Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Less Income Inequality and More Growth – Are They Compatible?: Part 1: Mapping Income Inequality Across the OECD

Countries differ widely with respect to the level of labour income inequality among individuals of working age. Labour income inequality is shaped by differences in wage rates, hours worked and inactivity rates. Individual labour income inequality is the main driver of household market income inequality, with family formation as well as self-employment and capital income dispersion playing a smaller role. Household disposable income dispersion is lower in all OECD countries than household market income inequality, due to the redistributive effect of tax and transfer systems, but redistribution differs widely across countries. This paper maps income inequality for all OECD countries across various inequality dimensions and summarises them in inequality outcome diamonds. It also provides a cluster analysis that identifies groups of countries that share similar inequality patterns. Moins d'inegalites de revenu et plus de croissance – Ces deux objectifs sont-ils compatibles? : Partie 1. Cartographie des inegalites de revenu dans les pays de l'OCDE Les inegalites des revenus du travail entre les personnes en âge de travailler varient largement selon les pays. Elles refletent les ecarts de salaire, de nombre d‘heures ouvrees et de taux d‘inactivite. Ces inegalites sont le principal facteur d‘inegalite du revenu marchand des menages, la composition de la famille, l‘emploi independant et la repartition des revenus du capital jouant un moindre role. La repartition du revenu disponible des menages dans tous les pays de l‘OCDE est moins importante que l‘inegalite du revenu marchand des menages en raison de l‘effet redistributif de l‘impot et des systemes de transfert, mais cette redistribution est tres variable selon les pays. Ce document dresse une cartographie des inegalites de revenu dans tous les pays de l‘OCDE en distinguant les differentes composantes de revenus et en les synthetisant sous forme de figures en diamant rendant compte des resultats obtenus. Il presente en outre une analyse par clusters mettant en evidence les groupes de pays ayant en commun les memes structures d‘inegalite.Countries differ widely with respect to the level of labour income inequality among individuals of working age. Labour income inequality is shaped by differences in wage rates, hours worked and inactivity rates. Individual labour income inequality is the main driver of household market income inequality, with family formation as well as self-employment and capital income dispersion playing a smaller role. Household disposable income dispersion is lower in all OECD countries than household market income inequality, due to the redistributive effect of tax and transfer systems, but redistribution differs widely across countries. This paper maps income inequality for all OECD countries across various inequality dimensions and summarises them in inequality outcome diamonds. It also provides a cluster analysis that identifies groups of countries that share similar inequality patterns.
The relationship between institutional quality and trade in Pacific Island countries

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the export, import, and total trade determinants using reduced form equations for six Pacific Island countries (PICs) with an institutional focus.Design/methodology/approach – A fixed effects model, controlling for AR(1) errors, using panel data for selected PICs is utilized. Controlling for common determinants of trade, four indicators of institutional quality: government effectiveness; rule of law; regulatory quality; and control of corruption are tested.Findings – The empirical results indicate that improvements in institutional quality variables matter for improved levels of trade. The results also provide confirmation that the appreciation of currency does not significantly harm trade; higher levels of technological diffusion are vital for improved trade; and that gradual liberalization of trade through tariff reduction strongly facilitates more trade.Practical implications – This study clearly points out that the institutional quality in the selected.
Strategies to respond to change: an exploratory study

In this paper, focused on Western Australian organizations affected by the global financial crisis and their responses to the changing environment, there are significant practical and theoretical outcomes from an exploratory study. Theoretically, it has identified a deeper understanding of how organizations respond to, and manage, change in times of uncertainty; it complements existing literature by extending discussions about decision-making, re-allocation of resources, communication strategies and management of concerns and attitudes of employees within specific workplace contexts. Similarly, it contributes to extant literature on the change process and, potentially, assists in the development of a framework to inform the completion of successful change events. Practically, it is significant that participating organizations receive aggregated data that help identify elements of successful change practices that can be implemented to assist managers. The paper comprises two parts; the first highlights relevant literature which provides the context for subsequent discussion and in the second part the research methodology, findings and overall conclusions are discussed.
Frequency Domain Analysis of Inductor Saturation in Current Controlled Grid Converters

In this paper the effects of non-linear inductance on the performance of current controllers designed to track periodic signals and/or to compensate periodic disturbances are investigated with a frequency-domain model. When the inductance has a non-linear behavior a distorted current waveform is produced; if the saturation is symmetric, the current spectrum contains only odd harmonics. A current-dependent model of the non-linear inductance has been developed using the Volterra series expansion. The model allows proving formally how harmonic compensation provided by resonant and repetitive controllers can also mitigate the effects of the inductance saturation. This result is the main contribution of the paper and it is also substantiated with experimental evidence. It has been proven that the resonant and repetitive controllers are able to reduce harmonic distortion introduced by non-linearities. Moreover the repetitive controller is able to comply with the harmonic limits reported in IEEE 1547 and IEC 61727 even in very hard saturation conditions.
Extension of right portal vein embolization to segment IV portal branches.

HYPOTHESIS Routine embolization of segment IV, combined with right portal vein embolization (PVE), has been suggested in patients who are candidates for right trisegmentectomy to induce higher and faster hypertrophy of segments II-III. Our objective was to compare hypertrophy of segments II-III induced by PVE with and without extension to segment IV in patients undergoing major hepatectomy. METHODS Twenty-six consecutive patients were prospectively evaluated; the future remnant liver volume was calculated using the portal phase of spiral computed tomographic scans before and 3 to 4 weeks after right PVE (group R, n = 13), which was extended to segment IV branches in 13 patients (group L). RESULTS Twenty patients (76.9%) underwent the scheduled hepatic resection. Of the 6 patients who did not undergo the planned operation, 5 showed disease progression; in 1 patient (group L), there was an insufficient increase of the future remnant liver volume due to the presence of embolizing material in the left lobe. The mean +/- SD time between PVE and volume measurements was 31.8 +/- 9.3 days. The overall mean +/- SD future remnant liver volume increase was 53.1% +/- 24.8%; the increase for segment IV was significantly higher in group R than group L. The mean +/- SD post-PVE volumes of segments II-III and the rate of volume increase were similar in the 2 groups: group R, 348.4 +/- 83.1 cm3 and 67.8% +/- 30.8%, respectively, vs group L, 391.2 +/- 78.05 cm3 and 56.1% +/- 35.1%, respectively (P = .20 and P = .40). CONCLUSION Extension of embolization to segment IV portal branches should not be routinely used because a similar volume increase of segments II-III can be simply achieved by right PVE.
“Never Blind VR” enhancing the virtual reality headset experience with augmented virtuality

In this demo, we share our findings in building real-time 3D experiences with consumer headsets so as to go beyond the first person shooter gaming usage for which they are designed. We address the key problems of such user experiences which are to isolate the user from his own body, have him lose contact with other people in the room and with the real world. To solve those issues we use an off-the-shelf Kinect for Windows v2 to inject some reality in the virtuality. A video describing the demo is available here [1].
Pathway for agricultural science impact in West Africa: lessons from the Convergence of Sciences programme

The impact of agricultural research on the livelihoods of resource-poor farmers in West Africa has been disappointing. This article reports on research on agricultural research that sought to identify an alternative pathway of science that would lead to greater impact. It is based on the analysis of the work at eight pilot learning sites in the Convergence of Sciences (CoS) programme. Each site featured research for development with resource-poor farmers and other stakeholders. On the basis of literature review, we first built a perspective on the mix of research outcomes that seems necessary for agricultural research to be demand-driven and client-oriented. This perspective then served as the framework for analysis of the work at the eight learning sites. Adapted and consolidated on the basis of this empirical work, the framework represents a set of preliminary ideas for designing an effective pathway for agricultural science. The analysis shows that CoS has, in a number of diverse contexts and with respect to different crops, demonstrated that it is possible to establish vibrant multi-stakeholder learning coalitions at the local and programme levels that generate a great deal of enthusiasm and drive. It is further possible to identify promising opportunities that can be effectively addressed by agricultural research, if that research is multi-disciplinary, refrains from making constraining pre-analytical choices, pays attention to institutional aspects, and uses procedures that ensure that research is not only supply-, but also demand-driven. The study fills a gap in defining the nature of the components of a meaningful agricultural innovation system. The institutional dynamics at the macro level remain to be addressed in CoS' second phase. The present paper reports on the social dimensions and methodological issues of the first phase of the programme. The outcomes of the agronomic experiments with farmers will be reported elsewhere.
The impact of sectoral shifts and the aggregate labour market on unemployment duration

This study investigates the effects of sectoral shifts among industries on unemployment duration. These effects are decomposed into two subeffects: the overall effect and the specific industrial effect. The former is equal for all of the unemployed in all industries, while the latter depends on the tightness of the demand for labour of the industry in question. In addition, the impact of the aggregate labour market on unemployment duration is also explored. The empirical results show that most of the overall and all of the specific effects are significant, indicating that the sectoral shifts among industries as well as the aggregate labour market do in fact impact unemployment duration, and that the effects on unemployment duration vary in terms of their tightness in the different industrial labour markets.
SNJ‐1945, a calpain inhibitor, protects SH‐SY5Y cells against MPP+ and rotenone

Complex pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease involves multiple CNS cell types. Degeneration in spinal cord neurons alongside brain has been shown to be involved in Parkinson's disease and evidenced in experimental parkinsonism. However, the mechanisms of these degenerative pathways are not well understood. To unravel these mechanisms SH‐SY5Y neuroblastoma cells were differentiated into dopaminergic and cholinergic phenotypes, respectively, and used as cell culture model following exposure to two parkinsonian neurotoxicants MPP+ and rotenone. SNJ‐1945, a cell‐permeable calpain inhibitor was tested for its neuroprotective efficacy. MPP+ and rotenone dose‐dependently elevated the levels of intracellular free Ca2+ and induced a concomitant rise in the levels of active calpain. SNJ‐1945 pre‐treatment significantly protected cell viability and preserved cellular morphology following MPP+ and rotenone exposure. The neurotoxicants elevated the levels of reactive oxygen species more profoundly in SH‐SY5Y cells differentiated into dopaminergic phenotype, and this effect could be attenuated with SNJ‐1945 pre‐treatment. In contrast, significant levels of inflammatory mediators cyclooxygenase‐2 (Cox‐2 and cleaved p10 fragment of caspase‐1) were up‐regulated in the cholinergic phenotype, which could be dose‐dependently attenuated by the calpain inhibitor. Overall, SNJ‐1945 was efficacious against MPP+ or rotenone‐induced reactive oxygen species generation, inflammatory mediators, and proteolysis. A post‐treatment regimen of SNJ‐1945 was also examined in cells and partial protection was attained with calpain inhibitor administration 1–3 h after exposure to MPP+ or rotenone. Taken together, these results indicate that calpain inhibition is a valid target for protection against parkinsonian neurotoxicants, and SNJ‐1945 is an efficacious calpain inhibitor in this context.
An Optimal Online Method of Selecting Source Policies for Reinforcement Learning

Transfer learning significantly accelerates the reinforcement learning process by exploiting relevant knowledge from previous experiences. The problem of optimally selecting source policies during the learning process is of great importance yet challenging. There has been little theoretical analysis of this problem. In this paper, we develop an optimal online method to select source policies for reinforcement learning. This method formulates online source policy selection as a multi-armed bandit problem and augments Q-learning with policy reuse. We provide theoretical guarantees of the optimal selection process and convergence to the optimal policy. In addition, we conduct experiments on a grid-based robot navigation domain to demonstrate its efficiency and robustness by comparing to the state-of-the-art transfer learning method.
Recent Progress on Graph Partitioning Problems Using Evolutionary Computation

The graph partitioning problem (GPP) is a representative combinatorial optimization problem which is NP-hard. Currently, various approaches to solve GPP have been introduced. Among these, the GPP solution using evolutionary computation (EC) is an effective approach. There has not been any survey on the research applying EC to GPP since 2011. In this survey, we introduce various attempts to apply EC to GPP made in the recent seven years.
Evaluation of severity index of vulnerability categories

Proper and timely vulnerability mitigation is essential to ensure network security. Vulnerability categorisation plays a major role in this regard by increasing objectivity of security assessment process. Further, it suggests doing assessment of severity level of vulnerability categories to prioritise them relatively. That in turn leads in developing better risk mitigation strategies by addressing multiple vulnerabilities of same genre simultaneously. In this direction, this paper proposes an algorithm to evaluate severity index of vulnerability categories focusing on vulnerability characteristics and relative distribution of vulnerability population. Proposed algorithm applied on 22846 vulnerabilities listed by NVD which are categorised under 23 categories and further severity index for all the 23 categories were calculated.
Financial Integration in the European Union

This edited collection assesses the level of financial integration in the European Union (EU) and the differences across the countries and segments of the EU financial system. Progress in financial integration is key to the EU’s economic growth and competitiveness and although it has advanced substantially, the process is still far from completion. This book focuses on the pace of financial integration in the EU with special emphasis on the new EU Member States and investigates their progress in comparison with ‘old’ EU countries. The book is the first of its kind to include and evaluate the effects of the global financial crisis on the process of EU financial integration. In particular, the book’s contributors address the issue of whether a high degree of financial integration contributed to the intensification of the financial crisis, or whether a low level of integration prevented countries and financial industries from some of the negative effects of the crisis. Although most of the chapters apply contemporary econometric tools, the technical part is always reduced to indispensable minimum and the emphasis is given to economic interpretation of the results. The book aims to offer an up to date and insightful examination of the process of financial integration in the EU today.
The Information Content of Risk Factor Disclosures in Quarterly Reports

SYNOPSIS: I examine whether recently required risk factor update disclosures in quarterly reports provide investors with timely information regarding potential future negative economic events. Specifically, I examine whether risk factor updates in 10-Q filings are associated with negative abnormal returns at the time the updates are disclosed and whether quarterly updates are followed by negative earnings shocks. I find that firms presenting updates to their risk factor disclosures have significantly lower abnormal returns around the filing date of the 10-Q relative to firms without updates. I also find that firms with updates to their risk factors section have significantly lower future unexpected earnings and are more likely to experience future extreme negative earnings shocks. These findings suggest that the recent disclosure requirement mandated by the SEC was successful in generating timely disclosure of bad news. JEL Classifications: M41; M48; D80; G18. Data Availability: Please contact the author.
Essays on public policy and household decision making

This dissertation contains four empirical analyses of household decision making and public policy. We use structural microeconometric methods to evaluate specific aspects of national tax systems which are targeted at partnered households. Our aim is to identify the determinants of household decision making, quantify the behavioral effects which are likely to be induced by potential reforms of current fiscal policy, and to propose reforms which would be in line with the long-term goals set forth by the national governments. The first part of this dissertation consists of two chapters which investigate the relative effects of joint and individual income taxation on the behavior of partnered households in France and Australia, respectively. The policy analysis in both chapters is targeted at quantifying the labor supply responses and revenue effects induced by a shift from joint income taxation to individual income taxation. The second part of this dissertation consists of two chapters which analyze the effectiveness of fiscal stimuli for working parents, focusing on child care subsidy and tax credit reforms in the Netherlands. The policy goal of both chapters is to determine which of the policies - the child care subsidy or the tax credit - is more effective in stimulating the female labor supply. The effectiveness is assessed firstly in a static, and subsequently also in a dynamic modeling framework.
Development and Global Finance: The Case for an International Bank for Environmental Settlements

The approach suggested here was proposed by the author during discussions with members of (a) the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC), (b) the United States Council of Economic Advisors, (c) the Global Environment Facility, and (d) the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. An earlier version of this paper was presented as a keynote address to the Third Annual World Bank Conference on Effective Financing of Environmentally Sustainable Development in October 1995. The author thanks the participants of UNDP meetings in March and June I996 for their comments as well as Dr. Jorge Werthein of UNESCO.
Low dose hyper-radiosensitivity is eliminated during exposure to cycling hypoxia but returns after reoxygenation

Purpose: To investigate the effect of cycling hypoxia on low dose hyper-radiosensitivity (HRS). Materials and methods: Human breast tumor T-47D cells were grown in a hypoxia workstation operated at 4% O2 for 3–6 weeks and the pericellular oxygen concentration was recorded every 20 minutes. The presence of HRS in response to subsequent challenge irradiation was measured by clonogenic survival. Results: T-47D cells adapted to growing with 4% O2 in the gas phase but showed no HRS. However, HRS was recovered after between 48 h and two weeks of reoxygenation at 20% O2. Medium transferred from the hypoxic T-47D cells removed HRS in recipient cells grown in ambient air. Cells irradiated with X-rays showed a shallower HRS-‘dip’ and a lower dc-value (dose where the change from the hypersensitive to the induced repair response is 63% complete) compared to cells irradiated with 60Co γ-rays. Conclusions: Cycling hypoxia transiently eliminates HRS in T-47D cells in vitro. This may partly explain the diverging results of in vivo studies of HRS. The effect of cycling hypoxia on HRS is comparable to our previous findings for T-47D cells receiving medium transfer from cells irradiated with 0.3 Gy at 0.3 Gy/h.
Teaching OOP with BlueJ: A Case Study

In this paper we present our findings on teaching OOP with BlueJ in the context of a one-semester programming course. We organize our findings, i.e., the difficulties, the errors, and the misconceptions that students encounter, in two categories: (a) difficulties attributed to the special characteristics of OOP, and, (b) difficulties that may be attributed to the features of the programming environment