Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Are Windfalls a Curse? A Non-Representative Agent Model of the Current Account and Fiscal Policy

In several countries temporary terms of trade improvements have led to a deterioration of the current account. Furthermore, many of these countries failed to attain greater post-boom growth rates. The point we make is that the structure of the fiscal process is critical in determining outcomes. If fiscal control is unitary, then the consumption-smoothing effect is operative, and representative-agent models of the current account have predictive power. However, if control is divided among several fiscal claimants, a voracity effect appears which counteracts the consumption-smoothing effect, leading to a deterioration of the current account in response to a positive shock. We model the interaction among fiscal claimants as a dynamic game, and show that in equilibrium aggregate appropriation increases more than the windfall itself. This results in a deterioration of the current account. We also show that all the windfall is dissipated, with the country experiencing no increase in its growth rate. Lastly, we analyze the experiences of seven countries which have enjoyed large windfalls.
Hypergraph matching based on Marginalized Constrained Compatibility

We aim to match two hypergraphs via pairwise characterization of multiple relationships. To this end, we introduce a technique referred to as Marginalized Constrained Compatibility Estimation (MCCE), which transforms the compatibility tensor representing hyper-edge similarities into a compatibility matrix representing edge similarities. We then cluster graph vertices associated with the compatibility matrix and extract its dominant set as the optimal matches. Our MCCE-based method overcomes the information loss arising in arithmetic average, which is commonly used for marginal-ization in the hypergraph matching literature. Experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of our method.
Truncation artifact reduction in magnetic resonance imaging by Markov random field methods

A new statistical method is proposed for reduction of truncation artifacts when reconstructing a function by a finite number of its Fourier series coefficients. Following the Bayesian approach, it is possible to take into account both the errors induced by the truncation of the Fourier series and some specific characteristics of the function. A suitable Markov random field is used for modeling these characteristics. Furthermore, in applications like Magnetic Resonance Imaging, where these coefficients are the measured data, the experimental random noise in the data can also be taken into account. Monte Carlo Markov chain methods are used to make statistical inference. Parameter selection in the Bayesian model is also addressed and a solution for selecting the parameters automatically is proposed. The method is applied successfully to both simulated and real magnetic resonance images.
Women on boards : the role of social capital and networking in corporate board director selection processes

There remains a paucity of women in both executive and non-executive director roles in British boardrooms. This research explores how far this is explained by differences in levels of social capital and networking activities between men and women seeking boardroom positions. While it is known that social capital is important at junior and middle management levels (with existing research showing that the quality of men’s and women’s networks differ, and that women are not able to leverage their networks to the same extent as their male colleagues) no rigorous academic research on this issue has been conducted specifically at corporate board level, largely due to the difficulty of securing access to respondents. This thesis addresses the gap in the literature by drawing on data gathered from 82 semistructured interviews with Chairs, head-hunters and aspiring or recently appointed male and female directors. The research questions asked: what is the role of social capital and networking in corporate board selection processes; how far can Human Capital Theory, Preference Theory, Attribution Theory and Self-Efficacy explain the lack of progress of senior women to board level roles? ; do aspiring female directors have poorer quality networks and less social capital than their male peers; why might this be; and are female aspiring directors as willing and able to leverage their social capital as their male peers. The findings affirm the importance of social capital theory in relation to selection to boardroom roles. Preference Theory, Human Capital Theory and Attribution Theory and Self-Efficacy are not found to explain the lack of promotion of senior female executives to board director positions. Other key contributions include insights into board director selection processes, the effectiveness of regulatory and voluntary codes, and gender differences in networking and job seeking activities of aspiring directors.
Prediction Market Performance and Market Liquidity: A Comparison of Automated Market Makers

The use of prediction markets (PMs) for forecasting is emerging in many fields because of its excellent forecasting accuracy. However, PM accuracy depends on its market design, including the choice of market mechanism. Standard financial market mechanisms are not well suited for small, usually illiquid PMs. To avoid liquidity problems, automated market makers (AMMs) always offer buy and sell prices. However, there is limited research that measures the relative performance of AMMs. This paper examines the properties of four documented and applied AMMs and compares their performance in a large-scale simulation study. The results show that logarithmic scoring rules and the dynamic pari-mutuel market attain the highest forecasting accuracy, good robustness against parameter misspecification, the ability to incorporate new information into prices, and the lowest losses for market operators. However, they are less robust in case of noisy trading, which makes them less appropriate in environments with high uncertainty about true prices for shares.
Enhanced business reporting: international trends and possible policy directions

Purpose – This paper seeks to examine contemporary trends in enhanced business reporting (EBR) and the development of a policy agenda for EBR. The paper aims to build on a submission to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (US SEC) advisory committee on improvements to financial statements (Pozen Committee). Design/methodology/approach – The paper takes the form of a literature and policy review of intangible assets and intellectual capital.Findings – Developments in the area of EBR will require to stand the test of practice, policy and research. The paper identifies five areas where recommendations would be welcome. First, the vast diversity in international EBR practice indicates that producers and users struggle with its implantation, suggesting concerns for international harmonisation. Second, the vast diversity in measurement and reporting models also suggests ambiguity about the content of EBR, raising questions as to how EBR techniques might be consolidated. Third, while experimentation with EB.
A Comparison Between Stereo-Vision Techniques for the Reconstruction of 3-D Coordinates of Objects

This paper deals with the problems in setting up stereo-vision systems for contactless measurement of dimensional parameters in industrial environments. Two implicit calibration algorithms for the reconstruction of three-dimensional (3-D) real-world coordinates of objects from pairs of two-dimensional image coordinates have been implemented and compared. The former is based on a direct linear transformation, while the latter on an Artificial Neural Network (ANN). The results of the comparison made on artificial and real objects are finally reported in terms of statistical analysis of the reconstruction error
FASB and IASB: Dependence Despite Independence

Most regulatory bodies are either powerful or independent. The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) are both — at least in theory. This paper argues that in practice, the two boards are less powerful and less independent than many critics claim. Both the FASB and the IASB face outside pressure, especially from politics, and both have made concessions to please their constituencies. Plato's famous philosopher kings illustrate why: without rulemaking powers, accounting experts will never be as independent as if they were legislators.
WATER alert!: disseminating drinking water quality information to South Africans

Drinking water quality, especially in many parts of South Africa, is far below acceptable standards. With an annual estimate of 43,000 deaths from diarrheal diseases, 3 million cases of illness, and treatment costs of over half a billion US dollars, the impact is critical [4]. This research addresses the challenge of reporting complex and critical water quality information in a way that is accessible to all South Africans as required by law. In a country with high illiteracy rates, 11 official languages and limited-to-no access to technology in many areas, this is no easy feat. We describe the details of WATER Alert! , a prototype mobile phone application designed to alert and report critical water quality information to consumers who subscribe to it. Our initial evaluation of this design with users suggests that such an application would help to improve consumers' understanding of water quality information. The symbol-based messages make critical water quality information more accessible to illiterate or low-literate users, or non-native English or Afrikaans speakers. Additionally, the use of a tool and interface design most of our users are familiar with (the mobile phone) lowers the learning curve.
North American Transmission of Hemosporidian Parasites in the Swainson's Thrush (Catharus ustulatus), a Migratory Songbird

Abstract: The geographic structuring of parasite communities across the range of a single host species can illuminate patterns of host-population connectivity. To determine the location of parasite transmission in a Neotropical migrant bird species, we sampled adult and hatch-year (HY) birds across the breeding and wintering range of the Swainson's thrush (SWTH), an abundant passerine with a migratory divide. We examined the phylogenetic relationships among cytochrome b lineages of the avian blood parasite genera Haemoproteus, Plasmodium, and Leucocytozoon and determined the transmission location of unique lineages. We found that Haemoproteus and Plasmodium lineages are transmitted on California breeding grounds, whereas Leucocytozoon transmission occurs on Alaskan breeding grounds. The presence of hemosporidians on wintering grounds and shared lineages between the SWTH and resident species suggests that transmission of some of these lineages occurs on both breeding and wintering grounds. We emphasize that the sampling of HY birds and local resident heterospecifics will supplement vector studies to determine the key players in hemosporidian host switching and range-expansion events.
Perceptions of policy makers to charging entrance fees at heritage and cultural sites

A study was undertaken at the eight Parliament Houses of Australia in relation to tourism practices at the Parliaments and views of employees and policy makers to these practices. Specifically the concept of charging fees was addressed and differences were found between the views of the senior employees and those of the politicians with direct control over this policy. Evidence from other heritage sites indicates that the lack of fees is a justifiable position.
Command Without Control: The Case of China's Environmental Target System

In the existing literature there is general agreement that the effectiveness and efficiency of command and control instruments versus market-based instruments is highly context specific. A country’s particular regulatory environment and state capacity, as well as the features of given environmental problems, play an important role in ascertaining what the "right" set of policy instruments for environmental management might be. This article examines how command and control instruments are used as an environmental enforcement mechanism in China’s authoritarian state. Based on extensive fieldwork, this paper shows that the reliance on binding environmental targets as the main domestic policy instrument in China has generated numerous undesirable consequences. While China’s target-based approach to implementation has incentivized local officials to strictly enforce environmental mandates, there are numerous shortcomings in the system. In particular, target rigidity, cyclical behaviour, poor data quality, and the absence of an independent monitoring agency have generated adverse effects and contribute to a yawning gap between regulatory goals and outcomes. The paper concludes that binding environmental targets as the main command-control instrument in China can be more accurately described as "command without control" as the target-setting central government does not exercise a high degree of control over implementation and monitoring processes. But command and control instruments can be suited for managing "first-generation" environmental problems and addressing environmental issues that have easily identifiable pollution sources and which are easy to verify.
High Order Voltage and Current Harmonic Mitigation Using the Modular Multilevel Converter STATCOM

Due to the increase of power electronic-based loads, the maintenance of high power quality poses a challenge in modern power systems. To limit the total harmonic distortion in the line voltage and currents at the point of the common coupling (PCC), active power filters are commonly employed. This paper investigates the use of the multilevel modular converter (MMC) for harmonics mitigation due to its high bandwidth compared with conventional converters. A selective harmonics detection method and a harmonics controller are implemented, while the output current controller of the MMC is tuned to selectively inject the necessary harmonic currents. Unlike previous studies, focus is laid on the experimental verification of the active filtering capability of the MMC. For this reason an MMC-based double-star STATCOM is developed and tested for two representative case studies, i.e., for grid currents and PCC voltage harmonics. The results verify the capability of the MMC to mitigate harmonics up to the thirteenth order, while maintaining a low effective switching frequency and thus, low switching losses.
Does Company Reputation Matter for Financial Reporting Quality? Evidence from Restatements

In this study, we explore the association between company reputation and the likelihood of a financial statement restatement (i.e., a revealed misstatement). We focus on restatements because they are one of the most visible forms of impaired financial reporting quality, and we suggest that company reputation concerns will influence the reporting process and reduce financial statement misstatements (and ultimately restatements). We proxy for company reputation using measures based on Fortune’s America’s Most Admired Companies List. For a sample of 8,081 observations from 1995 through 2009, we find that companies with higher reputation scores are less likely to misstate their financial statements after controlling for CEO tenure, corporate governance, and audit fees (a proxy for audit effort). In addition, we find that companies with higher reputations have better accruals quality. We also find that company reputation is positively associated with audit fees even after controlling for corporate governance. These results are consistent with company reputation having an important effect on financial reporting quality and with the effect of reputation being distinct from that of corporate governance.
Studies of the efficacy and potential hazards of methylene blue therapy in aniline‐induced methaemoglobinaemia

Summary. The similarity between poison and antidote was known to the ancient Greeks who used the same word, pharmakon, for both. This paper presents evidence that aniline (the toxin) and methylene blue (the therapy) are in fact remarkably similar and additive in some of their effects on erythrocytes. Studies were prompted by a case of aniline‐induced methaemoglobinaemia in which two injections of methylene blue did not rapidly eliminate cyanosis and were followed by severe, delayed haemolysis. Interactions between aniline and methylene blue were studied in cats which, although showing important differences from man in their haemoglobin and splenic vasculature, represent a useful model. Methylene blue potentiated the oxidative denaturation of haemoglobin by aniline as judged by the size and number of Heinz bodies and their turbidity in haemolysate. It also aggravated and prolonged the fall in erythrocyte reduced glutathione content which occurred at a time of maximum Heinz body production. While methylene blue in judicious dosage will reduce the content of methaemoglobin after aniline exposure, it may not eliminate visible cyanosis. Repeated injections of methylene blue can markedly aggravate subsequent haemolysis without further lowering methaemoglobin content.
Value added intellectual coefficient (VAIC): a critical analysis

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to analyse the validity of the value added intellectual coefficient (VAIC) method as an indicator of intellectual capital.Design/methodology/approach – The paper describes VAIC through its calculation formulae and aims to establish what exactly it is that the method measures. It also looks in detail at how intellectual capital is understood in the method, and discusses its conceptual confusions. Furthermore, the paper tests the hypothesis according to which VAIC correlates with a company's stock market value, and reflects the contradictory results of earlier studies.Findings – The analyses show, first, that VAIC indicates the efficiency of the company's labour and capital investments, and has nothing to do with intellectual capital. Furthermore, the calculation method uses overlapping variables and has other serious validity problems. Second, the results do not lend support to the hypothesis that VAIC correlates with a company's stock market value. The main reasons b.
α‐[11C]methyl‐L‐tryptophan uptake in patients with periventricular nodular heterotopia and epilepsy

Background:α‐[11C]methyl‐L‐tryptophan (α‐MTrp) positron emission tomography (PET) is a promising tool in the localization of the epileptogenic area in selected group of focal epilepsy patients. Electrophysiological evidence suggests the involvement of the neocortex in periventricular nodular heterotopia (PVNH).
Haptic Human–Robot Collaboration: Comparison of Robot Partner Implementations in Terms of Human-Likeness and Task Performance

In the past, working spaces of humans and robots were strictly separated, but recent developments have sought to bring robots into closer interaction with humans. In this context, physical human–robot interaction represents a major challenge, as it is based on continuous bilateral information and energy exchanges which result in a mutual adaptation of the partners. To address the challenge of designing robot collaboration partners, making them as human-like as possible is an approach often adopted. In order to compare different implementations with each other, their degree of human-likeness on a continuous scale is required. So far, the human-likeness of haptic interaction partners has only been studied in the form of binary choices. In this paper, we first introduce methods that allow measuring the human-likeness of haptic interaction partners on a continuous scale. In doing so, two subjective rating methods are proposed and correlated with a task performance measure. To demonstrate the applicability and validity of the proposed measures, they are applied to a joint kinesthetic manipulation task and used to compare two different implementations of a haptic interaction partner: a feedforward model based on force replay, and a feedback model. This experiment demonstrates the use of the proposed measures in building a continuous human-likeness scale and the interpretation of the scale values achieved for formulating guidelines for future robot implementations.
Nonparaphilic Hypersexual Behavior and Depressive Symptoms: A Meta-Analytic Review of the Literature

Research on nonparaphilic hypersexual behavior and its associated characteristics has increased in recent years. In the present article, the authors review the literature on the relation between nonparaphilic hypersexual behavior and depressive symptoms. There was a moderate, positive relation between nonparaphilic hypersexual behavior and depressive symptoms (r =.34). This relation was similar across gender, sexual orientation, and age. The authors discuss the implications for researchers and clinicians working with hypersexual individuals. Future research should work to elucidate the causal direction of the relation between nonparaphilic hypersexual behavior and depressive symptoms. The authors encourage clinicians who work with hypersexual patients to assess them for depressive symptoms and consider treatment options that address concurrent depressive symptoms.
Autoinhibition and phosphorylation-induced activation mechanisms of human cancer and autoimmune disease-related E3 protein Cbl-b

Cbl-b is a RING-type E3 ubiquitin ligase that functions as a negative regulator of T-cell activation and growth factor receptor and nonreceptor-type tyrosine kinase signaling. Cbl-b dysfunction is related to autoimmune diseases and cancers in humans. However, the molecular mechanism regulating its E3 activity is largely unknown. NMR and small-angle X-ray scattering analyses revealed that the unphosphorylated N-terminal region of Cbl-b forms a compact structure by an intramolecular interaction, which masks the interaction surface of the RING domain with an E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme. Phosphorylation of Y363, located in the helix-linker region between the tyrosine kinase binding and the RING domains, disrupts the interdomain interaction to expose the E2 binding surface of the RING domain. Structural analysis revealed that the phosphorylated helix-RING region forms a compact structure in solution. Moreover, the phosphate group of pY363 is located in the vicinity of the interaction surface with UbcH5B to increase affinity by reducing their electrostatic repulsion. Thus, the phosphorylation of Y363 regulates the E3 activity of Cbl-b by two mechanisms: one is to remove the masking of the RING domain from the tyrosine kinase binding domain and the other is to form a surface to enhance binding affinity to E2.