inhibition of aurora kinases by siRNA or small-molecule inhibitors led to induction of p53 upregulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA), a BH3-only Bcl-2 family protein, in colorectal cancer cells irrespective of p53 status. Deficiency in PUMA increased polyploidy, improved cell survival, and abrogated mitochondria-mediated apoptosis induced by aurora kinase inhibitors. In response to aurora kinase inhibition, PUMA was directly activated by p65 through the canonical NF-κB pathway following AKT inhibition. Furthermore, PUMA was necessary for the chemosensitization and in vivo antitumor effects of aurora kinase inhibitors in colon cancer cells. These results suggest that PUMA induction mediates the apoptotic response to mitotic arrest imposed by aurora kinase inhibition, and may be a useful indicator for the anticancer activity of aurora kinase inhibitors. Mol Cancer Ther; 13(5); 1298–308. ©2014 AACR.
Relationships between the Diversity of Acacia Rhizobia and the Tree Growth Characteristics and the Environmental Conditions

The aim of this work was to investigate the relationships between the diversity of Acacia rhizobia and the tree growth characteristics and the environmental conditions. In this study, we isolated 45 rhizobia strains from three Acacia species in Guangxi, China. 16S rRNA sequencing analysis and phylogenetic analysis were performed for the 45 rhizobia stains with 20 other strains as references. These rhizobia strains were phylogenetically classified as four genera with 35.6% as Bradyrhizobium, 31.1% as Mesorhizobium, 13.3% as Rhizobium, and 20% as Agro bacterium. Among the 15 Acacia crassicarpa strains, 86.7% were Bradyrhizobium and 13.3% of them were Mesorhizobium. The 15 strains from A.mangium × A.auriculiformis 80% were Mesorhizobium and 20% were Bradyrhizobium. The 15 strains of Acacia confusa 40% were Rhizobium and the rest 60% were Agro bacterium. The study indicates that the diversity of Acacia rhizobia strains is tightly correlated with the growth characteristics of Acacia and the ecological factors.
Virtual work usage and challenges in different service sector branches

Purpose – Virtual work presents new challenges for managers compared to using ordinary, face‐to‐face work practices. The purpose of this paper is to show how different virtual work types are related to different challenges that require different managerial and co‐operation approaches.Design/methodology/approach – Empirical data were gathered during a period of two years using a questionnaire (3,156 respondents from 323 companies representing different Estonian service sector branches) and interviewing.Findings – The paper concludes that a higher level of work virtuality leads to a lower level of work satisfaction, mainly due to inappropriate management techniques and problems related to information and communication technology‐mediated communication.Research limitations/implications – The sample consists of only service sector organizations, limiting generalization of the results to the practice of manufacturing companies.Practical implications – The results will help managers of service organizations to .
Enough with 'In-The-Wild'

HCI is a field of study that is no longer confined to European or North American usability labs. HCI is practiced all over the world, and within Euro-American contexts, HCI research is also increasingly turning its attention to real world settings, outside of the controlled environments of the usability lab. One increasingly popular approach to designing and evaluating new technologies in real-world settings is called 'in the wild' research. We find this terminology uncomfortable from an African perspective as it evokes negative connotations of the contexts in which we study and the people we study with. Our intention is not to discredit this approach but rather to start a conversation around the terminologies we use to describe our research approaches and contexts. We consider it an ethical imperative to be conscious of the words we use to describe people and places, not only as HCI research expands its empirical focus to real world settings, but equally importantly to support HCI research beyond its traditional centres in Europe or America.