Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Postcommunist Transitions and Corruption: Mapping Patterns

While corruption exists throughout post-communist Central and Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union, the situation has in recent years improved in some countries while deteriorating in others. This article maps the corruption patterns, both in terms of where the problem is more and less acute, and regarding apparent bivariate correlations. While most of the latter are more or less in line with global patterns - wealthier and more democratic countries appear to have lower corruption rates, for instance - there are also some surprises. Thus Russia emerges as more corrupt than its GDP per capita would suggest it should be, while Georgia performs far better than would be expected. A key factor explaining deviant cases is the political will of the leadership combined with that leadership’s control of the political system; political will is a necessary but insufficient condition
Case finding in dementia: comparative utility of three brief instruments in the memory clinic setting

ABSTRACT Background: The principal goal of this study was to compare the diagnostic accuracy of three brief instruments in memory clinic attendees. Two of the instruments were based on face-to-face clinical assessment (Standardized Mini-mental State Examination and Rowland Universal Dementia Assessment Scale), whereas the third group used proxy information from an informant (Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly). Dementia diagnosis as provided by a specialist physician (geriatrician, psychiatrist or neurologist) was used as the reference standard. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. Data were collected from 204 consecutive memory clinic attendees (M = 76.90, 56% female) and their family caregivers. Comparative utility was assessed through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses. Results: One hundred and fifty-two patients (75%) were diagnosed as having dementia. Diagnostic accuracy, as indicated by the area under the ROC curve (AUC), was similar for the three instruments as follows: SMMSE (AUC = 0.82, 95% CI = 0.76, 0.87, p < 0.0001) and RUDAS (AUC = 0.83, 95% CI = 0.77, 0.88, p < 0.0001), and slightly lower for IQCODE (AUC = 0.77, 95% CI = 0.71, 0.83, p < 0.0001). There was no significant difference between the areas under the curve (χ2 = 2.57, df = 2, p = 0.28). Conclusions: Diagnostic accuracy was similar for the three instruments, which all proved to be moderately useful tools for initial screening for cognitive impairment in the memory clinic environment. Being a proxy measure, the IQCODE had specific practical use in this context, where the patient might not be able to provide information. The RUDAS exhibited high specificity and proved to be less dependent upon cultural factors than the SMMSE, making it particularly valuable in a multicultural setting.
Very Small-Size Uniplanar Printed Monopole Antenna for Dual-Band WLAN Laptop Computer Applications

This paper presents a very small-size uniplanar printed monopole antenna design with an overall size of only 8.7 mm <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\times 5.4$ </tex-math></inline-formula> mm <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\times 0.8$ </tex-math></inline-formula> mm. It is comprised of an open-ring structure and a hook-shaped radiating element that is extended within this open-ring structure. The proposed antenna can excite two resonance modes with broad 10-dB impedance bandwidths of 6.4% (2.35–2.51 GHz) and 19.5% (4.90–6 GHz), and this dual-band operation can cover the entire WLAN 2.4/5.2/5.8-GHz bands. Furthermore, a good gain of 3.34–5.38 dBi and desirable radiation efficiencies of 52%–87% were also measured across the two bands of interest.
Static frequency dividers up to 133GHz in SiGe:C bipolar technology

This paper presents current-mode logic (CML) and emitter-coupled logic (ECL) static frequency dividers in a SiGe:C bipolar process with a cut-off frequency fT of 230GHz. Speed/power trade-offs are investigated by comparing three different circuit versions. Each contains two master-slave flip-flops to achieve a divide ratio of four.
Myeloid-Specific I&kgr;B Kinase &bgr; Deficiency Decreases Atherosclerosis in Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor–Deficient Mice

Objective—Inflammatory responses are the driving force of atherosclerosis development. I&kgr;B kinase &bgr; (IKK&bgr;), a central coordinator in inflammation through regulation of nuclear factor-&kgr;B, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Macrophages play an essential role in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis, yet the role of macrophage IKK&bgr; in atherosclerosis remains elusive and controversial. This study aims to investigate the impact of IKK&bgr; expression on macrophage functions and to assess the effect of myeloid-specific IKK&bgr; deletion on atherosclerosis development. Methods and Results—To explore the issue of macrophage IKK&bgr; involvement of atherogenesis, we generated myeloid-specific IKK&bgr;-deficient low-density lipoprotein receptor–deficient mice (IKK&bgr;&Dgr;MyeLDLR−/−). Deficiency of IKK&bgr; in myeloid cells did not affect plasma lipid levels but significantly decreased diet-induced atherosclerotic lesion areas in the aortic root, brachiocephalic artery, and aortic arch of low-density lipoprotein receptor–deficient mice. Ablation of myeloid IKK&bgr; attenuated macrophage inflammatory responses and decreased atherosclerotic lesional inflammation. Furthermore, deficiency of IKK&bgr; decreased adhesion, migration, and lipid uptake in macrophages. Conclusion—The present study demonstrates a pivotal role for myeloid IKK&bgr; expression in atherosclerosis by modulating macrophage functions involved in atherogenesis. These results suggest that inhibiting nuclear factor-&kgr;B activation in macrophages may represent a feasible approach to combat atherosclerosis.
Gender wage differentials, job search, and part-time employment in the UK

Gender wage differentials in the UK are examined using a general equilibrium search model. This framework permits an assessment of male-female differences in labour market behaviour on gender wage differentials. The model captures worker decisions leading to transitions between labour market states and jobs, and firm responses to such transitions via wage offers. Special attention is paid to part-time workers, who have substantially less labour market attachment than full-time workers. The results indicate labour market behaviour differences play a role in determining gender wage differentials within education levels. The importance of these differences varies by education level and hours of work. These findings have implications for policies aimed at reducing gender wage differentials, and for researchers assessing the causes of gender wage differentials in situations where a large fraction of women work part-time. Copyright 2009 , Oxford University Press.
The Determinants of Board Composition

We identify factors that lead to changes among corporate directors. We hypothesize that the CEO succession process and firm performance will affect board composition. Our findings are consistent with both hypotheses. When their CEO nears retirement, firms tend to add inside directors (who may be possible candidates to be the next CEO) Just after a CEO change, inside directors with short tenures appear more likely to leave the board (they, perhaps, being the losing candidates). We also find that inside directors are more likely to leave the board and outside directors more likely to join after a firm performs poorly and when a firm leaves a product market.
Implied Risk Aversion Parameter from Option Prices

This paper estimates the representative investor's coefficient of relative risk aversion using option price data. Estimation is carried out using the method of simulated moments. Employing the following assumptions: a) agents have constant proportional risk averse preferences, b) complete markets exist, and c) asset returns are distributed lognormally, an objective function is constructed within the equivalent martingale measure framework. Unlike the case of equity markets, the implied risk aversion parameter from option prices is quite low and stays between zero and one. Copyright 1997 by MIT Press.
Exposure Assessment and Risk of Gastrointestinal Illness Among Surfers

Surfing is a unique recreational activity with the possibility of elevated risk for contracting gastrointestinal (GI) illness through ingestion of contaminated water. No prior studies have assessed exposure from ingestion among surfing populations. This study estimated the magnitude and frequency of incidental water ingestion using a Web-based survey and integrated exposure distributions with enterococci distributions to predict the probability of GI illness at six Oregon beaches. The mean exposure magnitude and frequency were 170 ml of water ingested per day and 77 days spent surfing per year, respectively. The mean number of enterococci ingested ranged from approximately 11 to 86 colony-forming units (CFU) per day. Exposure-response analyses were conducted using an ingested dose model and two epidemiological models. Risk was characterized using joint probability curves (JPC). At the most contaminated beach, the annualized ingested dose model estimated a mean 9% probability of a 50% probability of GI illness, similar to the results of the first epidemiological model (mean 6% probability of a 50% probability of GI illness). The second epidemiological model predicted a 23% probability of exceeding an exposure equivalent to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) maximum acceptable GI illness rate (19 cases/1000 swimmers). While the annual risk of GI illness for Oregon surfers is not high, data showed that surfers ingest more water compared to swimmers and divers and need to be considered in regulatory and public health efforts, especially in more contaminated waters. Our approach to characterize risk among surfers is novel and informative to officials responsible for advisory programs. It also highlights the need for further research on microbial dose-response relationships to meet the needs of quantitative microbial risk assessments (QMRA).
Vision-based PID control of planar robots

The aim of this short paper is to study the stability of energy-shaping controllers for the regulation problem of robot manipulators with a vision-based feedback. Under the assumption of uncertain gravitational torques, it is shown that a classical integral action in composition with the transpose Jacobian matrix suffices to obtain asymptotic stability. The performance of proposed strategy is evaluated experimentally in a two degree-of-freedom robot moving on a vertical plane.
Instability of the Inflation–Output Trade‐Off and Time‐Varying Price Rigidity

type="main" xml:id="obes12102-abs-0001"> This paper studies the time instability of the Phillips curve by paying particular attention to the inflation environment and price stickiness. We identify various inflation episodes and investigate the changing nature of the curve across these periods for five advanced countries over 1960–2013. We show that the mean inflation, the slope of the curve and the threshold mean inflation that erodes price rigidity are time varying. The inflation environment is a key determinant of the inflation–output relationship, rejecting the evidence of a flat curve and restoring the inflation–output trade-off above certain inflation thresholds.
Economic crisis and municipal public service employment: comparing developments in seven EU Member States

This article examines the impact of austerity policies in seven EU Member States on municipal employment and the ways in which social dialogue can influence consequences for employees. It provides a comparative institutional framework, looking at municipal tasks and powers, and the social dialogue institutions available in the respective countries. In addition, the outcomes of austerity policies are compared with regard to wages, employment levels and the public service provision, as well as the influence of social dialogue institutions on these outcomes. Trade unions and workplace employee representatives face a dilemma, having to choose between concession bargaining and opposition to employer plans in order to preserve public sector employment. Between and within countries there seem to be significant differences in their success. Generally speaking, however, these are tough times for municipal workers, their representatives and citizens dependent on the services municipalities offer.
Gamma and velocity tracking for UAV obstacle avoidance in pitch plane

Global and local (or reactive) obstacle avoidance across unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) altitudes is a challenging problem. In an UAV autonomous flight when the obstacle threat is determined in-flight from the on-board sensors, techniques to avoid the obstacles autonomously in real-time and continue with the predefined flight path need to be incorporated into the autonomous systems. Hence a requirement in vertical (pitch) plane is to plan vehicle positions different from the obstacle positions. In this paper, a real-time autonomous trajectory generation scheme useful to design these potential vehicle positions incorporating vehicle capability is presented. It is known that vehicle velocity and flight path angle (gamma) uniquely determine vehicle positions. As a result, path planning for obstacle avoidance boils down to gamma tracking and vehicle velocity tracking problems. The trajectory generation scheme as a tracking problem is applied to illustrate avoiding hypothetical static ground obstacle like building in pitch plane using a three degree of freedom fixed wing micro air vehicle model.
Supply uncertainty and the economic value of irrigation water

The economic value of irrigation water to horticultural producers in southern Spain is examined using a choice experiment. Marginal water values are found to be typically above those currently paid and to increase with holding size. Potential gains from trade are identified but this would entail the transfer of water and production from smaller to larger holdings. Uncertainty in future irrigation water allocations is also examined. We find producers to be strongly risk averse in their preferences towards water allocations, with significant heterogeneity in the valuation of reduced uncertainty regarding future water allocations. Oxford University Press and Foundation for the European Review of Agricultural Economics 2010; all rights reserved. For permissions, please email journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org, Oxford University Press.
Fixed–income volatility management

'. M easuring the risk in fixed-income management typically takes the form of determining exposure to changes in the level of interest rates. Duration and convexity are measures allowing evaluation of the impact on price resulting from a shift in the level of interest rates. This approach has provided a framework for understanding the relationship between interest rate change and the resulting portfolio return. A portfolio manager who is willing to take a position with respect to an expected rate movement actively manages the portfolio exposure to rate changes. This means shortening the portfolio duration when rates are expected to move up, and increasing the duration in anticipation of a drop in interest rates. A more conservative investor will avoid taking bets on the direction of rate changes, but instead try to minimize the risks of negative performance against the investment benchmark. This benchmark may be the present value of the liabilities in pension plan funding, or the value of guaranteed investment contracts issued by an insurance company, or the return on a broad market index used to judge the manager's performance. Whatever the benchmark, the passive manager sets up the portfolio so that it reacts to interest rate movements in the same way that the benchmark does. This means matching the duration, and perhaps convexity, of the portfolio to that of the benchmark. 1 Duration is defined in the market value of the as the percentage change portfolio resulting from a decline in interest rates of 1%. For a non-callable bond, the duration is calculated as the average time to the scheduled payments (both principal and interest), with each time length weighted by the present value of the payment amount. (Alternative calculations of duration have been proposed, depending on the assumptions regarding the behavior of the term structure of rates.) In the case of a portfolio, duration is obtained by averaging the duration of the individual securities in the portfolio in proportion to the holdings in each. Convexity measures the rate at which duration itself will change when interest rates move. Convexity is therefore a second-order effect, measuring the exposure of a measure of exposure. It is relevant because it is impossible for a practical investor to adjust the duration of the portfolio continuously. Whether the investor pursues an active strategy of forecasting or the passive strategy of safeguarding against unforeseen price changes (or any management style in between), it is essential that all sources of return and risk be identified. It is our thesis that the volatility of interest rates (aside from the level) is a factor whose changes affect the pricing of fixedincome securities. While bond market practitioners have recognized that volatility of rates can be an important com-
New size reduction for patch antenna by parasitic shorting elements

This paper presents a new size reduction technique for a microstrip antenna by adding parasitic L-shaped shorting strips which are equivalent to provide capacitive and inductive loading effects to the patch. With the use of these parasitic elements, the antenna finds an obvious size reduction while maintaining a good broadside radiation characteristic. Because of this attractive radiation feature, the antenna is suitable for circularly polarized (CP) antennas. A new small CP patch antenna operating at 2.492GHz is therefore proposed using a microwave substrate of dielectric constant, εr=10, with a coaxial probe feed. The total area of reduction is about 82% in comparison with the conventional half-wave patch antenna.
Pricing Lookback and Barrier Options under the CEV Process

Abstract This paper examines the pricing of lookback and barrier options when the underlying asset follows the constant elasticity of variance (CEV) process. We construct a trinomial method to approximate the CEV process and use it to price lookback and barrier options. For look-back options, we find that the technique proposed by Babbs for the lognormal case can be modified to value lookbacks when the asset price follows the CEV process. We demonstrate the accuracy of our approach for different parameter values of the CEV process. We find that the prices of barrier and lookback options for the CEV process deviate significantly from those for the lognormal process. For standard options, the corresponding differences between the CEV and Black-Scholes models are relatively small. Our results show that it is much more important to have the correct model specification for options that depend on extrema than for standard options.
Risk, Return, and Equilibrium

Sharpe (1964) and Lintner (11965a, 1965b) have presented a model directed at the following questions. (a) What is the appropriate measure of the risk of an investment asset? And (b) what is the relationship in equilibrium between this measure of the asset's risk and its one-period expected return? The Sharpe-Lintner asset pricing model is a natural extension of the one-period portfolio models of Markowitz (1959) and Tobin (1958), which in turn are built on the expected utility model of von Neumann and Morgenstern (1953) and others. The portfolio models are concerned with how the consumer (investor) should allocate his wealth among the various assets available in the market, given that he is a oneperiod expected utility maximizer. The asset pricing model then uses the characteristics of consumer wealth allocation decisions to derive the market equilibrium relationship between risk and expected return for assets and portfolios. Like the portfolio models of Markowitz and Tobin, the Sharpe-Lintner asset pricing model assumes a market of risk-averse consumers who can make portfolio decisions on the basis of the means and standard deviations of one-period portfolio returns, implicitly assuming that these standard deviations exist. But the empirical work of Blume (1968), Fama (1965a), Mandelbrot (1963), and Roll (1968) suggests that this assumption may be inappropriate; distributions of returns on common stocks and government bonds conform well to nonnormal members of the stable or stable Paretian class of distributions, and the standard deviations of these distributions do not exist.
A Clustered Multiclass Likelihood‐Ratio Ensemble Method for Family‐Based Association Analysis Accounting for Phenotypic Heterogeneity

Although compelling evidence suggests that the genetic etiology of complex diseases could be heterogeneous in subphenotype groups, little attention has been paid to phenotypic heterogeneity in genetic association analysis of complex diseases. Simply ignoring phenotypic heterogeneity in association analysis could result in attenuated estimates of genetic effects and low power of association tests if subphenotypes with similar clinical manifestations have heterogeneous underlying genetic etiologies. To facilitate the family‐based association analysis allowing for phenotypic heterogeneity, we propose a clustered multiclass likelihood‐ratio ensemble (CMLRE) method. The proposed method provides an alternative way to model the complex relationship between disease outcomes and genetic variants. It allows for heterogeneous genetic causes of disease subphenotypes and can be applied to various pedigree structures. Through simulations, we found CMLRE outperformed the commonly adopted strategies in a variety of underlying disease scenarios. We further applied CMLRE to a family‐based dataset from the International Consortium to Identify Genes and Interactions Controlling Oral Clefts (ICOC) to investigate the genetic variants and interactions predisposing to subphenotypes of oral clefts. The analysis suggested that two subphenotypes, nonsyndromic cleft lip without palate (CL) and cleft lip with palate (CLP), shared similar genetic etiologies, while cleft palate only (CP) had its own genetic mechanism. The analysis further revealed that rs10863790 (IRF6), rs7017252 (8q24), and rs7078160 (VAX1) were jointly associated with CL/CLP, while rs7969932 (TBK1), rs227731 (17q22), and rs2141765 (TBK1) jointly contributed to CP.
COMPARISON AND REVIEW OF COMPETITIVENESS INDEXES: TOWARDS THE EU POLICY

The article presents the comparison and review of competitiveness indexes in the environment of EU policy. Different approaches of authors towards competition and competitiveness indexes have been analyzed and summed up, a comparative analysis of the most popular indexes has been outlined, the main aspects how to calculate the use competitiveness index has been examined as well as advantages and disadvantages of the composite competitiveness index have been disclosed, the main aspects and obstacles of EU competitiveness policy have been enlightened. Research showed, that despite the common objectives of growth, development and raising competitiveness there is an issue of uneven allocation of structural financing for different economic sectors thus leading to a distortion of a market and as well as a threat of ineffectively allocated national budget, which part is used for co-financing EU-funded projects. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.5755/j01.em. 17.1. 2257