Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Do International Remittances Affect Poverty in Africa

Abstract: International remittances flowing into developing countries are attracting increasing attention because of their rising volume and their impact on recipient countries. This paper uses a panel data set on poverty and international remittances for African countries to examine the impact of international remittances on poverty reduction in 33 African countries over the period 1990–2005. We find that international remittances—defined as the share of remittances in country GDP—reduce the level, depth, and severity of poverty in Africa. But the size of the poverty reduction depends on how poverty is being measured. After instrumenting for the possible endogeneity of international remittances, we find that a 10 percent increase in official international remittances as a share of GDP leads to a 2.9 percent decline in the poverty headcount or the share of people living in poverty. Also, the more sensitive poverty measures—the poverty gap (poverty depth) and squared poverty gap (poverty severity)—suggest that international remittances will have a similar impact on poverty reduction. The point estimates for the poverty gap and squared poverty gap suggest that a 10 percent increase in the share of international remittances will lead to a 2.9 percent and 2.8 percent decline, respectively, in the depth and severity of poverty in African countries. Regardless of the measure of poverty used as the dependent variable, income inequality (Gini index) has a positive and significant coefficient, indicating that greater inequality is associated with higher poverty in African countries, much in conformity with the literature. Similar results were obtained for trade openness. In the same vein, per capita income has a negative and significant effect on each measure of poverty used in the study. Our results also show that inflation rates positively and significantly affect poverty incidence, depth and severity in Africa. In all three poverty measures, the dummy variable for sub-Saharan Africa is strongly positive, and strongly negative for North Africa. The policy implications of these results are discussed.
The role of ubiquitin linkages on α‐synuclein induced‐toxicity in a Drosophila model of Parkinson’s disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a common movement disorder marked by the loss of dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the brain stem and the presence of intraneuronal inclusions designated as Lewy bodies (LB). The cause of neurodegeneration in PD is not clear, but it has been suggested that protein misfolding and aggregation contribute significantly to the development of the disease. Misfolded and aggregated proteins are cleared by ubiquitin proteasomal system (UPS) and autophagy lysosomal pathway (ALP). Recent studies suggested that different types of ubiquitin linkages can modulate these two pathways in the process of protein degradation. In this study, we found that co‐expression of ubiquitin can rescue neurons from α‐syn‐induced neurotoxicity in a Drosophila model of PD. This neuroprotection is dependent on the formation of lysine 48 polyubiquitin linkage which is known to target protein degradation via the proteasome. Consistent with our results that we observed in vivo, we found that ubiquitin co‐expression in the cell can facilitate cellular protein degradation by the proteasome in a lysine 48 polyubiquitin‐dependent manner. Taken together, these results suggest that facilitation of proteasomal protein degradation can be a potential therapeutic approach for PD.
Social Investment, Protection and Inequality within the New Economy and Politics of Welfare in Europe

The welfare state is one of the hallmarks of a civilised society. All developed countries have them and the less developed ones are striving to establish their own. Welfare states depend on a fair collection and redistribution of resources, which in turn rests upon the maintenance of trust between different sections of society and across generations. Misleading rhetoric concerning those who have to seek support from the welfare state, such as the contrast between ‘strivers’ and ‘shirkers’, risks undermining that trust and, with it, one of the key foundations of modern Britain. (Alcock et al., 2013)
Seismoturbidite record as preserved at core sites at the Cascadia and Sumatra-Andaman subduction zones

Abstract. Turbidite deposition along slope and trench settings is evaluated for the Cascadia and Sumatra–Andaman subduction zones. Source proximity, basin effects, turbidity current flow path, temporal and spatial earthquake rupture, hydrodynamics, and topography all likely play roles in the deposition of the turbidites as evidenced by the vertical structure of the final deposits. Channel systems tend to promote low-frequency components of the content of the current over longer distances, while more proximal slope basins and base-of-slope apron fan settings result in a turbidite structure that is likely influenced by local physiography and other factors. Cascadia's margin is dominated by glacial cycle constructed pathways which promote turbidity current flows for large distances. Sumatra margin pathways do not inherit these antecedent sedimentary systems, so turbidity currents are more localized.
Cytokine profile in colonic mucosa of ulcerative colitis correlates with disease activity and response to granulocytapheresis

OBJECTIVE:The aim of this study was to clarify the correlation between cytokine profile in colonic mucosa with disease activity and response to granulocytapheresis (GCAP) in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), using a reliable, reproducible quantitative method.METHODS:Colonoscopic biopsies of inflamed colonic mucosa (16 patients, 21 cases) and uninflamed colonic mucosa (25 patients, 33 cases) were obtained from UC patients. Messenger (m)RNA was extracted and subjected to real-time polymerase chain reaction for quantitative measurement of interleukin (IL)-12, interferon-γ, tumor necrosis factor-α, IL-4, IL-8, and IL-18 mRNAs. In seven patients with high disease activity despite prednisolone (PSL) treatment (≥20 mg/day), one course of GCAP was conducted, and pre- and post-GCAP cytokine profiles were determined.RESULTS:In inflamed colonic mucosa of UC patients, three cytokine profiles were observed: 1) high expression of interferon-γ, tumor necrosis factor-α, and IL-4 mRNAs but low expression of IL-8 mRNA; 2) high expression of IL-8 mRNA and low expression of others; and 3) low expression of all cytokines examined. Inflamed colonic mucosa of patients with high disease activity showed the second pattern. Inflamed colonic mucosa of patients who were not treated with PSL and who had low disease activity showed the first pattern, whereas those on high-dose PSL exhibited the second pattern. IL-8 mRNA was significantly higher in inflamed UC samples than in uninflamed samples. GCAP was effective in five of seven PSL-resistant patients (71.4%). IL-8 was the only cytokine that correlated with effectiveness of GCAP. Compared with GCAP nonresponders, responders had significantly higher IL-8 mRNA before GCAP and showed marked reduction of IL-8 mRNA after GCAP.CONCLUSION:IL-8 mRNA was significantly increased in inflamed mucosa of UC. Patients with high IL-8 mRNA expression in colonic mucosa despite PSL treatment were responsive to GCAP. Therefore, quantitative measurement of mucosal IL-8 mRNA may be useful in predicting the response to GCAP.
The Impact of Cumulative Pressure on Accounting Students’ Propensity to Commit Plagiarism: An Experimental Approach

Adopting aspects of Jones, T.M. , 1991, Academy of Management Review16, 366–395 issue‐contingent model of ethical decision‐making to guide our choice of variables, we investigate perceptions of factors that affect student plagiarism. In an experimental setting, time pressure and assessment weighting are manipulated between‐subjects, whilst the severity of plagiarism is examined within‐subjects. Our findings confirm that time pressure and assessment weighting are positively related to perceptions of the likelihood of plagiarism and that plagiarism is perceived as more likely for less severe acts. Further, the likelihood of plagiarism increases as the cumulative pressure of both time deadline and assessment weighting increases.
Social Marketing to Promote Nutrition Assistance Programs

Existing nutrition assistance programs are often underutilized. Efforts are needed to improve awareness, access, and participation in available programs. We describe social marketing as a promising approach for raising awareness and use of nutrition assistance programs. As background to this public health imperative, we summarize trends in food insecurity and current use of existing federal nutrition assistance programs. We introduce social marketing as a possible approach to engage stakeholders in efforts to connect at-risk populations with existing resources. The tenants and processes of social marketing are described and applied to federal nutrition assistance programs.
FARM HOUSEHOLD BEHAVIOUR AND THE TRANSITION TO POST-PRODUCTIVISM

This paper proposes a theoretical framework for examining how farm households will respond to the reversal of productivist farm policies and applies this to a longitudinal study of farm households in upland Scotland over the period 1987‐91. The paper argues that the actions of farm households may be understood not only in terms of their structural situation but also as an expression of the values and motivations which underlie behaviour (their disposition‐to‐act). A model is proposed, in which a farm household's disposition‐to‐act interacts with the internal resources of the farm and household, and with the external context (markets, policies, social and cultural values), in influencing behaviour. Empirically, this model is then used to explore changing farm structures, changing allocations of labour, changing sources of farm household income, and engagement with policy measures among a sample of 300 upland farm households. The results suggest that there will be considerable diversity in farm household behaviour during the transition to post‐productivism, with widespread reluctance to adjust to the new imperatives.
Valuing welfare impacts of climate change in coastal areas: a French case study

Beach protection has become a major issue in reducing coastal risks (erosion and flooding). It is thus advisable to study residents’ preferences for mitigation strategies. Willingness-to-pay (WTP) by permanent and secondary residents for flood protection provided to properties by Languedoc-Roussillon beaches (French Mediterranean coast) is investigated by a contingent valuation study. Results show that WTP is more influenced by risk perception variables than by socio-economic ones. The WTP is then extrapolated on the basis of different adaptation strategies (laissez-faire, managed retreat, denial etc.) which provided information about expected damage associated with sea level rise at the 2100 time horizon.
Diffusion and accounting: the case of ABC in Norway

Most social and economic changes are direct consequences of the diffusion of some ideas or phenomena into new area, new social groups, etc. The characteristics of a diffusion process are thus of general interest. This paper focuses on the diffusion of Activity Based Costing (ABC) in Norway. A conceptual framework from general diffusion theory is adopted to structure a tentative model to describe the diffusion process. The study is based on a questionnaire survey, incorporating data from 75 of the largest manufacturing companies in Norway (a response rate of 57%). The findings show that a large number of companies have adopted ABC as an idea, i.e., they have implemented ABC or plan to do so (40%). Different variables related to cost structure, competition, existing costing system and product diversity were tested for their relation with ABC (planed or actual) adoption, but only cost structure was found statistically significant. The companies which had knowledge of ABC were significantly larger than the other. However, size did not significantly discriminate between adopters and non-adopters within the group with ABC-knowledge. The source of information on ABC is also examined and the empirical data indicate a diffusion process that takes a contagious form and points out the importance of institutional influence.
Buying Peace: The Mirage of Demobilizing Rebels

In 2009, hostilities were brought to an end in Burundi when the FNL rebel group laid down weapons. In exchange for peace, ex-rebels benefited from a disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) program to finance their return to civilian life. A few years earlier, another rebel group (CNDD-FDD) had gone through the same program. In this paper, we assess the impact of this complex program from a theoretical and an empirical viewpoint. First, we develop an agricultural model in order to predict the impact of demobilization cash transfers on beneficiary and non-beneficiary households. Then, we test the theoretical model by using a household panel dataset collected in rural Burundi. We find that, in the short run, the cash payments received by ex-combatants had a positive direct impact on purchases and investments of beneficiaries, as well as an indirect positive impact on non-beneficiaries. We also find that the direct and indirect impacts on purchases vanish in the long run. These results suggest that reinsertion grants may favour the acceptation of ex-combatants in their local communities in the short run, but are most likely not sufficient for peace to hold. More generally, it emphasizes the importance of considering spillovers in the evaluation of development programs.
Industry‐Specific Real Effective Exchange Rate for China: 2000–2009

This paper measures the industry-specific real effective exchange rate (REER) for China by matching domestic and foreign industry-level price and trade data series. We find that after 2005 the REER appreciates more in the “chemical, plastics, rubber and fuels industry” and the “machinery and equipment industry,” but remains roughly constant or even depreciates in other industries. The nominal exchange rate generally accounts for over 50 percent of the aggregate real effective exchange rate fluctuations, but this conclusion does not apply to three of nine industries. We apply the industry-specific REER to re-examine the relationship between the exchange rate and trade, and find that the industry-specific REER index performs better than the traditional aggregate REER index. We recommend that the Chinese Government officially adopt industry-specific exchange rates instead of using the aggregate effective exchange rates to evaluate the competitiveness of Chinese industries in the international market.
Understanding Online Radicalisation Using Data Science

What characterises social media radicals? And why some people become attracted to radicalisation? To explore answers to these questions, a number of tweets posted by a group of suspected radicals tweeting in Arabic were analysed using social network analysis and machine learning. The study revealed that these suspected radicals' networks showed significant interaction with others; but this interactivity is only significant quantitatively as the interaction is not reciprocated. With regards to why these suspected radicals became attracted to radicalisation, Topic Modelling revealed these suspected radicals' tweets underpinned a perceived injustice that they believed the Secret Police and the Government inflicted upon them. Overall, the study has shown that data science tools have the potential to inform our understanding of online radicalisation. It is hoped this exploratory study will be the basis for a future study in which the research questions will be answered using a larger sample.
Facultatively Parasitic Strain of Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus

A strain of Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus (designated strain UKi2) was isolated which was capable of growing either saprophytically in host-free medium or endoparasitically in Escherichia coli B/r. It was quantitatively determined that each bdellovibrio could develop in solid medium to produce a colony, and 65% of the cells in a late exponential-phase culture were capable of inducing E. coli B/r spheroplasts. A photomicrographic sequence of single E. coli spheroplasts containing bdellovibrios demonstrated that parasitically derived B. bacteriovorus UKi2 could develop saprophytically after release from the host cells. Strain UKi2 appears to be morphologically quite similar to previously described obligately parasitic bdellovibrios; biochemical data on this strain suggests its close relationship to some of the previously described host-independent strains of Bdellovibrio.
The effects of age and gender upon the perceptions of accounting professionals concerning their job satisfaction and work‐related attributes

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of age and gender upon the level of job satisfaction of accounting professionals as well as examine if gender and age lead to differences in their perceptions of work‐related attributes such as advancement opportunities and relations with supervisors.Design/methodology/approach – Questionnaires were mailed to 1,000 accounting professionals and 245 useable questionnaires were received (193 were returned due to incorrect address) resulting in a 30 percent response rate. The questionnaire was designed with a six‐point Likert scale to measure the respondent perceptions concerning 78 factors that may influence their level of job satisfaction. Factor analysis with a varimax rotation reduced the 78 factors down to nine factor groups. These factors or work‐related attributes became the nine independent variables for six regression models. The sample was subdivided based by age and gender differently for each of the six regression models. The depend.
Transcytosis of Aminopeptidase N in Caco-2 Cells Is Mediated by a Non-cytoplasmic Signal (*)

In Caco-2 cells, aminopeptidase N is transported to the apical membrane from the trans Golgi network by both the direct and the indirect pathway (Matter, K., Brauchbar, M., Bucher, K., and Hauri, H.-P.(1990) Cell 60, 429-437). The aim of this study was to determine the importance of the transmembrane or cytoplasmic domain of aminopeptidase N for transport of aminopeptidase N by the indirect pathway by analysis of mutated forms of aminopeptidase N recombinantly expressed in Caco-2 cells. A tail-less and two secretory forms of aminopeptidase N, all deprived of the cytoplasmic tail, were transported to the basolateral plasma membrane in proportions equivalent to the wild type enzyme. This shows that no cytoplasmic basolateral sorting signal is involved in directing aminopeptidase N to the basolateral plasma membrane. Both the wild type and the tail-less aminopeptidase N were transcytosed from the basolateral to the apical plasma membrane, whereas no transcytosis of two secretory forms could be detected, showing that the transmembrane domain is important for efficient transcytosis to take place. A significant difference in transcytosis kinetics of the human and the porcine wild type aminopeptidase N was observed. This indicates that transcytosis of aminopeptidase N from the basolateral to the apical membrane does not occur by default transport but involves an active sorting mechanism.
A Bayesian Approach to Measurement Bias in Networking Studies

The study of managerial networking has been growing in the field of public administration; a field that analyzes how managers in open system organizations interact with different external actors and organizations. Coincident with this interest in managerial networking is the use of self-reported survey data to measure managerial behavior in building and maintaining networks. One predominant approach is to generate factor indices of networking activity from ordinal scales. However, when public managers answer survey questions with ordinal scales to describe their networking activities, the answers may be subject to various response biases. Consequently, the use of factor indices may lead to biased measurements that misrepresent managerial networking. As an alternative, we build on studies that apply the item response theory (IRT) as a measurement strategy and propose a Bayesian alternative. To tap managers’ latent effort put in networking activity, the Bayesian Generalized Partial Credit Model allows us to select a one-dimensional networking scale from multiple ordinal survey items. Using 12 such items in a mail survey of nearly 1,000 American hospital managers, we demonstrate the advantage of using the Bayesian IRT model over factor-analytic models in a substantive test of how managerial networking affects organizational performance.
John Kenneth Galbraith and the Post Keynesian Tradition in Economics

This paper discusses some of the key contributions of John Kenneth Galbraith to economics and puts them into an historical context. It argues that the work of Galbraith should be recognized as making major contributions to the Post Keynesian paradigm. His work expands on the contributions made by John Maynard Keynes and is consistent with the main ideas of Post Keynesian thought. Much of his work can be thought of as a Post Keynesian microeconomics that needs to be added on to the Post Keynesian macroeconomics begun by Keynes. This work encompasses an understanding of how people behave and how firms behave, a recognition of the importance of uncertainty in the real world, and an emphasis on income effects being more important than substitution effects. The paper then points out how Galbraith has provided a Post Keynesian approach to key macroeconomic issues. The paper concludes with a brief summary of the other articles that make up this special issue to honor John Kenneth Galbraith on the hundredth anniversary of his birth.
TERRORIST 'USE' OF THE INTERNET AND FIGHTING BACK

The Internet is a powerful political instrument, which is increasingly employed by terrorists to forward their goals. The five most prominent contemporary terrorist uses of the Net are information provision, financing, networking, recruitment, and information gathering. This article describes and explains each of these uses and is illustrated with examples of each. The final section of the paper describes the responses of government, law enforcement, intelligence agencies, and others to the terrorism-Internet nexus.
Exploring the impact of national system of innovation on the outcomes of foreign direct investment.

This paper attempts to explore the possible relationship between the characteristics of a National System of Innovation (NSI) and their impact on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) outcomes, particularly in developing countries. We employ a heuristic NSI-FDI conceptual framework linking the robustness of NSI to the benefits or lack of it from FDI. We create a taxonomy of NSIs as well-functioning/strong, relatively well-functioning and weak and try to empirically find out how each NSI type is related to the corresponding FDI outcomes. We examine whether a strong NSI can bring a high-end benefit from FDI, whether those with a weak NSI are at the low end of the FDI potential benefit spectrum, and whether a relatively well-functioning NSI is linked to medium or average FDI outcomes. We used descriptive data from selected developing economies – China, India, South Africa, Ghana, Ethiopia, Tanzania and Zambia – and applied this conceptual framework. Despite some data limitations, our case studies show that the characteristics and robustness (or lack of robustness) of NSI can impact on how FDI flows to a country and the kinds of outcomes it will produce, other things being equal. Therefore, how countries build their NSI matters significantly to national policy making.