Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Basic Income Road to Reforming Iran's Price Subsidies

Iran has become the first country in the world to provide a de facto basic income to all its citizens. This article reviews the development of the main component of Irans economic reform plan the replacement of fuel and food subsidies with direct cash transfers to the population and shows how a system of universal, regular and unconditional cash transfers emerged almost by default as a by-product of an attempt to transform an inefficient and unfair system of price subsidies. The main features of the cash subsidy system are compared with those of a basic income; then some lessons from this experience are drawn that may enhance the prospects of basic income as a realistic proposition.
A novel coping design to decrease maximum principal stress in zirconia ceramic restorations.

PURPOSE The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of coping design modifications on maximum first principal stress (MPS) in a mathematical zirconia ceramic crown model. MATERIALS AND METHODS For a nonlinear, 3D finite element analysis, a simplified tooth model was built on the basis of the average dimensions of mandibular second molars. Virtual tooth reduction was performed to model an abutment with a flat occlusal surface and 16° convergence angle between facing walls. The cement layer was set to a thickness of 100 μm. Three different copings-one with 0.5-mm constant thickness; one with constant thickness and extended lingual and proximal collars; and a novel design with zirconia beam reinforcement-were designed to simulate zirconia ceramic restorations. The novel design had strategically positioned zirconia beams on the lingual and marginal ridges to protect veneer ceramics, and was divided into three subdesigns according to the width of the zirconia beam (0.5, 0.8, and 1 mm). Combinations of vertical and horizontal load were applied over the distolingual marginal ridge, and the MPSs were evaluated. RESULTS The novel design showed the lowest MPS in veneer ceramics under most loading conditions. The only exception to this was the novel design with a 0.5-mm zirconia beam width under mesial horizontal load. CONCLUSIONS Compared to constant thickness coping with or without extended collars, the novel coping design reduced MPS in veneer ceramics; however, narrow zirconia beams should be avoided to prevent elevations in MPS in veneer ceramic layers.
Implementation of Tel Aviv University MOOCs in Academic Curriculum: A Pilot Study.

The study presented in this paper examines the feasibility of using MOOCs as a learning environment in academic courses. This paper focuses on the students who participated in two MOOCs offered by Tel Aviv University (TAU) during the year 2013. The preliminary findings of this pilot study illustrate the scope of student activity, the learning intensity, and learner path. In addition, attitudes of TAU students who participated in these courses as part of their curriculum are presented. From TAU’s perspective, the presented MOOCs are considered to be a successful experience for all those involved: the students, who were very satisfied with their learning and high achievements; the lecturer team, who were very enthusiastic and satisfied with the learning process as well as the new experience; and the University policy makers, who took the challenge and integrated this new model of learning into the academic environment.
Learning, Matching and Growth

We examine an endogenous growth model in which market frictions are an integral part of the economic environment. Workers invest in education when young, which raises their productivity once employed. The level of schooling also acts as a key determinant of the rate of economic growth by influencing workers' ability to accumulate additional human capital on-the-job. Once schooling is completed, workers search for employment. The division of the surplus between vacancies and searching workers is characterized, as is the optimal level of education. The economy may display multiple steady-state growth paths.
The Economics of Technology Diffusion and Energy Efficiency

Technological change plays a crucial role in realizing energy efficiency improvements and, therefore, in ameliorating the conflict between economic growth and environmental quality. However, the diffusion of new technologies can prove a costly and lengthy process, meaning that many firms do not invest in best-practice technologies. The author offers important new explanations for this energy-efficiency paradox.
Estimating and Using GARCH Models with VIX Data for Option Valuation

This paper uses information on VIX to improve the empirical performance of GARCH models for pricing options on the S&P 500. In pricing multiple cross-sections of options, the models’ performance can clearly be improved by extracting daily spot volatilities from the series of VIX rather than by linking spot volatility with different dates by using the series of the underlying’s returns. Moreover, in contrast to traditional returns-based Maximum Likelihood Estimation (MLE), a joint MLE with returns and VIX improves option pricing performance, and for NGARCH, joint MLE can yield empirically almost the same out-of-sample option pricing performance as direct calibration does to in-sample options, but without costly computations. Finally, consistently with the existing research, this paper finds that non-affine models clearly outperform affine models.
Forecasting business and consumer surveys indicators–a time-series models competition

The objective of this article is to compare different time-series methods for the short-run forecasting of Business and Consumer Survey Indicators. We consider all available data taken from the Business and Consumer Survey Indicators for the Euro area between 1985 and 2002. The main results of the forecast competition are offered not only for raw data but we also consider the effects of seasonality and removing outliers on forecast accuracy. In most cases, the univariate autoregressions were not outperformed by the other methods. As for the effect of seasonal adjustment methods and the use of data from which outliers have been removed, we obtain that the use of raw data has little effect on forecast accuracy. The forecasting performance of qualitative indicators is important since enlarging the observed time series of these indicators with forecast intervals may help in interpreting and assessing the implications of the current situation and can be used as an input in quantitative forecast models.
A Test of the CAPM on Philippine Common Stocks

This paper presents the results of an empirical test of the capital asset pricing model (CAPM) on the returns on Philippine common stocks from 1990 to 2000. The test uses the two-step cross sectional regression (CSR) procedure to compute for the beta of each asset and the parameters of the Sharpe-Lintner version of the CAPM. The basic data used in the study consist of average monthly returns of 50 representative common stocks drawn from a stratified random sampling process. Test results show that there are sub-periods that support the predictions of the CAPM, but other sub-periods yield results that run counter to the CAPM predictions. These results are unaltered after incorporating the Shanken correction factor that addresses the error-in-variables problem inherent in CSR. Further tests also show that, in the short run, factors other than risk explain the cross section of asset returns and that the relationship between return and risk may not be linear.
Gender and environment in the Japanese workplace

Previous literature depicts women as more pro-environment than men in terms of attitudes and behaviour. A survey was conducted in two sectors of Japanese society – industry and academia – whose workplace is considered relatively male dominated. The study sampled 221 respondents from 15 schools and ten firms to evaluate gendered differences in environmental concern. Women were found to demonstrate greater levels of pro-environmental behaviour compared to men due to their higher level of consideration of the impacts of their companies' production processes and products on the environment, their willingness to pay slightly more for environmental products than men, their positive perception of sustainable behaviours and their higher general level of concern about the environment. The study also reveals that the successful implementation of environmental sustainability programmes in organisations hinges on the interest and participation of management.
An Examination of US Hotel Segment Strategy: Diversified, Concentrated or Balanced?

Segment diversification is a common strategy applied by hotel companies. According to previous research on the modern portfolio theory, a company can reduce risks and thus increase its value with more diversified operations. Such reasoning can certainly apply to the hotel industry in terms of its segment strategy. However, the findings are inconclusive. In particular, other literature argues for more concentrated rather than diversified operations. This study therefore examines the impacts of segment diversification on companies' risk-adjusted performances among publicly traded US hotels. The results suggest that a moderate segment diversification strategy maximizes a company's risk-adjusted performance.
Public School Performance: Examining the Relationship between Teacher Training Program and School Achievement

ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Endless thanks are due to Dr. Eugenia Toma and Dr. Joshua Cowen, faculty advisors, for reading through more drafts than anybody should ever be subjected to. Thank you to Dr. J.S. Butler for the hours and hours of statistical support and endless good-natured advice. Dr. Toma " s research team was incredibly helpful in putting together the data set for this study, and thanks go especially to Josh Poulette, Su Troske, and Terry Hipbshman. Finally, I can " t thank Dr. Ginny Wilson enough for the editing, advice at all hours, and being a wonderful sounding-board throughout the entire process. Few would argue the importance of providing today " s youth with a solid educational foundation, yet the United States ranks as low as 25 th educationally among 34 OECD developed nations 1. Many researchers have studied the various factors affecting student performance in the K-12 educational system, but mixed, ambiguous, or conflicting results have led to a general sense of uncertainty regarding who to hold accountable. The research has tended to focus on teacher effectiveness or school funding. While those are among a wealth of valid inputs to examine, this study attempted to determine the viability of examining the effect of teacher training programs on student achievement. every public kindergarten through 12 th grade school in Kentucky. The data were analyzed using two approaches: fixed-effects estimation and between-effects estimation. The findings indicated that there is a relationship between teacher training program and school achievement but that the relationship varies depending on the program and on the specific research question being investigated. Overall, the findings suggested that this exploratory research has potential to inform such decision as how to best train teachers and whether to hold their training programs accountable for the performance of their students. Further analysis on the student level (rather than the school level) is recommended in order to better determine the efficacy of this research approach before expanding the investigation to a statewide or national level. Future investigations into this relationship could be improved with the addition of a broader range of individual student and teacher characteristics.
RAD53, DUN1 and PDS1 define two parallel G2/M checkpoint pathways in budding yeast

Eukaryotic checkpoint genes regulate multiple cellular responses to DNA damage. In this report, we examine the roles of budding yeast genes involved in G2/M arrest and tolerance to UV exposure. A current model posits three gene classes: those encoding proteins acting on damaged DNA (e.g. RAD9 and RAD24), those transducing a signal (MEC1, RAD53 and DUN1) or those participating more directly in arrest (PDS1). Here, we define important features of the pathways subserved by those genes. MEC1, which we find is required for both establishment and maintenance of G2/M arrest, mediates this arrest through two parallel pathways. One pathway requires RAD53 and DUN1 (the ‘RAD53 pathway’); the other pathway requires PDS1. Each pathway independently contributes ∼50% to G2/M arrest, effects demonstrable after cdc13‐induced damage or a double‐stranded break inflicted by the HO endonuclease. Similarly, both pathways contribute independently to tolerance of UV irradiation. How the parallel pathways might interact ultimately to achieve arrest is not yet understood, but we do provide evidence that neither the RAD53 nor the PDS1 pathway appears to maintain arrest by inhibiting adaptation. Instead, we think it likely that both pathways contribute to establishing and maintaining arrest.
Regulatory Stringency, Green Production Offsets and Organizations' Financial Performance

Some scholars have argued that environmental regulatory pressures constrain organizations' financial opportunities, while others maintain that environmental regulations can spur product and technology innovations and encourage greater operational efficiencies. Advocates on both sides have evidence in support of their positions. However, considering both perspectives in tandem and recognizing that other factors may be associated with improved financial performance, we may find that neither position is valid, or that both are. Relying on data for manufacturing facilities in seven countries, this study shows that more stringent environmental policy regimes are related to diminished firm profits. Yet organizations that are motivated by a green production focus—defined as enhancing internal efficiencies and new product and technology development—are more likely to improve their environmental performance. They also demonstrate a greater probability of benefiting financially, thereby offsetting the cost of regulation or accruing a net gain.
Skin sensitisation.

Rules related to the safety of cosmetic products are imposed by the Council Directive 76/768/EEC (Cosmetics Directive) of 27 July 1976 (with subsequent amendments and adaptations). Article 2 states that: "A cosmetic product put on the market within the Community must not cause damage to human health when applied under normal or reasonably foreseeable conditions of use . " Article 7 explains that ". the manufacturer shall take into consideration the general toxicological profile of the ingredient, its chemical structure and its level of exposure. "
Assessing Drivers of Coastal Primary Production in Northern Marguerite Bay, Antarctica

The coastal ocean of the climatically-sensitive west Antarctic Peninsula is experiencing changes in the physical and (photo)chemical properties that strongly affect the phytoplankton. Consequently, a shift from diatoms, pivotal in the Antarctic food web, to more mobile and smaller flagellates has been observed. We seek to identify the main drivers behind primary production (PP) without any assumptions beforehand to obtain the best possible model of PP. We employed a combination of field measurements and modeling to discern and quantify the influences of variability in physical, (photo)chemical and biological parameters on PP in northern Marguerite Bay. Field data of high-temporal resolution (November 2013 – March 2014) collected at a long-term monitoring site here were combined with estimates of PP derived from photosynthesis-irradiance incubations and modeled using mechanistic and statistical models. Daily PP varied greatly and averaged 1764 mg C m-2 d-1 with a maximum of 6908 mg C m-2 d-1 after the melting of sea ice and the likely release of diatoms concentrated therein. A non-assumptive random forest model (RF) with all possibly relevant parameters (MRFmax) showed that variability in PP was best explained by light availability and chlorophyll a followed by physical (temperature, mixed layer depth and salinity) and chemical (phosphate, total nitrogen and silicate) water column properties. The predictive power from the relative abundances of diatoms, cryptophytes and haptophytes (as determined by pigment fingerprinting) to PP was minimal. However, the variability in PP due to changes in species composition was most likely underestimated due to the contrasting strategies of these phytoplankton groups as we observed significant negative relations between PP and the relative abundance of flagellates groups. Our reduced model (MRFmin) showed how light availability, chlorophyll a and total nitrogen concentrations can be used to obtain the best estimate of PP (R2 = 0.93). The resulting estimates from our models suggest summer PP to have been between 214.4 g and 176.1 g C m-2. Through the employment of a modeling technique without any assumptions apart from a representative sampling strategy, we showed and estimated how PP in this climatically sensitive and changing region can best be predicted and described.
The computerized patient record: where do we stand ?

OBJECTIVES To provide an overview of trends in research, developments and implementations of the computerized patient record (CPR) of the last two years. METHODS We surveyed the medical informatics literature, spanning the years 2004-2005, focusing on publications on CPRs. RESULTS The main trends revealed were: 1) the development of technologies to realize privacy and security goals or remote data entry and access to CPRs; 2) investigations into how to enhance the quality and reuse of CPR data; 3) the development and evaluation of decision support functions to be integrated with CPRs; 4) evaluations of the impact of CPRs on clinicians, patients, clinical work settings and patient outcomes; and 5) the further development and use of standards to move towards shared electronic health records (EHRs). CONCLUSION The CPR is playing a growing part in medical informatics research and evaluation studies, but the goal of establishing a comprehensive lifelong EHR is still a long way off. In moving forward to EHRs, convergence of EHR standards seems required to realize true interoperability of health care applications. User acceptance of present-day CPRs (for all categories of users) and compatibility with work patterns has not been achieved yet, and can only be realized by giving these goals high priority. This will require substantial resources for in-depth work flow analysis, development and evaluation of CPRs. Besides this, the implementation of effective CPRs asks for health care organizations that are willing to invest in new developments and to contribute to evaluation studies, to further improve CPRs' functionalities and enhance their use in practice.
Design-Oriented Study of Advanced Synchronous Reference Frame Phase-Locked Loops

In grid-connected applications, the synchronous reference frame phase-locked loop (SRF-PLL) is a commonly used synchronization technique due to the advantages it offers such as ease of implementation and robust performance. Under ideal grid conditions, the SRF-PLL enables a fast and accurate phase/frequency detection; however, unbalanced and distorted grid conditions highly degrade its performance. To overcome this drawback, several advanced PLLs have been proposed, such as the multiple reference frame-based PLL, the dual second-order generalized integrator-based PLL, and the multiple complex coefficient filter-based PLL. In this paper, a comprehensive design-oriented study of these advanced PLLs is presented. The starting point of this study is to derive the small-signal model of the aforementioned PLLs, which simplifies the parameter design and the stability analysis. Then, a systematic design procedure to fine tune the PLLs parameters is presented. The stability margin, the transient response, and the disturbance rejection capability are the key factors that are considered in the design procedure. Finally, the experimental results are presented to support the theoretical analysis.
Transanal total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer: the journey towards a new technique and its current status

ABSTRACT Introduction: The surgical approach to total mesorectal excision (TME) for rectal cancer has undergone a substantial evolution with the adoption of more minimally invasive procedures. Transanal TME (taTME) is the latest advanced technique pioneered to tackle difficult pelvic dissections. Areas covered: The evolution of TME surgery from open to laparoscopic, robotic and transanal techniques was explored in this review. The outcomes to date on the latest approach, taTME, are reviewed and the future direction of rectal cancer surgery proposed. A literature search was performed using Embase, Medline, Web of Science and Cochrane databases for articles published between January 2005 to May 2016 using the keywords ‘transanal’, ‘TME’, ‘laparoscopy’, ‘robotics’, ‘minimally invasive’, ‘outcomes’ and ‘training’. Expert commentary: Surgical experience in taTME is growing and randomised controlled trials have been planned and initiated worldwide. However, the learning curve for this procedure remains to be established and a structured training programme is necessary to ensure safe introduction and dissemination of the technique in the clinical setting. Further innovation including stereotactic navigation and more specialised transanal equipment are currently being explored and are likely to enhance the technique further.
Modeling, identification and joint impedance control of the atlas arms

Compliant manipulation has become central to robots that are sought to safely act in and interact with unstructured as well as only partially known environments. In this paper we equip the hydraulically actuated, usually position controlled arms of the Atlas robot with model-based joint impedance control, including suitable damping design, and experimentally verify the proposed algorithm. Our approach, which originates from the advances in soft-robotics control, relies on high-performance low-level joint torque control. This makes it independent from the actual technology being hydraulic or electromechanical. This paper describes the approach to accurately model the dynamics, and design the optimal excitation trajectory for system identification to enable the specification of model-based feed-forward controls. In conclusion, the implemented controller enables the robot arm to execute significantly smoother motions, be compliant against external forces, and have similar tracking performance as compared to the existing position control scheme. Finally, unknown modeling inaccuracies and contact forces are accurately estimated by a suitable disturbance observer, which could be used in the future to further enhance our controller's performance.