Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Interbank Confidence and Credit Growth

Changes in a central bank’s monetary policy are proven to affect credit growth for corporations and households. However, the exact transmission mechanism is still widely debated. This paper adds to the studies on the bank lending channel and focuses on cross-sectional differences among banks and the distributional effects of monetary policy on credit growth. In combination with traditional bank-specific factors, which ought to capture the bank lending channel, we add a measure of the interbank confidence to analyse banks’ credit growth in the Nordic and Baltic States during the period of 2002-2010. We find weak support for the idea that the bank-specific variables help to capture the bank-lending channel in the Nordic and Baltic States. Also, we find that TED spread volatility, which is a proxy for interbank confidence, is a significant determinant of credit growth in the sample region. We argue that this effect is of economic significance. Finally, in contrast to our findings for the Nordic and Baltic countries, but in line with previous research, additional analysis indicates the presence of distributional effects on credit growth in a sample of eurozone banks.
Investigation of domain adaptation for acoustic frog species classi fi cation

Acoustic frog species classification has received much attention for its importance in assessing biodiversity. However, most previous frog call classification models are trained and tested using the data collected from the same area, which greatly limits the model’s generalization. In practice, frogs often have regional accents. When training and testing data are collected from different areas, there is an adverse impact on frog call classification performance. To tackle this problem, this paper investigates domain adaptation for classifying frog calls collected from different areas. To evaluate the performance of our proposed methods, two frog call datasets, which are collected from subtropical eastern Australia and tropical north-eastern Australia, are used. Experimental results demonstrate that domain adaptation can significantly improve the weighted F1-score from 72.8% to 85.5%.
Web of deceit: Relationships between the dark triad, perceived ability to deceive and cyberloafing

The rapid growth of digitally mediated work means that non-traditional forms of counterproductive workplace behaviours are emerging, such as cyberloafing: use of the Internet for non-work related purposes. Time lost due to cyberloafing can have substantial impact on productivity. This research was the first to investigate the mechanisms by which dark personality traits and perceived ability to deceive are associated with cyberloafing. A sample of currently or previously employed participants ( N = 273), completed measures of psychopathy, Machiavellianism, narcissism, perceived ability to deceive, and cyberloafing. Path analysis was used to evaluate the model, and revealed good fit. As predicted, PATD mediated the relationships between the Dark Triad and cyberloafing, while psychopathy also related to cyberloafing directly. These findings suggest that in order to reduce cyberloafing, workplace policy should target an individual’s confidence in their ability to evade detection when misusing the Internet. Future research could strengthen the approach taken here by including a behavioural measure of cyberloafing. It is concluded that perceived ability to deceive plays a vital role in determining the way in which individuals possessing dark personality characteristics engage in technology-based counterproductive work behaviours.
Mollie Orshansky's Strategy to Poverty Measurement as a Relationship between Household Food Expenditures and Economy Food Plan

The concept of poverty thresholds was devised in the USA as a measure of income inadequacy for families, in order to compare the well-being of children in families of different size and composition. Poverty thresholds were originally built on 2 empirical findings from food consumption research at the USDA: the 1962 Economy Food Plan, which meets the nutritional requirements of a healthy diet at minimal cost; and the 1955 Household Food Consumption survey finding that for all households of ≥2 persons, the average dollar value of food used during 1 wk accounted for one-third of after tax cash income. To calculate the poverty thresholds, equivalence scales were developed for families of different size and composition, and the average food expenditure share for all households (not just those on low incomes) was used. This article discusses the ways in which these 2 approaches have evolved over time and considers the possibility that the methods used to measure poverty thresholds should be changed. [This paper was presented at the Allied Social Sciences Association annual meeting, New Orleans, LA, USA, Jan.4–6, 2008. ]
Modelling at Nanoscale

One of the most important aspects at nanoscale concerns the charge transport, which can be influenced by particles dimensions and assumes different characteristics with respect to those of bulk. In particular, if the mean free path of charges, due to scattering phenomena, is larger than the particle dimensions, we have a mesoscopic system, in which the transport depends on dimensions and in principle it is possible to correct the transport bulk theories by considering this phenomenon. A similar situation occurs also in a thin film, in which the smallest nanostructure dimension can be less than the free displacement and therefore requires variations to existing theoretical transport bulk models. Therefore a rigorous knowledge of transport properties is to be acquired. From a theoretical viewpoint, various techniques can be used for the comprehension of transport phenomena, in particular analytical descriptions based on transport equations. Many existing and used theories at today regard numerical approaches, not offering analytical results, which would be of great mathematical interest and in every case suitable to be implemented through the experimental data existing in literature and continuously found by the experimentalists.
Identifying Motivation of the Local Governments to Improve the Sustainability Transparency

This paper examines the sustainability tran-sparency of governments, i.e., the disclosure of information on the sustainability of their ac-tions. To do so, we identify contributory factors to the online disclosure of environmental, social, economic and general information by local gov-ernments in Nordic countries. Linear regression analysis was used to identify factors inf uencing the online dissemination of government infor-mation on sustainability; a factor analysis, as a precursor to linear regression, led us to reduce 14 explanatory variables to four factors: f nancial risk, demography, professional qualif cations and local government resources. The results obtained show that local f -nancial priorities have a greater impact on the sustainability-related content of governmental websites than does concern for the needs of the population. Furthermore, an organization’s dis-closure of its f nancial risks, together with greater awareness of stakeholders’ demands, could pro-mote transparency in the f eld of environmental, social and economic sustainability, while local demographic characteristics could foster the publication of information on environmental sus-tainability.
Chemical composition and biological activity of the plum seed extract

The aim of this paper was to estimate the biological activity of the plum seed extract and to define the chemical composition by using the ESI-MS method. During the investigation of the antioxidant activity, the extract showed a better ability to inhibit DPPH radicals compared with amygdalin standard. The results of the antimicrobial study indicate that the extract has a greater effect on Gram-negative bacteria compared with amygdalin. Gram-positive bacteria and fungi remained resistant in both cases. Unlike amygdalin, the extract showed a greater antimicrobial activity against the same microbiological strains. Amygdalin was isolated from the extract before the investigation of antiproliferative activity against MDA-MB-361, MDA-MB-453, HeLa and LS174 cell lines using MTT assay. Unlike the MDA-MB-453 cell line, the activity of standard and isolated amygdalin was not observed at the concentrations lower than 400 μg cm-3 on MDA-MB-361 cell line. The isolated amygdalin has not shown the activity in other cell lines. The antiproliferative activity of amygdalin standard was also noticed on HeLa and LS-174 cell lines at the concentrations of 333.27 and 333.17 μg cm-3, respectively.
Potential food sources of Glycymeris nummaria (Mollusca: Bivalvia) during the annual cycle indicated by fatty acid analysis

Seasonal changes of food sources were investigated by analysing the fatty acid profiles of digestive gland and muscle tissues of the naturally occurring clams Glycymeris nummaria in Mali Ston Bay, Croatia. Total lipids in the digestive gland and the adductor muscle showed parallel changes, with a maximum after the main spawning event in September. In the digestive gland saturated fatty acids were highly dominant (up to 82%), indicating detritus as the main food source for this species. This type of food prevailed during the autumn/winter period, in contrast to the spring/summer period when detritus was enriched with phyto- and, to a lesser extent, zooplankton. Fatty acid composition of muscles indicated highly efficient utilization of ingested food through significant retention of polyunsaturated fatty acid from the clams’ diet during the entire period investigated.
Performance Analysis of Secondary Users in Heterogeneous Cognitive Radio Network

Continuous increase in wireless subscriptions and static allocation of wireless frequency bands to the primary users (PUs) are fueling the radio frequency (RF) shortage problem. Cognitive radio network (CRN) is regarded as a solution to this problem as it utilizes the scarceRF in an opportunisticmanner to increase the spectrumefficiency. InCRN, secondary users (SUs) are allowed to access idle frequency bands opportunistically without causing harmful interference to the PUs. In CRN, the SUs determine the presence of PUs through spectrum sensing and access idle bands by means of dynamic spectrum access. Spectrum sensing techniques available in the literature do not consider mobility. One of the main objectives of this thesis is to include mobility of SUs in spectrum sensing. Furthermore, due to the physical characteristics of CRN where licensed RF bands can be dynamically accessed by various unknown wireless devices, security is a growing concern. This thesis also addresses the physical layer security issues in CRN. Performance of spectrum sensing is evaluated based on probability of misdetection and false alarm, and expected overlapping time, and performance of SUs in the presence of attackers is evaluated based on secrecy rates. Index Words: Spectrum Sensing, Physical Layer Security, Cognitive Radio Networks. PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS OF SECONDARY USERS IN HETEROGENEOUS COGNITIVE RADIO NETWORK
Best Age for Male Circumcision: A Literature Review

Background: Circumcision is a common surgical procedure, but regional and societal attitudes differ on whether there is a need for a male to be circumcised and, if so, what age is best. This is an important issue for many parents, but also pediatricians, other doctors, policy makers, public health authorities, medical bodies, and males themselves. Discussion: We show here that infancy is an optimal time for clinical circumcision because an infant's low mobility facilitates the use of local anesthesia, sutures are not required, healing is quick, cosmetic outcome is usually excellent, costs are minimal, and complications are uncommon. The benefits of infant circumcision include prevention of urinary tract infections (a cause of renal scarring), reduction in risk of inflammatory foreskin conditions such as balanoposthitis, foreskin injuries, phimosis and paraphimosis. When the boy later becomes sexually active he has substantial protection against risk of HIV and other viral sexually transmitted infections such as genital herpes and oncogenic human papillomavirus, as well as penile cancer. The risk of cervical cancer in his female partner(s) is also reduced. Circumcision in adolescence or adulthood may evoke a fear of pain, penile damage or reduced sexual pleasure, even though unfounded. Time off work or school will be needed, cost is much greater, as are risks of complications, healing is slower, and stitches or tissue glue must be used. Summary: Infant circumcision is safe, simple, convenient and cost-effective. The available evidence strongly supportsinfancy as the optimal time for circumcision.
Synthesis of Graphene Flakes over Recovered Copper Etched in Ammonium Persulfate Solution

The synthesis of high quality graphene via economic way is highly desirable for practical applications. In this study, graphene flake was successfully synthesized on Cu/MgO catalyst derived from recovered Cu via etching in ammonium persulfate solution. Recovered Cu acted as efficient active metal in Cu/MgO catalyst with good crystal structure and composition according to XRD and XRF results. FESEM, EDX, HRTEM, Raman spectroscopy and SAED analysis were carried out on the synthesized graphene. The formation of single, bilayer and few layer of graphene from Cu/MgO catalyst derived from recovered Cu was feasible.
Ethanol as capping agent and formaldehyde scavenger for efficient depolymerization of lignin to aromatics

Obtaining renewable fuels and chemicals from lignin presents an important challenge to the use of lignocellulosic biomass to meet sustainability and energy goals. We report on a thermocatalytic process for the depolymerization of lignin in supercritical ethanol over a CuMgAlOx catalyst. Ethanol as solvent results in much higher monomer yields than methanol. In contrast to methanol, ethanol acts as a scavenger of formaldehyde derived from lignin decomposition. Studies with phenol and alkylated phenols evidence the critical role of the phenolic –OH groups and formaldehyde in undesired repolymerization reactions. O-alkylation and C-alkylation capping reactions with ethanol hinder repolymerization of the phenolic monomers formed during lignin disassembly. After reaction in ethanol at 380 °C for 8 h, this process delivers high yields of mainly alkylated mono-aromatics (60–86 wt%, depending on the lignin used) with a significant degree of deoxygenation. The oxygen-free aromatics can be used to replace reformate or can serve as base aromatic chemicals; the oxygenated aromatics can be used as low-sooting diesel fuel additives and as building blocks for polymers.
Merger as a response to organizational interdependence

Merger is examined as one possible strategy for an organization to employ in managing environmental interdependence. Three types of merger are identified: 1) merger to reduce symbiotic interdependence; 2) merger to reduce commensal is tic or competitive interdependence; and 3) merger to diversify, and avoid previous interdependencies. Patterns of industrial merger behavior are examined, and it is seen that there Is a strong association between patterns of resource exchange and patterns of merger activity. Competitive mergers, and diversification are also considered, and it is seen that the analysis of merger activity also permits explanation of variations in the profitability of acquired firms prior to acquisition. MERGER AS A RESPONSE TO ORGANIZATIONAL INTERDEPENDENCE The operations and decisions of organizations are inextricably bound up with the conditions of their relevant environments. Cyert and March (1963), in their simulation of a duopoly, trace the mutual adjustment of one organization to the other one, and as part of their behavioral theory of the firm, note that organizations attempt to establish a negotiated environment. Hazard (1961) has also commented on the fact that businessmen, at least, seek certainty, and how this is incompatible with some of the requirements of the anti-trust laws. The impact of the environment on the organization has been widely noted (Thompson and McEwen, 1958; Katz and Kahn, 1966; Buckley, 1967; Evan, 1966; Dill, 1958; Thompson, 1967). Thompson (1967, Ch. 3) has postulated that organizations attempt to manage their external dependencies, or to control the relevant environment. Writing from an open systems perspective also, Hawley (1950) recognized the tendency for organisms to attempt to control their environments, and he suggested that they employed a growth strategy. Katz and Kahn (1966) speak of a growth dynamic, and relate this to the organization's requirements for certainty and survival, which are postulated to be enhanced through growth. And Starbuck (1965) has also proposed that organizations operate on their environments to make them more munificent. We have, then, three distinct issues. First, there are the propositions by Thompson, Cyert and M^rch, Katz and Kahn and Starbuck (among others) that organizations take actions to control or manage their environments, or at least their dependency on the environment. Secondly,
Biomass burning as a potential source for atmospheric ice nuclei: Western wildfires and prescribed burns

The sources, abundance and nature of atmospheric particles that serve as ice nuclei (IN) for cold cloud formation remain some of the most important, yet poorly‐characterized, features of aerosol‐cloud interactions that indirectly affect climate. Although a great deal of effort has focused on characterizing the ice nucleating ability of mineral dusts, less is known about carbonaceous particles. A primary source for carbonaceous IN is from biomass combustion. Here we report new measurements of IN activity at −30°C and above water saturation from biomass burning generated particles from prescribed burns and wildfires in the western US. These measurements suggest a range of IN activity, with variability largely dependent on the intensity of the fire. Although the fraction of particles generated during burns which serve as IN is quite small, the large numbers of particles generated in fires make biomass burning a potentially important source of IN to the atmosphere.
DYNAMICS OF RECTANGULAR ORTHOTROPIC PLATES USING CHARACTERISTIC ORTHOGONAL POLYNOMIAL – GALERKIN’S METHODS

The assumed deflection shapes used in the approximate methods such as in the Galerkin’s method were normally formulated by inspection and sometimes by trial and error, until recently, when a systematic method of constructing such a function in the form of Characteristic Orthogonal Polynomial (COPs) was developed by Bhat in 1985. In the vibrational analyses of orthotropic rectangular plates with different boundary conditions, the study used the characteristic orthogonal polynomial theory to obtain satisfactory approximate shape functions for these plates. These functions were applied to Galerkin indirect varational method to obtain new set of fundamental natural frequencies for these plates. The results were reasonable when compared with those in the previous work. All round simply supported thin rectangular plate (SSSS), rectangular clamped plated (CCCC) and rectangular plate with one edge clamped and all others edges simply supported (CSSS) gave 5.172, 9.429 and 6.202 natural frequencies in rad /sec respectively at 0.05%, 0.0% and 22.93% difference with the previous [3] results5.170rad/sec, 9.429rad/sec and 8.048rad/sec for SSSS, CCCC and CSSS. For others like: rectangular plate with one edge simply supported and all other edges clamped ( CCSC), rectangular plate simply supported at two opposite sides and clamped at the others ( CSCS) and rectangular plate clamped at two adjacent sides and simply supported at the others (CCSS) with no available results, their natural frequencies obtained are 8.041rad/sec, 6.272rad/sec and 7.106rad/sec respectively. http://dx.doi. org/10.4314/njt.v36i1. 8
Architecture and Properties of PUR/Calcite Composite Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering

Bone tissue has a composite nature given by a highly complex and well-harmonized structure of organic and inorganic components on the microscale, macroscale and nanoscale. Thus, biodegradable composite scaffolds made of poly (e-caprolactone) urethane (PCL_PUR) porous matrix and calcium carbonate (CaCO3) were developed and studied for bone tissue engineering. The aim of this work was to examine the structure of new polyurethane/calcite composites. Micro-computer tomography (μ-CT) and image analysis enabled 3D visualization and quantification of the porosity, wall thickness and internal pore size distribution. The fabricated porous polyurethane composites exhibited porosity >70% with a pore size not exceeding 450 μm and wall thickness about of 50 μm in size. The mechanical properties of the foams were evaluated using Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA). In-vitro bioactivity tests in simulated body fluid (SBF) were carried out and the marker of bioactivity, e.g. formation of surface bone-like apatite layers upon immersion in SBF, was investigated. Our results indicated that PUR/calcite scaffolds were more activity then PUR scaffolds and possessed the function to enhance cell proliferation and differentiation, and might be used as bone tissue engineering materials.
An Effective Bidirectional Network on Chip with Pipelining and Self Reconfigurable Channel

The Bidirectional Network on Chip (Bi-NoC) architecture is more efficient than the conventional architecture because in conventional architecture the unidirectional flow is used where as in Bi-NoC the two way data flow can be performed. The XY routing algorithm is used to perform the architecture. The Bi-NoC architecture allows each channel to transmit in all direction and increases the bandwidth, reduces the access latency and reduces power consumption. The pipelining architecture is used in this study instead of parallel architecture because this performs the reduction in size of the architecture with better result. Also it produces better transmission in the router with reduced traffic and also has less amount of access latency which enhances the performance through better resource utilization. In this proposed method the number of flip flops reduced by 35.9% and the access latency is reduced by 18.9% when compared to existing method.
State of the art on nuclear heating measurement methods and expected improvements in zero power research reactors

The paper focuses on the recent methodological advances suitable for nuclear heating measurements in zero power research reactors. This bibliographical work is part of an experimental approach currently in progress at CEA Cadarache, aiming at optimizing photon heating measurements in low-power research reactors. It provides an overview of the application fields of the most widely used detectors, namely thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) and optically stimulated luminescent dosimeters. Starting from the methodology currently implemented at CEA, the expected improvements relate to the experimental determination of the neutron component, which is a key point conditioning the accuracy of photon heating measurements in mixed n –γ field. A recently developed methodology based on the use of 7 Li and 6 Li-enriched TLDs, precalibrated both in photon and neutron fields, is a promising approach to deconvolute the two components of nuclear heating. We also investigate the different methods of optical fiber dosimetry, with a view to assess the feasibility of online photon heating measurements, whose primary benefit is to overcome constraints related to the withdrawal of dosimeters from the reactor immediately after irradiation. Moreover, a fibered setup could allow measuring the instantaneous dose rate during irradiation, as well as the delayed photon dose after reactor shutdown. Some insights from potential further developments are given. Obviously, any improvement of the technique has to lead to a measurement uncertainty at least equal to that of the currently used methodology (∼5% at 1σ).