Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Taking Personalities Out of Monetary Policy Decision Making? Interactions, Heterogeneity and Committee Decisions in the Bank of England's MPC

The transparency of the monetary policymaking process at the Bank of England has provided very detailed data on both the votes of individual members of the Monetary Policy Committee and the information on which they are based. In this paper we consider interval censored responses of individual committee members in the context of a model in which inflation forecast targeting is used but there is both heterogeneity and interaction among the members of the committee. We find substantial heterogeneity in the policy reaction function across members. Further, we identify significant interactions between individual decisions of the committee members. The nature of these interdependencies inform about information sharing and strategic interactions within the Bank of Englandâ€™s Monetary Policy Committee.
Diet studies of seabirds: a review and recommendations

We review the different methods that are used to collect dietary data from marine birds. We consider their limitations and practicalities and emphasize critical data gaps in our knowledge of the feeding ecology of seabirds (na mely diets outside breeding seasons). To enhance comparability of findings among studies, species, and oceanographic regions, we make recommendations on standards for the reporting of results in the literature.
JANNIKA PAULAMÄKI THE EFFECTS OF INHIBITING MECHANOTRANSDUCTIVE CELL SIGNALLING PATHWAYS IN HUMAN BONE MARROW STROMAL CELLS IN 2 D VS . 3 D CULTURE

JANNIKA PAULAMÄKI: The Effects of Inhibiting Mechanotransductive Cell Signaling Pathways in Human Bone Marrow Stromal Cells in 2D vs. 3D Culture Tampere University of Technology Master of Science Thesis, 80 pages, 0 Appendix pages September 2017 Master’s Degree Program in Bioengineering Major: Tissue Engineering Examiner: Assistant Professor Oommen P. Oommen and PhD Nick Walters
Computation of Flows in Steam Generators

This chapter will be devoted to explain the foundations of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), and its possible application to simulate flow conditions in steam generators of pressurized water reactors (PWR). Besides steam generator application simulations, test cases will be included to show the ability of CFD to faithfully reproduce some fundamental heat and flow phenomena The common design of a PWR steam generator is a vertical standing U-tube heat exchanger divided into a number of stages with separator plates (baffles) in between, as seen in Fig. 1. Several thousands of tubes is not unusual which consequently puts significant strain on computational resources if all details are to be resolved. The multitude of tubes and several stages however facilitates the possibility to study characteristic sections of the heat exchanger with reasonable confidence on flow conditions (i.e. boundary condition) and with a required accuracy.
The relationship between TQM and innovation in service organizations: quantitative findings

This study investigates the relationship between TQM and innovation in service organizations. The data were collected from 209 service organizations operating in Malaysia. Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Structural Equation Modeling were used in the analysis. Results of hypotheses testing showed positive relationships between TQM and innovations. This study added the perspective of service organizations to the debate on the relationship between TQM and innovation. Managers of service organizations can use the results to link TQM implementation with innovation.
Organizational change management principles and practices

This paper identifies essential principles and practices that help an organization to accept change. These practices identify how to establish, execute, monitor, and measure a change effort that will benefit software development organizations and their customers. In addition, the practices are classified into two groups corresponding to those practices that must be successful and those that should be successful. In some cases, specific methods are described for successfully performing a practice.
Profile of mRNA Expression of Ki-67 in Breast Cancer Patients Pre- and Post- Chemotherapy

Background: Proliferation is a distinct hallmarks of cancer. Ki-67 designated as a marker of proliferation in solid tumors. The proliferative activity of tumor demonstrated by expression of Ki-67 in breast cancer has been associated with a poor prognosis. Changes in the relative proportions of Ki-67 can be observed during chemotherapy and may correlated with clinical response in breast cancer. Purpose: Evaluate changes in mRNA expression of proliferation marker Ki-67 in breast cancer patients pre- and post-chemotherapy in relation with clinical response to chemotherapy. Method: This is a longitudinal study, 30 subjects breast cancer tissue samples pre- and post-chemotherapy using cyclophosphamide, adriamycin, 5FU regiment. We using qRT-PCR techniques to detect mRNA expression of Ki-67. Chemotherapy response is calculated using RECIST criteria. Results: Mean value of Ki-67 mRNA expression on breast cancer patients pre-chemotheraphy was 11.837±0.360. Mean value of Ki-67 mRNA expression on breast cancer patients post-chemotheraphy was 11.241±1.971. There was no significant correlation between expression of Ki-67 mRNA prechemotherapy with clinical response to chemotherapy, p = 0.862 (p ≥0.05). There is a positive correlation between velocity of Ki-67 mRNA expression with clinical response with value of r = 0.378, this correlation was significant with p = 0.020 (p<0.05). Conclusion: Chemotherapy cause decrease in mRNA expression of Ki-67. There is insignificant correlation between expression of mRNA Ki-67 baseline with chemotherapy response. Velocity of Ki-67 mRNA expression has significant correlation with clinical response to chemotherapy.
The 2007-2009 Financial Crisis and Executive Compensation: An Analysis and a Proposal for a Novel Structure

During the 2007-2009 crises financial institutions have come under increasing pressure from regulators, politicians and shareholders to change their compensation practices in order to remove the incentive for short-term excessive risk taking In this paper we analyze how commonly used executive compensation plans can lead to two socially undesirable outcomes: excessive risk taking at one extreme and complete freeze of risky activities (new lending) on the other. We propose adding a new component to the executive compensation, which is paid only if the value of the firm will be located in some predetermined range. These components will push the executive towards the first best solution in which a moderate (internal solution) level of assets risk will be optimal because of the convex relationship between assets risk and compensation value.
49.A Multi-keyword Searchable Encryption Based on Interest Model

With the wide application of cloud computing, more and more data owners are outsourcing the data encrypted to cloud servers in order to cut the cost. This way provides the storage and retrieval of users’ sensitive data with excellent convenience and security. However, the majority of the existing searchable encryption schemes ignore the difference among users because they adopt the method of zero difference return to search results of all users which affects the search accuracy and user experience. This paper gives a solution to personalized retrieval of multi-keyword searchable encryption under the cloud. Based on the evaluation interest of mixed behaviors, this paper takes users’ reading time as the main reference, and quantifies the interest degree of users when users spend more time reading than normal situations, and thus, establishing the interest model of users. A large number of experiments prove that this method is effective.
Selaginella and the satyr: Euptychia westwoodi larval performance on an ancient plant lineage

Members of the plant genus Selaginella are often considered living fossils, as extant taxa are virtually indistinguishable from 300 Ma fossils. In contrast, the brush-footed butterflies are a relatively recent radiation, having diversified primarily within the last 60 Ma. Satyrs are among the most derived of these butterflies, likely radiated ~35 Ma and are known primarily for their high diversity and propensity to feed on grasses and sedges. In contrast to its close relatives, the Neotropical satyr genus Euptychia also feeds on Selaginella, which is thought to be nutrient poor. Using no choice feeding experiments, I compared growth rates Costa Rican E. westwoodi that were offered two species of Selaginella, to those that were offered Lasiascis rusifolia, a grass commonly fed upon by close relatives. I discovered E. westwoodi larvae fed on two species of Selaginella and there was no difference in mass gained between the two species. However, larvae refused to feed on L. ruscifolia and lost mass over the course of the trial and expired unless they were transferred to Selaginella. To the best of my knowledge, these are the first data to report larval performance of the butterfly genus Euptychia or any Selaginella feeding insect. Though far from conclusive, these results support the proposition that Euptychia have lost the ability to feed on other host plants and are now specialized on grasses.
Diffusion Barrier Characteristics of Electroless Co(W,P) Thin Films to Lead-Free SnAgCu Solder

Diffusion barrier and bonding characteristics of amorphous and polycrystalline electroless Co(W,P) layers (α-Co(W,P) and polyCo(W,P)) to SnAgCu (SAC) solder were investigated. In the SAC/α-Co(W,P) sample subjected to liquid-state aging at 250◦C, the spallation of intermetallic compound (IMC) into solder, a nano-crystalline P-rich layer at SAC/Co(W,P) interface, and the recrystallized Co(W,P) containing Co2P precipitates were observed. As to the SAC/α-Co(W,P) sample subjected to solid-state aging at 150◦C, a thick IMC layer neighboring to the P-rich layer formed at the solder/Co(W,P) interface. Liquid-state aging resulted in an IMC mixture without spallation whereas solid-state aging induced a layer-like IMC in SAC/poly-Co(W,P) samples. Amorphous W-rich layers were also observed in SAC/poly-Co(W,P) samples and it could not inhibit subsequent alloy reactions in the samples. Analytical results indicated the α-Co(W,P) is a sacrificialplus stuffed-type barrier whereas the poly-Co(W,P) is mainly a sacrificial barrier. The activation energies of IMC growth were 110.7 and 81.8 kJ/mol for SAC/α-Co(W,P) and SAC/poly-Co(W,P) samples, respectively. High P content in α-Co(W,P) was found to degrade the bonding strength to the solder as revealed by the shear test and the control of P content would be a key issue for electroless plating layer applied to under bump metallurgy as the diffusion barrier. © 2011 The Electrochemical Society. [DOI: 10.1149/2.004111jes] All rights reserved.
Shifts in Leaf and Stem Hydraulic Traits across Aridity Gradients in Eastern Australia

Premise of research. Plants are faced with a challenge across all climates they inhabit—they must transport water to their leaves so that photosynthesis can take place. Although this is simple in concept, it can be achieved by different arrangements of root, stem, and leaf traits. The hydraulic functioning of species across aridity gradients is determined by the coordination of these traits. Nevertheless, we have an imperfect understanding of which trait shifts are favored across aridity gradients as well as the alignment of trait shifts with climate. Methodology. We measured hydraulic traits relating to Darcy’s law for 120 angiosperm species across a broad range of climates in eastern Australia; nearly one-third of all biome space on Earth was represented. We then determined which hydraulic trait shifts have been favored across aridity gradients and which climate characteristics these trait shifts aligned with. Pivotal results. Increasing aridity, from climates with similar precipitation and evaporation to climates where precipitation was only a third of evaporation, was associated with a 4.8-fold decrease in plant height, a 3.0-fold decrease in leaf area–to–sapwood area ratio, and a 3.3-fold decrease in leaf water potential. However, sapwood-specific conductivity decreased by 5.9-fold, more than any other hydraulic trait. Greater sapwood-specific conductivity (decreasing resistance) at wet sites compensated for increasing resistance and hydraulic demand that was associated with taller plants and leafier shoots. All hydraulic traits were strongly correlated with growth season aridity (; ) but were not correlated with maximum aridity. This suggests that plant hydraulic traits are most responsive to water availability and evaporative demand present during the most suitable months for growth rather than the driest months. Conclusions. We suggest that evolution has equipped plants with various mechanisms to avoid desiccation during the dry season while optimizing hydraulic traits for carbon gain during the growth season.
EFFECT OF TREATMENTS ON THERMALLY STIMULATED CURRENT AND PHOTOCONDUCTIVITY IN CuInSe2 THIN FILMSEFFECT OF TREATMENTS ON THERMALLY STIMULATED CURRENT AND PHOTOCONDUCTIVITY IN CuInSe2 THIN FILMS

CuInSe 2 polycrystalline thin films (CIS) have been prepared by the coevaporation method from three boats (Cu, In, Se). “Thermally Stimulated Current” method (TSC) has been used to identify some defect states in the material. Photocurrent versus 1000/T characteristics have also been carried out. In this paper, we discuss the effects of O 2 and H 2 plasmas on (TSC) and photoconductivity in p and n type CuInSe 2 thin films. In fact, strong (TSC) has been exhibited for these films at temperatures from 80 to 500K using coplanar configuration with thermal evaporated Cr-Ag contacts while a stability of photocurrent has been observed. Exposure to O 2 and H 2 plasmas modified this behaviour leading to a change of (TSC) way and appearing of the thermal “Quenching” in photoconductivity spectra.
Military and Economic Growth in ASEAN-5 Countries

In this study we employ the bounds testing procedure suggested by Pesaran (2001) and dynamic OLS (DOLS) proposed by Stock and Watson (1993) to test the robustness of the causal effect and long-run relationships between military expenditure and economic growth in ASEAN-5 countries from the year 1965 to 2006. Generally, our results suggest that: (1) there are only three (Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore) out of five countries analyzed exhibit long–run relationship between military expenditure and economic growth; (2) While for the case of Singapore, the causality is bidirectional, for Indonesia and Thailand it is unidirectional from military expenditure to economic growth; and (3) For the remaining countries, (Malaysia and Philippines), no meaningful relationship could be detected. The results are robust, producing similar results employing both ARDL and DOLS.
On the origin of the North Pacific arcs

We present a new hypothesis that relates global plate tectonics to the formation of marginal basins, island arcs, spreading ridges and arc-shaped mountain belts around the North Pacific Ocean. According to our model, the ellipsoidal-shaped Paleogene basins of the South China Sea, Parece-Vela Basin, Shikoku Basin, Sea of Japan and the Sea of Okhotsk in addition to those of the North American Cordillera can be attributed to the change in plate convergence direction at 42 Ma between the Indoaustralian and Eurasian plates. The new direction of convergence was parallel to the eastern continental margin of Asia and resulted in widespread extension perpendicular to this margin and to the western margin of North America. Both margins form part of a circle parallel to the Indoaustralian-Eurasian direction of convergence.
Structural Path Analysis: Applications to Structural Changes in the Andalusian economy (1990-1999)

Social Accounting Matrices (SAM) are an useful tool that enables to get extenser information than Input-Output analysis as far as they work not only with an economy´s intersectorial relations, but also with consumers' behaviour, government or foreign sector; reflecting the income flow of rent. In this paper, we use Social Accounting Matrices for Andalusia for years 1990, 1995 y 1999, that we got from previous works. With this information we use "path analysis" technique to obtain the main changes in the productive structure and demand in Andalusia for the last ten years. Those changes will be represented in a three-dimensional picture. We also want to know which are the sectors that have strongly contributed to regional economic growth. Finally we measure the influence of sectorial shocks on themselves and also on the other sectors of this regional economy. Keywords: social accounting matrix, regional accounting, structural analysis. JEL: C67, D57, R15.
The Risk in Hedge Fund Strategies: Theory and Evidence from Trend Followers

Hedge fund strategies typically generate option-like returns. Linear-factor models using benchmark asset indices have difficulty explaining them. Following the suggestions in Glosten and Jagannathan (1994), this article shows how to model hedge fund returns by focusing on the popular "trend-following" strategy. We use lookback straddles to model trend-following strategies, and show that they can explain trend-following funds' returns better than standard asset indices. Though standard straddles lead to similar empirical results, lookback straddles are theoretically closer to the concept of trend following. Our model should be useful in the design of performance benchmarks for trend-following funds. Article published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Financial Studies in its journal, The Review of Financial Studies.
Effect of Degraded Pitch Cues on Melody Recognition

Past studies of object recognition in vision and language have shown that (1) identification of the larger structure of an object is possible even if its component units are ambiguous or missing, and (2) contexts often influence the perception of the component units. The present study asked whether a similar case could be found in audition, investigating (1) whether melody recognition would be possible with uncertain pitch cues, and (2) whether adding contextual information would enhance pitch perception. Sixteen musically trained listeners attempted to identify, on a piano keyboard, pitches of tones in three different context conditions: (1) single tones, (2) pairs of tones, and (3) familiar melodies. The pitch cues were weakened using bandpass filtered noises of varying bandwidths. With increasing bandwidth, listeners were less able to identify the pitches of the tones. However, they were able to name the melodies despite their inability to identify the individual notes. There was no effect of context; whether or not listeners heard single tones, pairs of tones, or melodies did not influence their pitch identification of the tones. Several possible explanations were discussed regarding types of information that listeners had access to, since they could not have relied on detailed features of the melodies.
UvA-DARE (Digital Academic Repository) Package design influences on consumer-brand relationships and price perception Tolboom,

This article compares the effects of package design on the consumer-brand relationship and price perception. In particular it analyses the effects of package design on two stages of the consumer-brand relationship: the initiation and the maintenance stage. The results show interesting differences between two relationship stages with regard to brand relationship quality (BRQ) and price perception. The study gives directions for the development of strong consumer-brand relationships by means of package design.
Improved Transformerless High Step-UpDCDC Converter using Stacked CockcroftWalton Voltage Multiplier

This paper proposes an improved Transformerless high step-up dc-dc converter using stacked Cockcroft Walton voltage multiplier. The multiplying of voltage is done using stacked cascaded voltage multiplier; the low DC voltage has been multiplied to obtain high DC voltage. The Stacked cascaded voltage multiplier is a 3 stage voltage multiplier which is designed and implemented based upon the Cockcroft Walton voltage multiplier. Two independent frequencies are used for the control strategy, one high frequency is used to minimize the size of the inductor and one low frequency is used according to the desired output voltage. The high voltage is obtained from a very low DC voltage. The obtained output is given to a DC motor. The voltage ripples produced during the motor operation is reduced in this proposed method. The Simulated motor output of the proposed converter is compared with the conventional converter, the results illustrates that the stacked cascaded voltage multiplier gives better dynamic performance and it can be used for high voltage industrial applications.
Contrast agents for optical diagnostics of early osteoarthritis

The work is focused on the recent advances in the development of contrast agents for optical diagnostics of early osteoarthritis (OA). Optical imaging provides the high spatial resolution and may be useful for evaluation of submicron degenerative changes of cartilage structure unavailable for diagnosis by conventional radiography and magnetic resonance tomography (MRT). To increase the contrast and sensitivity of optical signal the specific absorbing additives are being developed: targeted and non-targeted fluorescent probes, functionalized metallic and polymeric nanoparticles (NPs). Sometimes the diagnostic and therapeutic potentials are bringing together in one substance thus providing increased effectiveness of the early prevention of OA. Also, the theoretical aspects of selective binding mechanisms to the tissue degenerative sites are briefly concerned.
Small-Scale Maize Farmersû Access to Farm Inputs in Abuja, Nigeria

The study evaluated small-scale maize farmersu access to farm inputs in Abuja, Nigeria because one of the most limiting factors in the development of agriculture in Nigeria is inadequate access to farm inputs. To cover the study area, a multi-stage sampling technique was adopted while structured questionnaires were used for data collection. A total of 160 maize farmers were interviewed in four agricultural zones (40 farmers from each zone). Data were analysed using mixed factorial analysis of variance; mean separation was carried out at the 5 percent probability level. The results showed that maize farmersu access to the different types of farm input differed significantly (p .05) in the mean responses of the maize farmersu in the four different agricultural zones with respect to access to farm inputs. Generally, the grand mean access value (1.73) indicated that the maize farmers had poor access to all the farm inputs. Based on the grand mean access value, it was concluded that access to the farm inputs was poor; hence it was recommended that Input and Farm Information Service Centres should be established under a publicprivate partnership to increase farmersu access to inputs, especially the most limiting inputs.
Ideação suicida, resolução de problemas, expressão de raiva e impulsividade em dependentes de substâncias psicoativas

This study aimed to compare men with substance use disorders and those who are no addicted/non-dependent on drugs in terms of their executive functions, emotional and behavioral expressions giving particular emphasis on the presence of suicidal ideation. The sample consisted of 25 individuals with substance use disorders and 25 non-dependent individuals. The data collection consisted of a questionnaire including sociodemographic and health data, the Diagnostic Interview (MINI-Plus), the Anger Expression Inventory - State and Trait (STAXI), the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (I-BIS11), the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) and the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSI). The data revealed that the substance dependent individuals showed no significant cognitive impairment, fact that does not math with the literature. However, they presented alterations with respect to impulsivity and expression of anger.