Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Financial Shocks and TFP Growth

The paper investigates how changes in industries' funding costs affect total factor productivity (TFP) growth. Based on panel regressions using 31 U.S. and Canadian industries between 1991 and 2007, and using industries' dependence on external funding as an identification mechanism, we show that increases in the cost of funds have a statistically significant and economically meaningful negative impact on TFP growth. This finding cannot be explained by either increasing returns to scale or factor hoarding, as results are not sensitive to controlling for industry size and our calculations account for changes in factor utilization. Based on a stylized theoretical model, the estimates suggest that financial shocks distort the allocation of factors across firms even within an industry, reducing its TFP. The decline in productivity growth accounts for a large fraction of the negative impact of funding costs on output.
Credit Conditions of Financial Intermediaries and Entrepreneurs and Financial Accelerators (Preliminary)

Based on …nancial accelerator model of Bernanke et al. (1999), we develop a dy- namic general equilibrium model in which …nancial intermediaries (hereafter FIs) as well as entrepreneurs are subject to credit constraints. We study the eect of interactions between these two borrowing sectors on the …nancial accelerator mech- anism. Calibrated to the U.S. data, our model shows the following two features about credit market: (i) the sectoral shock propagation mechanism is enhanced when the shock hits FIs compared to the case when the shock hits entrepreneurs. (ii) the aggregate shock ampli…cation mechanism can be reduced if net worth dis- tribution between the sectors are less biased. Key features for the results are asymmetry of the two borrowing sectors in terms of agency problems. Net worth of FIs are fewer and bankruptcy costs associated with FIs are higher than those of entrepreneurs, making aggregate economy more vulnerable to adverse shocks.
Exploring Outsourcing Decisions using the Resource-based View of the Firm

This paper describes and explores how the resource-based view of the firm explains the decision of using an external provider for the provision of information and communication technology (ICT) in organisations. It does so by describing some basic assumptions of the resource-based view. From the resource-based view of the firm two factors are proposed, core competence and capability, and it can be claimed that both of these play an important part in the decision-making process when deciding on using an external provider for the maintenance of organisations ICT. A study of three service providers and one customer related to each of them are used to exemplify this conclusion. The aim of this paper is finding relations between these factors and relate these to a discussion about how organisations build-up and sustain competitive advantage. The paper ends up with a hypothesis that could be used in a survey to explain the decision-making in organisations when deciding on outsourcing ICT. The paper finds out that the resource-based view of the firm explains the decision to a great extent. It also develops the existing knowledge about decisionmaking on ICT outsourcing earlier received when using for instance transaction cost theory.
Comparison of Inflammatory Responses After Acute Moderate Aerobic Cycling in Healthy Young Active and Inactive Men

In view of available findings about exercise-induced inflammation, the present study was conducted to investigate the effect of acute moderate cycling on systemic inflammatory responses in healthy young active and inactive men. A quasi-experimental pre-post design was used to study 12 healthy young inactive men (aged 21.01 ± 1.1 years, body fat 16.7 ± 1.2% and VO2max 45.01 ± 5.83 ml/kg/min) and 12 young active men (aged 21.02 ± 1.2 years, body fat 12.04 ± 2.72% and VO2max 59.63 ± 2.15 ml/kg/min). One week after preliminary measurements, all subjects participated in an acute moderate cycling protocol (45 min with 50% VO2max). Blood samples were drawn before and immediately after the exercise. Complete blood cell counts, fasting blood sugar, serum interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), C-reactive protein (CRP) and plasma stress hormones (cortisol and epinephrine) were determined. Data were analyzed by the independent samples t -test and Pearson's correlation test at ? 0.05). The small exercise-induced elevation of inflammatory marker concen-trations suggests that the intensity or duration of the acute moderate cycling episode may not have been sufficient to induce a substantial systemic inflammatory response in young active or inactive men. Therefore, it can be concluded that the moderate exercise appears to be safe from an immunological point of view in young active and inactive men, and moderate exercise cycling can be recommended for both groups.
Financial management efficiency performance of insurers and takaful operators in Malaysia

ABSTRACT This study is aimed to assess the financial management efficiency of each insurer/takaful operator in both conventional and takaful industry. We also identify the operating system that is more efficient among the conventional and takaful system which involves 20 firms. The results from the slack-based measure (SBM) - data envelopment analysis (DEA) implied that the average insurers/takaful operators have to improve about 20% if it were to perform the best financial management practice. Clearly, the inefficiency in both functions of financial management is caused by both the input and output dimensions. This study also revealed that takaful operators exhibit a relatively more efficient financial management in terms of risk management than conventional insurers. However, it cannot be confirmed whether one type of operating system is better than the other system in terms of investment management, as the result is mixed. Keywords: Takaful operator; conventional insurer; financial management; efficiency; slack based measure – data envelopment analysis ABSTRAK Kajian ini bertujuan untuk menilai kecekapan pengurusan kewangan setiap penanggung insurans/ pengendali takaful dalam kedua-dua industri konvensional dan takaful. Kami juga mengenal pasti sistem operasi yang lebih cekap dalam kalangan sistem konvensional dan takaful yang melibatkan 20 firma. Keputusa daripada slack-based measure (SBM) - analisis penyampulan data (APD)mengimplikasikan bahawa purata penanggung insurans/pengendali takaful perlu meningkatkan kira-kira 20% jika ia hendak melaksanakan amalan pengurusan kewangan terbaik. Jelas sekali, ketidakcekapan dalam kedua-dua fungsi pengurusan kewangan adalah disebabkan oleh kedua-dua dimensi input dan output. Kajian ini juga mendedahkan bahawa pengendali takaful menunjukkan pengurusan kewangan yang lebih cekap secara relatifnya dari segi pengurusan risiko berbanding penanggung insurans konvensional. Walau bagaimanapun, tidak boleh dipastikan sama ada satu sistem operasi adalah lebih baik daripada sistem yang lain dari segi pengurusan pelaburan kerana keputusannya adalah bercampur-campur. Kata kunci: Pengendali takaful; penanggung insurans konvensional; pengurusan kewangan, kecekapan, slack based measure – analisis penyampulan data
Evaluation of Recent GOCE Geopotential Models in South America

Several global geopotential models based on Gravity field and steady-state Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE) satellite have been published in the last few years. Some of these models use combinations of different satellite missions, while others use only GOCE data. This paper presents the evaluation and analysis of six Global Gravity Models (GGMs) using GOCE data, in South America.
Determination of Phenolic Hydroxyl Groups in Technical Lignins by Ionization Difference Ultraviolet Spectrophotometry (∆ε-IDUS method)

The amount of hydroxyl groups, particularly phenolic, is one of the most important parameters in lignins, as it is an indicator of lignin reactivity. Ultraviolet (UV) Spectrophotometry is a simple and inexpensive method for determining phenolic hydroxyls in lignin. Ionization Difference Ultraviolet Spectrophotometry (Δe-method) relies on the analysis of solubilized lignin at neutral and alkaline conditions with a UV spectrophotometer. We added a slope analysis to the ∆e-method and dubbed the resulting method ∆e-IDUS (Ionization Difference UV Spectrophotometry). We assessed the reliability of ∆e-IDUS by studying the well-known Indulin AT lignin. Additionally, ∆e-IDUS was applied to a previously uncharacterized milox lignin. When compared to 13 C-NMR, ∆e-IDUS underestimated the amount of phenolic hydroxyls for Indulin AT, possibly due to neglecting second phenolic hydroxyls in some lignin units, which resist ionization because of steric hindrance. Nevertheless, the results agreed with previously reported values and confirm that ∆e-IDUS is useful to screen lignins based on their phenolic hydroxyl group content.
Layer-by-layer nanoscale bondlines for macroscale adhesion

The objective of this study was to test the bonding performance of nanoscale bondlines, which were fabricated with polyelectrolytes by layer-by-layer assembly process onto wooden substrates. In this study, environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) was used to characterize adsorbed multilayers of polyacrylic acid and polyallylamine hydrochloride on the wood surface. Cross-linking between PAA and PAH layers at various temperatures was studied using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The evaluation of polyelectrolyte multilayers as bonding agents for wood was conducted through compression shear block and flexural bending tests. Altogether, this research demonstrates a route to utilize nanoscale coatings as bonding agents.
Aspects related to replacing HV lines by HV cables on resonant grid behavior

At different places worldwide EHV/HV connections partly consist of sections with underground power cables. Presently in the west of the Netherlands 20 km (i.e. 240 km single phase in total) of power cables is planned in a new 380 kV connection (Randstad380 project) grid to ensure sufficient transport capacity in the Randstad area for the next decades. One of the issues studied in this project is the uncertainty about possible over-voltages from resonances. The paper intends to give a discussion on types of over-voltages, transients and possible resulting resonances reported in literature for combined line- cable circuits. These over-voltages include: switching over- voltage, temporary over-voltage and system-interaction over- voltage. System simulation results will be presented as well.
The Effectiveness of Career Information Service with Mind Mapping Technique to Improve Students Occupational Knowledge

This research aims to improve students' career understanding through career information service with Mind Mapping technique. The experimental method used pre-test post-test control group design, involving 2 classes as control group and experimental group. The results of this study indicate that students who obtain career information services with mind mapping techniques have increased understanding of career higher than students who do not get information carier information with mind mapping techniques.
Well-aligned zinc oxide nanorods and nanowires prepared without catalyst

Without catalyst and at a low temperature (550 1C), well-aligned ZnO nanorods and nanowires were prepared on porous silicon substrates using a simple method. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results confirm that both the nanorods and the nanowires are perfect single crystals with the wurtzite structure. The diameters range from 40 to 100 nm. The growth directions are along the [0 0 0 1] axis. Photoluminescence (PL) spectra show that the UV emission shifts slightly to low frequency and the intensity of green emission decreases with the improvement of ZnO crystallization. r 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. PACS: 81.07. b; 81.16. Dn; 81.16. c
Pathogenicity and yield loss assessment caused by Magnaporthe oryzae isolates in cultivated and wild relatives of finger millet (Eleusine coracana).

Magnaporthe oryzae, a fungal pathogen that attacks more than 50 gramineous species, causes severe yield losses particularly on rice and finger millet. A study was conducted at Bako Agricultural Research Center in Ethiopia during the 2012 cropping season to evaluate the pathogenicity of four different finger millet blast isolates on 12 cultivated finger millet accessions and 4 of its wild relatives (Eleusine coracana subsp. africana). A split plot design, replicated three times, was used. Test accessions showed significant difference (Pd”0.01) but the isolates and genotype by isolate interaction showed no significant differences for grain yield. Pathogenicity tests revealed that isolates Pg. 11 and Pg. 22, isolated from neck and head of finger millet, respectively, were most virulent in infecting all plant tissues. The isolate from neck of the wild type (Pg. 41), infected both the cultivated and its wild types, confirming that wild types or weeds can act as hosts or reservoirs of the pathogen and source of inoculum. The mean grain yield per plant was lower for isolate Pg.22 (2.8g) and Pg.11 (2.9g) but relatively better for Pg.41 (3.6g) and Pg.26 (3.1g), indicating the inverse correlation between infection severity and grain yield. Finger millet accessions such as Acc. 214995 and PW-001-022 recorded lower blast infection consistently during 2011 and 2012 and are thus potential candidates for further evaluation in variety development activities. Among the wild accessions, AAU-ELU-15 showed the least blast infection. Mean yield loss assessment results from 2011 and 2012 field experiments calculated using Relative Area Under Progress Curve (RAUDPC) and multiple point models, respectively, revealed an average of 42% grain yield lost due to blast disease.
, Yuling Jiao , Xiliang Lu and Zhiyuan Sun L q-regularization for the inverse Robin problem

In this paper, an inverse Robin problem for an elliptic equation is investigated. TheRobin coe cient is assumed to be a small perturbation from a reference coe cient, hence a sparse structure is a priori known. AnLq-regularized output least square formulation is consideredwith q ∈ (0, 1). The existence of theminimizer is proved. The convergence of the nite element discretization with respect tomesh size is shown. Amodi ed Newton algorithm is applied to solve the smoothing rst order optimality system. Two-dimensional and threedimensional numerical examples demonstrate the e ciency of the proposed method.
Emergence stress and morphological constraints affect the species distribution and growth of subtropical intertidal seagrasses

The effects of emergence stress and morphological constraints on the distribution and growth of 3 subtropical seagrass species, Cymodocea rotundata, C. serrulata and Thalassia hemprichii, were examined in a series of transplantation experiments and a laboratory desiccation experiment. C. rotundata and T. hemprichii occur in both the intertidal and subtidal zones off Ishi- gaki Island, southwest Japan, whereas C. serrulata is found only in the subtidal zone. Within the same species, intertidal shoots for both C. robundata and T. hemprichii are significantly smaller than subtidal shoots. A subtidal-to-intertidal transplantation experiment was conducted on 3 occasions: July and September 2001 and January 2002. In July and September, when the intertidal sites were exposed to air for a shorter period, shoot densities of the transplanted 3 species did not decrease. In contrast, the shoot densities of all 3 transplanted species decreased significantly in February, when the exposure to air was longer. The survival of C. serrulata (2% of the initial density) was much lower than that of C. rotundata (48%) and T. hemprichii (48%). In subtidal-to-intertidal transplants, the size of C. rotundata and T. hemprichii leaves decreased, approaching that of intertidal shoots, indicating high morphological plasticity. In situ observations revealed that transplanted seagrasses with large leaves were exposed to air for longer than were intertidal controls. In the desiccation experiment, T. hemprichii leaves had higher water contents than those of C. rotundata and C. serrulata. The mor- phological traits of C. rotundata and T. hemprichii and their ability to change shoot size appear to be related to the better survival of these species in the intertidal area as compared to C. serrulata. This is consistent with the observed variation in the species distribution in the intertidal zone.
A Residual-Based Kernel Regression Method for Image Denoising

We propose a residual-based method for denoising images corrupted by Gaussian noise. In the method, by combining bilateral filter and structure adaptive kernel filter together with the use of the image residuals, the noise is suppressed efficiently while the fine features, such as edges, of the images are well preserved. Our experimental results show that, in comparison with several traditional filters and state-of-the-art denoising methods, the proposed method can improve the quality of the restored images significantly.
Generation Y and sparkling wines: a cross-cultural perspective

Purpose – The aim of this study is to investigate and compare the engagement of Generation Y consumers with champagne and sparkling wine across five Anglophone countries.Design/methodology/approach – A qualitative approach was adopted using focus groups with young consumers, including images and wine tasting as projective stimuli.Findings – There were significant trans‐cultural similarities between consumption behaviour (sparkling wine is a women's drink, and a separate category from still wine, and that they will “grow into” drinking it) but also noticeable differences (responses to images and colours varied substantially, as did attitudes to price and the particular status of champagne). Research limitations/implications – Research into the behaviour of Generation Y as a cohort needs to take account of cultural as much as generational context. However, as a qualitative study the findings need further quantitative validation.Practical implications – Marketers cannot view Generation Y as a single group; ev.
Basic Statistics in Quantile Regression

In this paper we study some basic statistics in quantile regression. In particular, we investigate the residual, goodness-of-fit statistic and the effect of one or few observations on estimates of regression coefficients. In addition, we compare the proposed goodness-of-fit statistic with the statistic considered by Koenker and Machado (1999). An illustrative example based on real data sets is given to see the numerical performance of the proposed basic statistics.
The number of good reflections in a powder pattern

The number of `statistically independent' observations in a powder diffraction pattern has been the topic of some discussion over the past few years. It is argued that while this notion is tantalizing, it is illusory in principle, and it is suggested that a more appropriate measure of the quality of the data is the number of `good' reflections. By way of explanation, a tutorial on the underlying concepts of correlation and covariance, which are a surprisingly common source of confusion, is provided. A practical procedure for implementing the theoretical ideas is proposed.
The Impact of Pension Assumptions on Firm Value

I examine the association between disclosed financial accounting data and firm value, while incorporating the effect of managerial discretion in reporting those data. I focus on the assumptions used to compute a firm's pension liability. I find that firm values are consistent with analysts being aware of the likely influence of reporting incentives on managers' choices of assumptions. Analysts appear to be aware of the incentives associated with contracting considerations and where they infer that such incentives have induced managers to choose obligation-reducing assumptions, they treat $1 of reported obligation as if it were an obligation of more than $1. These findings suggest that analysts recognize managers' use of assumptions that are not justified by the firm's operating environment and that they discount the effect of those assumptions on the disclosed accounting numbers.
RUNNING HEAD: COPARENTING AND PARENTING SENSE OF COMPETENCE

Citing this paper Please note that where the full-text provided on King's Research Portal is the Author Accepted Manuscript or Post-Print version this may differ from the final Published version. If citing, it is advised that you check and use the publisher's definitive version for pagination, volume/issue, and date of publication details. And where the final published version is provided on the Research Portal, if citing you are again advised to check the publisher's website for any subsequent corrections.
Dynamic road pricing optimization with heterogeneous users

In transport networks, travelers individually make route and departure time choice decisions that may not be optimal for the whole network. By introducing (time-dependent) tolls the network performance may be optimized. In the paper, the effects of time-dependent tolls on the network performance will be analyzed using a dynamic traffic model. The network design problem is formulated as a bi-level optimization problem in which the upper level describes the network performance with chosen toll levels while the lower level describes the dynamic network model including user-specific route and departure time choice and the dynamic network loading. In case studies on a simple hypothetical network it is shown that network improvements can be obtained by introducing tolls. It is also shown that finding a global solution to the toll design problem is complex as it is non-linear and non-convex.
Late Jurassic continental flood basalt doleritic dykes in northwestern Cuba: remnants of the Gulf of Mexico opening

Accreted terranes, comprising a wide variety of Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous igneous and sedimentary rocks are an important feature of Cuban geology. Their characterization is helpful for understanding Caribbean paleo-geography. The Guaniguanico terrane (western Cuba) is formed by upper Jurassic platform sediments intruded by microgranular dolerite dykes. The geochemical characteristics of the dolerite whole rock samples and their minerals (augitic clinopyroxene, labradorite and andesine) are consistent with a tholeiitic affinity. Major and trace element concentrations as well as Nd, Sr and Pb isotopes show that these rocks also have a continental affinity. Sample chemistry indicates that these lavas are similar to a low Ti-P2O5 (LTi) variety of continental flood basalts (CFB) similar to the dolerites of Ferrar (Tasmania). They derived from mixing of a lithospheric mantle source and an asthenopheric component similar to E-MORB with minor markers of crustal contamination and sediment assimilation. However, the small quantity of Cuban magmatic rocks, similarly to Tasmania, Antarctica and Siberia differs from other volumetrically important CFB occurrences such as Parana and Deccan. These dolerites are dated as 165-150 Ma and were emplaced during the separation of the Yucatan block from South America. They could in fact be part of the Yucatan-South America margin through which the intrusive system was emplaced and which was later accreted to the Cretaceous arc of central Cuba and to the Palaeogene arc of eastern Cuba. These samples could therefore reflect the pre-rift stage between North and South America and the opening of the gulf of Mexico.