Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Why Has the U.S. Economy Become Less Correlated with the Rest of the World

In this paper we do two things. First we document that over the last 40 years the U.S. business cycle has become less synchronized with the cycle in the rest of the world. Second we try to explain why this has happened. We use a general-equilibrium model as a tool to discriminate between two alternative explanations: (i) a change in the nature of real shocks, and (ii) an increase in U.S. financial integration with the rest of the world. Our results indicate that financial integration has played the major role in producing the observed changes in international co-movement.
Default and Prepayment Modelling in Participating Mortgages

Since the 2008 financial crisis, the mortgage market has been renovating its tools and instruments in order to avoid a new crisis. One such innovative instrument is the participating mortgage, in which the lender gains part of the net operating income and/or future appreciation. In this paper, we establish a financing model for participating mortgages, incorporating early termination options such as default and two prepayment clauses, defeasance and prepayment penalty. Later, we illustrate a detailed sensitivity analysis of the model. The values of early termination options depend on the choice of parameters in the model, as well as the term structure of short term rates. Finally, we show that a participation rate of 11.24% results in zero mortgage interest rate using the parameters in our simulation.
A CPI-Futures Market

If governments cannot control inflation, consumers must learn to live with it, however difficult that may be. ' But the task of adapting to the uncertainties of inflation could be eased by the development of appropriate forward markets. Commodity futures provide a hedge against fluctuations in the price of a limited menu of commodities ranging from plywood to frozen orange juice and pork bellies. And in the foreign exchange market, it is possible to hedge against future changes in the value of the dollar vis-a-vis other currencies. Why not extend the concept of a futures market to provide a means of hedging against fluctuations in the general price level, as measured by the market basket with which the Bureau of Labor Statistics constructs the consumer price index. A CPI-Future is a promise to pay a sum of money sufficient to buy, at a specified maturity date, a BLS market basket of goods which would have cost $1.00 if it had been purchased in the 1967 base year. Anyone who buys a CPI-Future through his broker will receive at maturity a sum of money equal to whatever the CPI turns out to be at that date; and at maturity the buyer will pay at the price determined in today's market for CPI-Futures. Conversely, the seller of a CPI-Future promises to deliver a specific amount of purchasing power, however many dollars that may turn out to be, in return for the number of dollars specified when the CPI-Future was sold. For example, if the equilibrium price of CPIFutures maturing 1 year hence is 130 when the CPI stands at 125, it means that next year's dollars are depreciated in the market place by 4 percent vis-h-vis the present. It also means that the buyer of a CPIFuture is guaranteed however many dollars are required to buy as much as $1.00 would have purchased in 1967; he has bought certainty.2
Sharing research in the 21st century: borrowing a page from open source software

T he Internet continues to evolve and digital devices continue to emerge, increasing the possibilities for reshaping how we work. The technology revolution has impacted many aspects of society including the research publishing industry. Increasingly, hard copy journals and other scholarly material are made available online. Although many traditional research publications are now online, little has changed regarding the process used to create and publish research. The notion of an open document has recently emerged with regard to books. Bruce Perens and Prentice-Hall have initiated an effort to publish open books with an accompanying open book license [3]. This license, like the one proposed in this article for open source research, is similar to the GPL used with open source software. One of academia’s chief responsibilities is research and publication. This article proposes an alternative approach—an open source research approach—to research and publication. Two distinguishing aspects of the open source research approach are the extensive use of Internet technologies and variations in the current copyright practice. The open source research approach borrows significantly from the process used by the open source software movement. As stated in the Techweb encyclopedia online, open source software is: “Free source code of a program, which is made available to the development community at large. The rationale is that a broader group of programmers will ultimately produce a more useful and more bug-free product for everyone, especially because more people will be reviewing the code. Peer review is considered one of the most important safeguards to prevent buggy code, but is often not given enough, if any, attention by software companies. Peer review is a natural by-product of open source projects. In addition to having better code, open source software allows an organization to modify the product for its own use rather than hope that the vendor of a proprietary product will implement its suggestions in a subsequent release. Examples of popular open source programs are the Apache Web server, sendmail mail server, and Linux operating system. ” BORROWING A PAGE FROM OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE
The Political Economy of Globalization – Revisiting Stephen Hymer 50 Years On

We discuss issues pertaining to the political economy of “globalization”, in the context of the seminal contribution by Stephen Hymer. While Hymer’s contribution to the theory of the multinational enterprise (MNE) and foreign direct investment (FDI) is widely recognized, his contribution to the political economy of what he called “multinational corporate capital” has received less attention. In this paper we revisit some of the issues he raised, notably uneven development, global governance and central planning in the context of post-Hymer scholarly thinking and the shifting global landscape. In so doing we also speculate on the challenges and future of globalization.
Moderate deviations for classical-quantum channels

“To be considered for the 2017 IEEE Jack Keil Wolf ISIT Student Paper Award. ” We show that the reliable communication through a classical-quantum channel is possible when the transmission rate approaches the channel capacity sufficiently slowly. This scenario exists between the non-vanishing error probability regime, where the rate tends to capacity with a fixed error, and the small error probability regime, where the error vanishes given a rate below capacity. The proof employs a sharp concentration bound in strong large deviation theory, and the asymptotic expansions of the error-exponent functions.
Experiences with integrated impact assessment – empirical evidence from a survey in three European member states

The paper contributes to the discussion on the use of methods and quantification in regulatory impact assessment. We investigate whether there are differences between the three dimensions of sustainable development in terms of the methodical efforts to assess potential impacts. Based on a survey in Germany, the Netherlands and the UK, we provide some evidence regarding these questions. We find that regulatory impact assessment is still biased towards assessing intended and mainly economic costs. There is a gap between the recommended use of methods in official guidance documents and the practice in member states. The reason for this gap can be seen in the existence of operational problems in practice such as lack of data or lack of tools. However, we find that the degree of sophistication of conducted IAs can be improved if responsible desk officers receive training or make use of guidance documents and receive support from co-ordination units. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.
Structural studies of the phase separation of amorphous FexGe100-x alloys.

Small-angle x-ray scattering and x-ray-absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES) experiments have been performed on amorphous Fe[sub [ital x]]Ge[sub 100[minus][ital x]] alloys over the composition range 0[le][ital x][le]72. The observed small-angle x-ray-scattering patterns were compared both with those calculated for a model assuming segregation of the alloys into particular phases and with scattering patterns calculated for voids in a homogeneous matrix. The x-ray-absorption near-edge-structure data were used to test for phase separation. No large-scale phase separation is observed in the semiconductor-metal transition region (15--25 at. % Fe), but fine-scale, kinetically limited phase separation or other types of composition fluctuations cannot be ruled out. The results also indicate that phase separation occurs for alloys with 37[le][ital x][le]72, with data consistent with separation into amorphous FeGe[sub 2] and Fe[sub 3]Ge. Thus, ferromagnetic moment formation occurs in the phase-separated region, with the transition composition (40--43 at. % Fe) probably linked to [ital a]-Fe[sub 3]Ge percolation, as hypothesized by Janot for the related Fe[sub [ital x]]Sn[sub 100[minus][ital x]] system. This phase separation explains the Mossbauer observation of magnetic'' and nonmagnetic'' Fe atoms in these alloys.
Breathing reserve at the lactate threshold to differentiate a pulmonary mechanical from cardiovascular limit to exercise.

STUDY OBJECTIVES Criteria used to define the respective roles of pulmonary mechanics and cardiovascular disease in limiting exercise performance are usually obtained at peak exercise, but are dependent on maximal patient effort. To differentiate heart from lung disease during a less effort-dependent domain of exercise, the predictive value of the breathing reserve index (BRI=minute ventilation [VE]/maximal voluntary ventilation [MVV]) at the lactate threshold (LT) was evaluated. DESIGN Thirty-two patients with COPD and a pulmonary mechanical limit (PML) to exercise defined by classic criteria at maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max) were compared with 29 patients with a cardiovascular limit (CVL) and 12 normal control subjects. Expired gases and VE were measured breath by breath using a commercially available metabolic cart (Model 2001; MedGraphics Corp; St. Paul, Minn). Arterial blood gases, pH, and lactate were sampled each minute during exercise, and cardiac output (Q) was measured by first-pass radionuclide ventriculography (System 77; Baird Corp; Bedford, Mass) at rest and peak exercise. RESULTS For all patients, the BRI at lactate threshold (BRILT) correlated with the BRI at VO2max (BRIMAX) (r=0.85, p<0.0001). The BRILT was higher for PML (0.73+/-0.03, mean+/-SEM) vs CVL (0.27+/-0.02, p<0.0001), and vs control subjects (0.24+/-0.03, p<0.0001). A BRILT > or = 0.42 predicted a PML at maximum exercise, with a sensitivity of 96.9%, a specificity of 95.1%, a positive predictive value of 93.9%, and a negative predictive value of 97.5%. CONCLUSIONS The BRILT, a variable measured during the submaximal realm of exercise, can distinguish a PML from CVL.
A Theory of Overconfidence, Self-Attribution, and Security Market Under- and Over-Reactions

We propose a theory based on investor overconfidence and biased self- attribution to explain several of the securities returns patterns that seem anomalous from the perspective of efficient markets with rational investors. The theory is based on two premises derived from evidence in psychological studies. The first is that individuals are overconfident about their ability to evaluate securities, in the sense that they overestimate the precision of their private information signals. The second is that investors' confidence changes in a biased fashion as a function of their decision outcomes. The first premise implies overreaction to private information arrival and underreaction to public information arrival. This is consistent with (1) post-corporate event and post-earnings announcement stock price 'drift', (2) negative long- lag autocorrelations (long-run 'overreaction'), and (3) excess volatility of asset prices. Adding the second premise leads to (4) positive short-lag autocorrelations ('momentum'), and (5) short-run post-earnings announcement 'drift,' and negative correlation between future stock returns and long-term measures of past accounting performance. The model also offers several untested empirical implications and implications for corporate financial policy.
Volatility changes in drachma exchange rates

In January 2001 Greece joined the eurozone. The aim of this article is to examine whether an intention to join the eurozone had any impact on exchange rate volatility. We apply the Iterated Cumulative Sum of Squares (ICSS) algorithm of Inclan and Tiao (1994) to a set of Greek drachma exchange rate changes. We find evidence to suggest that the unconditional volatility of the drachma exchange rate against the dollar, British pound, yen, German mark and ECU/Euro was nonstationary, exhibiting a large number of volatility changes prior to European Monetary Union (EMU) membership. We then use a news archive service to identify the events that might have caused exchange rate volatility to shift. We find that devaluation of the drachma increased exchange rate volatility but ERM membership and a commitment to joining the eurozone led to lower volatility. Our findings therefore suggest that a strong commitment to join the eurozone may be sufficient to reduce some exchange rate volatility which has implications for countries intending to join the eurozone in the future.
Tolerance granule in formal concept lattice

The tolerance granular space was researched in this paper, the overlapping of the granule in this type of granular space can exist. The properties of the tolerance granular space and the method of solving entire granular space were given. These researches show the properties, relations and essential of variety sub-lattice.
A proposal of a procedure for evaluating individual's expectations and perceptions based on SERVQUAL

This paper presents a procedure for assessing customer's expectations and perceptions on a service company, based on SERVQUAL. The proposal improves the original SERVQUAL, since it uses a method for constructing the linguistic scale to be used during the assessments. This method allows inferring from individuals themselves the perception that they have about the meaning of the language when it is being used to express opinions in the context in which the SERVQUAL will be applied. In order to illustrate the proposal procedure, an application in Service Company in Brazil is shown.
Enhanced Performance for Support Vector Machines as Multiclass Classifiers in Steel Surface Defect Detection

Steel surface defect detection is essentially one of pattern recognition problems. Support Vector Machines (SVMs) are known as one of the most proper classifiers in this application. In this paper, we introduce a more accurate classification method by using SVMs as our final classifier of the inspection system. In this scheme, multiclass classification task is performed based on the ”one-againstone” method and different kernels are utilized for each pair of the classes in multiclass classification of the different defects. In the proposed system, a decision tree is employed in the first stage for two-class classification of the steel surfaces to ”defect” and ”non-defect”, in order to decrease the time complexity. Based on the experimental results, generated from over one thousand images, the proposed multiclass classification scheme is more accurate than the conventional methods and the overall system yields a sufficient performance which can meet the requirements in steel manufacturing. Keywords—Steel Surface Defect Detection, Support Vector Machines, Kernel Methods.
Scalable genetic programming by gene-pool optimal mixing and input-space entropy-based building-block learning

The Gene-pool Optimal Mixing Evolutionary Algorithm (GOMEA) is a recently introduced model-based EA that has been shown to be capable of outperforming state-of-the-art alternative EAs in terms of scalability when solving discrete optimization problems. One of the key aspects of GOMEA's success is a variation operator that is designed to extensively exploit linkage models by effectively combining partial solutions. Here, we bring the strengths of GOMEA to Genetic Programming (GP), introducing GP-GOMEA. Under the hypothesis of having little problem-specific knowledge, and in an effort to design easy-to-use EAs, GP-GOMEA requires no parameter specification. On a set of well-known benchmark problems we find that GP-GOMEA outperforms standard GP while being on par with more recently introduced, state-of-the-art EAs. We furthermore introduce Input-space Entropy-based Building-block Learning (IEBL), a novel approach to identifying and encapsulating relevant building blocks (subroutines) into new terminals and functions. On problems with an inherent degree of modularity, IEBL can contribute to compact solution representations, providing a large potential for knock-on effects in performance. On the difficult, but highly modular Even Parity problem, GP-GOMEA+IEBL obtains excellent scalability, solving the 14-bit instance in less than 1 hour.
Design and implementation of biomedical SoC for implantable cardioverter defibrillators

In this paper, a biomedical processor was developed for implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs), which delivers appropriate prescriptions for atrial tachycardia and fibrillation to a pacing module of ICD. The diagnosis of heart conditions is determined based on atrial electrograms (EGMs) as sensed from within the heart. The biomedical processor is implemented into a single chip including analog circuit elements. The chip is fabricated in a 0.35 mum CMOS technology, and the chip area is 3.8 times 2.7 mm2.
The dynamics of entrepreneurs’ networks in a transitioning economy: the case of Russia

Despite its theoretical and practical importance, the evolution and development of entrepreneurs’ networks has attracted a little attention of researchers. The emerging research literature on this topic found that the dynamics of entrepreneurial networks were contingent upon venture lifecycle, industry and region, and resource needs of the firm. In addition and contrast to the previous research, this article examines the effects of the initial network structure, and firm performance of previous years on the changes in entrepreneurs' network structure, relations, and resources over 4 years. The empirical data is composed of the face-to-face interviews with 75 Russian entrepreneurs in 1995, and the follow-up interviews with 56 original respondents in 1999. I found that the greater the initial network size, the less the increase in network size, strong and weak ties, and resources over time. Further, the findings indicate that revenue growth of previous years predicts the changes in networks in the reverse manner. Thus, I found that the greater the average revenue growth, the less the increase in network size, weak ties, and resources over time.
Sexually transmitted infections. Initiatives for prevention

Sexually transmissible infections (STIs) are responsible for a significant burden of disease in both developed and developing countries and young people are disproportionately affected by STIs and their consequences. STI rates in young people are determined by a wide range of well documented influences. These include physiological, cognitive and behavioural factors, as well as environmental factors such as the social, and cultural context in which young people live. Despite the erecognition of these influences, their complex inter-relationships are less well documented and the evidence for interventions to reduce STIs in young people is similarly less clear. This paper explore tht most important factors that impact STI rates in young people in Australia and reviews interventions that have shown success, in Australia and elsewhere. In addition, promising strategies for the promotion of sexual health and reduction of STIs in young Australians, are discussed.
Human lung growth in late gestation and in the neonate.

We studied the lungs of 42 infants dying of obstetrical accidents, acute infections, and trauma, who ranged in age from 19 wk gestation to 3 wk postpartum at 42 wk gestation. The earliest lungs (19 to 20 wk gestation) had smooth-walled respiratory channels lined by cuboidal epithelium. Between 22 and 24 wk gestation with further development of the acinus, these channels took on a wavy internal configuration. After 28 wk gestation the air spaces (saccules) of the developing acinus became subdivided by secondary crests. Alveolar development began in some infants as early as 32 wk and was uniformly present by 36 wk. Respiratory bronchioles were not present in any of our cases, including those in the immediate postnatal period. Quantitative studies showed a rapid increase in lung volume and alveolar surface area beginning at about 28 wk gestation (crown-rump length, 25 cm) coinciding with increasing complexity of the saccules. Surface area, lung volume, and total number of alveoli showed an exponential relationship to gestational age and crown-rump length. Air-space wall thickness showed a rapid decline starting at 28 wk gestation and is best related exponentially to age and crown-rump length. Volume proportions of air spaces increased steadily throughout gestation. The increase in bronchial and bronchiolar air and air-space dimensions correlated relatively poorly with age, and nonparenchyma remained a relatively constant volume proportion, regardless of age. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Urokinase - type Plasminogen Activator System in Human Breast Cancer

Urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA), urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1(PAI-1) are essential for metastasis, and overexpression of these molecules is strongly correlated with poor prognosis in a variety of malignant tumors. This study revealed direct correlation between immunohistochemical expression of uPA with pathological stage. No significant association of immunohistochemical expressions of uPA, uPAR and PAI1 with immunohistochemical expressions for estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor -2 (HER-2/neu), and direct association between immunohistochemical expressions of (uPA and uPAR) as well as between immunohistochemical expressions of (uPA and PAI-1). Keyword: Breast cancer, uPA, uPAR ,PAI-1, Tissue microarray