Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Essays on the size of the financial aector, financial liberalization and growth

Financial systems have grown dramatically over the decade leading up to the Global Financial Crisis. This thesis explores some of the channels through which large financial systems might hurt the economy. The first part focuses on the composition of financial services. It examines whether intermediation services and “non-intermediation” activities have differential effects on economic growth and growth volatility. It is found that intermediation activities increase growth and reduce volatility in the long run. An expansion of the financial sectors along other dimensions has no long-run effect on real sector outcomes. Over shorter time horizons non-intermediation activities stimulate growth at the cost of higher volatility especially in high-income countries. The second part examines how the absorption of talent into the financial sector affects productivity and growth of real sectors. My evidence shows that financial liberalization is associated with skill-upgrading in the financial sector. I exploit variation in financial liberalization patterns across US states and across a sample of 13 mostly European countries to identify the effect of the absorption of talent into finance. Consistent with the existence of a brain-drain effect, my estimates show that financial liberalization decreases productivity and growth disproportionally in manufacturing industries which are skill-or R&D-intensive.
Can International Productivity Differences Alone Account for the US Current Account Deficits?

An influential explanation for the recent rise in the US current account deficit is the boom in US productivity. As US productivity surged in the mid-1990s, capital was attracted to the US to take advantage of the higher real returns. Using a two-country general-equilibrium model, this paper quantitatively shows that the gap in productivity growth between the US and the “rest of the world” cannot explain the US current account deficits, especially in the 1980s and the 2000s. This is because on a GDP-weighted basis, the “rest of the world” actually had higher productivity growth during these periods, and standard macroeconomic models would predict an outflow of funds from the US to the rest of the world, and a consequent US current account surplus. We show that changes in global financial integration can help explain this anomaly in US current account behavior.
Resilient responses to climate change and variability: a challenge for public policy

Climate change produces future risks and increasing climate variability produces current risks. Reducing disaster risk is addressed at the national level using approaches usually developed by the United Nations. These approaches, particularly in the developed world, address resilience building but practice is top-down and reactive. Effective resilience building requires a bottom-up participatory approach aimed at enhancing adaptive capacity. Using climate change and variability as a vehicle, this article posits that, without a shift in public policy, effective resilience could be jeopardised. Key to successful adaptation has been the willingness to learn how to develop a coherent set of principles that can inform a new approach to public policy for disaster management.
Efficiency Measurement of Housing Sector in Iran

The present research provides a critical review of the housing industry efficiency and its future in Iran. Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) is used to evaluate housing industry performance in different states based on the relevant data collected from Statistical Centres of Iran during 2006-2009. The research found that only 30 percent of the states operate as technically efficient and the average efficiency score obtained by all states is 0.90. Most of the technically efficient states have the opportunity to employ illegally migrated workers of neighboring countries in building construction activities using the advantages of lower level of payments and less commitment to the worker's insurance regulations in the country. Providing subsidy assistance to disadvantaged states and stimulating legal employment of building workers will supplement the government in finding a solution to the current housing problem.
The correlation between signal distance and consonant pronunciation in Mandarin words

In Mandarin language speaking, some consonant and vowel pairs are hard to be distinguished and pronounced clearly even for some native speakers. This study investigates the signal distance between consonants compared in pairs from the signal processing point of view to reveal the correlation of signal distance and consonant pronunciation. Some popular speech quality objective measures are innovatively applied to obtain the signal distance. The experimental results show that the confusing pair, /l/-/n/, does have the shortest signal distance compared with other consonants followed by the same vowel and lexical tone. The finding suggests that the signal distance is able to evaluate the confusion degree of certain consonant/vowel pair in a numerical and quantitative way. The signal distance of the other consonant/vowel pairs will be explored in the future work.
The effect of patient's asymmetric information problem on elderly use of medical care

It has been proposed that the patient's relative ignorance about medicine, ‘asymmetry of information between doctor and patient’, should place a patient in a disadvantaged position when purchasing medical care. Even if rapidly developing information technologies can enhance the patient's access to health information, a patient doesn’t have enough ability to understand, interpret and evaluate it. So, the doctor's effort at sincerely helping patient understand and utilize health information by effective communication with patient might improve the patient's asymmetric information problem and affect the patient's use of medical care by way of its being a source of patient's solid trust on doctor. This research seeks to determine whether a doctor's effort, mentioned earlier can affect the elderly use of medical care. This study used data from a survey sample of people aged more than 65 living in Seoul and Chuncheon, Korea. The results suggest the doctor's effort level has a statistically significant positive effect on the elderly use of medical care, which suggest a doctor's effort of effectively communicating with patient would ameliorate patient's information problem and it could be a source of patient's trust on doctor, so this trust would lead a patient to consume more medical care.
Image-Based Segmentation of Cultural Tourism Market: The Perceptions of Taiwan's Inbound Visitors

This paper aims at testing the effectiveness of using an image-based approach to segment the cultural tourism market. Identifying 14 image attributes of cultural attractions, Taiwan's inbound tourists were then surveyed to rate the importance of these attributes. Applying a factor–cluster segmentation approach, four discrete image segments were identified, including arts and museum, heritage, living culture, and resulted in a sample of 954 respondents. The research findings reveal several theoretical and empirical implications, including the propositions of cultural distance, omnivorous/univorous, experiential and informational familiarity of destination and the two-dimensional model of cultural tourist typology.
Effect of Cyclic Pneumatic Soft Tissue Compression on Simulated Distal Radius Fractures

We investigated the effect of pneumatic pressure applied to the proximal musculature of the sheep foreleg on load at the site of a transverse osteotomy of the distal radius. The distal radii of 10 fresh sheep foreleg specimens were osteotomized and a pressure sensor was inserted between the two bone fragments. An inflatable cuff, connected to a second pressure sensor, was positioned around the proximal forelimb musculature and the leg then was immobilized in a plaster cast. The inflatable cuff was inflated and deflated repeatedly to various pressures. Measurements of the cuff pressure and corresponding change in pressure at the osteotomy site were recorded. The results indicated that application of pneumatic pressure to the proximal foreleg musculature produced a corresponding increase in load at the osteotomy site. For the cuff pressures tested (109.8–238.4 mm Hg), there was a linear correlation with the load at the osteotomy site with a gradient of 12 mm Hg/N. It is conceivable, based on the results of this study, that a technique could be developed to provide dynamic loading to accelerate fracture healing in the upper limb of humans.
Hausman Tests for Inefficient Estimators: Application to Demand for Health Care Service (revised)

The Hausman (1978) test is based on the vector of differences of two estimators. It is usually assumed that one of the estimators is fully efficient, since this simplifies calculation of the test statistic. However, this assumption limits the applicability of the test, since widely used estimators such as the generalized method of moments (GMM) or quasi maximum likelihood (QML) are often not fully efficient. This paper shows that the test may easily be implemented, using well-known methods, when neither estimator is efficient. To illustrate, we present both simulation results as well as empirical results for utilization of health care services.
Symbol Digit Modalities Test: normative values for Spanish home care residents: a pilot study.

INTRODUCTION The Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) is a widely used test for the evaluation of neurological disorders. Normative data have been published for this test in different populations, however there are no values regarding elderly persons residing in geriatric homes. This study has aimed to apply the SDMT on a sample made up of Spanish elderly people living in geriatrics home care residents to obtain normative values, considering gender, age and education level. METHODOLOGY The standard pen and paper version of the SDMT was administered to 821 home care residents older than 55 years. Information regarding age, gender and education was obtained by means of personal health records provided by each institution. A descriptive analysis was made to generate tables including normative data. The final values were adjusted based on age and educational level of the participants and presented in weighted scales. RESULTS The SDMT was filled out by 321 participants. Final distribution of the sample made it possible to calculate normative values based on age. A negative correlation was observed between the SDMT mean score and age of the participants while education significantly affected the results obtained. CONCLUSIONS The SDMT normative data obtained after the application of the SDMT in the elderly living in home care residents were found to be strongly influenced by age and education. Use of the oral version is recommended for future studies of this kind.
The relationship between private investors and small firms: an agency theory approach

Many small firms in Sweden are characterized by a lack of equity capital. For several years measures to increase the equity capital have been discussed. In this discussion the private investors' market has received virtually no attention. This study presents some preliminary results of the private investors in Sweden. The research in small firms financing is characterized by a lack of theoretical framework. One basic assumption in the study is that agency theory can provide an essential framework to explain the interaction between the private investor and entrepreneur. Twenty-five hypotheses generated from agency theory are formulated and tested on 62 small unlisted firms in Sweden. Multiple regression analysis is used for the causal analyses. The empirical results in the study show inter alia that the geographic distance and the private investor's knowledge about the portfolio firm's transformation process seem to be the most influential factors for determining the private investor's involvement in the p.
Input characteristics of a chopped multi-path current feedback instrumentation amplifier

This paper presents simulations and measurements of the input impedance, input bias and offset current of a chopped multi-path current feedback instrumentation amplifier. In precision applications, these parameters, together with a finite impedance source can lead to significant measurement errors. In this paper, design strategies to minimize these errors are provided. At a chopping frequency of 30 kHz, the proposed amplifier has an input impedance of 6 MΩ, with bias and offset currents of 102pA and 43pA, respectively. In addition, it achieves low noise (21nV/√Hz), low (2 µV) input-referred offset, high common-mode rejection ratio (134dB) and high power supply rejection ratio (120dB).
The determinants of the demand for life insurance in an emerging economy – the case of China

In the past two decades, many emerging economies have been witnessed the strong growth of their life insurance industry. While research in the demand for life insurance has attracted much attention since the 1960s, most studies have focused on cross‐country studies or well‐established markets in developed countries. As a result of cross‐national variations in life insurance consumption, it has been argued in the literature that factors shaping the demand for life insurance are complex and varied from one country to another. This paper aims to examine key determinants of the demand for life insurance in China with a view to explaining the rapid growth of the life insurance industry in China since its economic reform in 1978. Empirical investigation using a time series data analysis has shown that the main factors which have influenced people in China to purchase life insurance products are directly associated with the successful economic reform leading people to progress to higher layers of economic security, the increase in the level of education and the change in social structure. However, this research has not found a negative effect of inflation on life insurance consumption, even China experienced high inflation in the mid‐1990s.
From volcanic origins of chemoautotrophic life to Bacteria, Archaea and Eukarya

The theory of a chemoautotrophic origin of life in a volcanic iron–sulphur world postulates a pioneer organism at sites of reducing volcanic exhalations. The pioneer organism is characterized by a composite structure with an inorganic substructure and an organic superstructure. Within the surfaces of the inorganic substructure iron, cobalt, nickel and other transition metal centres with sulphido, carbonyl and other ligands were catalytically active and promoted the growth of the organic superstructure through carbon fixation, driven by the reducing potential of the volcanic exhalations. This pioneer metabolism was reproductive by an autocatalytic feedback mechanism. Some organic products served as ligands for activating catalytic metal centres whence they arose. The unitary structure–function relationship of the pioneer organism later gave rise to two major strands of evolution: cellularization and emergence of the genetic machinery. This early phase of evolution ended with segregation of the domains Bacteria, Archaea and Eukarya from a rapidly evolving population of pre-cells. Thus, life started with an initial, direct, deterministic chemical mechanism of evolution giving rise to a later, indirect, stochastic, genetic mechanism of evolution and the upward evolution of life by increase of complexity is grounded ultimately in the synthetic redox chemistry of the pioneer organism.
The role of human papillomavirus (HPV)-related stigma on HPV vaccine decision-making among college males

ABSTRACT Objective: The goals of the present study are (1) to identify sociodemographic and psychosocial predictors of human papillomavirus (HPV)-related stigma and (2) to examine the relationship between HPV-related stigma in predicting HPV vaccine decision-making among college males. Participants: Six hundred and eighty college males aged 18–26 from 3 Canadian universities were recruited from September 2013 to April 2014. Methods: Participants completed a self-report survey assessing HPV-related stigma, psychosocial predictors of HPV-related stigma, and HPV vaccine decision-making. The results were analyzed using variance analyses and linear regressions. Results: Ethnicity, province of residence, and perceived severity of HPV were found to significantly influence HPV-related stigma. In addition, HPV-related stigma was higher in those unaware of the availability of the HPV vaccine for males. Conclusions: Promotion efforts should concentrate on Asian minorities and should avoid HPV severity messaging, as these may lead to higher HPV-related stigma, which in turn may act as a barrier to vaccination.
Can mutual funds time investment styles?

We investigate the ability of mutual fund managers to successfully rotate between investment styles based on characteristics such as market capitalisation, valuation ratios, and price momentum. We find evidence in favour of market timing among a group of 153 US-based mutual funds with a Morningstar Midcap/Blend investments style. We also find evidence in favour of mutual funds being able to predict the direction of the valuation and momentum style returns, but not their magnitude. Our results indicate that the mutual funds in our sample were not able to rotate successfully between stocks with small and large market capitalisation.
Factors influencing the accounting profession career choice: evidence from an emerging economy

This study investigated the skills that are considered necessary in an accounting career and the factors that influence the career choice of accountants in an emerging economy. Using a sample of 643 accountants, the study established that contribution to personal development and society and difficulties in obtaining a CA licence were the most important factors influencing the accounting professional career choice in Turkey. Furthermore, analytical skills and perseverance were perceived to be the most important skills necessary in an accounting career.
IMPORTANCE OF HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT IN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROCESS

In research and development organizations the community of human resources due to environmental conditions and personality of researchers and scientific views are different from those of other communities. Such differences Research and development organizations that are leaders on the management of human resources. But act with the selection, in addition to these organizations should take place as planned at the highest level of performance improvement is achieved. Elsewhere, we also have the freedom in research and development staff in the organization as well as are. It's also equally effective in research productivity and should be committed to putting the facility, especially with the kind of quiet and appropriate management of mental conditions Researchers, of update and enhance their productivity, provide. In all cases should be referred to the importance of this issue that people in these organizations should be responsible for the growing productivity of the takeover.
An analysis of vendor lock-in problem in cloud storage

Big data storage is a considerable challenge for IT organizations. Cloud providers promote using cloud storage for this purpose. However, vendor lock-in problem prevents organizations to migrate toward cloud storage. An evident solution is to distribute redundant data across multiple cloud providers in order to increase the probability of access to data. This paper analyses such a solution that uses erasure coding as a method of distribution. We study the effect of system parameters such as failure rate, redundancy ratio and number of initial block on data access. We show that the probability of access to data varies logarithmically in terms of time and number of initial block. Further increasing redundancy ratio is not always effective.
Market structure and performance in Spanish banking using a direct measure of efficiency

This paper analyses the relationship between market structure and performance within the Spanish banking industry. Three different stochastic measures of efficiency are used (based on three alternative distributional assumptions for inefficiency: half-normal, normal-truncated and exponential). The results obtained support the 'modified efficient structure' hypothesis since, even though efficiency is the main determinant of profitability, market power (as reflected in a market share variable), also affects profitability. The results obtained also show that market share is an inadequate proxy for efficiency.
Topographic distribution of focal left atrial tachycardias defined by electrocardiographic and electrophysiological data.

BACKGROUND Detailed information about the topographic distribution of focal left atrial tachycardias (FLATs) is limited. METHODS AND RESULTS A total of 143 atrial tachycardia (AT) foci were successfully ablated in 140 patients (56 men, mean age 44.6+/-17.9 years). In 36.4% (52/143 ATs), a left atrial (LA) origin of the tachycardia was identified from the site of successful ablation. In 46% (24/52) of FLATs, the site of origin (SO) was near the ostium of a pulmonary vein (PV), and in 36.5% (19/52), the SO was near the mitral annulus (MA). In the remaining ATs, the SO was in the left atrial appendage (LAA), septum, LA roof and inside the coronary sinus. P waves in V1 showed biphasic morphology with an initial negative component in most FLATs originating from the septal MA, superior MA, and LAA. However, P waves in V1 were positive in all patients with FLATs originating from PVs. Negative P waves in aVL were always observed in FLATs originating from left PVs. The mean cycle length of FLATs from PVs was significantly shorter than that from the MA. CONCLUSION Knowledge of the topographic distribution, P-wave morphology, and tachycardia cycle length facilitates successful ablation of FLATs.
The Reciprocal and Non‐Linear Relationship of Sustainability and Financial Performance

The goal of this paper is to describe the link between financial performance and the level of sustainability. In a novel approach, the paper classifies firms based on past financial success to address a potentially reciprocal relationship. For the groups of better and worse performing firms and for the entire sample, the above link is then tested, also accounting for non‐linearity in the relationship. We show that environmental management system (EMS) implementation as a proxy for a firm's sustainability level is only positively associated with the financial performance of financially well‐performing firms. Conversely, it has a negative association with the performance of less good firms. We show that this implies that firms cannot change from good to bad performance, and vice versa, solely through the implementation of an EMS, and also that the result remains when introducing non‐linearity in the link. Based on this result, we discuss implications for the direction of causality.
Control of the inverted pendulum using state feedback control

Solving the operation of the inverted pendulum is one of the classical and fundamental problems in the area of control theory. In this paper, method of modern control by placement poles with help Ackerman's method is presented. Control strategies are tested using simulation analysis and in real - time experiments which consists of hardware system PS600 and control units from dSpace company. The model is designed in MATLAB/Simulink environment. Finally, comparison of the results between the simulation model and the real plant is desribed.